BOOKS: Ever tried writing a book?

[Turkish]

I recently began writing a novel... I was bored in class (accounting information systems) and began writing ... well I have written around 20 pages now and I still have a lot to write about ...

Did anyone else try it? Although I don't read 10 books per month, I kinda enjoy writing

 

[Kelvrick]

Yes, I used to do it. I had a complete background since I used to roleplay on an online text mmorpg but never got past around 110 pages. I'd always get sidetracked or compeltely scrap the story because I wasn't satisfied. In all, I guess I might start it up again next time I'm bored in class.

 

[atom]

I enjoy writing. I actually wrote the scripts to all the Seymour Butts movies.

 

[kranky]

I think board member X-man actually did write a book.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Yes, I used to do it. I had a complete background since I used to roleplay on an online text mmorpg but never got past around 110 pages. I'd always get sidetracked or compeltely scrap the story because it was about dragons and wizards and pussy sh!t like that. In all, I guess they were just plain piles of crap.

I think that's what you meant

 

[xboxist]

I read often, but I've never been able to comprehend writing several hundred pages worth of story. Blows my mind how authors can pump book after book out.

 

[Konigin]

Yes, I was 10, never finished the first chapter.

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: xboxist
I read often, but I've never been able to comprehend writing several hundred pages worth of story. Blows my mind how authors can pump book after book out.

That's a huge problem with books. I love ready Clancy, but still, "The Hunt For Red October" was by far his best. After the fame that it brought him, he's had to crank them out, and although they are good stories, they are nowhere near as good as the one that he had years to perfect.

 

[Turkish]

Haha yeah... I am glad there are others....

I have only written around 20 pages yet and I still have a lot to write about but I don't think I will be able to write 400-500 pages

 

[imported_Tomato]

Yes... when I was 16, I started a book and wrote over 250 pages... comp. crashed, didn't back it up, lost everything, haven't tried again since.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Dezign
Yes... when I was 16, I started a book and wrote over 250 pages... comp. crashed, didn't back it up, lost everything, haven't tried again since.

What was the book about?

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[AreaCode707]

I wrote a sci fi novel, had it picked up by an agent, had some publishers interested in it, but decided to pull it off the market because, ultimately, it wasn't that great and if I ever got something published I'd want it to be better than that. I did wind up working for the literary agency though - LitWest. That was a cool job, in part because the agency is one of the top 25 in the US. Plus, getting paid to read was neat. Of course, since I was screening manuscipts half of what I read was utter garbage, but it was cool anyhow.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: Dezign
Yes... when I was 16, I started a book and wrote over 250 pages... comp. crashed, didn't back it up, lost everything, haven't tried again since.

On the positive side, you discovered artificial intelligence.

 

[Descartes]

I've written a technical book, chapters from a few others, a smattering of articles, etc. It doesn't require the level of imagination of a novel of course.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: HotChic
I wrote a sci fi novel, had it picked up by an agent, had some publishers interested in it, but decided to pull it off the market because, ultimately, it wasn't that great and if I ever got something published I'd want it to be better than that. I did wind up working for the literary agency though - LitWest. That was a cool job, in part because the agency is one of the top 25 in the US. Plus, getting paid to read was neat. Of course, since I was screening manuscipts half of what I read was utter garbage, but it was cool anyhow.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: HotChic
I wrote a sci fi novel, had it picked up by an agent, had some publishers interested in it, but decided to pull it off the market because, ultimately, it wasn't that great and if I ever got something published I'd want it to be better than that. I did wind up working for the literary agency though - LitWest. That was a cool job, in part because the agency is one of the top 25 in the US. Plus, getting paid to read was neat. Of course, since I was screening manuscipts half of what I read was utter garbage, but it was cool anyhow.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

??

 

[MournSanity]

I'm writing four novels right now.

 

[nakedfrog]

Yep, the latest false start is posted to my website, i think i made it like 2-4 thousand words in, a couple chapters, no idea how many pages. I like that one enough that I may still dust it off and continue.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Yep, the latest false start is posted to my website, i think i made it like 2-4 thousand words in, a couple chapters, no idea how many pages. I like that one enough that I may still dust it off and continue.

Should be careful of keeping that on your website. Copyrights and stuff.

 

[PanzerIV]

I've started a few when I was in the mood to do so when I was younger but never got very far with them. Not far meaning less than 20 pages. Lately I have had the urge to begin one again after not having done so in probably twelve years or so. Who knows, maybe I'll make it up to 30 pages this time.

I lose focus too easily. I did write a few short stories just for myself that I have saved somewhere in a box that are getting rather musty smelling. LOL.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Yep, the latest false start is posted to my website, i think i made it like 2-4 thousand words in, a couple chapters, no idea how many pages. I like that one enough that I may still dust it off and continue.

Should be careful of keeping that on your website. Copyrights and stuff.

It's actually copyrighted by virtue of being placed on my website.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I haven't, but I do run a book website and my uncle writes full time.

 

[Wuffsunie]

I did write for a couple years, up to about three years ago. Certainly fun. It was mostly short stories, the longest of which was about 115 pages. Other friends I have have written novels and novel length stuff, alas none of which have been picked up for publication.

That's probably the most annoying thing, as they've done work that's far better than some of the utter crap that shows up on shelves. Stupid industry. :disgust:

 

[Sideswipe001]

I've written a few short stories; even one or two I was proud of. But I never bothered submitting anything to be published. It's just so freaking hard. You better be good at taking rejection if you try.

 

[Titan]

i've done a lot of preperation for my own campaigns for D&D, and if I wanted to, i could write a book, it would probably be easier since a book is noninteractive, and you have to leave things wide open in a game. If there's one thing I could reccomend for anyone who attempts a massive work of creativity, it is to be prepared. Know what you are going to write about before you write it. carefully outline and understand your plot flow first, determing characters and interactions required to further the story, then write. When you are cranking out the final work, the focus should be on presentation. Much like in D&D, the game always comes down to presentation, you could have nothing prepared but present things off the top of your head and still run a game, but it wouldn't be a very good one. careful preperation is key.

EDIT: and use spell checkers, and proofreaders.