Are you thinking about writing a book?
I’m guessing that more than a few of you are either thinking about writing a book, or you’ve actually started. In either case, Scott Berkun has some thoughts for you to consider.
You see, he’s had a lot of people ask him “How do you write a book?” But when you probe into it a bit, they’re asking about a few different things. For example, there are those who want to know if there’s some secret to the process of writing. There isn’t.
If you want to write, kill the magic: a book is just a bunch of writing. Anyone can write a book. It might suck or be incomprehensible, but so what: it’s still a book. Nothing is stopping you right now from collecting all of your elementary school book reports, or drunken napkin scribbles, binding them together at kinkos for $20, slapping a title on the cover, and qualifying as an author. Want to write a good book? Ok, But get in line. Most pro authors are trying to figure that out too.
Then there are those who are really asking about how to get your book published.
30% of the time the real thing people are asking is how do you find a publisher. As if there wasn’t a phone book or, say, an Internet-thingy where you can look this stuff up. Writers-market is literally begging to help writers find publishers. Many publishers, being positive on the whole idea of communication, put information on how to submit material on their website. And so do agents. The grand comedy of this is how few writers follow the instructions. That’s what pisses off all the editors: few writers do their homework.
Go check it out. Scott’s written a couple of best-sellers, so his advice is worth reading.
Roy Jacobsen
in Good advice from here and there
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Saw your post at Chris Brogan about Twitter. I love Twitter - it is so quick and easy! Feel free to add "Marti_L" and I'll add you back.
Hope you have a wonderful day!