Anyone else writing a book?

[Robert Maxwell]

I wrote a book last year that I'm currently editing. It's a sci-fi novel set in an alternate present, in which the USSR still exists. It starts off looking like it's about a nuclear war, but it really isn't.

I'm also working on the second draft of another novel. Actually, it was originally a bunch of short stories that had continuity with each other, but I am bringing them together in a 12-part series. Each book will consist of 1-3 of those parts. It concerns the exploits of a time-traveling Scottish cyborg from the future. Yes, it's supposed to be somewhat humorous.

Finally, there's a book I'm collaborating on with a friend. We're about halfway through it. It's 26 short stories all starring the same character. They are presented in non-chronological order and the story itself is meant to be kind of a puzzle. It's been stalled lately but we'll get back to it eventually.

 

[CaptainStoner]

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?

Many congrats, pizza slices, and beers. I have an Uncle who writes economic texts that are published. Your topic sounds orders of magnitude more interesting.
I have the beginning chapters and outline of a pulp-fiction-esque Sword & Sorcery tale. Full of gritty & hilarious combat inspired by the "critical hit & fumble" tables of the D&D games of my youth, with highly eccentric characters. I have no plans to go forward with it presently though, as I am working on some musical projects.

 

[Geckothan]

I was going to write a sci-fi novel (I came up with a universe, complete with races, locations and some history), but then realised I have no writing talent at all and everything I wrote seemed kinda stupid.

 

[Thor Damar]

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?

Given my family history that is a book that I would love to read. (I'm of Irish descent but born and living in the UK).

 

[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

 

[Robert Maxwell]

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.

That's a shame, there's lots of money in "misery memoirs" these days!

 

[Emher]

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.

 

[Kommander]

I'm currently working on three novels, which I'll be surprised if I ever finish any of them because I have several bad habits as a writer. Pretty much the entire "Don't do this" section of any "How to write" guide. My main problem is revisions. I'll write some stuff, then I'll hit a part where the ideas stop flowing, so I'll stop working on it. When I come back to it days/weeks/months later, I'll start reading what I've written so far and decide I want to change it, and keep changing it, and... fuck this, I'm starting over! I probably finish one eventually. If for nothing else, I already have a frame ready for my first rejection letter. As everyone knows, you're not a real writer until you have at least one rejection letter.

The one I've been working on the longest (11 years!) is a space opera/would probably work better as a fantasy novel kind of thing. (Elves on spaceships? Seriously?)

The second is a near-future politics (if 100 years from now is considered "near future") story about the first world government. It's based on a short story I wrote several years ago. I started work on is a few weeks ago.

The third is a fictional account of alien abduction phenomenon (which is probably fiction to begin with) that goes into what the Grays are up to. It's not what you think... I started work on it a few months ago and it's based on some dreams I had about aliens. At least I think they were dreams...

 

[Kirby]

Grats Camelopard on finishing. I'd love to read it when it's out.
I wrote about 5 chapters on a minor league baseball murder/mystery involving gambling and game fixing. This was right before the big steroid scandal hit and I just lost steam (and quite a bit of respect for the game).

 

[kes7]

Right now I'm writing book-length fan fiction. Does that count?

In all seriousness, writing has been my profession for the last ten years, but I've not written a book yet. I have some ideas, but it seems like my Trek story is getting all the attention lately and I just need to finish that so it can rest and I can move on to something else. If nothing else, it's good practice for the all-nighters to come.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, I plan to publish another short-story anthology and another poetry anthology when I've accumulated enough new material. I also plan to publish a collection of my Art and Photography once I finish some more projects. And I'm about a quarter of the way through a novel. As always, time is my enemy....

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I've got one "in the works." That is, I'm formulating it my head. I may co-author it with my wife, whose writing ability pleasantly surprised me when she recently penned a short story for her humanities class at OU. She'd never written anything before, and I was shocked by her ability to develop complex and believable characters. I have a tendency to go over-the-top with my characters, and hers would be the voice of reason to reign me in a little bit.

 

[Goliath]

I have a tendency to go over-the-top with my characters, and hers would be the voice of reason to reign me in a little bit.

To rein you in--you over-eager stallion, you.

She may well reign over you as well, like a Queen. But I wouldn't know about that.

 

[Cr031k]

I'm not writing a book.... But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I have a tendency to go over-the-top with my characters, and hers would be the voice of reason to reign me in a little bit.

To rein you in--you over-eager stallion, you.

She may well reign over you as well, like a Queen. But I wouldn't know about that.

Whoops. I'm glad people who think I'm a spelling Nazi aren't here to see that. But anyway, it's a 50/50 operation in this house!

 

[john titor]

I wrote 2 books, one in 2006 the other in 07. I plan to have a new written by 2010.

 

[Goliath]

^Excellent. What are they all about?

 

[BrotherBenny]

If I didn't go down a sci-fi/fantasy route, crime would be my obvious next course - after all, they tell you to write what you know (I fight it, thank you, not do it ). My only concern there is my mind can't look at the 'crime and true crime' section in Borders and fathom a single 'crime' idea that hasn't been done a dozen times before.

Crime novels aren't about "crimes" as such, they're about the sleuth (whether he or she be a detective/librarian/spy/amateur/etc) who solves the crimes, though you have to have a good crime. The victim is important, the motive has to be believable and the killer has to have the means and opportunity. Once you have that and your sleuth, you need a few minor crimes or sub plots to keep the pace...that's where the life of your sleuth and his/her colleagues come in.

 

[Cakes488]

Also how they solve the crime must be credible and believable...some of these books and movies make ridiculous jumps to the means to the end.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

If I didn't go down a sci-fi/fantasy route, crime would be my obvious next course - after all, they tell you to write what you know (I fight it, thank you, not do it ). My only concern there is my mind can't look at the 'crime and true crime' section in Borders and fathom a single 'crime' idea that hasn't been done a dozen times before.

Crime novels aren't about "crimes" as such, they're about the sleuth (whether he or she be a detective/librarian/spy/amateur/etc) who solves the crimes, though you have to have a good crime. The victim is important, the motive has to be believable and the killer has to have the means and opportunity. Once you have that and your sleuth, you need a few minor crimes or sub plots to keep the pace...that's where the life of your sleuth and his/her colleagues come in.

Unless you've got the sleuth and the killer playing the same role. The Dexter books are incredible!