Writing a book

Ive often thought of writing a book myself, a proper account of my life so far. No holds barred stuff.

Fiction with some cats in it. Good luck, I really wouldn't know where to start.

Kenny, I have a great Cat story for you but its for another day.

I've often thought someday I'm gunna write, the story of my life.

I'll tell about the night we met,and how my heart can't forget the way she smiled at me.
!

ok mate, does it have roller skates in it?

Mine is a dystopian novel - not too cheery

Oh right, I know a lot about Bradford. pm me.

If you want to write a book, make sure you get paid for it. The money flows TO the author, not away.

The easiest way to start is to write Kindle ebooks for Amazon. It costs you nothing and you get 70% royalties. Once you have your Kindle book up and running, use CreateSpace (Amazon again) to get a paperback version out. These are Print On Demand (POD) books, which means that Amazon will advertise them but only print them one at a time as they sell. Again, costs you nothing and makes you look professional.

To get your work onto iBooks, etc, or into bookshops or libraries, you can also use Smashwords and Draft2Digital. Again, costs you nothing.

If you cannot copy edit your work (I don't mean spellcheck) then you may have to pay somebody. Likewise, if you can't make a cover, you may have to pay for a stock photo (very cheap) and get somebody to put your name and title on the thing.

I do my own work and the money deposited in my bank every month keeps me smiling.

One last thing, use pen names. Anything you need to ask, give me a shout. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice and offer Gallivanter. My wife is an editor in her job, so I think I'm sorted there and I do know a very good artist. My main problem is figuring out if my style of writing can be transferred to a fictional setting. Only one way to find out I suppose! I would be content just to write a book I was happy with even if it remained unpublished.

Many universities offer short courses in creative writing so it might be worth a look to see if there is one near Hill Towers. Being around other writers and taking advice from people who have done it (whatever "it" is) might help.

For instance, City University in London has 13 short courses to choose from.

1	An Approach to Creative Writing
2	Children's Fiction Workshop
3	Fact-based Storytelling
4	Narrative Non-Fiction
5	Novel Writing and Longer Works
6	Plot Surgery - How to Identify and Resolve Structural Problems in Your Novel
7	Short Story Writing
8	The Novel Studio
9	Travel Writing
10	Writers' Workshop
11	Writing for Business
12	Writing for Children
13	Writing for the Web and Digital Media

I think it was ?Velasquez? that published a short novel onto Amazon. I got a free copy but read the first page and it wasn't for me. Nothing wrong with his writing BTW, the subject matter didn't appeal to me. I never left a review which I promised to do. I may get around to actually reading it some day but he he spots this thread then he may be able to provide some tips on how to publish.

I recommend buying "The Elements Of Style" by Strunk and White, a little book and useful imo. 
And "On Writing" by Stephen King.
He does give some good advice e.g.  it is ok to write "I prikced my finger".  Not so good if you write "I fingered my prikc."

Best just to write it.  Most books need to be re-written dozens of times.  The record is I think 100+.
Never use an adverb (words ending in "ly").

I brought a kindle book from someone who posted on here a couple of years ago, (DWilliams or something similar) it was well written but not my kind of book (I read half of it and my missus enjoyed it) it was a Bridget Jones type book for blokes, and it had some good humour in it.

I think it'd be very very hard to write a book that could keep the reader interested. I'd rather a page be filled with characters thoughts rather than endless paragraphs about the scenery/weather. Most books could be reduced by 20% imo and not affect the storyline at all. I suppose some publishers want X amount of words? Keep the reader entertained.

Good luck if you go for it.

You should try reading a screen play.  It just has the dialogue with very basic descriptive flannel.

Gallivanter, are you Dr. Chuck Tingle by any chance?

I wish I had wrote down or recorded all those great stories I have heard in pubs and the works canteen or had a better memory for all the things that I have seen over the years, they would have made for a  good book.

Sep 14, 2015 -- 10:19AM, macarony wrote:

I wish I had wrote down or recorded all those great stories I have heard in pubs and the works canteen or had a better memory for all the things that I have seen over the years, they would have made for a

Sep 14, 2015 -- 10:19AM, macarony wrote:

I wish I had wrote down or recorded all those great stories I have heard in pubs and the works canteen or had a better memory for all the things that I have seen over the years, they would have made for a  good book.

>That was the entire basis of one of Roddy Doyle's books.

or Trainspotting.

No. I mean one of Roddy Doyle more recent books was literally conversations he'd overheard in the pub.

There was some goodstory tellers in the old pubs when you could smoke same with the works canteen,
something about a group of smokers always chatting never quite.

I wrote a book a couple of years ago, Hank, and posted up a sample chapter on Chit Chat, garnering some very kind reviews, constructive criticism and advice.  Maybe you could try the same, sir?