Writing a Book (advice please)

[Gemini Cricket]

I say, write write write and once you have something completed then you worry about publishing and all that.
Get to writin', Mister.

[BDBopper]

Thank you GC!

You know that the first stop on my book tour would be Orange County, CA right?

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I say, write write write and once you have something completed then you worry about publishing and all that.
Get to writin', Mister.

I think that would certainly be true for a novel. With non-fiction, you might be able to pitch an idea and an outline to an agent or publisher and get paid to write the book. You might want to subscribe to

http://www.writersmarket.com/

and/or buy the hardcover edition. Good luck.

[Snowflake]

I agree with everyone here, write, write, write.
To get an idea on how the wacky publishing world works, I found The Complete Idiots Guide to Getting Published a fun and useful read.

I can tell you one true thing, the publishing world works at a completely glacial pace. Also, University Press work much differently than the big commercial houses, more scholarly bent, yet, less formal than trying to break through the wall of a major house.

Finding an agent to represent you, is also key. I will dig up some links.

In the meantime, write, write, write..........

[BDBopper]

Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate them. After Super Tuesday on Feb 5th I will have a lot more time to start writing but I have a lot of ideas floating in my head. If I didn't have all these E-mails to write and phone calls to make I'd start now.

Despite it all there is still a chance of my story having a happy ending (from my point of view).

[3894]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I think that would certainly be true for a novel. With non-fiction, you might be able to pitch an idea and an outline to an agent or publisher and get paid to write the book.

It's always possible. Unless you ask, you're answering "no" for the other person. For absolute sure, you're going to have to put together a chapter-by-chapter outline and three sample chapters (not necessarily consecutive chapters).

If you haven't started taking photos for your book, do that.

You could always pitch an article to appropriate magazines to get the ball rolling. More than one book has come from an initial article in a magazine.

The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats is really useful.

[BDBopper]

Thanks for all the advice. I already have some pictures but will have more as I continue to write.

The one slight challenge is that I am starting to write at a time that I am sure what the final result will be but unsure of how the end result will occur and when.

There is also a possibility (slight as it is) of getting help from the source of the story himself (or at least some advice). From my point of view that would be pretty darn cool!

[BDBopper]

Like it or not (and no I don't cause it is painful) the story of Huckabee's 2008 campaign reached its end last night. I now have closure and can really get down to writing knowing what the end of the story will become. It is much easier to write when you know where to begin and where to end.

[I Heart Disneyland]

Originally Posted by 3894

It's always possible. Unless you ask, you're answering "no" for the other person. For absolute sure, you're going to have to put together a chapter-by-chapter outline and three sample chapters (not necessarily consecutive chapters).

If you haven't started taking photos for your book, do that.

You could always pitch an article to appropriate magazines to get the ball rolling. More than one book has come from an initial article in a magazine.

The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats is really useful.

This is definitely a person to ask about this subject!!!