Anyone here written a book?

[Dogwatcher]

I'd dearly love to write a book. I have a couple with cricket themes in particular that I'd love to write.

Has anyone here ever written a book? How did you go about dealing with publishers etc, etc, etc.....

I have this great idea, I just don't know where to start.

[Rik E Boy]

Get an agent. They'll deal with the peripherals while you write. If you are doing non-fiction get someone to help you with research and proofreading as well.

regards,

REB

[heater31]

Does a University Thesis count?????? If it does I will be writing one next year



ohhhhhhh what FUN

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

I've written a few dodgy underground comic books before!
Some have been published in various forms of media
but most of 'em were just photocopied & given to my mates for a bit
of a piss-take & cheap politically incorrect giggle!
With titles like...
'Ed Injuries'
'A Chainsaw Love Story'
'F'n Hell Johnny!!!'
& 'Spider the 13th'
plus a shitload more I've probably forgotten or lost!
Inspired by the likes of Shelton/Mavrides 'Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers'
Sherridan's 'Dealer McDope'
& Viz Magazine...
I'm currently working on my yet to be named 'Magnum Opus' an ambitious project which I may very well
unleash onto the unsuspecting public!
Hopefully not getting the same response a certain series of newspaper cartoons
from Denmark received in recent times!

[Magpiespower]

I'd dearly love to write a book. I have a couple with cricket themes in particular that I'd love to write.

Has anyone here ever written a book? How did you go about dealing with publishers etc, etc, etc.....

I have this great idea, I just don't know where to start.

It's a tough one because most publishers and agents won't look at unsolicited manuscripts.

Generally speaking, you have to have 'done something' before they'll look at your work.

Even then, they take on a very small number of writers each year.

But first things first - get cracking on the book.

Any chance you get, you'll have to hole yourself up in a room any and write feverishly.

Then, send off a few sample chapters to see what kind of interest there is.

If someone likes it, they might give you an advance.

Don't underestimate the task at hand - it'll take you a couple of years and you most likely will have to do it 'on spec.' In other words, without seeing a single cent...

[smac]

Yep, wrote a book - took 12 months, published it myself (one copy!) and gave it to mrs smac for a wedding gift (yes, our wedding...).

People I spoke with when getting it published led me to believe that they are not interested in anyone (as MP stated) who has no track record at all. Best of luck.

[Dissident]

I haven't but have wanted to.

A good friend of mine who was a teacher at my Dad's primary school is a children's book author - I can ask him if you like! I just finished his new website, http://www.philcummings.com

[Dissident]

Yep, wrote a book - took 12 months, published it myself (one copy!) and gave it to mrs smac for a wedding gift (yes, our wedding...).

People I spoke with when getting it published led me to believe that they are not interested in anyone (as MP stated) who has no track record at all. Best of luck.

Did she trade it for some pies ??

[Pseudo]

gave it to mrs smac for a wedding gift

*

[Dogwatcher]

Thanks guys - interesting to see people's thopughts on this.

I realise it's gonna take time, a whole lot of precious time, it's gonna take a lot of patience and time, to do it right (cue 80s).

I've started my research, and truly that's the hard part of it. Writing it all will be easy once I get going.

Am thinking of doing it in parts and trying to sell it to a magazine first to get my name known, and then goi to a publisher.

But really, the research is going to be the hard bit. I've got loads of reference books on the particular subject - but.....I need to go deeper.

[smac]

Yep, wrote a book - took 12 months, published it myself (one copy!) and gave it to mrs smac for a wedding gift (yes, our wedding...).

People I spoke with when getting it published led me to believe that they are not interested in anyone (as MP stated) who has no track record at all. Best of luck.

Did she trade it for some pies ??

Took me a minute, very obscure Diss.

[smac]

gave it to mrs smac for a wedding gift

*

And the book...

[Mr66]

Does writing several dozen letters to Penthouse Forum count?
Put them altogether and you'd have a big enough book.

[Magpiespower]

Writing it all will be easy once I get going.

DW, reakon you're in for a rude shock!

Research is the easy part and the most fun.

I've got loads of reference books on the particular subject - but.....I need to go deeper.

When you start interviewing people is when you'll discover gold...

[Dogwatcher]

Writing it all will be easy once I get going.

DW, reakon you're in for a rude shock!

Research is the easy part and the most fun.

I've got loads of reference books on the particular subject - but.....I need to go deeper.

When you start interviewing people is when you'll discover gold...

Magpies - I know all about interviewing mate. My living lol.
For me the research is going to be the hardest part - living out here means it's going to be hard to get to the places I need to be to talk to people or spends hours/days in the library researching.

I'm certainly not going into this with my eyes shut towards the magnitude of what I'm hoping to achieve.

[Aerie]

My partner's uncle wrote and published a book himself just recently. Looked very professional and was all done through a website where you pretty much set it up yourself and put an order on as many copies as you would like (I'm guessing the more you get published the cheaper it is). This included setting up the front cover etc. He gave one to everyone for Xmas. Can't think of the website now, but if you google "publish your own book" a heap of websites come up.

[the tractor]

I did in grade six, "The tractor and the temple of doom."
I was quite an Indiana Jones fan at the time.
Still have it too if anyone wants to borrow it!