Has anyone written a book? (1 Viewer)

[JackReacher]

This has been on my mind for many years, but I never felt I had the content to support it.

I now have an idea for a non-fiction book that I am passionate about. Not sure it has potential to be a commercial success, but you never know.

I am a writer by trade (journalist), but this would be my first long-form work of any kind, and I will be taking it on while maintaining a demanding full-time job and raising two young kids. 

Any advice or warnings  would be appreciated.

 

[AcerFC]

@timschochet

 

[Hov34]

 

[glvsav37]

I never had, but i've designed a bunch of covers for friends/clients who have. 

Are you self publishing or trying to shop it?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I've always wanted to write a book on how to write a book. 

 

[Ilov80s]

Yeah lots of people have 

 

[Skipdog77]

Not a book, but I have authored some highly informative pamphlets.  

Feel free to PM me. 

 

[Christo]

Yes, someone has written a book.

 

[Christo]

Yeah lots of people have 

Yes, someone has written a book.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

What sort of connections do you have via journalism?  Is there anyone who's published a book you can ask to put you in touch with their agent/publisher?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I have to write one before I die. That way I can have it's Dewey Decimal Number printed on my gravestone.

 

[JackReacher]

I never had, but i've designed a bunch of covers for friends/clients who have. 

Are you self publishing or trying to shop it?

As of now, the plan is to self-publish. But I figure I am at least a year away from that. Have spent six months researching.

 

[JackReacher]

What sort of connections do you have via journalism?  Is there anyone who's published a book you can ask to put you in touch with their agent/publisher?

I work in television news, so not a ton of crossover there. I don’t know anyone in publishing, but work with many talent agents. Thats a great idea to consider.

 

[johnnycakes]

I'm writing a book.  I have all the pages numbered so far.  

 

[glvsav37]

As of now, the plan is to self-publish. But I figure I am at least a year away from that. Have spent six months researching.

GL. If you have any direct questions, I can forward them to my friends and see if they can help. One of my authors self-publishes through amazon. 

Once you get to the point you need a cover designed, let me know. This is some of my work

 

[Ilov80s]

Elvis Costello would be a good one to ask, he does it everyday. 

 

[ChainsawU]

Just write a two-page letter a day, keep the subject the same, and in a week you'll have fourteen pages. In a month you'll have fifty-six pages, and by September you'll practically have a book. Farrelly, Peter. The Comedy Writer (p. 242). Crown/Archetype. Kindle Edition.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

I never had, but i've designed a bunch of covers for friends/clients who have. 

Are you self publishing or trying to shop it?

Frank Frazetta, is that you?

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Elvis Costello would be a good one to ask, he does it everyday. 

Good lord...is that not one of the most perfect songs, lyrically, ever written?

 

[Ilov80s]

Good lord...is that not one of the most perfect songs, lyrically, ever written?

It's a real tightly written song. They don't come much better. 

 

[Foosball God]

Our very own @flysack is a published novelist.

 

[jwb]

I've written two non-fiction business books that were published. 

I don't know how others do it, but I first outlined them into the chapters / subchapters. Once I had that down, I wrote every day. Sometimes an hour, sometimes 20 minutes, but every day I wrote something. Each book took me a few months. 

I went the traditional publishing route. I'm somewhat happy I did because it felt more 'real'. Anyone can self publish, but it takes something more to get published. Plus, first seeing my book on the shelf in a Vegas Barnes and Noble while on vacation was something I'll never forget. You're probably not getting that if you self publish.

That said, you make almost nothing when going with a publisher. I averaged about $1.50 a book, and sold about 5,000 of each (which is decent, but nothing superb - no NYT best seller list or anything). You also don't own the rights. My books are out of print now, and I don't own the writing, so they just rot - maybe if I owned the rights, I could update them/etc. 

Still, it was a good experience, and "published author" is something I'll always be. 

I might write another one at some point.