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How to write a book, tips and advice please.

A

Ashenor

Golden Member
In light of the game of thrones thread i am going to write a book series, and i am not going to get lazy and take 5 years between books!

I have talked it over with my friend some we are going co-author it. He is a great thinker and i am more of the doer. We both fantasy fans, and have been reading for years. My thoughts is to get a plot laid out and flesh out some characters, then work on a prologue to be self published on Amazon for cheap to get it out there, with book one to follow within 6 months or so of that.

All that said i have never wrote anything, anyone have any advice on laying plot out, writing in general, or preferred method to write on and what format to do so?

I have thought about this for awhile, but with being able to self publish on amazon, and twitter, facebook and other marketing, with a decent idea i think it can take off.
 
clamum said:
Learn English better first. 😉
Click to expand...

Good editor, is my key. 🙂

In seriousness grammar will be a bit of a issue, but my friend was a english major so that will help.

I can bang out the rough work, he can polish it. But looking for advice on how to start. Get the overall flow of it down, work on a few chapters first, or what?

And what do you think is the best way to write, at a desk, laptop, and what would you use to write with, MS word or other?
 
1. Learn to write more better
2. Type words into computer forming a story


That should cover it...
 
Get a real job. Too many starving writers out there already. The bar was already set very high years ago with the Lord of the Rings books...you'll never better that, so why try?

My advice to you is: Get a real job that pays the bills and write your awesome book about Spleengar The Mighty and his band of mighty Hooteegooners Warriors in your spare time. That way when you receive all the rejections from the publishers, you don't have to kill yourself b/c you can't pay the rent. Win-win all around. You're welcome. 😛
 
Ashenor said:
Good editor, is my key. 🙂

In seriousness grammar will be a bit of a issue, but my friend was a english major so that will help.

I can bang out the rough work, he can polish it. But looking for advice on how to start. Get the overall flow of it down, work on a few chapters first, or what?

And what do you think is the best way to write, at a desk, laptop, and what would you use to write with, MS word or other?
Click to expand...

if you want serious advice: writing a story is about characters. Don't cheese on your characters while trying to get complex with a high-concept plot device.

If you know your characters, and give them individual voices and personalities, then they will eventually drive your stories.

If you do not do this, you end up with something like the Lord of the Rings (the books). blech.


Outlines are for suckers--while it's good to have a general frame, never limit yourself to a rote set of rules.
 
If autotune works for recording artists, i am sure a good editor can do the same for my grammar!

Honestly i appreciate the critcism and skeptics, but i am going to work on this and my grammar and writing skills.

I have a story in me waiting to get out, free copies to all here!
 
zinfamous said:
if you want serious advice: writing a story is about characters. Don't cheese on your characters while trying to get complex with a high-concept plot device.

If you know your characters, and give them individual voices and personalities, then they will eventually drive your stories.

If you do not do this, you end up with something like the Lord of the Rings (the books). blech.


Outlines are for suckers--while it's good to have a general frame, never limit yourself to a rote set of rules.
Click to expand...

Should you have the idea of where the book is going before you start do you think? Or flesh out characters mainly and go from there? I have some of the characters thought out already, but not a overall plot plan yet.

And how do you strike the balance between to little and to much on a character ala Robert Jordan?
 
Ashenor said:
Should you have the idea of where the book is going before you start do you think? Or flesh out characters mainly and go from there? I have some of the characters thought out already, but not a overall plot plan yet.

And how do you strike the balance between to little and to much on a character ala Robert Jordan?
Click to expand...

I don't know who this Robert Jordan is, but there really is no "too much" for your primary protagonist. With your novel, you really have no limits.

Write whatever the fuck you want. Who is going to tell you not to?

Sure, have a plan, of course, but keeping yourself tied down to a specific ending (general ending, or concept isn't bad) is not a good idea.

That works better for short content--stories, TV shows, Film--and is almost required in those models.

With a novel, you have no limits. Just don't bore yourself.
 
MichaelD said:
Get a real job. Too many starving writers out there already. The bar was already set very high years ago with the Lord of the Rings books...you'll never better that, so why try?

My advice to you is: Get a real job that pays the bills and write your awesome book about Spleengar The Mighty and his band of mighty Hooteegooners Warriors in your spare time. That way when you receive all the rejections from the publishers, you don't have to kill yourself b/c you can't pay the rent. Win-win all around. You're welcome. 😛
Click to expand...

I have 2 jobs currently. Not looking to write one book and get rich. Looking to write in my spare time, and work on a story i want to tell. I will not be quitting either job anytime soon.

What do you think about writing somewhat of a prequel and try to publish it on Amazon and give it away, or charge a buck or something to get the work out there?
 
Ah good, you are already employed. If your jobs are currently paying the bills, I say go for it! I'm doing the same thing with my bass playing. I'll never be a rock star, but I pretend that I am on the weekends. 😱 I have a full time job that pays the bills.
 
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