How to write your first book

I have this book somewhere. Not very useful in practical terms. In fact, the best that can be learned about writing your first successful book is that there is no magic and there are many ways to get published.

Actually, that's the entire help in this book, so you don't need it anymore.

Jeff

WeaselFire said:

I have this book somewhere. Not very useful in practical terms. In fact, the best that can be learned about writing your first successful book is that there is no magic and there are many ways to get published.

Actually, that's the entire help in this book, so you don't need it anymore.

Jeff

Click to expand...

WORD

Books on writing are sometimes quite cute. And it's nice to kind of go, 'ah! yes. me too.' There's a sense that I'm in the right community when I'm reading such books.

But who cares.

When it comes to me sitting down and writing. I'm just gonna sit down and right, yo.

How to write your first book - start at the beginning, write until you reach the end.

williemeikle said:

How to write your first book - start at the beginning, write until you reach the end.

Click to expand...

No, damn it, You write an outline first!

MookyMcD said:

No, damn it, You write an outline first!

Click to expand...

No. You most certainly do not.

KTC said:

Books on writing are sometimes quite cute. And it's nice to kind of go, 'ah! yes. me too.' There's a sense that I'm in the right community when I'm reading such books.

But who cares.

When it comes to me sitting down and writing. I'm just gonna sit down and right, yo.

Click to expand...

When I start to doubt myself and my direction with my writing, reading something that says "It's okay, you're feeling the same thing we did" is a huge relief. Those kind of stories can give good advice, but really, no one can tell you how YOU will do it. Pen on the paper, fingers on the keyboard, speech-to-text translator on, make words happen. That's the only constant.

Yep...it is good to immerse yourself in the conversation of getting it done. I so agree.

I start by getting out the tequila and chocolate, but that's just me.

I just go with the chocolate. I'm allergic to tequila. And all other types of alcohol.

And you don't outline *or* just sit down and write. You close your eyes, summon the word gremlins, and beg them to give you the right words for your story. Then you put your fingers on the keyboard and wait.

No, no, no. It's chocolate and *vodka.* Why does no one ever get this right?

Gin.

And candles and mood music.

Oh wait, I think I'm on the wrong forum.

It's coffee and chocolate, maybe mood music, and background noise (no alcohol for this chicky).

<<Gin.

And candles and mood music.

Oh wait, I think I'm on the wrong forum.>>

He he he!!

Nope. Coffee is the everyday stuff of life. One shot of spectacular tequila and one piece of great dark chocolate are the opening libations to my inner muses. But that is for big projects.

I start a story with one or two lines that rattle around my skull until I have to write them down and see what comes next.

williemeikle said:

How to write your first book - start at the beginning, write until you reach the end.

Click to expand...

Your very first book?

Write because you have to, because this or that character will not shut the f up. Write because it's burning a hole in your head.

Write because, godsdammit, you love to write.

Other things come into play later, so make the most of your first book. Write because it's fun, because your brain will melt otherwise, or the voices are getting to you or, hey, because you have the bestest idea ever

THIS is the time for unbridled enthusiasm, for just flinging the story on the page, for not giving a crap who else likes it

Savour it. Do it, and have fun with it, revel in it.

The rest comes later.

Yes. Make it fun, and try to remember how it felt. Because at some point, you will need those memories.

Tequila and chocolate serve opposite functions, don't they?

Tequila is for writing.

Chocolate (and other, clearly-inferior means of ingesting caffeine) is for editing.

Alcohol doesn't summon the muses; it quiets them.

Birol said:

Alcohol doesn't summon the muses; it quiets them.

Click to expand...

Naw, it knocks out the inner editor and then the muses tear up the joint.

And leave a huge mess to be cleaned up later.

I agree with Birol.

Those voices that appear once you've had a few drinks? They're not your muse, they're a gang of troublemakers who make you write gibberish.

Mr Flibble said:

The rest comes later.

Click to expand...

Alas, it most certainly does.

caw

Alcohol, coffee, chocolate, and any other "muse tweakers"... crutches are for the injured. Trust both your brain and body to be quicker and more dexterous without them, and you will be able to write just as well when they are not available as when they are.

And that's the best way to write a book--trust your brain and put it to work without a dependence on any crutches and without initial limitations of any convention. Then perfect the project by learning and applying the craft of writing.