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I can write a book

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It's Snake Pliskin

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21 April 2005
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Many western adults and teenies think they have what it takes to write books for a "dream" living.

I say most are dreaming, ironic - the word dream, and don`t realise what a waste of time it can be trying.

1. Publishers don`t respond to unsolicited manuscripts and only accept from agents or published authors.
2. People take "creative writing courses" unbeknownst of the masses also doing one. Talent is natural not learned.
3. Earning a living from writing is difficult. Most need other work. Most published authors need other work to survive.

Why do people try or believe they can?

I`m interested in your opinions.

PS: I have two writing projects I am working on.
 
I don't understand your post and what benefit it can possibly have to the "wantabes",

I can't sing, I know I can't, but if I could and read a similar post to yours, then where would I be - where you are ! An unhappy person to make such a comment !

While there are as many people without talent that think they have,
there is also an equal amount with talent that don't think they have it.

That is why we try and promote 'anybodys', to pick up those,
who forever have been told they were crap by those who want to inflict there own problems.

If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it
 
Hello weird,

I don't understand your post and what benefit it can possibly have to the "wantabes",
Click to expand...

It`s thought provoking.

I can't sing, I know I can't, but if I could and read a similar post to yours, then where would I be - where you are ! An unhappy person to make such a comment !
Click to expand...

But I am happy; don`t be nasty.

While there are as many people without talent that think they have,
there is also an equal amount with talent that don't think they have it.
Click to expand...

See, you are adding something.

That is why we try and promote 'anybodys', to pick up those,
who forever have been told they were crap by those who want to inflict there own probelms.
Click to expand...

It`s all about money. Big business dictates who gets published, or who gets recorded.

If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it
Click to expand...

I see you don`t heed your own advice.
 
Snake Pliskin said:
Why do people try or believe they can?
Click to expand...

Because the alternative is living a life they won't feel fulfilled in. I don't know much about writing, but there are other ways of getting your material out there, i.e. ebooks.

If nobody had visions and worked towards them, we'd still be living in caves.
 

I believe he is alluding to something else.
 
Thanks Big Jim

Yes, I encourage those with positive life stories, to speak up, especially if they think they will help others. Unfortunately not all of these books will help with the big issues, but we need to start somewhere, and some of these people are litterally ground zero.

FFS, I saw Terri Hatcher has a book out, apparently to help those like her not make her same mistakes.

regards

Dave
 
Snake I don't know.
But has anyone ever read "into the wild" by jon krakauer ...it's based on a true story about a young man that follows his dream and ventures into the alaskan wilderness ...to try and live off the land....unfortunately unbeknown he starts eating plant roots that are poisonous...and dies a pretty nasty death
I don't know what this has to do with creative writing courses but maybe some will succeed and some will fail and to others success will be a mix of talent,work ethic (meritocrisy ?) or just dumb luck and opportunity
I got to stop doing posts at 130 in the morning!
Anyway good luck with your book(s) what are they about?
 
I would like to suggest that there are a number of posters here on Aussie Stock Forums who are writers, whether they realise it or not. For me (a reader) there is such pleasure in reading a well formulated, lucid response to questions and other points of view and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. Keep on posting - its honing your skills and benefiting us all.
 
I agree there is enough negativity in the world and negative thoughts only adds to it. Positive people achieve and go places.
 
We could have, like, Australian Idol for writers. Sure it wouldnt rate very well; but it'd be a hell of a lot better than that big brother crap (they cant even show the turkey slappin!) Maybe an idea for radio?
 
Yea. what Australian Idol does for singers, Australian Ridal could do for writers. Can't wait :couch
 
Snake Pliskin said:
1. Publishers don`t respond to unsolicited manuscripts and only accept from agents or published authors.
Click to expand...
I think some accept unsolicited manuscripts, but in general the reject rate is pretty high and to be expected for a new author.

Talent is natural not learned.
Click to expand...
Talent certainly helps, but writing can be learned like anything else. And you don't have to be a good writer to get published. Some authors are good writers, while others are crap but can tell a good enough story to be published (just ask a certain Mr Brown... ).

3. Earning a living from writing is difficult. Most need other work. Most published authors need other work to survive.
Click to expand...
That I agree with. To those who haven't tried it, it sounds like a lot of fun making up stories (assuming we're talking fiction), but in reality it's a lot of hard work. I think you have to love and be dedicated to writing to have any chance of success, as writing a complete book is an enormous undertaking.

I've never tried to complete a book (too time consuming and too much hard work ), but have spent a few years on and off participating in a writing forum doing shorter exercises and the like.

kgee said:
has anyone ever read "into the wild" by jon krakauer
Click to expand...
Yes, I've read that - also Krakauer's other book about that disasterous expedition to Mt Everest where Rob Hall died, amongst a handful of others. Both are interesting stories.

Cheers,
GP
 
GP,
Thanks for your comments. It is good to see someone contributing without the nasty attacks.

 

Sorry Kgee, if I tell then I have told it.

But they are based on interest. Researching is interesting, but time consuming.
 
It's really difficult to know what makes a book acceptable to a publisher.

I'm frequently astonished at the rubbish which gets published, e.g. Dan Brown's novels. I tried to read one of his books, given all the fuss and hoopla, but tossed it aside after about 50 pages because the writing was simply bad. Perhaps his plots make up for the lack of literary quality.
I guess popular fiction like Dan Brown, Jackie Collins, et al are aimed at a readership who are less than discriminating about what they read.

Did any of you hear about the recent experiment where an extract from one of Patrick White's lesser known novels was sent to several well known publishing houses. Bar one, they all rejected it as having no merit.
(For anyone who doesn't know, Patrick White won the Nobel Prize for Literature)!!

Julia
 

Julia,maybe that`s why it was one of his lesser known novels. :
Sorry couldnt help myself,

By the way Julia when are you going to post another of your thought (nice)provoking threads.
 
Big Jim said:
I agree there is enough negativity in the world and negative thoughts only adds to it. Positive people achieve and go places.
Click to expand...

Sometimes I think all this "be positive" stuff is just candy floss...I'm not trying to say negativity is good...but not every story has a happy ending..ie take the book 'into the wild" that I referenced b4...the guy goes following his dream and dies a gruesome death...where's the positive spin to that?

Just trying to say every ounce of positivism (?) should be tempered with some degree of caution...well maybe...I have the urge to spout a few cliches but I'll spare you all

oh yeah in my last post "meritocratic" was the word I was looking for I was a little drunk (more like hammered but I'm just trying to be positive!)
 
Do you think it's still necessary to have a publisher these days?

A friend of mine writes books. He started by publishing one chapter each month on a website and now has a group of followers (including me) who would pay for any book that he published.

He does sell some via another website where people can pay to download it and read it online, or for a bit extra he will print out a copy and send it to them.

cheers
Mouse
 
visual said:
Julia,maybe that`s why it was one of his lesser known novels. :
Sorry couldnt help myself,

By the way Julia when are you going to post another of your thought (nice)provoking threads.
Click to expand...

Hi Visual

Re the thought provoking threads, I rather became discouraged when the last couple which had the potential for really interesting and thoughtful discussion were simply sabotaged by arguments consistently drawn out by bullmarket and since then have felt I can't be bothered when most of the space gets taken up by personal insults instead of the exchange of genuinely held views.

Cheers
Julia
 
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