Anyone else writing a book?

[Robert Maxwell]

Write it. And publish it under a pseudonym. You would then have to cope with having published a novel you couldn't talk to your family about, so that might not help you!

If you see a book on the shelves several years down the road and it's written by "Kestra" you might want to pick it up!

Is there anything in your story that would make your sister or family look bad? I mean, every family has its secrets. If there are certain things you just aren't comfortable telling the world, then don't. I suspect you can communicate the essence of your story without making it a tell-all tabloid.

Yeah, it wouldn't paint them all in a good light. I mean, I would never be intentionally malicious. I think even people here can tell that much about me. But I come from a family that has its share of quirks and deeper issues, and part of that is helped along by my family's complete refusal to talk about anything. There's a very strong cultural attitude about keeping things private, even seemingly minor things.

That's not to say that I would write the story from a perspective of someone who is all good and shiny and perfect in a family of crazies. It's more about how I view my family and my culture. Something that at times, is deeply flawed and harmful but in the end is also incredibly rewarding and invaluable.

Okay sorry, I'm totally turning this thread into focusing on me! I honestly didn't mean to. This is the most open I've been about my ideas before and I just got carried away.

Talking about yourself is okay, you know.

If you don't want to derail this thread, why don't you start one about your eventual book? Sounds like you could use some support.

 

[Emher]

No, but my mom is pestering dad about a new computer with a proper keyboard (they only have a macbook at the moment) so that she can start hers. And my granddad (dads dad) have just finished his about some of the stuff he's been trough and his work life. He's also convinced that he will get killed because of it when it's released

Me I've toyed with the idea of writing one about my really horrible teens and the things that was done to me, but I realized a bit back that I'm actually done with that period and don't need to bring it back up. I've moved on.

I've had some other ideas as well but nothing that sticks. Right now I'm more interested in doing like almost music video shorts instead of writing.


But congrats indeed to finishing the book

There are Apple stores in Switzerland?

Wouldn't know never been there.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Kestra, have you considered writing it as an honest autobiography of an immigrants' daughter's life in America? There is such a thing as being too honest, but if you portray the book from the outset as a cultural piece, it is far more difficult for sensible people to take offence. It may help other people, like yourself, who've grown up in a similar situation and it might even help them feel better about themselves, knowing that they're not alone in the world.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Fictionalize. Set it in some SF or Fantasy universe so nobody will recognize it. Or write it as a humorous satire, like a roast.

I don't do SF or Fantasy. I barely even read SF or Fantasy!

Er, well, how about a Western then?

That's not to say that I would write the story from a perspective of someone who is all good and shiny and perfect in a family of crazies. It's more about how I view my family and my culture. Something that at times, is deeply flawed and harmful but in the end is also incredibly rewarding and invaluable.

Sounds like the good outweighs the bad. Write on.

 

[Australis]

Kestra, you really need to read some SF/fantasy. You'd be amazed ow much it could help tell a story like yours.

And speaking of you and yours, change all the names, including yours. You may find that immigrant stories are a lot more common than you think, and that the quirks in your family may be cultural things that have come with you.

At most, if your family ever read it, they'd say, "Wow, that's just like us! Who knew there were other people out there like us?!" To which you would then look shifty and say, "Yes... other people...".

Suggestion: read Clive James's 'Unreliable Memoirs' (Unreliable Memoirs, Falling Towards England, May Week Was In June, and The North Face of Soho). They tell the story of an Ausise boy moving to a completely new environment and trying to get on. Part of the interest is the characters are quite well known (Bruce Beresford, Germaine Greer), but hidden under easily penetrated fictional names. They're very funny and could be a good template as to how to approach your story.

 

[BrotherBenny]

After buying one book and getting given a second, I'm now back on the move with my novel and almost finished writing chapter six.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Part 3, Chapter 10 of mine was written today. Woot!

 

[BrotherBenny]

Chapter 7 complete. Onto chapter 8...time waits for no sentient lifeform.

Hitting a bit of a rut but hopefully I can jump it and get back onto the road.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Wow, I can't believe it took me three days to write chapter 8. Oh well. Am going away for the weekend sans laptop so I won't be able to type it up, but at least I can write chapter 9 (he says hopefully).

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I've done 11 chapters of part 3, so far. It's taking me a couple days per chapter due to the structure of this part.

Basically, there are three distinct, 10-chapter storylines, which follow each other chronologically. However, I am presenting them in an alternating fashion: a chapter from storyline #2, then one from storyline #1, then one from storyline #3, rinse and repeat. I thought about writing them in chronological order then just rearranging them, but the problem there is that the reader will need certain information at certain times and writing it in the order it will be presented helps ensure I don't forget to fill them in at the right moment (or just before, usually.) It just takes more thought and preparation.

Part 4 should be a breeze by comparison, but I am probably underestimating it, as usual.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Though my chapters are short, and I was away for the weekend, I'm now about two thirds of the way through chapter nine. I hope to get chapter eight written up tomorrow and finish chapter nine and get that written up before starting chapter ten, when things really kick off.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Though my chapters are short, and I was away for the weekend, I'm now about two thirds of the way through chapter nine. I hope to get chapter eight written up tomorrow and finish chapter nine and get that written up before starting chapter ten, when things really kick off.

Just in case anybody cares, I'm not 16,204 words into the novel and about to start writing chapter ten. Woot

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Glad to hear it! I'm not sure how many words I'm up to. It's over 100K though. I'm done with 13 out of 30 chapters on this part of the book, so almost halfway done there.

 

[RJDiogenes]

That's great, both of you-- I wish I could do that.

 

[PhasersOnStun]

Well, if we're speaking of books:

I have a fiction novel, called "The Deviant" that is about 80% rewritten (I wrote the first draft years ago). The plan is to search for a fiction agent, and see if anyone is interested. Unfortunately, the US publishing industry is in bad shape right now, so it very well may be self-published.

I do have a book I am co-writing on the Course PTR lineup for 2010, called Logic Pro 9 Power, a tutorial book on using Logic Pro 9 digital audio workstation software. I've previously written or co-written 4 other books on Logic software for them (as well as other books).

And that's in addition to my day job!

 

[Robert Maxwell]

It just takes perseverance, really. Writing is hard work. That's why everybody says "oh, I'm working on a book" but if you ask if they've ever finished one, the answer is usually "no."

If it's important enough to you, you'll make it happen. It just takes a lot of dedication. I find the beginning and the ending the hardest parts to write--the middle tends to write itself, since you know where you started and you have some idea where you're going!

 

[RJDiogenes]

It's just hard finding the time. Most of what I write is short stories and poetry, just because there's time to actually finish them.

 

[BrotherBenny]

As long as you have the commitment, you can do it.

 

[PhasersOnStun]

It's just hard finding the time. Most of what I write is short stories and poetry, just because there's time to actually finish them.

My recommendation is to get up early and try to steal an hour or two before your day job. If you wait until the end of day, or middle of the night, you'll probably find yourself too tired, or your attention taken by other things.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, that's the thing. I'm more inclined to work on a short story or a poem or a cartoon, because I know that's more likely to get finished. You guys are right, though, I need to be more organized, which is not my forte.