Writing a book

[tonywalt]

Is anyone writing a book?

You need not be contemplating publishing- in whatever form now available, but you are putting the words onto a computer or paper.

I know we similiar conversation from time to time, but I see many skilled writers on the forum. I just think there's a good handful out there, quietly writing away.

[Buh4Bee]

No, but when I retire, I'd like to write a children's book. There are many skilled writers here and other places as well.

[secret code]

one of my dreams that i can in some day write a book.

[TurquoiseSunset]

This is not the kind of reply you want, but I'm giving my two cents anyway ;)

If I could be anything at all, I would want to be a successful author. The thing is, I've never written anything apart from a few poems. I've never had any ideas for a potential story. So, with no ideas, I have nothing to even try with. :prrr:

[osho]

This is a wonderful platform for you to share as a writer and of course it kind of gives you every idea you need as a budding writer. Writing is one thing and successfully, impressively writing is another thing. All sprouting writers do not bloom and most peter out. Most lack perseverance, since writing demands of you great amounts of sacrifice, days, months and years of isolation and uncertainty. There is no guarantee whether you succeed or wither. Writing is indeed a fascinating activity and most of who write for making an earning are always unsure about their future. It is bleak.

To satisfy a publisher is the most daring undertaking.

[tonywalt]

I am happy writing everyday - and the sum of it will be a book (at least on Word). I don't view it as work, I would do it anyway.

Just always surprised that we do not have more writers on here, alot of people in education-good fit. Again, many members on here I would put on par with published writers in terms so talent and ability.

[Paulclem]

I've written some poems, a few children's stories and I have some short sci-fi stories on the boil. My problem is waiting for the perfect time to write. There isn't a perfect time of course. It's write or don't write.

One of the reasons I came onto this forum was to keep writing small amounts even when busy, but just this year even that has been compromised by commitments - I'm working and studying too. Still, my course ends soon, and i will have no excuse to procrastinate.

[Sancho Panza]

I have completed a manuscript for the first of a fantasy series that I have been planning for years. I was in the midst of typing up a second draft when I was inspired to begin the second in the series, so I am now 370 pages into that instead. Eventually everything will be complete (I am planning 4 or 5 books) and I will be in a position to approach some publishers. George R.R. Martin had better watch his back! (Or not as the case will inevitably be :( )

[Lokasenna]

I'm currently writing two books, one fiction and one (hopefully!) factual.

There's the Tolkien/Old Norse saga inspired fantasy work, for which I have pages and pages of notes (not to mention reams of poetry), but for which I seem to have little time these days. I set myself the challenge of doing an hour's writing on it everyday, but sadly that fell by the wayside pretty quickly.

Then there's the book I'm actually doing really quite well with, which is essentially going to be a tweaked version of my PhD. It's going to be an analysis of the way in which empowered female identity is constructed and subsequently opposed in Old Norse mythological literature. Which basically means I'm going to witter on about witches and trolls, and hopefully someone somewhere might think it's not total twaddle.

[JuniperWoolf]

Then there's the book I'm actually doing really quite well with, which is essentially going to be a tweaked version of my PhD. It's going to be an analysis of the way in which empowered female identity is constructed and subsequently opposed in Old Norse mythological literature. Which basically means I'm going to witter on about witches and trolls, and hopefully someone somewhere might think it's not total twaddle.

Cool, I like witches in mythology. Do the Norse witches resemble the Greek, Medea and The Graeae and all them with the cauldrons and charms and such?

[MarkBastable]

Yeah.

[tonywalt]

I'm currently writing two books, one fiction and one (hopefully!) factual.

There's the Tolkien/Old Norse saga inspired fantasy work, for which I have pages and pages of notes (not to mention reams of poetry), but for which I seem to have little time these days. I set myself the challenge of doing an hour's writing on it everyday, but sadly that fell by the wayside pretty quickly.

Then there's the book I'm actually doing really quite well with, which is essentially going to be a tweaked version of my PhD. It's going to be an analysis of the way in which empowered female identity is constructed and subsequently opposed in Old Norse mythological literature. Which basically means I'm going to witter on about witches and trolls, and hopefully someone somewhere might think it's not total twaddle.


Impressive Lokasenna, do keep us in the loop when you get to the publishing process. Whether it be a niche publication for academia or a broader market, I am really interested in the process. There is so much change as of lately in publishing.

[Lokasenna]

Cool, I like witches in mythology. Do the Norse witches resemble the Greek, Medea and The Graeae and all them with the cauldrons and charms and such?

There's some stuff that's clearly has classical influences - for example, the recurring figure of the prophetess has very obviously been coloured by the Sybiline tradition.

However, a lot of what I'm arguing in my book is that actually there is a distinctly northern original flavour to these figures - that, essentially, the same set of basic assumptions underscore the characteristion of empowered females in the literary constructed universe of pre-historic Northern Europe, and that this effect bleeds down into the portrayal of ostensibly real and historical characters in sagas that are set in the real world. Basically, I'm arguing that your evil, destructive troll-woman of eddic myth has, in some way, the same set of associations as a grouchy 11th century Icelandic farmwife, and that this is a distinctly northern characteristic.


Impressive Lokasenna, do keep us in the loop when you get to the publishing process. Whether it be a niche publication for academia or a broader market, I am really interested in the process. There is so much change as of lately in publishing.

It'll be a year or so yet before I start really sounding out publishers, but there are a few I've got my eye on. I'm sure I'll keep LitNet informed - the publication of my first book-length piece would be a pretty major event in my life!