Writing a book?

Well, I don't know how much help I can be on giving advice on the subject.  I just wrote my first novel, and it is now in the production/formatting phase of publication. 

Let me tell you a little about why I write.  I am the type of person that supresses a lot of feelings.  I write so that I can express those feelings in a way that is creative and fulfilling to me.  It helps to take all of those unspoken angers and frustrations and create a character that can express them in a way that I could not.

Now, do you have a purpose behind you writing.  It does not have to be all that profound, but there needs to be something there that a reading audience can relate to.  There has to be something that you want to share or express that others may find interesting.

When I was writing, one of the things that I wanted to avoid was a year long stint in the editing department so I editing my book at home using all of the capabilities that my pc provided.  I did this several times.  I wanted to make sure that my subject and verb agreed, that all my words were spelled correctly, that I was not over using a word, and that i was using my words in the right context.

Another thing that I checked was my typing.  I looke for typos.  Sometimes speel check will miss these because they are actual words, but they are not always the words that you intended to use.

I wrote my manuscript first, and then went back to check it about four time.

That was the easy part. 

Wanna get published?

Finding a publisher was not the easiest thing in the world.  Many publishing companies do not want to acceot work by a new author without an agent.  Then there are the vanity press publishing companies.  These are the companies that want you to pay for publication.  Most will publish anything you write as long as you front the cash.  There are some that will only publish works that have read and approved.  Many charge by-the-word fees for editing.  What's this?  This is where they charge you somewhere around $.16 per word to edit your manuscript.  That may not seem like much, but multiply that times about 40,000 words.  Then add the price of publication.  You could be dishing out over a thousand dollars!!

One piece of advice that I was given was "never self-publish".  This means stay away from the front-the-cash-we'll-publish-you-as-long-as-you-pay-us type publishers.  Look for more traditional companies.  Read every bit of information each publishing company sends you.  You could even check them out with the Better Business Bureau.  Not all are members of the BBB, but there is usually some sort of report there telling if the bureau had to step in and handle complaints about the company.

Know anyone who has already been there, done that?  Ask them.  Most already published writers are very friendly and supportive- at least all the ones that I have become acquainted with over the last month or so.  They can offer advice on marketing, chosing a publisher, and so much more.

Well, I guess that is about all that I can say on that subject.  Check out my website. 

I am not a licensed professional. I am just answering a question that I thought I may have a little insight on.

Tootles!!