Anyone else writing a book?

[Emher]

I often wonder what would have happened had I'd had the fighting skills I have now back then, but I fear my life might have taken a darker turn. For the longest of time I've felt my vengeance is living, but now I feel that it's not enough. No one should have to go trough what I went trough.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I dunno. I've blocked out half of it and the bit I can remember I try not to think off. Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind in the future.

Well seems that the future is now. After two people now pushing me to write something about my experiences in life, one being my mom, the other being naprapath (who's also basically my therapist), I started it a bit back and haven't really gotten that far. Mostly because I've not been feeling up to do much of anything earlier and also because I sorta got stumped at a bit. Having a bit to think about it I think I've decide what the focus of it is going to be.

My hope is to make something good enough to publish, and also to get some things out. Did something similar regarding my relationship with my ex in a short film script this past fall and it really helped with some stuff there. I also want to have a message with my book. To tell people that no one knows how far reaching and deep the consequences of bullying are. And that it's something that needs to be talked about.

Your childhood sounds similar to mine. I have written several stories that touched on it, though none that were directly autobiographical. It does help to reach into those memories and distill them, though.

To tell people that no one knows how far reaching and deep the consequences of bullying are. And that it's something that needs to be talked about.

That's great EMHer, and a cause I can personally identify with.

I had issues with bullying as well, and twenty years on, I still sometimes look back and wonder how things might have turned out differently if I'd stood up for myself back then.

People who are bullied often become bullies themselves. But that's not a road you want to go down. I still think people are basically decent, and I have come to understand why the people bullied me acted the way they did. They were deeply disturbed and broken individuals, lashing out at anyone who appeared vulnerable. I've checked up on some of them in the years since. One is dead, a few are in jail, and as far as I can tell, none of the rest ever made anything of themselves. It's kind of sad, but all the signs were there, and their parents simply didn't pay attention.

I often wonder what would have happened had I'd had the fighting skills I have now back then, but I fear my life might have taken a darker turn. For the longest of time I've felt my vengeance is living, but now I feel that it's not enough. No one should have to go trough what I went trough.

Sharing your story is a good place to start. Becoming like them is certainly not the answer. I did defend myself physically, once I reached my limit, but I really just lost control. There was a lot of rage and hate coming out of me because of what I'd experienced, to the point that I simply couldn't live with it and tried to "escape," if you get my meaning. I eventually got out of that situation and things improved, but it was definitely one of the darkest periods in my life.

 

[Emher]

I think there's a difference between understanding and forgiving. I know why several of the bullies did what they did. The worst one of them had a mother that never loved him or his brothers and doted on the daughters. But that doesn't mean I can forgive them. Sure I'm not going to punch his lights out if I see him, but I don't see me ever forgiving him for taking his shit out on me and my life hell.

And ironically as for dark periods in life, I'm writing this now since now is one of my darkest periods since this time.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I think there's a difference between understanding and forgiving. I know why several of the bullies did what they did. The worst one of them had a mother that never loved him or his brothers and doted on the daughters. But that doesn't mean I can forgive them. Sure I'm not going to punch his lights out if I see him, but I don't see me ever forgiving him for taking his shit out on me and my life hell.

And ironically as for dark periods in life, I'm writing this now since now is one of my darkest periods since this time.

I don't know if I've "forgiven," but I don't think I harbor an ongoing enmity for them. I try not to focus on negative feelings like that. I have a good life and they don't. What goes around comes around, sometimes.

 

[Emher]

It's not I actively waste thoughts on them, it's just that I'm not one of those people that have to find in their heart to forgive everyone. It's not my nature.

I don't have a good life, but they've got worse ones

 

[LitmusDragon]

People who are bullied often become bullies themselves. But that's not a road you want to go down. I still think people are basically decent, and I have come to understand why the people bullied me acted the way they did. They were deeply disturbed and broken individuals, lashing out at anyone who appeared vulnerable. I've checked up on some of them in the years since. One is dead, a few are in jail, and as far as I can tell, none of the rest ever made anything of themselves. It's kind of sad, but all the signs were there, and their parents simply didn't pay attention.

It's one thing to become a bully, and another thing to fight back when you feel you are being treated unjustly. I backed down then because it was easy, and it was easy to tell myself I was doing the right thing because I was turning the other cheek, or that I was better than them because I wasn't stooping to their level, but the truth is if someone spits on you, you ought to hit them. If someone pushes you down and makes you feel afraid, you ought to push them back. The alternative is to become a doormat for other people's whims. Life does not reward the meek. Life rewards those who go out and do for themselves. What you want will not come to you because you have been "good". You have to go out there and get it, and that is scary work. Best to start standing up for yourself now.

/end rant

At least, this is how I have come to understand my life-- that I don't stand up for myself, and that as near as I can figure this started with the bullying. I'm trying to turn that around now, and I hope that it's not too late.

edit:
Um, trying to steer things back on topic, I crossed 57,000 words in my sci-fi novel last night. I am so, so happy that I'm getting this done. The project has reawakened my writing muse, and I already have ideas for three more stories lined up after this one, but I'm forcing myself to finish this one first.

 

[LitmusDragon]

^ Sorry for the off-topic, ranty post above. Hopefully I haven't derailed the thread.

Anyway, I am done! Done, done done! 69,000 words, first draft completed, halfway through my first rewrite as we speak!

/dance /dance /dance

I wrote 12,000 words over a four day period last week. @_@ I wanted to see how the story ended! I was that excited about the characters and their arcs!

This is the first thing I'd written since High School, and the first third or so was not written nearly as well as the rest, so it had to be reworked. As I'm getting towards the end though, I'm finding that very little has to be changed. I think I should have an actual submittable draft to be shipped off for rejection sometime next week! Yay! I think the book is actually pretty decent, but I'm trying to maintain a realistic outlook.

Here's hoping it's easier to get something publish than I think it is!

BTW does anyone have any advice on how I can protect my work before I start mailing it out to people? Should I register a copyright? Should I mail a copy to myself?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Excellent news! I have been incredibly lazy lately and haven't written a damn thing. I really need to get back to it...

As for protecting your work, I do believe mailing it to yourself is sufficient, so long as you don't open it. The postmark will prove when it was sent, and that should hold up in court.

It's not necessary to register a copyright. It is yours from the moment you create the work, and requires no action on your part to make it legally binding.

 

[LitmusDragon]

So now comes the hard part- SELLING my book. :P

Anyone care to comment if this synopsis is any good?

edit:
Eh, nevermind. It needs work.

 

[Emher]

I think I'm probably breaking all rules there are when writing a book. I'm just writing a mass of text (properly formatted and divided into sections mind you), but so far I haven't bothered with chapters. I think I'll just write it like this and then expand it when I reach the end. Do that a few times until i feel the story is full enough.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ There have been books written like that. Stephen King wrote at least one in that format, though I can't remember which one off the top of my head.

 

[Emher]

Well King have at least written two good books. That being the two I've read, The Stand and The Green Mile.

For me it's sort of the thing with what I've been practicing with writing screenplays (being what I've really written over the last 1½ years or so), namely that it's better to just keep writing then getting bogged down by the details. To not need to get everything perfect at once but just finish the damn thing and then do rewrites. I did that with the last script I wrote, and while I've yet to write the second draft it really helped in just making up the mains structure of it and I already know things I want to change with it.

Also thing is that with my current project it's about a period in my life where I have huge memory gaps and I know already that I will need to consult with my family about things that happened. I just think it helps to finish a rough draft of my point of view first.

 

[SeerSGB]

I've not wrote a word in about 2 weeks. But then again a lot of real world drama to deal with, been sick, plus getting ready for a new baby. Usually by the time I've gotten the comp and unwound enough to write I'm falling asleep at the desk.

 

[stonester1]

I finished my book today: C A Melopard, The Black and Tans: British Police and Auxiliaries in Ireland, 1920-21.

The manuscript is about five hundred pages and a thousand footnotes long, and will hopefully be coming to fine academic bookstores everywhere in--oh, about a year or so.

Tomorrow, I send off a proposal to Oxford University Press. My external supervisor recommended them, and since he's part of their editorial board, I figure he should know. It's a pretty sexy topic, for a work of academic history, and I might as well start at the top.

But tonight, I celebrate. I plan to order pizza and have two--hell, maybe even three beers! Let the good times roll!

Anyone else writing a book at present? How's it going?

This sounds like an interesting book, actually, how would one go about procuring it?

 

[LitmusDragon]

So I'm learning a lot about how books are sold, and frankly, the process is kinda lame.

Basically you send a query letter to an agent or publisher. In this query letter, you are selling your book by trying to reduce it to a soundbyte (one to three sentences).

The best I've come up with so far is "Giant supernatural monsters invade a sleepy southern Ohio town" or maybe this is better "Godzilla for the Lost generation". But, this makes it sound like Cloverfield, and it's nothing like Cloverfield. It's more like E.T., if E.T. were a giant praying mantis and came to kick some ass.

I'm still working on it.

I'm not sure everything can be reduced to a soundbyte. What would be the soundbyte for Dune? Spice must flow?

I should be getting some feedback from friends I've sent the book to later this week. Maybe they can help me. I'm kind of bad at sales.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Just use your third paragraph.

 

[sojourner]

"Paul Atreides must learn to control the spice before the Harkonens take over the planet!"

Makes the reader ask 3 questions that invite further reading.

Why must he control it?
What is the spice?
Who are the Harkonens?

 

[SeerSGB]

Can't recall who told me this-- I know it was a writing thing online, but I can't remember which on--- and I can't vouch for it being "true' or not, but supposedly a Editor makes the decision to buy a book within the first 3 sentences of the cover letter's synopsis of the plot.

One group leader suggested writing the cover letter in the style of a back cover: Start with the breakdown of the story, then get into the details of the author and his/her's credentials.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I did a little bit of writing last night. Got stuck pretty quickly, though. Just need to keep hammering at it...

 

[BrotherBenny]

Sorry I've not checked in recently, but I had loads of moving stuff to take care of and wedding preparations. I've moved and got married so now I can get back into writing.

I had to put the novel aside because of financial constraints and I am now working on an original science fiction universe in which to write short stories which I can publish in magazines and hopefully bring in a semi-regular income to assist my wife and I in what we want to do.

I will also be starting up a magazine eventually so if anyone is interested in submitting work, let me know by PM and I'll keep your name and email and contact you when the magazine is ready. I still need to get the business plan written and get funding/a loan or something.