i assumed the word published meant mass market, bookstores, professional editing & printing etc, not self publish an e book. i've looked into that myself and for me it wasn't worth it. the places i found to self publish a material book involved paying the publisher to make the book, then distributing it myself. it wasn't what i wanted and reeked of a scam to me. as for the self publish e book, there's nothing to stop pirating to wipe out any chance of profits. if you're the type who lives for thier art and profiting from your work doesn't mean as much as getting it out there then self publish is a good alternative to the corporations.
i had wanted to make a living off of being an author, not be a starving artist.

I should write a single-page biography on myself.

If I ever wrote a novel it would be pure masturbatory escapism which would never see the light of day. I've come to terms with the fact that I can't handle anyone seeing my fantasyland. It would just taint it.

I have been building a whole canon of multiple novels and short stories and all sorts of weird stuff for a decade now. It's a whole other world, with hundreds of characters all waiting to have their chance to speak, with tens of realms and all sorts of craziness...

It's the only thing that keeps me going.

LOL!!! Wouldn't that be like writing a resume?

Yeah, I used to feel the same way. But I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of sharing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences with others. Just in the last week or so that I've been on this forum has helped me tremendously.

So its one of your coping mechanisms. I hope you decide to share it with the world some day. It can't hurt, it can only help in my humble opinion.

Oh, I'd love to share it with the world. The question is, of course, does the world feel like reading it...I don't feel comfortable with self-publishing (feels too cheap, tbh), but I wouldn't be opposed to epublishing through a reputable publisher. I just want people to read it and enjoy it like I do...I've pretty much already given up hope on the prospects of making any money off of it.

I'm not too concerned with profiting on my future book. I just want to get something out there that would make people think more honestly about our societies problems. Likely in the near future I will be able to afford getting it professionally edited and published. If I make money off of it, great. If not, so be it.

And yes, someone will want to read it (including me). If its really good a lot of people will read it.

I've actually thought about this several times. It would have to be non-fiction though. I don't think I could write fiction. I have interesting ideas for stories, but I'm not good at turning them into a solid plot.
I'd like to write a book about something to do with local history, abandoned places, or something else you need to do a lot of research for (I love doing research).

Something like geographical history perhaps? I love those kind of books as well. When I lived out west I read a book about abandoned ghost towns and I sooooo wanted to check some of them out in Colorado. But I never had the time or anyone to go with me. But very intriguing though.

I like the idea of an interest-driven book. Yet I would always pause and wonder if I really was the authority on the subject that I held myself to be .

I know I would... Rightly, or wrongly.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by geographical history, but I'm interested in how my town was founded and how it developed over the years, what kind of people lived here in the past and how they made a living.
I'm intrigued by abandoned towns/buildings as well. I've never been to one, but I read about them on the internet.

Get a reputable publishing place, start submitting.

I thought about writing a story book with illustrations, but my writing really sucks, nor do I know the proper way to write a story, but it has always been one of the things I wanted to do before I die sort of thing.

I haven't given it serious consideration, answering the topic. It would take too long of an effort.

I've always had the desire to be a writer (along with ilustrator, musician, and full-terrain artist) along with a philosopher and martial artist. I have some ideas acutally (none of which i'm actually working on); A guy who (to pay gambling debts) gets unwillingly involved in a circle of producers of "Snuff" films, a group of heartless, cynical businessmen that don't care about humanity, it is (between other things) about capitalism (or that's the idea that i hope to include at least ).

Other about a psychiatrist who goes to another country against her will to treat a chronic-depressive suicidal patient for which she doesn't give much of a shit and hopes that dies, an artist and a tortured genius who has a tendency to cut himself, making "works of art" from his cuts, while they both look for an inner peace of soul, somewhat about (between other things) mental illness and obsessions for art and relief.

A guy that is convinced that his body is rotting (because of his untreated mental illnes), and goes in an investigation/obsession about everything death-related and sites in homage to serial killers and genocidal maniacs, also seeing and contemplating about the rotting and putrefaction of the human soul. Between others.

Sorry if i got a little carried away there, got just too enthusiasted with writing this.



this unfortunaly feels and sounds so true, our socieity of today, money matters more than anything (like it didn't matter more than anything for most people anywhere in time ), i don't know if necessarily a degree in journalism, but if it would help the publisher win money, it will give your novel quite the impulse.

http://chuckpalahniuk.net/features/essays/chuck-palahniuk i hope this may give you a few tips (it did for me, i just didn't bring them into practice yet )

Yep. And tried. And failed.

In fact, I think I've just about worn out my delete key (not to mention my patience).

It appears I lack the grammatical skills, the intelligence, and the artistic ability.

Just three more reasons I'm so grumpy.

I have, and I'm actually working on several projects. I really got inspired by several authors and the positive feedback from everyone I showed my writing too.

It's a nice idea to get a story of mine published but in the end I would hate it. It would be like spying into my mind.

So I'll go along with J.D. Salinger:

I have but not right now. I don't feel like I'm a good enough writer yet or like I have a good enough idea to write about.

Has anyone here heard of print on demand publishing.

Basicaly it's where an individual copy of the book is printed each time its ordered. The process is more expensive than other forms of self publishing so the profit margins are less but it eliminates the risk of having several hundred unsold books in your garage.

Cheak out this website if your interestedhttp://www.lulu.com/

My brother planed to write a book thats how i know about it.

I've thought about writing books but i always get bored a few pages in.

Anyway i hope this information was usefull to someone.

I think I have no skills. I am not too social to write a book. Like style language text Haruki Murakami. In Russia too hiki who want to write a book themselves.

I wrote one book, and someone want to public it, but I think it's a mess, and he don't care, he not e-mail to me, or anything :/