Books Writing a book

[Killswitch]

(This was originally posted in my usual haunt of DAOC Off-Topic but I've been advised to repost here...)

First of all, I'm a keen reader, especially fantasy fiction and sci-fi. I read Lord of the Rings before I started school (true story!) and I've got quite a few bookshelves full of Banks, Stross, Eddings, Hobb, Tolkien, Hamilton, Jordan, Martin, Pratchett, Irvine and so on.

I had a bit of a knack for writing when I was at school...won a couple of awards for short stories and poems and the like. Since I left school though, I've never really had any desire to have a proper crack at it.

I often come up with ideas for books/stories/characters but I don't generally bother to write them down or think them through too much. This morning though, basically a whole sort of "world concept" popped fully-formed into my head and it's got me thinking.

My main worry is that I've never tried to write anything before. I wouldn't know where to start! I'm looking to any Freddies who might have some experience in this area to share it. I've got a vague idea that I should probably do the stuff no-one will ever see first, so things like;

• Maps of the required locations and surrounding areas
• Basic history of the regions involved
• Timeline of the events that would happen through the book
• Environment - stuff like units of measurement and currency
• Basic characters

I'm quite excited by the idea, but also pretty daunted at the same time. On a different point, I'm also wondering whether it's even worth going through the pain and eventual heartbreak of trying to get something published or whether I should just go Creative Commons all the way and self-publish online. That assumes I ever start (unlikely) and finish (more unlikely!) this thing.

"By your powers combined, I am Captain Freddy!" Or something...possibly "Help me Freddys House Kenobi, you're my only hope!".

 

[xomer]

i cant help you on this but i wish to you good luck !

 

[Killswitch]

i cant help you on this but i wish to you good luck !

Believe it or not, that helps! Also, I'll need it

 

[- English -]

absoultly no help aswell, so for that reason, im out

 

[Deebs]

Hopefully Damini will respond, she has had at least 2 books published

 

[DaGaffer]

Damini would be our resident published author (although not the only published author to ever frequent BW). I'm sure she could give a few horrific tales about the publishing industry.

 

[Tom]

I write articles on Wikipedia for a hobby, but there isn't really much creative about what I do as I'm mainly an editor, shuffling words and commas around, paraphrasing other authors, etc.

I find it to be an excellent way to keep my english up to date, and understandable.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Something I've been planning to do for a long time but haven't had the time to get started. Need to get started in 2011.

 

[Damini]

Hey Killswitch. I've had three books published, been nominated for awards, and I've lost count of how many languages they've been translated into. At one stage I had Dreamworks trying to make the film.

I've also spent the last year working for minimum wage, and getting turned down for every other job I've applied for. I'm currently unemployed, and thinking about making teddy bears from felt and fake human teeth, purely as a way to make ends meet.

Just wanted to throw that down straight away, so you know that if you are going to do this, you need to look at it as a labour of love rather than a career. Otherwise you can end up incredibly jaded. And poor. So very very poor

Best place to start is really with the mood, and feeling of the story. The voice you want to use. I collect photos, or items, that summon that feeling for me. Sketch out the main characters. If the environment essentially is an extra character, then by all means, map it out. Readers are anal, and will bombard you with questions and point out contradictions. Otherwise, meh. Wing it. You plot things out too much they can feel sterile.

You can draw out a time line, but don't be too strictly governed by it, or you'll be crow barring characters into actions and choices that don't organicly unfold before them.

You can try to get an agent, and that would be the recommended route, but it's no easy task. The whole industry is incredibly risk adverse at the moment, and unless you're a top selling author there's very little money for advances, or for publicity.

Self publishing is getting a little more respect now, but a lot of people in the industry are wary of ever working with self published authors who have appeared on the radar, as they tend to refuse to accept input or work well with others. What you really miss, self publishing, is the editor. I have terrible spelling and grammar, and tend to switch tenses, so need reigning in. A lot. If I self published it would be a nightmare.

Best of luck with it. When it goes well, it's an amazing career. If you want any more advice, message me.



Edit: Just realised how miserable I sound. Here. Have a picture.

 

[cHodAX]

Wonder if there is good money in writing erotic fiction?

 

[Billargh]

If you're in no rush, you should give this a try, for experience if anything.

National Novel Writing Month