Hi! New here and not sure if this is the right forum

Welcome to the Cooler. Have you gone to the Newbie section? There is a ton of info. there. This is a great place with a bunch of nice people with good information and knowledge.

Hi sarahaarssen,

I moved your post here because I thought you might have better luck finding the information you need.

Anne

P.S. Just a note--You got 30 responses to your first post in the Newbies forum way back in March. Have you seen them?

sarahaarssen said:

. . . where in the world do I start?. . . .

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Start with a clear statement of topic and purpose. Develop an outline. Do research and systematically take notes. Create files for resource materials. Keep digital files organized and regularly backup your files. Supplement printed resources and other written resources with interviews (taking careful notes). Be careful to identify the exact source of everything, with special care about quotes. Revisit and revise your outline. Revise your statement of topic and purpose as may be required. Repeat until you have a book manuscript. Edit and revise. Repeat editing and revision until the manuscript is as good as it can be.

Learn about what goes into book queries and book proposals. Learn what competitive books are out there. Strengthen your credibility by writing articles and speaking.

--Ken

And reading this thread will give you a good heads-up. (Even with the goofy new title....)

sarahaarssen said:

But the real reason I am here is that I have an idea for a book on Infertility. I guess it would be an inspirational type book telling stroies of couples in different phases and steps of infertility. I guess the real question is where in the world do I start? I've already written a few pieces that I plan on including in the book but what comes first the chicken or the egg?

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I suggest the book "Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553061771/?tag=absolutewritedm-20
it is helping me immensely. You'll want to start with a book proposal and this book will show you how. Also the thread recommended just above is very good too but the book explains the process more and has more hand holding.

I also used the Shortest Distance book and found it immensely helpful.

You may want to start by researching (even just on Amazon) what competing titles are out there. Your book needs to be substantially different in some way from recent books on the subject.

Then, of course, there's platform, platform, platform.

Hi Sarah and welcome! If the book on infertility is something that you are passionate about then start writing it. While you are writing, take time to learn everything you can about your subject and about publishing a book of this type. It just takes time...lots of time and there are no shortcuts. Perhaps think of some articles you could write on the subject. But above all educate yourself...become a student of what you desire. Use books, the internet, magazines, writers conferences and so forth. And begin to form a clear idea of what will make your book different than all the other infertility books out there.

You can start by going to amazon.com or powells.com and search for your subject. Read the synopsis' to help you to know what's out there. Take notes; notice what's done over and over and what's missing.

You've found the best resource available right here on this website. Keep searching the different areas and reading, doing searches and posting questions. And again...welcome! You've come to the right place!

Lavinia