Many people have asked me for advice about breaking into the book industry and getting published. I do not consider myself an expert, but one thing I have learned is that the book industry is a lot like the music industry. Creativity is important and ownership of one’s own creative property is an important consideration to make.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

1.      How long does it take to write a book?

          This varies. How much time do you have to commit to the project? I know people who can turn out 1 or 2 books a year. There have been authors who have completed a novel in a month; for others, it takes years. My personal experience is that non-fiction can be harder to write than fiction. My advice is to write every day, or at least several times a week. Learn when your most creative times of the day are, and set aside time to write during those periods. Carry a notebook or digital tape recorder around with you to record ideas. Producing a book is like having a child. It takes a lot of patience and hard work, and birthing the book can be an arduous task, but the finished project in your hand is well worth the effort and will make you feel so proud and accomplished.

2.     How do you find a publisher?

        Research! Research! Research! Use the internet as well as the annual guide for writers entitled Writer’s Market. Consider self-publishing and print-on-demand services if you want to see your book written in a hurry. Make alliances with those already in the industry. Find a mentor. Send e-mails to authors; chances are they will write back. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; that’s how you learn!
 

3.     Where do you get your ideas?

     I watch people. Writers are observant people. I try to watch details,     manners of speech, the way people walk, the way they dress, etc. I can      remember writing Shameless during my lunch periods at school, and           listening to my students talk. I would ask them to repeat something they said or to role-play a certain scenario so I could watch their body language and accurately write a picture of what I saw. Characters can easily be made up. Just combine traits of various interesting people.
 

4.  I started writing a novel a long time ago. What should I do?

     Just keep writing! A novel is a series of pages. Pages are made up of     paragraphs. Paragraphs are made up of sentences. So, simply put, just      keep writing one sentence after the other. Eventually you will get there. Set daily and weekly goals and hold yourself accountable. Build up some excitement about your work. If you want, get friends and families (only a    select few) to give you some honest feedback. Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day. It’s all what about how we choose to spend those hours. And yes, only a small percentage of authors actually have the luxury of being able to write full-time. The rest of us have to balance careers and family on top of trying to write. But the bottom line is you must motivate yourself. There is no reason that, if you do your homework, hone your skills, and take your craft seriously, that you cannot also become a published writer. And if publishing isn’t your thing, then just simply write for the love of writing.

Here are a few of resources on the web to get you started:

www.rawsistaz.com

www.fictionfactor.com

www.writersdigest.com

www.acwriters.com