Writing a book

[keith758]

I'm not sure where to post this, but I'm writing a book. Does anyone have a clue on how to find an editor/publisher? Thanks

[kirch]

I know a little about this, as my father-in-law wrote a mystery novel (hasn't been picked up) and my wife has about 3 books in the works (all unfinished) and worked several years in the book business.

First of all, if you're not truly dedicated to it, you can pretty much forget about it. Writing a book requires a great deal of time, effort and discipline. Those that tend to be successful at it set aside a certain amount of time every day to write, or set goals for themselves to get a certain amount written every day/week/etc. And then they stick to it.

Second, when you finish your book, don't start looking for a publisher. Start working on your second book, then maybe your third (or, at least flesh out the idea for the third). In today's publishing business, publishers prefer writers that have several books already 'in the can'. That way, if the first one's a hit, or even somewhat successful, they can fast track the follow-ups to capitalize on the success of the first one. The publishing world is littered with authors that had huge first novels, then never could get another good one down. Not surprising, when you think about it. Most authors spend years refining their first novel. Once they sell it and they get to do another one, the publishing company is usually not going to wait several years for another one. They want to strike while the iron's hot, and that means tight deadlines.

Third, join a writer's group and give other people the opportunity to critique your work -- and listen to them. If you can't handle local people giving you suggestions on improving your writing, you'll never be able to deal with an experienced editor who is less likely to be concerned about hurting your feelings.

Once you feel you're ready to start looking for a publisher, you can find plenty of resources. The local bookstore probably has several books on getting your tome published. I seem to recall one from a few years ago call The Writer's Market, that lists publishers and what they specialize in. With the Internet and other sources available, there's no shortage of information available.

And finally, beware of self-publishing houses. Many of these companies prey on the ego of writers who just aren't good enough to get regular publishing contracts. They'll tell you what you want to hear so you agree to pay them to publish copies of your book. VERY VERY few successful authors started out by self-publishing their books.

Good luck, and you can spell it K-I-R-C-H in your dedication.;)

[keith758]

Thanks. I've already finished writing one book, and I'm thinking of writing a second. The first is fictional based on a hostage incident in a prison mixed with things that happened in my years in the corrections field. I started it about 2 or 3 years ago, and am in the process of rewriting, changing names, etc.. I've written all of my life, and have had a couple of things published in national magazines. I've had several people read the first draft of my book, and while some didn't feel comfortable with some of the descriptions and realism of events in the prison, they liked the story.

On a totally different track, I plan my second book to be more lighthearted. I grew up in rural Wisconsin in the 60s and 70s, and plan on writing from the perspective of a youth of that period. If nothing ever comes of any of this, at least my kids will have something to remember me by.

Thank again.

Keith

[ProWriter]

I'd agree with most of that, especially if he asked about BECOMING a writer...as in a career thing, but not necessarily if he's just saying he feels he's got a specific book "in" him that he wants to write.

Also, I think you can advise someone about business aspects and publishing procedures and so forth, but not so much when it comes to how to actually write, because people have to find their own natural tendencies. Some people write every day when they write; others might write in bursts when they're in the mood, or on weekends, or after they've been thinking about a particular topic and it's on the tip of their tongue, so to speak.

As far as getting it published, a lot has to do with whether it happens to be one of the topics on publishers' "lists" for the season. Some publishers accept unsolicited submissions but most don't. Many accept an unsolicited letter of inquiry, but others don't even take those.

Usually you should have at least a full outline ready and a sample chapter ready, because that's what they'll likely ask for if you're lucky enough to get response. Even then, it goes in what they call the "slush pile" which either get read randomly by the most junior person who's not too busy with anything to grab a manuscript on the way to the ****ter. Apparently, sometimes somebody will stuff a few in his bag to kill time on a flight, and then when he doesn't like one he'll just leave it at a boarding gate, where a very kind, concerned samaritan stumbles across it and calls the writer with the contact info on the cover because he thinks someone left some kind of important papers at the airport by accident...as actually happened to me one time :(

I also agree with the thing about "vanity" publishers being called that for a REASON. On the other hand, if I had a book finished that I (and others) really thought had potential, I might consider looking into xlibris.com, because they were offering to do their most basic package for free the last time I checked, and you can have it done better for a few hundred, or very nicely for less than a thousand bucks. It's not really a vanity publisher, which prints up a few hundred or few thousand copies for an agreed price per book; xlibris does it all digitally and they don't actually print any out besides the few you ask for unless or until they get an order. They also get the book registered with an ISBN# and listed on amazon and Barnes & Noble on-line, so that it can be ordered by anybody at will. Then they print up one copy and the writer gets a couple of bucks at whatever the rate is.

I'd be a disgrace to my own aol Screen Name if I used a "vanity" publisher, but if I finished a book that I thought deserved to be out there, I might do the xlibris thing and then use some finished product to send out to prospective publishers or literary editors.

Finding a literary agent helps a long way toward getting a publisher, but the process is similar (strong outline, finished at least a chapter, be on a topic that's marketable at the moment, and send a query letter first).

If it's the kind of thing where you have a book to write but it's the actual writING isn't really your thing, I know a good ghost writer :)

Edit (Never mind Keith, I just read what you posted while I was typing. Here's the Xlibris site (http://www1.xlibris.com/) Good luck with that.)

Kirch, is either of your wife's books SAR K-9 related by any chance? BTW, as an English major, you might appreciate a book I just finished: it's about bad punctuation. The title of the book is "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" with a picture of a panda bear walking away with a smoking pistol in his paw. :D

[kirch]

Excellent points from someone who's probably a bit more in touch with the process than I am. I agree that you have to write the way you're comfortable -- I guess my point is that a book's not going to get written unless a person sits down and starts pounding the keyboard.

Keith, given the nature of your second book, you may want to read one called Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time. It's a book about a writer that gives up the big city life, returns to his hometown in rural WI and joins up with the volunteer fire/EMS service. Since I'm a volunteer EMT in a rural WI town, it was a must-read for me. According to the dust-jacket, the writer (whose name escapes me at the moment) is "the only person in the history of the fire department to miss a monthly meeting for a poetry reading."

And no, sorry PW, none of my wife's books are regarding SAR. She's more into the supernatural/mystical stuff. And Eats Shoots and Leaves is already on my To Be Read list. Almost bought it on Sunday when I was at B&N -- picked up Roadside Geology of Wisconsin instead.

You either have a really good memory, or are stalking me. Should I be impressed...or frightened?

[ProWriter]

Definitely check half.com before you pick it up at B&N.

Yeah, I have one of those ridiculous memories for conversations...a lot of times I can remember elements of past conversations verbatim, kinda like a "phonographic" memory. You can bet I mentioned that in my oral interview too, in connection with being a good witness at trial. (Still waiting for the results of my BI, which seems to be taking forever.) It seems to work similarly on-line, whereupon seeing peoples' screen name usually triggers a flashback of everything I've ever discussed with them or read about them in their profile. In your case, I already considerd you one of the most consistently best-reasoned contributors to this board long before the Dog Noses thread, so I appreciated what you said in response to my post on there. Sometimes I forget names, but I still remember entire conversations. It comes...err...I mean it CAME in handy in strip clubs too, since I no longer condone such activities, in case my BI is checking up on my bulletin board postings :D

Keith:

I forgot to mention that you might want to pick up a copy of the 2004 Writer's Market which Kirch mentioned, because it lists all the publishing houses, their specific rules for inquiries, and the topics needed for their pending catalogs. Also, there are similar books about finding literary agents. Check the reference shelves but don't waste money on too many of those books for writers, because most of them only benefit the writer who's selling other writers his books.

[keith758]

Thanks, Kirch and PW. I'll definately pick up a copy of the 2004 Writer's market.

Keith

[kirch]

Originally posted by ProWriter
In your case, I already considerd you one of the most consistently best-reasoned contributors to this board long before the Dog Noses thread, so I appreciated what you said in response to my post on there.
:o

[b]don't waste money on too many of those books for writers, because most of them only benefit the writer who's selling other writers his books. In the words of many of my 'customers' -- True dat!