I have no clue were to start

[jennix]

hi my name is jennifer i am trying to write a book about my life and i need someone to help me get started.... I was wondering what kind of software would be good for this and how i would go about getting it out there for people to see i am not interested in the money i am writing to help other teens that are in the situation i was in to understand never to settal so if you think you can help please let me know by leaving me a message or emailing me at jennix@houston.rr.com and if you want to know more about my story just let me know and i will give you the jist of it as i said befor im not out for the money i am a stay at home mom that has something to say that may help another girl cope with the problems i had and not make the same mistakes i did. I appreciate your time and again thank you.

[jennix]

this is nerve recking but i am detirmined to do this i have made notes for years and i have no idea how to use a computer to do this i could just write it but i need help with the structure of my book HELP PLEASE!!!!!

[MadScientistMatt]

The software question is not all that important, really. You can be an author without any computer at all if you are so inclined. Having a computer really makes things easier, but it's far from essential. If you already have a computer and a decent word processing program like Microsoft Word or ClarrisWorks, that should be plenty.

Well, you already have the basic idea of the story. And you have notes. That's a start.

Then the next step is to make a rough draft. This is the first version of the text of the story. Just sit down and either start typing it with your word processing program, or writing it on paper if you'd rather use a pen. Or you could use a mechanical typewriter or crayons if you want. All that counts is bringing the story out of your head and into the real world. Spend some time on this every day until the rough draft is done. You don't have to go back and fix things yet; you can get to that later.

Then you revise the rough draft. And revise. And revise. Then stop once you've gotten the exact words you think would be suitable for putting in the book.

Once you have your book actually written, you need to turn it into a manuscript. This is a written form suitable for presenting to an editor. You will find a lot of threads here about how these are formated - basically, they are always double spaced and look like they came off a typewriter.

Then, you need to go about selling this manuscript to a publisher. Notice I said selling. The thing to remember here is that you will be acting sort of like an employee (technically, an independant contractor) for a company that makes and sells books. As an employee, you are paid for your time and efforts - not the other way around! And your job is simply to make them the text of the book. It is not to market the book, sell it to your friends, subsidize the cost of printing, or anything like that. They are simply hiring you to write the words to go in their books so they can sell the books and make money. Any publisher that is asking you to do things other than write (well, other than put in public appearances for your fans!) is probably trying to make money off you and not the book.

But right now you don't need to worry too much about publishing. Just sit down and write the words to make a complete book.

[underthecity]

For this kind of book you need an exciting way to start. I would suggest opening the book with a funny anecdote that has happened in your life, or something outlandish, or crazy, or inspiring--one event that sets the stage for your the whole book. Once you get this down, you'll love what you have written and will want to keep going.

As far as structure, definitely follow Matt's advice, and consider a chronological order of events. When the rough draft is finished, you can always change things around.

The hardest part of the whole process is the rough draft. Your goal here is to just get the words down and worry about cleaning it up later. Editing, clean-up, proofreading will all come later. Just get the words down for now.

Matt has suggested using a pencil, typewriter, etc. Since you obviously have a computer, I recommend Word. If you don't have a copy, you can find last year's edition on eBay probably fairly cheap. You can find "Open Office 1.0" for free online, which is kind of like Word, and totally compatible.

A word processor like Word is definitely a tool you need to make writing easier. I don't know where I would be without the easy ability to cut and paste.

Meanwhile get some books from the library and/or bookstore on writing, and read everything you can on these boards about writing and publishing. Don't worry about a publisher right now, but you can fantasize about it in your spare time.

And keep us posted! We're all writers here at various levels, but all share the same goal.

underthecity

[maestrowork]

Any PC has built-in word processors. Basic, perhaps, but functional, at least until you can afford a better software.

Or pen and paper would work just fine.

This is not a smart alec comment. Seriously, the way to start is to put words on paper (or in a computer file)... one word first. Then another sentence. Then a paragraph...

[E.G. Gammon]

http://www.familyhistoryproducts.com/memorygrabber.html

^ That's a great e-book that helps when writing an autobiography. It is a series of 'fill in the blank' sheets that helps you remember things from your life.

[Takvah]

You mentioned that you were in a situation. Perhaps you could start there and then explain (in an entertaining way), how you got there. The thing you need to remember is that if you are writing about your life and you want people to READ IT, you have to keep them interested. Teens don't want a lecture.

I'm going to be very blunt here, and also add that it is sometimes considered arrogant for young people to write their life stories. I can only hope that your subject matter overcomes that kind of stigma. It's been done before, but consider it a rarity. A better idea might be to write it as fiction, calling on your experiences.

As for the software, I think perhaps you want it to correct spelling and small syntax errors. While this is a concern, I think at this point (as has been said) you just need to get the words on paper. You can use Wordpad (comes with Windows) for that. If the passion and tenacity in your posts translates in your writing, you could be well on your way.

Takvah

[maestrowork]

By the way, Open Office is free and I know at least one person who swears by it! :)

[write4details]

You'd have a hell of a time getting anybody to look at a manuscript written in pen.

Your best bet would be to enter your stuff into a word processing program. That very process might be very helpful to you...going over it, maybe even dumping stuff you find to boring to enter.

Once at that point, you will be in a better position to organize. I would suggest entering the story into separate files for various incidents or times, with a few "slush pile" files and a file for making current notes. Also a file that essentially a list of your other files, so you can start moving them around and lining them up.

[Eric Summers]

By the way, Open Office is free and I know at least one person who swears by it! :)

Add my name to that list. It has a little less robust spell checker and auto-correct than Microsoft Word, it is still an excellent program.

http://www.openoffice.org/

It's 100% free. Note that it includes a full suite of "office" applications, so you won't just be getting a free word processor program. It also includes spreadsheet program and other nice things that I never use.

The word processor is free, a decent printer at Wal-Mart is about $50.00. After that all you need is paper and postage.

As for structuring your book, visit your library or bookstore and park yourself in front of the section that sells books that you think are along the same line as yours. Take some time to examine how the other authors did it, how they broke out their story, what voice they used, etc.

Good luck with your book, and when it's time to start looking for a publisher, make sure to check out the Bewares and Background Check forum on here before you submit it. I won't mention any names, but you should be able to tell pretty easily from a quick glance at that forum the #1 place to NOT submit your book to.

[Roger J Carlson]

This is not a smart alec comment. Seriously, the way to start is to put words on paper (or in a computer file)... one word first. Then another sentence. Then a paragraph...I have to second maestrowork on this. When I first started, I was always being distracted by things I was going to write on the next page or the next chapter. Finally I took myself by the collar and said, "Look Roger, write THIS sentence NOW! Worry about the next sentence when it comes." It helps.

[Roger J Carlson]

Oh, another thing. You should take the time to read the "Learning to Write With Uncle Jim" thread in this forum. It may take you several days, but it's worth it. There is a lot of information there. (At the very least, read the "Uncle Jim, Undiluted" thread.)

One thing you'll learn there is you MUST write EVERY DAY, whether you feel like it or not. Uncle Jim calls this BIC (Butt In Chair). You must have your butt in your chair in front of your computer at least one hour every day* working on your manuscript. It doesn't matter if what you write is junk or not. You just have to write.

*OK, maybe your BIC is two hours. Or maybe 500 words or 1000. Whatever. The point is you have to have a regular routine that you keep religiously.

If you don't, you are very unlikely to finish. This might sound strange, but you will get more done by writing one hour five days a week, than you will writing five hours in one day. (Besides, then you can still write five hours on Saturday and double your output.)

[scribbler1382]

Best thing since sliced bread...and doesn't rip when you try to write on it! :)

Besides, it's free:

http://www.rsalsbury.co.uk/rd.htm

[SRHowen]

Ok, the post burgler is after me again, I posted, saw my post came back later and it was poof gone.

Sigh

[James D. Macdonald]

Best software? Any word processer at all. One that you're comfortable with. One that came free with your computer. Doesn't matter. All you need to do is imitate a typewriter.

How to start? Your choice:

CHAPTER ONE

I am born.


or

CHAPTER ONE

It was a dark and stormy night.

Continue from there. When you reach "The End" go back and cut everything that isn't part of your story.

=============

The only reason to write a story is to tell a story. If you don't want to tell a story ... perhaps this isn't the board for you. Non-fiction, essay ... something else. This is the place for novels.