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Write a Book!

This group is for anyone who has written a book, or aspires to write one in the future. It will allow both published and unpublished authors to share ideas and best practices.

“Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it.” - W. Clement Stone

Network Leader: Robert Sofia

Networks > Write a Book!

Sabrina Willis Hello everyone! I am new to Brazen Careerist and this network. It has always been a goal of mine to write a book. I have written a few short stories and a dozens of poems, but I think it's about ...MoreHello everyone! I am new to Brazen Careerist and this network. It has always been a goal of mine to write a book. I have written a few short stories and a dozens of poems, but I think it's about time to give novel writing a try. I love reading literary fiction and inspirational memoirs and want to try my luck at either of the two...any advice?

16 hours ago from Write a Book!

VelDean Fincher: Rule # 1 -- Get it done! Whichever you decide to tackle. I have a great friend who has been writing a novel for 15 years, has become a renowned ...MoreRule # 1 -- Get it done! Whichever you decide to tackle. I have a great friend who has been writing a novel for 15 years, has become a renowned authority on the topic, and the book is now over 1200 pages but unpublished... Write more briefly and push through to completion.
15 hours ago

Tricia Hamilton I have ideas for writing 2 books but I have no idea how to go about doing this. Do I just start writing and see where it goes? Any advise?

20 hours ago from Write a Book!

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May: Hi Tricia, what type of book would you like to write?
19 hours ago

Ryan: Well, you can always just start writing and see what happens, but sometimes that can lead to a book that takes multiple years to write.

MoreWell, you can always just start writing and see what happens, but sometimes that can lead to a book that takes multiple years to write.

Starting your book that way can lead you to writing without understanding the theme of your book. This is why the average for first time authors to write their book is 9 years.

So, get a skeleton down of what your story is going to look like, do some rough sketches of your characters and really nail down that theme as early as possible.

Sure, you may have to write some of it first before you figure out what that theme is but once you do wrap as many of the details and character actions around that theme as you can.

If you do your readers will be very appreciative.
19 hours ago

paulmacp Hi I am looking for some reconditions on professional editors... who you have used, who you have liked... who to stay away from?

I have taken my manuscript to the third draft and is ...MoreHi I am looking for some reconditions on professional editors... who you have used, who you have liked... who to stay away from?

I have taken my manuscript to the third draft and is about as good as I can make it. I am looking for a pro to polish it up and make me look literate (catch the bad grammar and language usage mistakes that I can no longer see).

As a but of background... the book is called "The Wealthy Blogger: The Common Sense Guide To Successful Financial Planning"

2 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Robert Sofia: @JenG I just checked out elance. That's a really great site. Thanks for the tip!
2 weeks ago

Halibut: Don't go to Craig's List!! Should be called Burn City.
2 weeks ago

Heather Conroy I am working on a book idea. What I want to do is write one chapter and then see if anyone is interested. My question is who should I submit this first chapter to? I am currently researching to ...MoreI am working on a book idea. What I want to do is write one chapter and then see if anyone is interested. My question is who should I submit this first chapter to? I am currently researching to make sure my idea hasn't already been published. Any ideas for the best way to do this? I don't want to reinvent the wheel so I would appreciate any advice you all have to offer.

6 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Robert Sofia: If your book is non fiction, this is a relatively easy question to answer. If it's fiction, the answer is a little more complicated. May I ask ...MoreIf your book is non fiction, this is a relatively easy question to answer. If it's fiction, the answer is a little more complicated. May I ask which it is?

If your work happens to be non-fiction, here is a free resource to help you with that: http://www.hiwrite.com/

Or, you can just cut to the chase and buy this book that helped me get published: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Proposals-That-Sell-SECRETS/dp/1932124640/ref...
6 weeks ago

Heather Conroy: Thanks Robert! My work is non-fiction and both of your resources are just what I was looking for.
6 weeks ago

Jake Brainstorming a book from a beginning is hard.

7 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Oke Atatah: I don't know if this will help you. Try this technique: Think of the beginning and end. Once you have that down go ahead and start it. It is a ...MoreI don't know if this will help you. Try this technique: Think of the beginning and end. Once you have that down go ahead and start it. It is a weird process, but that is how I started. Each day I was winging it and sometimes I will have a series of knowing what I was going to write. But just having those 2 parts figure out helps you to formulate where you want the story to go.
6 weeks ago

Jake I started a book and it was good, had potential, and was meaningful in my opinion, but sadly my computer crashed or something and the memory couldn't be saved as far as I'm concerned. I think I ...MoreI started a book and it was good, had potential, and was meaningful in my opinion, but sadly my computer crashed or something and the memory couldn't be saved as far as I'm concerned. I think I might have written the prologue down somewhere but I'll have to find it. But now I am actually brainstorming another.

7 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Brian Carl: You should think about backing you files up online as well in the future. Even if you just make a copy in Google Documents as well, it can live in ...MoreYou should think about backing you files up online as well in the future. Even if you just make a copy in Google Documents as well, it can live in the cloud. An added benefit to that is if it's stored online you can access it anywhere if you have a stroke of brilliance. Good luck with the new book!
7 weeks ago

Marwa Ayad I'm currently in the process of writing my second novel (women's fiction with a bit of romance) which I hope will help me get a nice agent as well.

Thankfully, I've already had my ...MoreI'm currently in the process of writing my second novel (women's fiction with a bit of romance) which I hope will help me get a nice agent as well.

Thankfully, I've already had my debut novel published (and it's become a national bestseller in my country Egypt *grin*).

The problem I'm mainly facing nowadays is lack of time and focus...not really writer's block. Would love to hear from other writers, published and unpublished.

8 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Presh Talwalkar: As a blogger, I get out of a rut by retracing my initial steps. I try to read, listen, or watch similar works to remember my initial motivation ...MoreAs a blogger, I get out of a rut by retracing my initial steps. I try to read, listen, or watch similar works to remember my initial motivation for writing. Often it's anger that current material is lacking or misguided! That gets me going in a hurry.
7 weeks ago

Mehnaz Thawer: If you've been working on it for a while, perhaps you need to go away for a bit, and then come back to it. That might help. Also I find if you ...MoreIf you've been working on it for a while, perhaps you need to go away for a bit, and then come back to it. That might help. Also I find if you find an optimal block of time in the day (for me It's between 8 and 9 AM) in the morning, then you'll have a better shot at it.
7 weeks ago

Robert Sofia Looking to get your book published? Here's a long list of agents you can submit your work to. Of course, there are a lot of unscrupulous agents out there, so what I like about this site is that it ...MoreLooking to get your book published? Here's a long list of agents you can submit your work to. Of course, there are a lot of unscrupulous agents out there, so what I like about this site is that it also gives you ratings and warnings about those you should stay away from. It's not a pretty site, but it's a good resource.

http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm

9 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Robert Sofia These are some awesome people to follow on Twitter that provide great tips for authors and aspiring authors. I've been following @bookgal for a long time, but I just discovered the rest. Check ...MoreThese are some awesome people to follow on Twitter that provide great tips for authors and aspiring authors. I've been following @bookgal for a long time, but I just discovered the rest. Check them out!

http://twitter.com/Bookgal
http://twitter.com/tonyeldridge
http://twitter.com/PaulaatAME
http://twitter.com/booksquare
http://twitter.com/JohnKremer

12 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Monica O'Brien: I really recommend John Kremer's 1001 Ways to Promote Your Book also - if you are serious about writing one, it's a 600pg. gold mine
10 weeks ago

Robert Sofia: I think I pasted this in the wrong conversation earlier, and I wanted to make sure you got the props you deserve....Thanks for mentioning that ...MoreI think I pasted this in the wrong conversation earlier, and I wanted to make sure you got the props you deserve....Thanks for mentioning that Monica. I'm really excited to have you as part of our group. For all of you that don't already know, Monica is a published author herself. Her new book, Social Pollination was recently released, and is getting great reviews. You can check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984234802?ie=UTF8&tag=spbook-banner-20...
10 weeks ago

Kevin Currie I found Lulu.com is a nice place to start while you are shopping your book to publishers.

10 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Kevin Currie: Hi Robert,
Actually it's a nice to start so you can get some great feedback about your story and if need be make some changes as you send ...MoreHi Robert,
Actually it's a nice to start so you can get some great feedback about your story and if need be make some changes as you send out your book to publishers. Lulu is for self publishing but in my case I wanted to get my book out there and test the waters. It was a great help to improve on my ideas as a writer. Now my book is selling quite well, but I know a publisher can take it to the next level.
10 weeks ago

Robert Sofia: That makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the useful suggestion!
10 weeks ago

Brian Carl Has anyone self published on the Amazon Kindle? Is it easy to do?

10 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Kevin Currie: Hi Brian,
It's very quick and easy. Here is the link MoreHi Brian,
It's very quick and easy. Here is the link https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin
All the best
10 weeks ago

Monica O'Brien: It's easy if you can make a PDF or Word Doc.
10 weeks ago

claire stokoe I love the idea of this, i have so many ideas for promoting peoples novels via twitter also.

10 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Robert Sofia: That's great Claire. Do you think you could share some of them with the group?
10 weeks ago

Robert Sofia This is the site I used to find my literary agent. In fact, I submitted my book proposal to 15 agents and got 3 offers back. I thought this may be helpful to you! MoreThis is the site I used to find my literary agent. In fact, I submitted my book proposal to 15 agents and got 3 offers back. I thought this may be helpful to you! http://www.agentquery.com

11 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Nicole Crimaldi: Robert, Thanks for the invite to this group! It is awesome and resourceful!

Nicole
10 weeks ago

Robert Sofia: It's my pleasure Nicole. Thanks for saying! I think we will all be able to learn a lot from these discussions.
10 weeks ago

Robert Sofia Be sure to check out http://bookmarket.ning.com It's an active network of 5,000 book authors and publishers.

10 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Robert Sofia I considered blogging about my experience writing and publishing my first book, but I decided to start this group instead. My hope is that - as someone who has been through the long and rigorous ...MoreI considered blogging about my experience writing and publishing my first book, but I decided to start this group instead. My hope is that - as someone who has been through the long and rigorous process without any outside assistance - aspiring authors will be helped to realize their dream of seeing their work in print. So if you need any input on how to write a book proposal, find an agent, or otherwise, feel free to ask. Let's get this convo going. And please - invite your friends. Cheers!

13 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Robert Sofia: @RyanPaugh Another thing worthy of mention about self-publishing is that if you already have a large market for your book, and can sell a lot of ...More@RyanPaugh Another thing worthy of mention about self-publishing is that if you already have a large market for your book, and can sell a lot of copies on your own without publisher support, you will get to keep a higher percentage of the royalties. I thought I should mention that for the sake of being fair and balanced.
13 weeks ago

Ryan Paugh: @Robert - That makes a lot of sense. I was just wondering how (if at all) it might be affecting people who take the more traditional path.
13 weeks ago

Tara Joyce As a total newbie to book publishing... where does one get started? What's the first step?

13 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Tara Joyce: @RobertSofia, this is so helpful, thank you! May I ask... is there any 'magic number' of readers that makes a blog seem established to publishers? ...More@RobertSofia, this is so helpful, thank you! May I ask... is there any 'magic number' of readers that makes a blog seem established to publishers? I'm currently reaching 1000 subscribers.

Part of me wonders if I should continue to practice my writing for a bit longer (on the blog) before I attempt to seek publication... any thoughts on this?
13 weeks ago

Robert Sofia: @tarajoyce Actually, I don't know the answer to that question. What I do know is that when I sent in my book proposal, it was one of the questions ...More@tarajoyce Actually, I don't know the answer to that question. What I do know is that when I sent in my book proposal, it was one of the questions the publisher came back and asked me. My agent told me that publishers generally don't like to issue new contracts unless they feel confident they can sell at least 10,000 copies. Of course, all of those sales wont come from readers of your blog - but it helps.
13 weeks ago

Presh Talwalkar Robert, thanks for making this network. I've learned so much by reading the comments already!

13 weeks ago from Write a Book!

Robert Sofia: Glad to hear it Presh! I think this group is going to be a lot of fun.
13 weeks ago

Alexia Vernon I WISH I had this group a year ago! When my agent, who has published on how to write proposals, responded w/in minutes of my cold query, I knew that I'd finally mastered it after being told at ...MoreI WISH I had this group a year ago! When my agent, who has published on how to write proposals, responded w/in minutes of my cold query, I knew that I'd finally mastered it after being told at least a dozen times I didn't have a viable idea. The 4 things that helped me out were-

1. The Woodhull Institute's Nonfiction/Proposal Course
2. The Art of the Book Proposal by Eric Maisel
3. Thinking Like Your Editor by Susan Rabiner
4. Picking the brains of authors in my niche. Many were very generous!

13 weeks ago from Write a Book!

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Alexia Vernon: @RobertSofia: There's the rub. I kid, somewhat. We just finished proposal changes and although it's hard for me to wait, know that it's the worst ...More@RobertSofia: There's the rub. I kid, somewhat. We just finished proposal changes and although it's hard for me to wait, know that it's the worst time of year to submit to publishers. So Jan. 2010, here I come. Fingers crossed!
13 weeks ago

Robert Sofia: @AlexiaVernon I faced the exact same thing in Nov 2008 when I finished revising my proposal. You're right - it is a bad time for publishers. Maybe ...More@AlexiaVernon I faced the exact same thing in Nov 2008 when I finished revising my proposal. You're right - it is a bad time for publishers. Maybe you'll get some good news to help you kick off the new year!
13 weeks ago