@Mary Stetler: I must admit that I sometimes use AI in my work. We pay 20 dollars a month for an account. However, pure AI texts don't produce good text quality. And if you want to publish them on the web, you must be careful. Google doesn't like them at all. That's why you must adjust each text manually and make sure that everything is written normally. I would rather not do that for a book, I'm writing for fun. I intend to enjoy the experience. It is different with the photos I create with DALL-E. I play regularly with this tool. For example, I've sketched the ancient Rome. @Don Alaska: Of course there are writers who get rich from it, or at least got such sums once. But I like to keep my feet on the ground for now. @Ed Marsh: I apologise for writing again before your reply. I've had some time to do some research. Unless I've misunderstood something, there seem to be publishers (I mention Novum Publishing as an example for this) who collaborate with new authors. Perhaps do you have some experience of this? How did you publish your first book? Thank you in advance!
Good morning to all- Ms. Peacock- for my first book, I was contacted by the publishing company to put a book together. Since I write for several outdoor magazines, the publishers did research and found my name as a writer who had knowledge about the topic- a specific state and its fishing- and they paid me to put the book together. it was a long process and I don't think I made much money from it, but it was nice seeing that first ISBN number with my name behind it. It is difficult to get your new writer's foot in the door with most publishers- they want writers who folks have already bought and read. you all be safe and keep well- Ed
Have a wonderful Sunday! Mr @Ed Marsh, thank you for your report! To be honest, I didn't know that you contribute to several outdoor magazines. If one or more are exported to Europe, I can look for them. I hope that I'm not mistaken, but I'm happy for you that you managed to turn your passion into a profession. I understand that writing books hardly makes one rich, but hopefully, you get a relatively fixed fee from the magazines. More so as you write for numerous magazines. Do you concentrate exclusively on fishing or also on other outdoor themes? I can understand that publishers prefer to sign authors that people already buy and read. However, every writer needs to publish their first pieces, and they should be given the chance to do so.
Good evening to all- Ms. Peacock- I do not write on fishing to the exclusion of other topics. I write about rural living, gardening, small farm livestock, and just about any other topic I can research and put an article together about. If you get e-books from Amazon, I have two books there- Lessons learned from Living in the Country, and my most recent book- On Growing Old. The best way for a "new" writer to get published is to find out what the editor needs and supply it. If a writer solves a problem for an editor, that editor will be more than willing to use that writer again- this is true for a magazine writer. For getting first books published, Lord, that is a topic which books could- and have been- written about. If I might make so bold, what part of Europe is your home? you all be safe and keep well- Ed
I have published some scientific texts and I am involved in a few books. But I haven't written anything outside of science yet. I don't think you can compare the two things. But it's easy for me to write, simply because I really like the things I do. You will need to do the same with your own stories. I would say that writing is a really nice hobby and if it gives you something, you should sit down and write. It can be a very good balance. Nowadays you have many opportunities to publish your book. On the one hand, it has probably never been so easy to publish a book, on the other hand, it has never been so difficult to get attention for it. The ease of access increases the number of books, which makes it difficult to stand out from the crowd.
Good morning to all- Thomas- Brother, you never lied... Today it is easier to get stuff in print- or on screen- but it is very hard to garner enough attention ( think purchases by readers) to make much money. But I will dispute your statement that writing is a good hobby. In my opinion, anyone who writes for a hobby is comparable to someone who goes to hell for the view... I write because if I didn't I'd explore or implode or some kind of "plode" Good writing is damned hard work- at least for me it is. you all be safe and keep well- Ed And Thomas- welcome to the forum
I am 76, been retired for 12 yrs. I decided when I retired that I would fill my leisure time by researching for a fiction story which I am itching to put into words. When younger I had visions of becoming a writer, but life and the demands of making an income got into the way. Now, with more time and fewer distractions, I am attempting to make that vision a reality. I have written only papers, essays, etc. that one does while at University. No books, no short stories, nothing ever published. I have not taken writing workshops or worked with any authors. This is a huge challenge to me. I LOVE challenges. My story will be written around the theme of The Prometheus Myth ...... the giving of "fire" to human civilization. The battle against the de-humanization of humanity. The opposition to trans-humanism and the resultant post-humanism. The establishment of a super-society which would lead humanity into the future. I intend to create controversy by highlighting the importance of eugenics and social engineering in the building of the PERFECT society, the one which will lead humanity into the future. I anticipate enormous pushback. I love to stir people and to create debate. Presently I am completing my research (the result of 6 years of reading, taking notes, compiling, etc) and soon will begin to structure a story around these ideas. I am hoping the Creator will bless me with enough time to see it through to the completion of the book. Life is so exciting! Already I have learned some interesting things just from these few posts on this thread. I hope to learn a lot more from chatting with you people and I also hope to contribute something useful. Thanks and stay happy and well.
My middle daughter has been writing 'books' for decades. She is mildly handicapped and spends every day at the library because she can't handle noise/sounds. Most of her writings are childish. Anyway, the first five chapters of one book she had written a few years ago were really good! But then she fell off the track. I had her first completed novel vanity published. You can do this just for yourself or even try putting your work out there for an experiment. Pretty pricey. But it was worth it for my daughter.
Good day to all- Johnny- if I might be so bold as to suggest something to you- outline your story carefully and completely before you write it. Putting together a major work such as you tell us about is like building a complicated machine with lots of moving parts. Trying to assemble without a plan or direction is very difficult- things will get away from you without a plan. Write down your beginning, middle, and end of the tale- and don't be surprised at the major changes you make as you assemble the parts. And have a very clear picture in your mind- and perhaps even make a drawing or photograph- of your main characters. And write the climax and put it away and come back to it as you get closer to the climax actually occurring. Again, don't be surprised at the changes you will make. I can tell others how to do a major work as you have, but I can't do it. I know my limitations, and a long narrative is beyond me. But I do appreciate the work of others. you all be safe and keep well- Ed
I will keep those tips in mind. Next step will be a skeleton sketch, and a character list. I have bitten off a huge chunk, so I am hoping I will be able to chew and swallow it before I become an old geezer.
@Ed Marsh: Thank you for your further feedback! I live mostly between Austria and Italy. Nevertheless, I'll find your book. Perhaps I misunderstood something, but I assume that the editors contact the writers. Then, I imagine that you receive at least a topic suggestion. Obviously, you need to find the points that the reader, and therefore the editor, needs, but there at least is a suggestion of a topic. This probably won't happen with a new author. @Thomas Terry: Welcome to the forum from me, too! You are absolutely right about passion. It is definitely an important factor in staying motivated and producing quality work. I also agree with you that writing can be a wonderful balance, and that today's publishing opportunities are both a blessing and a curse. What was your experience with publishing? @Johnny Forster: Your project sounds fascinating. The Prometheus myth is a rich source of inspiration. Furthermore, your focus on the tension between technology and humanity is thought-provoking. I look forward to seeing how you weave your research and philosophical interests into a compelling narrative. @Mary Stetler: It's heart-warming to read about your daughter's passion for writing. The same applies to the fact that you supported her in getting her book published.
Coincidence @Martina Peacock My father was born near the Tyrol area. I am so proud to be part of the haplogroup R1b that made it's way into southeastern Europe from the Steppes of the Caucasus so many years ago. Quite a sturdy and hardy bunch of people, we are. Smart too, not to mention so grateful for this beautiful experience we call being human. Are you in Tyrol?
Yes, of course. It's easier for everyone to get published, so there's a wider range on offer. But I also think it's easier to generate publicity these days. With social networks, it's easy and you can reach a lot of people. But of course there is also a very large offer here and it is easy to get lost in the crowd. I think you have to differentiate between why you write. Do you write to become rich and famous or do you write because you think you have a message that other people should hear/read. From my point of view, you should write and then see what comes of it. If you start out with the idea of becoming rich and famous, you will very often be disappointed. There are many people who want to get something off their chest. Here, writing is not only a good hobby but often also a good therapist. I wouldn't accuse every author of writing just because they want financial success Writing must never become work. It's about creativity, and any pressure is poison. If you are under time pressure to hand in your work or have to write a new story even though you have no idea what to write about, you know what I'm talking about. You will notice this pressure. You shouldn't let it take away your joy and turn writing into work. Even I don't do that and for me it's part of my work As I said, you can't compare my situation. The university or other professors helped me at the beginning, now I have my connections and everything is going well. Of course, I also try to help my students or doctoral candidates. If you know where to turn, it's easier, of course.
Good morning to all- Mr. Terry- I must take issue with one point you make- "Writing must never become work...any pressure is poison." Much of what I do as a writer for publication is time-sensitive, and most of it requires some level of research- which even with the internet is a big consumer of time. I have found time pressure in my writing to be both beneficial and a real pain. I have learned shortcuts and ways to minimize my writing down-time because of time pressure. I have learned to do a fast, solid job of preparing text and photos in a short time. I have learned that delay is deadly. I also suffer under short deadlines which require a lot of work done in a short time- it can be desperate at times, it can. But I find my writing to both be internally rewarding and also a lot of hard work. I don't trust any writer who says that her/his writing comes easy. One of my favorite quotes about writing- "Easy writing is damned hard reading." It's a pleasure exchanging thoughts with other word people on this forum. you all be safe and keep well- Ed
Years ago, before I met her in 2000, my wife was in a Writer's Club for Poetry and got an award, from the Club for her poem. Around 10 years ago, she done two Prayer books, with pictures in it that I took. One was for Missionaries and the other for the Military. We made the paperback ourselves, including gluing it together. What we found out, very quickly, is that "religious" type books don't sell very well, or at all. She started a book of Prayers for Firemen, but so far, it is laying in a plastic bin with all of the other things to put it together with. She says she wants to go back and finish the Firemen book, but due to working at home (job), she just doesn't have the time. Her older sister done a religious book about death, after her husband past away. She got a Publisher, cheaper one, but only sold a couple of books. She has done another religious book about Plays that children can do. She was a Special Education teacher for years and retired from it. Her son-in-law gave her the money to get a good Publisher. The Publisher is having her edit the entire book. The book is suppose to be sold online as well as computerized. She is 80 years old, and my thoughts are "little too old to be doing this?" We think she has her hopes up way to high, concerning selling the book.