Writing Mastery

Get Rid of Writer's Procrastination and Put Your Words to Work For You Now with: Writer's success. This is 100% No Risk to You

Hi I really want to write a self help book. But I don’t know how to write it without getting expert advise. How can I write a book on something other people have written about without copywriting? The book is How to Be Yourself. I know how to write I just want to know how to get expert advise and references for the book, to make it authentic.

Do your own research on the subjects you want to write about so you know you have empirical evidence to back up your writing. A good place to start is to look for academic research reports on the relevant subjects. If you are part of a university you will have access to research journal databases (for studies that have been published in journals), and if your not you can subscribe to journals for not too much cost. You can reference academic reports in your writing as long as you report their data accurately.
Once you have an idea of the topics you want to cover and you have done some background research on studies etc backing up your ideas, then write an outline for your book, including chapter headings and main ideas etc.
Then, research some experts in the field. You may find them on the university websites or or by other means, but once you have tracked down a few experts you can approach them for an interview. You could even discuss with them the proposition that they write an essay or short spiel for your book.
You could format your book kinda like chicken soup for the soul with main writing by you and various contributions from various experts slotted in to help illustrate your points.
Using your own insight and ideas to pull together separate research findings and expert opinion on the subject of how to be yourself to make it accessible, helpful and readable for everyone sounds like an amazing idea.
My main advise though would be to consider gaining a qualification before you write your book. Even just an undergraduate qualification, because then you may even be able to write your book as a dissertation for a PHD!
The reason i suggest this is, sadly, no matter how amazing your writing is or how correct your ideas, people are not likely to take you seriously enough without a qualification to back you up.
Good luck!! xx

Tags: writing a book by admin
3 Comments »

Do u gather your thoughts before and let things kinda fall in place or do you create as you go. What’s the first step to writing a novel ?

The creative aspects, such as an outline and character development, will come to you in your own way.
That, however, is only half of it. To write a novel you need patience, self-discipline, and a committed work ethic. As I have said before, writing a novel is like running a marathon. No matter how excited you are at first, eventually you find yourself tiring. You have to keep at it. Then comes the editing of the first draft, rewriting it, editing it again, allowing someone to read it and point out all the mistakes you missed, back to editing…
Still, when you have what you consider the finished product in your hands, even if it never gets published, it is still an accomplishment of which to be proud.

Tags: writing a novel by admin
7 Comments »

What are free programs like Microsoft word?

Hi,

You could try the following, Abiword or Openoffice. Both Programs are free.

Hope this helps.

Abiword – http://www.abisource.com/
OpenOffice – http://www.openoffice.org/

Tags: writing programs by admin
2 Comments »

And are you looking forward to not reading it?

LOL, is that really the title. AHAHAHA
I was thinking it would be titled "You Betcha" or "Feelin’ Mavericky."

I can’t wait for it to come out so I can hear Stewart, Colbert and Olbermann rip it apart.

I wouldn’t waste my own time reading that thing and wouldn’t want to give her any money buying it.

Tags: how to write a book by admin
15 Comments »

I have written a book and I would like to at least try and see if anyone is willing to publish it. I have searched the internet but can’t really find many publishers. Does anyone have a website that might be able to help or first hand experience of a good publisher or agent?

Thanks.

I’ll give 10 points to the best answer and a signed first edition to them too if it ever gets published!

The Writer’s Handbook is a great idea. It’s available in most libraries and lists all the agents in the country you are in, according to genre.

The best way to get an agent is persistence. Begin by spending a bit of time writing a concise cover letter introducing yourself. Write a one or two page synopsis of your book too. This is a bit like a plot outline that doesn’t give the ending away. It should tell the reader enough to make them really want to read your book. It shows a little detail about the main characters and sets the scene.

Then use the Writer’s Handbook to create a list of likely publishers and agents.

Once you have the list, start by putting together a ‘pack’ that you intend to send off. You should send them off in batches of ten at a time. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but I’m afraid there is no other way! Start with agents, as they are more likely to reply than publishers, who may have a big ‘slush pile’ to wade through of other people’s work.

In your pack you should include:

1) Your cover letter
2) The synopsis
3) A cover sheet with your name, the proposed title of the book and your contact name, address, phone number and email address.
4) The first thirty pages or so of your book. It should be typed in a serif font (Times New Roman is best) as they are easier to read. Double space the type so the agent can make notes) and use about an ’11′ for the font size. Head all your chapters as follows:

CHAPTER: TITLE

E.g. If the chapter was called ‘Johnny Meets His Maker’ it would look like this:

CHAPTER: JOHNNY MEETS HIS MAKER

Start a new page every time you start a chapter. Indent your paragraphs a little (again it makes it easier to read). Only print on one side of the paper. Use white A4 paper only. Don’t bind it together with staples. Simply put the pages in a light cardboard folder, loose, but in order. Make sure you number ALL the pages.

Then send off your first ten and keep your fingers crossed. Wait about 4 weeks, send off another 10. Keep going…

If you follow the above submissions advice, agents will always reply (in the end) although it may take them a while.

I am not published yet but do have an agent now, and things are a LOT easier with one. Basically you could say that once you’ve got an agent you are half-way to getting published!

Whatever happens, keep trying and don’t give up hope just because you get a few rejections. Listen to the advice you get from any agents who reply. They normally (but not always) know what they are talking about. Either way, keep sending the packs out, and if your book is good you will get a deal in the end.

Best wishes and best of luck with your project.

Mike Gwyther

Tags: how to get a book published by admin
8 Comments »

I am an aspiring writer. I want to write movies. I feel due to my lack of experience within the industry, I won’t be able to see my work completed to my vision (Lose all my rights after my script is sold to the studio). Would writing books for all my ideas first be a better choice?

Only BIG names like King, Koontz and Rowling etc, can keep creative control of novels they wrote that are being made into movies. Other than really famous authors, no one really gets to keep creative control.
Just write your scripts because no matter what the studio will want to change a thing or two, probably to make it more appealing to a wider audience. Just have faith that they know what they are doing and won’t totally ruin your script.

Tags: writing a book by admin
2 Comments »