Do you want to write a book?

You guys are all nuts. That's great you all have or want to knock out a book. Much respect coming from this corner ... don't think I'd have it in me.

 

There's a running thread in the Workshop for those of you with questions about the craft and practice of book writing. Handy motivational stuff, too, if you're having trouble figuring out how to start. Or stop.

Drop in.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/36781/

 

Austin Murphy stole my idea. But I actually lived it - he just pretended to live it.

 

I would like to and have some ideas. Probably non-fiction if I did. Right now, I am sticking to working on a few screenplays. Finished one with a friend, about to finish our second and have some others in mind.

 

I've got three ideas for non-fiction and a few for fiction. I'd really love to do the non-fictions, but unless I was given an advance big enough to live on, there's just no way.

I started one of the fictions about a year ago, got busy and just never got the train rolling again. Perhaps I should give it another go.

 

Done it. It's a lot of work. A <b>lot</b> of work, especially if you're doing your regular stuff along with it.

Pragmatically speaking, didn't really make enough money to justify the amount of work involved.

But when they sent me copies of the finished product, my hands were shaking as I opened the box and pulled a book out.

The doing is an ordeal, but having done it is a great feeling.

 

As I'm sure published authors such as Jones and Friend of the Friendless can attest, writing a book is a totally different creature than a feature story or even a long magazine article.

An "idea" for a book isn't worth squat.

A book is a building. You have to have the architectural plans down first.

I'd suggest people visit this thread over at "Writer's Workshop" that our friend jgmacg recommends (and started) Good post by Jones.

And Smasher is right. If you're doing it for the money, try Powerball.

Yes, some people do OK financially but for every author getting a six figure advance, there are thousands getting $10,000 and a free lunch courtesy of their agent.

 

I don't want to do it for money ... I just need money to do it, if that makes sense.

I want to do it for that thrill that Smasher mentions, having this permanent, lasting work to point to and say, "I did that!"

 

I'm actually in the process of working out a children's book series. Hopefully it works its way onto PBS, Nick or Disney.

 

Not for all the money in the world.

I kill myself to crank out 20 inches. No thanks.

 

I have no desire to write a book. A screenplay on the other hand interests me greatly.

 

I'm more interested, frankly, in nudging my wife into writing a book. I think she has something to say.

Me? I'd like to plug into one of those detective series deals, like the Stephanie Plum novels.