I have wanted to write a book for a long time. mostly about My journey through PANDAS and Lyme.
I have no idea what I am doing. I am going to start writing. if their is anyone who can point me to somepne who can help me I would appreciate it. IF i am sucessful, part of any profit will go to PANDAS and Lyme research or charity.
I really dont know what I am doing
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
How about local community college or online courses in creative writing?
Amazon does self publishing if you get to that point.
There are already a lot of lyme books out there. Figure out how yours would be different in some way.
Even if you don't ever publish it, might be a form of therapy.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Your local independent bookstores may host or know of your area writers' support groups.
Go to all the book signing events you can, but those where the author actually give a talk.
Find WRITERS' WORKSHOPS guided by professional writers. Often, there are scholarships for new writers to go away to a week long retreat but, likely, there are shorter lectures, etc.
Freeing the Writer Within: A Zen writing method to help you find your own voice. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Google:
Writers' workshops
(and then cross search with your state and all those within a reasonable distance to you).
But also get to know the websites and works of those from those around the country. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- The New York Times has a wonderful writing series. This week's offering is below but be sure to search their site for the past articles. And see the excellent reader comments, too.
Draft is a NYT series about the art and craft of writing.
DRAFT: Outlining in Reverse - 1-21-13 -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Set a time each day, a place, and treat it like a job. Tell your family you are not to be disturbed.
Get dressed, get your tea or snacks, etc. Do not stop and do laundry, dishes, food prep, etc.
Just BE with your writing exercises.
Also, I'd advise to not get too fixed on your topic yet. Do some basic writing to find your voice and see what comes from that.
You may WANT to write about something that is totally different -- and then be surprised if that happens to be relevant in some way (or not).
Once you get the mechanics of writing down (the tense, the voice, the time/setting, your style) and establish your best pattern and place for your craft, THEN you will be more ready to write about personal & medical experiences and it will flow more easily in a writer's format.
DREAM your story. Really. Keep a notepad (or recording device) near your bed. Some of the best works in literature and music have come during sleep.
Also keep your "idea capture" devices near you at all times. When you are doing other things, the ideas often come. Then use your "studio time" to hone the gem.
And that brings us to the importance of sleep - and nutrition for the brain, too. Qi Gong or Tai Chi seem particularly good exercises for writers. Some kind of dance, too. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
BOOK TV - see their scheudule on the C-Span channels for nights and weekends and also see videos at their site.
While a great many of their books are political in nature, some are not. Or - surprise - some may be medical but then illustrate the politics involved or required for change.
An author who researched and wrote about CELL PHONES comes to mind. Excellent presentation on Book TV a couple years ago. Search their site for Devra Davis as an example of how a writer takes a medical topic and makes it relevant.
Often, especially in the sit-down interview sessions and the audience questions, authors will discuss their methods of research and personal writing styles. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Might I suggest not announcing now that a portion of your proceeds will go either here or there.
Right now, focus on your work. If a work succeeds, that will fuel a force for good to mushroom out of that.
Don't lock yourself in - or feel like you need to give away anything in advance. If that time comes and you can, great. But you must first fund yourself. -
Posted by hopingandpraying (Member # 9256) on :
Maybe you could contact Pamela Weintraub who wrote the book, "Cure Unknown". She has also written other books.
I don't have her contact information. Maybe someone on Lymenet does and will pm you with it.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Google her name for her other focused sites. -
Posted by jjourneys (Member # 39813) on :
I am a writer and technical editor.
Best advice - start writing, don't stop writing until it's finished!! It takes a while to write a book. At first, don't worry about the layout or chapters, just get everything written down that is in your head right now, that way you won't forget what you have in mind right now.
Follow the advice and links provided above.
Once you have words written you can then worry about the format, chapters, how you will publish, how you will sell, etc. Without the words it is too early to worry about that stuff.
After you write the book, you will need someone to edit your book for formatting, typos, grammar, logic, etc.
**edited out section that violates forum rules**
[ 01-25-2013, 09:30 PM: Message edited by: faithful777 ]
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
wow merry...so glad you have nothing else to do!!!!
i just remember when my kids were young...i dont think i could have fit a book in...but maybe it will be sort of and escape for you too.
good luck!!
Posted by Healerdealer (Member # 23032) on :
Practice, practice, practice... so - start a blog! This is a great way to improve your skills and get feedback at the same time.
Healer
[ 02-01-2013, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- For web, just be very careful with what personal information you put out there for reasons of possible futher employment, insurance, identity theft and just TMI that could be detrimental in anyway - it's amazing the things to consider.
If you do decide to do a blog, you might want to find an expert in web safety for a full education in all there is to consider first. What goes out now could be out there forever, even if you remove something.
It can take a while to decide the purpose and the boundaries. The writing sytle also is important - as it would be a different style than most books, different voice.
Decide the purpose, style, voice, etc. and then find the best vehicle for that. It can take a while practicing writing to figure out your style.
You can write everyday in exercise and not have to show it to the world. Gather the best up for a writers' group if you want some formal input on skill building.
Even for accomplished writers, most of what they write never sees the light of day. But, without having done that, what makes the edit would have never gotten done. (or is that "never would have gotten done." ? - I forget some of the rules.)
Also, with writing, research takes up most of the time. Even for fiction. I love the research part of it all but not so much the writing parts. Writers' groups can save the day as you establish your routines. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Writers' groups can also suggest the best websites for grammer. In my note above, I was unsure of the placement of "never" - which I should know but just forget. It really does matter for professional writing.
When it comes time for an editor, they really don't like to have to correct grammer too many times.
So, I just searched Google for: never, grammar
Some sites pop up that seem to be excellent reference sources. But, the thing is that it would take a bit of study to know if a particular site is accurate or not.
This is where a writers' group or formal instructors can be great guidance, too.
The AP (Associated Press) stylebook is great source for any kind of factual writing, it need not be news style. But the web is so fantastic once you know the very best reference sites and aps.
But for developing technique, writers' groups are such wonderful cocoons, nuturing, encouraging and many excellent writers come out of these kinds of "writers' workshops" - and the group can help balance the lonely tasks of technical writing.
Writing is a lot of technical work, it's very hard work and many long hours with little to show for it - seemingly. Since so much effort does not show up in the book, it might seem to be of waste but it all gets you to a point of goodness.
If you are drawn to be a writer, you have to write. Something. Every day. In some format.
If you are drawn by a social force to help the world and figure writing is the way to do that, great. But if writing is too technical for those who enjoy more time with others, there are so many other ways to be an advocate and get information out there.
For some, writing is an outlet. There are many styles, paths. It can take a while to find the one with your name on it.
I hope you throughly enjoy the process. It's all about process. -
[ 01-31-2013, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :