Anyone on oppo get a book published?

"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform) 01/26/2015 at 18:25 • Filed to: None

2

12

I have a really good idea for a novel and am serious about writing it, but I've never had any publication experience. Have any Opponauts had experience?

Ferrari P4 for your time.

Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 18:25

3

DeMuro?

bob and john > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 18:27

3

doug for starters....steve i think has had a book or 2 published

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 18:28

1

Some guy named Doug something or another did.

SteveLehto > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 18:29

4

I have written a dozen books, ten of which have been published already (and two more to be published). They have been with five different publishers and some have been sold through an agent, some have not been. My most recent book comes out in two weeks:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Murde…

I have also spoken at writer's conferences and so on. What specifically would you like to know?

TheHondaBro > bob and john 01/26/2015 at 18:29

2

Doug and Steve. Sounds like the dynamic duo.

TheHondaBro > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/26/2015 at 18:30

0

True.

TheHondaBro > SteveLehto 01/26/2015 at 18:32

0

Well I'd like to know the process of getting a novel from idea to publication. I've researched extensively, and some sources said I'd need to present a complete manuscript to a publication agent who'd then get my work to a publisher. I'd like to know for sure what I'm getting into before I go full-throttle.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > bob and john 01/26/2015 at 18:33

1

I'm pretty sure steve is working on another one but yeah those are the two I'd seek advice from. And both are very active on twitter if you shoot them a message

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 18:43

0

As a writer/copywriter (column stuff, boring, non car, oh-god-what-am-I-doing-with-my-life stuff) my advice is just keep writing. Write this book and keep on writing. Get represented, keep on writing. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. Just keep writing. If you are a writer, you have to write. It's like breathing. If you are a wannabe, then you'll just let it go. Nothing wrong with that either, sometimes you just have to get the story out of your system. Write it.... and then keep on writing.

SteveLehto > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 18:48

2

That is correct. To sell a novel as an unknown author, you will most likely need to have a finished novel to pitch. And by that, they don't mean partially finished or an outline or even one that needs just a little more editing. Novels are tough; first novels even more so.

Keep in mind that a great idea for a novel is only one small piece of a larger puzzle. If you read a lot of novels (which you should if you want to write one) you know that the "idea" is often quite minor. "One man's worst week after moving to NYC" (Bright Lights; Big City); "One Man's Drug-fueled Tour of Vegas" (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas); "One Man's Trek Into the Himalayas While Grieving," (Snow Leopard) and so on. What makes those books work is the voice and the writing. And those are not easily accomplished.

I know a lot of people think of the "idea" as the plotline - think Hunt for Red October - with twists and turns and so on. But even those twists and turns must be written well. It's harder than it looks. Reading a novel is like listening to music. When you read/listen, you learn to appreciate the nuance and can easily kid yourself it can't be that hard - after all, it doesn't look/sound hard. But it is.

While none of my published books are novels, I know MANY novelists and have talked to them about this process. They spent 99% of their time working on the draft of the novel and then once that was done spent an inordinate amount of time getting an agent to read it. And then . . . .

It's a long process. You can always self-publish but self-published novels languish on Amazon and die quiet deaths. But, it CAN be done. Just don't underestimate the amount of work it will take. And the work can be tedious, maddening and tiresome. Stick with it though, and amazing things are possible.

TheHondaBro > SteveLehto 01/26/2015 at 18:59

1

Thanks for the advice! I'll certainly keep it in mind. Way too many times, I've overestimated the outcome, and become disappointed quickly. I do understand what I'm getting into with this, and I know that the chance of even getting it slightly noticed is slim. I will still do it, because I know the Oppo demographic would certainly enjoy it :)

MCS2014 > TheHondaBro 01/26/2015 at 19:53

0

Much love for the P4!