All Discussions > Steam Forums > Off Topic > Topic Details
Can anyone write a book? Need some advice.
Hi. I want to write a book. I can write for hours, but when I show my work to others, they aren't satisfied (usually).

Any authors here?
How to satisfy the crowd?

I try to ignore what people think, and just write, but it would be better if somebody started to appreciate my work.
I mean, why continue to write every day and night, when nobody appreciate my work..?

I want advice please. I am totally lost, and I don't know if I am capable of writing something that others can benefit from.
Thanks.
< >
Showing 1-15 of 15 comments
I have not attempted directly to publish in the book arena. My field was my own web pages before a medical nightmare hit.

I do know those who have published or were attempting it in the book realm and here is what I can pass on:

In that arena there are many fake publishers and helpers who will gladly charge $$ and then boogie on out of town.

The trick is either self publishing or getting near those who truly matter. All successful people truly cross over when they have something to offer and then break into the right circles.

When this happens, to make it, this means all kinds of losers must be left in the dust and it's time to embrace the big time.

For this reason, don't put effort into those who don't matter. Don't show the work to idiots. Most people are small minded, negative and stupid. Successful people learn to tune them all out- even if they are friends and family. They are nothing but dreamkillers.

The problem is your work probably is not good enough. Your writing sample above has multiple errors and is not professional. Sloppy work doesn't get noticed on the internet. In professional circles it is going to get you blacklisted.

Therefore, this post is for either if you get there someday or for those who are already there.

Work on it some more.
Mina Aug 17 @ 7:50pm 
find writing groups
Bassturd Aug 17 @ 8:02pm 
Advice?

Umm let's see...Don't black out and then pee in the refrigerator.
Rain :) Aug 17 @ 8:04pm 
Originally posted by Lucky 1:
Hi. I want to write a book. I can write for hours, but when I show my work to others, they aren't satisfied (usually).

Any authors here?
How to satisfy the crowd?

I try to ignore what people think, and just write, but it would be better if somebody started to appreciate my work.
I mean, why continue to write every day and night, when nobody appreciate my work..?

I want advice please. I am totally lost, and I don't know if I am capable of writing something that others can benefit from.
Thanks.

You should read before you write. Find popular authors, or even just authors you personally like, and soak-in all of the patterns they use which you find pleasing. Could be the order of events in which they describe things, or the flow of their sentences. First-person, (I went) second-person (You went), or third-person? (They went)

Maybe the quality of your writing is already good, but it's the subject matter which is holding you back. I can't really give tailored advice without reading any of your work

E: Also, I don't think there's any point in writing for other people at this stage of AI. LLMs are soon to kill > 90% of all writing, editorial, and associated jobs
Last edited by Rain :); Aug 17 @ 8:06pm
Goldias Aug 17 @ 8:16pm 
Anyone can, but only a few are good enough to be professionals.

Webnovel in japan have more than 6 millions novels, only a few thousand are printed and gain popularity.

Maybe try it for a year, if it's not good then it is not your way.
Last edited by Goldias; Aug 17 @ 8:16pm
I think it was Stephen King who said, to have in your mind an, "ideal reader" - write for that one person. I mean, it's yourself anyway when you think about it, but it's something to consider. He sold a lot of books.

Also - publications used to have, "style guides" with instructions for spacing, grammar, punctuation, etc - also certain spelling, and language or topics to avoid (no we never considered that Censorship - if you are writing FOR somebody, it shouldn't matter to write to their preferences. If you are writing AT somebody - that's a text book lol).

So either pick your audience (be picky and only show folk who will most likely like it) or get a feel for the, "crowd" you want to reach.

Be authentic to your characters and the worlds you create - and write what you know.

Have a point.

Keep writing.

Be prepared to feel the pain of hacking your piece apart to fit wordcounts and advice. Consider an editor, and don't take critique personally.

And finally - be prepared to develop your skills and tools. Workshop your work (and other peoples' work) openly and fairly - seriously this is as good as learning all your grammar rules.

It IS individual expression, though. Maybe none of these ideas fit for you.

Also - it's harder to write for people if you don't get out amongst them. Not just as an observer, but as a participant.

And enjoy talking about writing - not just about YOUR writing, but about writing in general. Or words. Words are ace - there's a thread in OT where people name a word (and, ideally, give a brief definition. It's amazing what comes up in there).

Consider all advice - take what will work for you.

And - very important - when you say, "And finally," keep writing!
Last edited by Ruckman_Void; Aug 17 @ 8:25pm
You are your own best audience. Because if you need it, it's probably useful to someone else, too.
Last edited by AustrAlien2010; Aug 17 @ 8:30pm
As a former publisher, first of all, DO NOT let your friends and family's opinions guide any aspect of the work. It's fine to share and listen to them but don't let it influence you. I can't tell you how many people I saw come in with a book that was okay but needed work, only to have to leave with an unrecognizable and unpublishable book ghost-written by their sister because they got stuck in that feedback loop. It sounds like this is low risk in your position, but just sayin'

DO form a working relationship with an impartial and well-regarded developmental editor. It's easy to find someone to copy edit for you, and although feedback quality matters there, it matters much more on the developmental side of things.

If you don't have anything concrete that you're pursuing yet, one productive exercise is to ask for their feedback about smaller pieces you've written (even those you've no intent to publish). A good editor will be able to identify trends and habits that you can improve or avoid, which can help inform your future writing.

From our side of the table, it easy to tell the difference between writers who've had editors for years and those who have never had one. It's the difference between having a focused, personal style versus a chaotic voice that may vary by the mood of the day.

As for what 'satisfies the crowd,' this changes significantly depending on genre and audience. So if/when you do have a specific and firmly settled concept, you need to then research the intended demographic:

Read well-performing examples relevant to the same audience and - don't copy them - but understand what they're doing, and try to decipher why that works for the audience. Marketing specialists or publicists can help in this area, but they can also hold dated or rigid opinions, so doing your own research is the first step. If research is absolutely unbearable or you still feel clueless, then you can seek their help.

Writing groups or even reading groups are a good idea, but not just for feedback. People sometimes treat it like it's all about receiving feedback on their own work. But in fact, the most valuable aspect is the exposure to other voices and styles you haven't experienced yet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Writing:_A_Memoir_of_the_Craft

stephen king wrote a pretty good book about this. he talks a lot about his life story that led to his fascination with writing, and how those experiences were being important to him. his overall advice on writing techniques itself is low and rather generic in the book, but that is because king does not really seem to think any specific techniques are necessary to be writing a good book.

he is somewhat correct, though sometimes studying technique helps too. either way it is an entertaining read
1- Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2- Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3- Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4- Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.

5- Start as close to the end as possible.

6- Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7- Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8- Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

--Kurt Vonnegut.
Bassturd Aug 17 @ 8:50pm 
More advice? ok..

Stay away from hookers that smell like an outhouse.
Originally posted by Bassturd:
More advice? ok..

Stay away from hookers that smell like an outhouse.

....Dad ?
Last edited by Ruckman_Void; Aug 17 @ 9:05pm
Bassturd Aug 17 @ 9:07pm 
Originally posted by Ruckman_Void:

....Dad ?

*runs and jumps out the window*
Originally posted by Bassturd:
Originally posted by Ruckman_Void:

....Dad ?

*runs and jumps out the window*

*snorts and hoots and bellows into the night air*
< >
Showing 1-15 of 15 comments
Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Off Topic > Topic Details