So how many hopeful authors are out there?

Amheiser · Post by **Amheiser** » 27 Sep 2014, 11:59

I have been trying to write a daily journal since my first child was born. I wish I would have started writing a long time before that, like when I was in elementary school. It never seemed like I had the time to try to write a book but now I am trying to write every day just to write and hopefully some day I will be able to turn my writings into books. Sometimes it's hard trying to find the time to write because I enjoy reading so much and I get too involved in reading other people's books.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 27 Sep 2014, 18:29

Amheiser, as I've said often, being "hopeful" about some day writing a book is faint hope and a fond farewell. If you really want to write -- and maybe you don't, that's your choice of course -- but if you do, then you must START writing. There's no other way, my friend.

Even if it's an outline for a proposed novel, or a few "get started" chapters as test pieces, regardless, what's essential is that you begin.

OnionPickle · Post by **OnionPickle** » 28 Sep 2014, 12:20

I haven't graduated high school yet but I have always wanted to be an author. Even in elementary school I wrote short stories and novellas. Looking back, it is embarrassing how awful my writing was, but I certainly hope I have improved. I write science fiction and fantasy and also some realistic fiction. You might see me ask for some tips, I would really love any suggestions you guys have.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 28 Sep 2014, 12:26

We're always ready to help aspiring writers, so feel free to ask away. And good luck!

Tiffany4188 · Post by **Tiffany4188** » 01 Oct 2014, 07:38

I"ve been writing my whole life, but recently starting focusing more on finnishing my first novel. I think many people say I want to be a writer or I could write a book better than this. But the truth is writing a novel is time consuming and there is no guarantee that anyone will actually read or like what you have written. Despite this, I've very much enjoyed writing the story that I want to tell. Ultimately, doing what I love is more important than whether I will ever be successful at it monetarily.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 01 Oct 2014, 09:49

Tiffany, you're on the right track because you're actually writing the darn book instead of mooning over "wannabe" a writer. That's a dead end.

Of course there's no guarantee that your book will be "buyable" from a publisher (via an agent perhaps or maybe directly) but that needs to be your goal. As far as financial success, maybe not, but that should also be a goal to strive toward. Having someone pay real money for your real book in a real bookstore is the best feeling for a writer that can ever be!

Let me recommend that you read successful books of the same general genre as your in progress novel, and slightly structure your book in a similar fashion. I say "slightly" because you don't want to be a copycat.

But for example, see how the author creates "story arcs" that extend maybe 2-3 chapters. Maybe chapters 4-5 deal with a big fight or love affair or whatever, depending on the genre. Then the next couple chapters, 6-7, deal with the aftermath and then there's an upswing toward the next "arc" of chapters 8-9. In other words, the author will have story arcs of a few chapters that carry the book's substance but in "digestible" segments of several chapters. These story arcs are essential to the rhythm of a novel and prevent boredom.

That's just one small portion of how a novel "works" -- another item is character development... each major character goes thru a change, good or bad or maybe good-bad-good? Such rhythm of personalities is also essential to good writing.

Work on those sorts of things, and keep plugging away, and set reasonable goals (writing maybe 2 hrs per day?) and after your book is completed, then the hard work really starts, revising it and tweaking it until it's polished and ready for submission.

Focus on that ultimate goal of selling your book to a publisher and getting paid real royalties. It's not important right now if the money is small, just that it's real.

Wendy 1122 · Post by **Wendy 1122** » 14 Oct 2014, 05:15

I am a writer who has never been published, and the thought of so many others just like me out there, who I will wonder have to compete with in the market, makes me sick. It's hard enough to write without feeling like your words will be drowned out by good marketing and other fantastic writers. Self-confidence is a thing I'm still working on.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 14 Oct 2014, 08:41

So Wendy, here's the way things are: many writers have not been published due to the simple fact that they aren't much good.

Marketing only begins when your book is sold, so prior to that, you can forget marketing.

How have you worked to sell your book? Have you sent queries to agencies and publishers? Have you meticulously edited and painstakingly revised your book until it's the best you can do, and then revised it more? Have you given the book to friends whom you trust to be honest and asked for their help in your making the book the best?

Point: I finished my 3rd novel in March and I kept revising it over and over and over until September before I thought it was really ready.

Don't even think about self confidence. If you've got tons of it or none, how does the prospective agent or publisher know this? They don't. They only know the words you put onto the page. Sure, if your query letter or email is enthusiastic, it will help maybe 5% but the content of the writing is what really matters.

So put aside the doubts, put away the uncertaintly, and tell yourself "I'm a writer!" and then revise and edit and fix up your book over and over until it's perfect. Then spend hours more presenting this book to prospective agencies or publishers.

CA_Griffith · Post by **CA_Griffith** » 20 Oct 2014, 12:24

I enjoy taking the same character through a series. I may never let my main character rest. He and I have been on this journey for at least 5 years and are pretty good friends. LOL!

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 20 Oct 2014, 13:49

Same for the principal character in my ongoing "Mitch King Mysteries" -- a modern American private detective series. I just finished the 3rd novel and I'm starting on the 4th. And yeah, Mitch and I are good pals.

jhollan2 · Post by **jhollan2** » 20 Oct 2014, 19:39

I've been writing for years now...but only for myself. I am seriously considering doing NaNoWriMo this year. Even if I know a book written in one month probably wouldn't be good, I think that it would be cathartic to just write as much as I can trying to make the goal. Kind of like a jumpstart to get me going again and remind myself how much I have always loved to write. I have always been too embarrassed to share my work, so this seems like the perfect opportunity to join with other aspiring novelists to actually write a story I can be proud of.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 21 Oct 2014, 12:46

If you're too embarrassed to show your work, you need to ask yourself "Why?" -- do you think that your writing is too shabby and poor quality? Or maybe you're writing some very fanciful supernatural stories and your "day job" is an attorney for a very conservative and stodgy law firm? (ha ha)

I would recommend that you examine "why" you feel constrained to share your writing or maybe submit it for publication. If you do this with a somewhat detached, analytical "eye" you may surprise yourself and this might encourage you to search for outlets for your work.

Regarding NaWri-whatever, hey, I'm gonna be working furiously on my new 4th mystery novel, plus a couple of essays, an article, and some other things. I don't want to come across as snooty (I'm not, but I'm more "commercially minded" than many here) but if I want to write, it's going to be toward a specific goal, and pumping out 50k words just to post on the internet (no real publication, no sales, no pay, etc) is something that just doesn't interest me.

But I do hope to get maybe 25k words on my new book written.

Again, let me encourage those who aren't actually trying to "place" their work -- whether that means actual money sale or for nonprofit. If you tag yourself as a "hopeful" writer, you'll be forever stuck. Instead, say proudly "I'm a writer!"

ameliadefield · Post by **ameliadefield** » 21 Oct 2014, 23:54

I am in the process of revisioning my first novel. I've had a short story published in an online magazine and an article in a local magazine. I realized that it is less about getting published and more about the fact that I couldn't stop writing or coming up with ideas even if I wanted to!

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 22 Oct 2014, 09:47

Amelia, what you say rings true and it's much the way I feel. I couldn't stop writing ever, simply because that's an integral part of my life. Were I not to get published or sell anything, I'd still write.

That being said, I also think it's essential that writers work toward being published, always. For novelists or non-fiction books, the pinnacle would be to have your book purchased by a large publisher for a bucket of cash and promoted as "the next Stephen King" (or whomever). But there are lesser goals, such as to be published AT ALL by ANY publisher.

And I totally except out self-publishing here. They don't call it "vanity publishing" for nuttin'. As I often say, keep an eye on the direction the money flows. If it's out of your pocket, don't do it. If it comes into your pocket (however small) then that's the right direction.

I mean, there are quite a few small houses out there who mostly publish online (Amazon Kindle, etc) and who don't pay a big advance (or zero advance) but still will professionally edit and print your novel, and you get royalties only. That's a good steppingstone to look for.

So, yes, your impetus is absolutely more about the love of writing and your joy in simply creating a story. But also, keep working for an actual "sale" (real money paid to you, even if small). Combine the two so that you have a commercial goal as well as an artistic goal.

And it's "revising" not "revisioning" my friend. ha ha And good luck!

ameliadefield · Post by **ameliadefield** » 22 Oct 2014, 20:53

moderntimes, thanks for the typo correction there. I am a sysadmin at my full time job so I got the two terms mixed up in my head. Go figure.

I, (if I understood you) on the other hand, am all for self-publishing. I've helped self published authors soar before and it is one of the best feelings you can give someone. I also support traditionally published authors by buying their books and writing review for them. I think it is just two ways of having the same thing happen, you get to share your tale with the world and make some money off of it.

I think it is also important not to be so stressed about being published that you don't enjoy the writing or revising process. It can happen and it will suck the wind out of someone's sails. But like you said, if you think of yourself only as an aspiring writer or hopeful author, you will never get there. I think anyone who enjoys writing is a writer and those that get their work published, in any way shape or form, are authors.

I don't know if you saw my intro topic, but I work full time at my families marketing agency so I've been living and breathing "commercial goals" since I was very little.

So all of that to say, I agree with you, but I found that it is easier to think of myself as an artist first and a seller second.