They say there's a book in everyone........

[InsaneApache]

I was chatting with Mrs. Apache this morning and we were reminiscing on our teen years. As we talked a thought struck me. Although I say it myself, I've had an interesting life. From council house in the 70s to owning my businesses in the nineties and noughties. From skinhead to punk band to dad and grandad.

So, I've decided to write a book. Warts an awl.

Anyone else thought of or done the same?

Any advice would be welcome. :book:

:balloon2:

[CountArach]

No advice but I'm sure you'll do fine, you seem like an eloquent chap and certainly seem to have an anecdote for all situations. So good luck and let us know as this progresses.

Also we expect discounts. Lots of discounts. Also inside references and the inclusion of the word "Gah". Better yet, a chapter named "Gah" with no further explanation offered...

[KukriKhan]

We have several writers 'round here. Lemur and Banquo's Ghost spring immediately to mind, both having been published.

After telling my war stories to Mrs. Kukri for years, she suggested I write them down, too (poor Dear, she's heard them so often she corrects me sometimes :) ). So I keep a notebook with scraps of scenes and sketches of people I've known, thinking that someday I'll sort them by timeline and maybe make something out of it.

I'd certainly like to read your story. Good luck.

[Rhyfelwyr]

We have several writers 'round here. Lemur and Banquo's Ghost spring immediately to mind, both having been published.

More info?

As for me, I don't have a very interesting life story to write about, but I am only 20. If I go the route of being a historian who knows maybe I'll end up writing something...

[Hooahguy]

When I was 10-11 I wrote three comic books on a James Bond-like story, with the main charachter called "008," and it was pretty good, for an 10-11 year old. When I was 12, I read the Aragorn (or whatever its called) book, and decided, "hey! I should turn 008 into a real book, send it to the publishers, and get rich and famous really quick!"
But I never got past page 9.
:shrug:

[Veho Nex]

But I never got past page 9.
:shrug:
I never got past page 6 when i tried to write a book :/

[Ja'chyra]

Good luck, I'll read it, thought about it myself but after working all day the last thing I want to do is write which is why I rarely post more than a few lines.

I don't think I would write a book on my life, but then I tend to be quite a private person, happy to proofread or help out if needed.

[pevergreen]

I think my life so far could be an interesting dramatic movie, with dark subtones, but a book? No way. That requires content.

Though as you get older and wiser, you have the stories. Actually putting them down is another thing.

I'd say you'd need to decide if you want to be published or not. I don't know how likely an autobiography of a non-famous person is to be published.

[InsaneApache]

Thanks for the replies guys. :bow:

I wasn't really thinking of having it published. More along the lines of what I did, when and sometimes why. More for myself than anything. Might be a corking read for my (grown up) grandkids, though I may well wait until I'm dead before I tell anyone.

Might be a tad embarressing. :embarassed:

[Centurion1]

I've started on my memoirs, claiming a few facts from the future that I know will likely happen.

It begins like this,

General president pope patrick was born in sunny san diego. What distinguished his birth from thousands of others births that was the fact he had delivered himself from the womb having self taught himself obstrestology while in the womb.

Note: obstretology is not in fact a word.

[InsaneApache]

N.M

[Togakure]

I think writing about your life would be a great thing to do if you want to, whether you decide to share it with anyone or not. At the very least it'd help you remember details that you might otherwise never recall.

I've enjoyed the memoirs of my 100-year-old grandfather. I learned much about his life of which I had no awareness prior to reading them. Writing them was an enriching activity for him as well, focusing and energizing him, and he certainly felt a sense of pride when he finished. He sent them out to the whole greater family, and received many accolades. The state of CA honored him with an article in his former department's periodical when he turned 100, and they used some of the material from his memoirs as a source.

I've toyed with the idea of writing about my crazy life. The rock and roll years in particular are rife with situations that I think many would find entertaining. Then again, while writing about the last ten years might prove therapeutic for me, I doubt it would do anything but depress or bore an audience. Meh, perhaps in time I'll give it a whirl--provided I don't self-destruct beforehand, lol.

[Moros]

The only entertaining stuff of my young life would be a collection of stories on stupid things I and/or freinds did when drunk and the likes. While probably mildly amusing, I doubt it would be much worth a read. Maybe when I get old, actually did or saw stuff and... well have finally mastered the art of patience.

[Subotan]

Write a graphic novel!

[Gregoshi]

Write a graphic novel!
<in best bad comedian voice>
1) That is one way to insure the book makes the best seller chart. :inquisitive:
2) Tricky. The book would need multiple plots.
3) Y? Does IA have an X wife?

Oh! Somebody call 911 - I'm on fire! :fireman:

[Monk]

Anyone else thought of or done the same?

Any advice would be welcome. :book:

:balloon2:

Absolutely. My advice is simple - do it now.

Start it while you still have both the desire and the drive to do it. Writing is one of the easiest hobbies to neglect, if you have the urge to write a novel then don't wait for tomorrow to get started. You might wake up one day and discover that while you're interested in the idea, you can't bring yourself to take the first steps. When it comes to writing, tomorrow is your worst enemy.

Even if you never cross the finish line, at least you had the courage to start the race.

[Fragony]

From skinhead to punker I thought I had moodswings. Excellent idea IA.

Lemur + BG what have you written? PM for incognito

[a completely inoffensive name]

I always wanted to write a book. My entire life I was essentially connected to the internet and every experience of politics, life, sex and communicating with others until recently was entirely through the internet. I'm sure I'm not alone in that, someone else will write that book better then I will.

[edyzmedieval]

You stepped into familiar territory, dearest InsaneApache.

I completed a book this March, albeit a historical thriller in the style of the one on the Org, which I will attempt to publish next month by submitting the manuscript to agents and the likes. I had a great time, I loved it, but I am warning you - this is HARD WORK. Churning out a 100.000 word book is no easy task.

On the idea of memoirs, I sat down with my grandfather the other day and I started writing his own memoir. He's 95, World War II veteran, crashed with the plane 3 times and got to live... So it should make it interesting! :book:

For those who plan on writing a book, I recommend you this - www.absolutewrite.com/forums

[Hosakawa Tito]

Do it for the family if nothing else. Most of my family history is oral, and there aren't too many left now. I do have some songs & music written by my paternal Great Grandmother, and some family history written down by a Great Uncle, some old photos & tin types and home movies, but that's about it. One of my most cherished possessions is an old 78LP my Dad sang & recorded while in the navy during the Korean War. The song: Good Old Mountain Dew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_WPfkqTuMM&feature=related