Has anyone ever written a book?

[polkadotsuitcase]

has anyone ever written a book? I have some ideas for some fun fluff novels. I have these interesting dreams and whenever I tell them to my friend, they tell me that would make a great book! lol So I have started by writing down my ideas but I have no idea how to turn them into something! Do I just write? Is there a website that tells you how long to make a chapters or how many chapters should be in a book? Any help would be great!

I'm a freelance writer (magazines), and I've written seven books. Five have been part of a science activity series for kids. One was a biography, and the last (my favorite, of course!) is about Walt Disney World!

My books are obviously non-fiction, and you're talking about fiction, right? In a nutshell, PPs are right -- you write it first, then find a publisher (whether it's traditional or self-pub). I wouldn't worry about length of chapters or how many right now -- write what feels right, and then worry about the revisions later. If you think of each chapter as a little "mini play" with a beginning, middle, and end, that'll give you a good length for each chapter (but of course the "end" is really a cliff-hanger to lead to the next chapter).

Good luck -- writing is fun, but it's also a ton of sitting there, writing, when you'd rather be doing something else!

I recently released a book with Disney inspired haiku. 350 appear in the book.

This sounds ADORABLE! Really great idea!

 

[tiggger1]

thanks again~ I am off to church but I will reply more when I get home!

 

[Scambone]

My friend and I cowrote a book last year for Nanowrimo. For the last two years that I joined nano they give you a free copy of your story if you finish. I'm not talking like a crappy binder with printer paper but actual nice glossy paper back. here's mine from last year

After reading through it I noticed I had some typos but you have until june of the following year to fix that and even if you dont fix it the book is free and in your hands. it's really a win win situtation

 

[coneygoil]

First off, it's awesome that you want to write a book! I have been writing since I was 8-years old and that's been 20 years now. If you have a lot of ideas for different stories, watch out because you'll want to write them all at once. That's my problem. I've had so many ideas and tried to write them all and it just doesn't work. So, I haven't actually finished a whole book because of that!

My biggest thing for the past several years is writing fanfiction. Though you can never published fanfiction as a book, it does help with hashing out ideas for original stories and there's a huge audience for fanfics where you can get critique and have a beta reader (editor).

When it comes to chapters, you can honestly make them as long or as short as you want! That's the beauty of writing. You can do whatever you want. It's your story and your format. Have fun writing!!!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

My friend and I cowrote a book last year for Nanowrimo. For the last two years that I joined nano they give you a free copy of your story if you finish. I'm not talking like a crappy binder with printer paper but actual nice glossy paper back. here's mine from last year

After reading through it I noticed I had some typos but you have until june of the following year to fix that and even if you dont fix it the book is free and in your hands. it's really a win win situtation

Very cool!

 

[Mimi1965]

When it comes to chapters, you can honestly make them as long or as short as you want! That's the beauty of writing. You can do whatever you want. It's your story and your format. Have fun writing!!!

I have to say it is easier to read James Patterson's Novels because of his short chapters.

My sister wrote a child's fiction book about a girl afraid of a scary shadow in her bedroom at night. She even illustrated it (She specializes in realistic Flower paintings). She even had a Children's author who lives here look at it.

Sadly-she never found a publisher-put it away, and stuck to her Watercolor paintings-that she does sell occasionally.

 

[rlovew]

I would highly suggest trying to find a writer's conference in your area to go to- My mother has published over 12 books and such (she has been writing for over 15 years now) but started out with articles to get up credentials as well as attending conferences. At a conference you will be able to meet with publishers, editors, and agents as well as learn more about the craft of writing and maybe learn more about writer's groups in your area. If possible find a conference that fits your genre/area of writing to go to.

 

[palavra]

No, but i had a story chosen to be in the 2011 edition of Passporters