Topic: How to write your own first book - experiences and opinions? (Read 649 times)

That's true that in writing books, much more is left to the imagination of the reader. But I would also see it that classical authors and authors of comic books are different kinds of artists. Because the requirements are different. Whereas I'm sure that's kind of true for all authors.

And while an editor is indispensable when publishing a novel, that might play a smaller role when publishing comic books, because there's less text and a lot more pictures? In any case, you should make sure that you find a publisher who is also familiar with this genre.

You do need a story for comics, but drawing is much more important. For me, it goes in a completely different direction. With comics, you tell the story with the help of pictures; with writing, you have to try to get these pictures into people's heads with the help of words.

I think comics are really cool, too, and I have a lot of fun with them as a reader. But I have to say that as a writer, I'm not really the type for that kind of creativity. But it's a good thing that you have so many different options to try out!

For the professional context, I couldn't imagine that in my case either. That would be kind of inappropriate. But I can well imagine that you can do great things with it in education!

And writing your own first comic book would be a whole other challenge. Then you'd have to look separately at how you could get such a book published. Most publishers specialize in certain genres.

We know by now that there are different types of authors. And for each type of author, a different strategy works well. Some sit down with a good glass of wine and write only when they're inspired. Others are more disciplined and structured, setting aside a specific time each day to write, for example. I'm someone who needs a little pressure to function. I know that by now, and that's why I also make sure that I create framework conditions that work for me personally. As long as you don't get a bad feeling about it, I think that's perfectly fine.

You just have to be able to assess yourself and your own abilities and then draw the right conclusions. For example, I'm now very sure that I'll have my first book published by Novum Publishing and won't try the self-publishing route. That might work for many people, but it would probably cost me more money and time than going straight to an experienced service publisher.

I think you shouldn't put yourself under so much pressure. If it's a hobby, it should be fun. It's probably more beneficial if you enjoy it instead of forcing yourself to do it. That leaves you with a bad feeling. That's what you want to fight with hobbies. It should be an added value and not create additional problems.
A break is often good for you. After the break, you are motivated again and have more drive. You also have to have the courage to take a break. When you write you come back refreshed, when you do sports you are full of energy again,....

I had a vacation at the end of December and took a lot of time to write after Christmas with the family. I had a good phase and got a few chapters further. But it will take a while until the manuscript is finished.

In the meantime I dared to read the first chapters by friends and got positive feedback. I guess the story makes you want more, but they would also recommend that I edit again when I'm done with the book. I've also contacted Novum Publishing and they've encouraged me that publishing can work out. But until that happens, I might want to enter a short story contest to get some publicity.

In the meantime, I have also had such phases in which I could only have written under pressure. But I think writer's block is quite normal. Since writing is my hobby and should be fun, I then allowed myself a break and read more.

I think that is also the positive influence that writing can have. Other people go to sports and exhaust themselves there - but what remains is a positive feeling afterwards. With writing, it's the feelings that you get off your chest.

Often you have to take a step back and read other stories. Then at some point the focus comes back. Think it would also be bad in such a phase with pressure to continue writing - you would then notice.

I doubt family or friends are a good guide there. You have to know what you are doing and you have to know the market. And if you're honest, often no one from friends and relatives want to give you negative feedback.
In literature forums, on the other hand, it is quite different. For the people in the forums, everything is bad and everything is talked down. No one is good enough:)
I think the best chances for honest feedback would be if you participate in competitions and exchange with other authors.



I also think writing is hard work. You have to invest a lot of time. Many people think it's too easy. That's probably why there are so many writers who try.
I think you can often tell the difference between a story you had to write and a story you want to get off your chest. The publisher is on your back, there's time pressure, you have to write a sequel, you put yourself under too much pressure,... All this influences the story. If you can write freely what is close to your heart and it is a matter of spreading your story, that is of course more conducive.


Writing costs nothing (to very little). It takes time but so do all hobbies. It should be fun, a distraction.... you also benefit yourself from writing even though you don't want to publish. It should lift your mood or give you joy.
When it comes to a publication, it costs quite a bit. Not necessarily financially - but in any case time and nerves.

Hey there! I haven't looked in here for a while now... what's the current situation with your project? Have you made any progress yet? In my opinion, you shouldn't do without editing and proofreading - even the best professional authors have to swear by them ;-) There's always something to tweak about a text... but it's also important to let it "be" at some point... two or three revisions is the minimum, I'd say.

Thank you for your advice! I also think that books should not only tell a story, but also make you think.

That it is more difficult to write a good book than to have an idea in my head is something I am experiencing myself. It will be done, but it's a tedious process. I hope to have the book published next year.

Before it is published, it will definitely be proofread and edited. I think that's when you notice, for example in fantasy novels, whether the worlds described make sense or whether you have to formulate something differently or add information.

You are right, but everyone is different. if I'm complaining, I always write it in a diary. after I poured out everything that was on my mind through writing, it made me relieved. sometimes part of the novel stories that I write, are lifted from the habit of my true story.

but still sometimes I feel bored. so sometimes I switch from writing to reading.

Well, what kind of book? Fantasy, SF, autobiography, fiction, non-fiction? A novel? Short story? Novella? There's a HUGE difference between all of them.

Difference between "having an idea" and actually writing that idea down is night and day. You may think you have a great storyline, but once you start writing, you'll figure out how much "empty space" you have in between. That's where the hard part is. How to fill it with something meaningful?

Before writing anything, and especially fiction, you should have your characters nailed down. Their personalities, their motives. Why would they do something they did, how is their personality affecting the storyline, how may their decision impact the storyline? Fantasy and SF are even harder. You have to create the whole universe before you write anything. Universe that makes sense. The story must sit perfectly in that universe, otherwise you'll have illogical storyline and plot holes.

What you really should do is just write something short. 5k - 10k words. Give it to your friends and families to read. Ask for their honest opinions. Post it on forums or Reddit. Look what people think about your writing. Practice some more. Then maybe some magazines would want to publish your stories if they're good enough. Build up from that.

Writing is VERY hard for most people. It takes time and practice. Maybe only a handful of lucky individuals are talented enough to express their thoughts through writing in a really meaningful and beautiful, effortless way. I would say those are the top 1% of writers. Other mortals will have to grind their way to become good authors. I don't know why people romanticise writing so much. It's hard work. It's a constant fight with empty paper. Moments where you don't know what to write are predominant compared to the moments when words just flow from your mind to fingers.

On the other hand, it's probably one of those things anyone can try. It costs nothing. That's the beauty of it.

One of the strategies that authors who I love reading their books do is that, they start with a personal story. Usually in a narrative format, their history. Then slowly they start intertwine their their thoughts and opinions into the piece. The best writers are those who will leave you with something to think about after reading a chapter.You could do both.

I think one can and should only clarify and provide information here. The decision then loves but with one himself.  If you mention the example with the investment, it is the same.  My way can be good for me, but it does not have to be so for everyone or maybe you have completely different goals. The conditions are so and so different for everyone.

For a publication, I would strive for the goal of getting published by a traditional publisher. If you can not realize that and you still want to publish your story, you should also think about the alternatives. There are already enough options and everyone will find his way. You have to be honest with yourself. I think if you say, I do everything alone and then you have no time or the stress is too great, then you could quickly stop again.

I think that is a very important point. As a new author, when you find out how to write and, above all, publish your first book, you often get the impression that there is only one right way. But the demands and needs of authors are as varied as their books.

Some are satisfied if they can publish their book on their own homepage. Others find accommodation with traditional publishers and change their work according to the wishes of the publisher. Still others opt for service publishers and are satisfied with that. And some also discover a lot of joy in publishing their book via self-publishing, even if this also costs time and money.

You have to decide individually what is best for you. That's the same with investing money. Some prefer to invest their savings in gold, some in cryptocurrencies. And still others feel best when diversifying.

In the end, you can only know for yourself what is best for you. What suits you may not suit others. What's right for others doesn't have to be right for you. I think it's important to think about it carefully. Collect all the information and then make a decision for yourself.

That's right, you just have to be happy yourself. At the moment I'm not yet, but that's also part of writing and publishing a book in some phases. But I'm confident that I'll be satisfied in the end. At the moment, I'm leaning heavily towards ultimately turning to a service publisher. But other options may also come into question. Self-publishing, however, I do not have the time and motivation, as you have correctly stated.

You can only decide for yourself which path to take. You should keep all your options open and try traditional publishers despite all the circumstances. It costs nothing and you can send your manuscript to several publishers at the same time. You can't get more than one more rejection. I think if you still want to publish, you have to think about whether you can do it alone or you need help. You have to be honest with yourself or it won't work. You need a lot of time and nerves to create it alone. In addition, you usually still have a job, a family, household,... You have to take all that into account when making your decision. I'm not saying you can't do it, but it certainly takes longer. If it takes longer, you can also lose motivation, which would be a shame.



For some, the desire for more develops. If not, also ok. Basically, you only ever have to be satisfied yourself, what others want is their problem. Fortunately, not everyone likes the same thing and has the same interests. Now and then you wish then nevertheless that other people see what you actually do. If it gives you pleasure and you connect a lot of positive things with it, it can also happen to other people.

I think so too. It's the same in the music industry. In the past, you absolutely needed a record publisher. And today, some artists become famous via YouTube or TikTok.

Yeah, I'll definitely do that when I'm done. I felt really comfortable contacting Novum Publishing and if they actually want to publish my book and the price fits, I'll probably take the option. It may be that you also have a small chance with traditional publishers, but getting published there is also very time-consuming and involves a lot of rejections.

This is a nice example. And yes, I also believe that this is a normal development. Most people are more or less socially inclined and it's normal to want recognition for one's achievements.

I think reading and writing somehow belong together. Normally you probably start with reading books, often you stay with it. Now and then, however, it appeals to you to write such stories yourself. Stories that have moved you, that have been fun, that have distracted you from your stressful everyday life,... You want to try that yourself and bring your stories to other people.
I think very few people start writing because they want to earn money with it. First and foremost, it's about bringing your stories closer to other people or because you feel the same way when you write as you do when you read (stress is reduced, you forget about everyday life,...).
At some point you will surely reach a point where you want more. And what comes after reading, after writing - a publication.
I think you can compare it well with sports. I saw my father playing soccer, then I started playing myself. Later I earned a little money with it and at some point I wanted more. For me, this is a very natural development that happens in many areas.

I think most people who enjoy writing also enjoy reading other authors' books. It is simply something special to be able to immerse oneself in the thought worlds of other people through texts. And through the same medium to be able to offer other people the opportunity to dive into a world that you yourself have created. That one does something like this not only for oneself and has no interest in having one's book published, is something I can only imagine for very few authors. Most of those who finish their book probably want to see it published successfully. That you can only try, but not force, I also see so. But in the meantime there are so many different possibilities that there should be something for everyone who seriously wants to do it.

I don't think you should put yourself under too much pressure. You should continue to see writing as a hobby. At some point you reach a point where you can try it with a publication. You can't force it.

I've often heard it the other way around, where writing is used to get back into the right mood and wipe away all the worries of everyday life.

Learning from other authors does not mean copying them. Copying would be just changing the names in a story and then selling it as your story. But learning from other authors how to give a person a real character is not copying. You don't have to copy it 1:1, but you should learn from it.
You should always have the will to improve and develop. There are certainly several methods how you can do that. You should not assume that you know and can do everything. Even if you have already published several books, you have to adapt again and again. Readers often want something different and trends change.
Finish your book and then get back to that publisher. The publisher will know how to get feedback or will give you feedback themselves. You will certainly have to rewrite one or the other part of the book.

I also want to be a writer. Of course writing is not easy. I have to look for references first as well as a quiet enough time to write. Writing and reading are my hobbies. So I write because I like it, but sometimes I also want my book published, and I become a writer.

I always look for the right time to write, if my mood is peaceful and serene, I always write. But, if my mood is not good, I won't write, because it makes my writing a bit bad and I can't concentrate.

Well, what will be the next steps? My own first book is still not finished. First I'll finish it, then I'll put it aside for a while and then start editing.

When I'm done with that, I'll look for beta reader. Do you have any tips on where I can find some? I'm sure I'll get feedback from friends and family, but not a completely neutral one.

The next step would be to see how I can get my book published. I've ruled out self-publishing in the meantime, I think I'll try my luck with publishers and service publishers. After a thorough examination of the contracts, there should be something suitable at some point.

Having a target group in front of your eyes is already important, I think... but that's just my personal assessment. You would have to ask around for experiences, for example from publishers. If you are interested in such workshops, then such questions will certainly be clarified there.
As you say, having beta readers would certainly be helpful to get constructive and broad feedback... of course you can also do this with friends and relatives - but it is important that "professional" people take a look at it so that you get really broad (and honest!) feedback.
Have you already planned the next steps?

I also read a lot, but not to copy from other authors, but to be inspired by their stories and also to reflect on which elements of the writing style I like well and which I like less. I think the knowledge and skills could also be well honed in a workshop. To see what my chances are, I contacted Novum Publishing with a sample of my book. I got feedback from the service publisher that they could see potential and that I should keep at it. I can contact them again when I am finished with my work and then they will see how they can support me on the way to publishing my book. However, I'm sure it will be some time before that happens. I've made good progress, but there's no end in sight yet. And when I'm done, I want to give the book to a few beta readers first and get feedback, and then start editing it myself. I think that will be a good piece of work again. But I'm looking forward to when the story is ready to be polished before handing the project over to professionals.

When I envision my readers, I don't have a unified group in mind. I think it's similar to those who are interested in cryptocurrencies. They are people of different nationalities, different ages, with very different lifestyles and professions. All of them are certainly interested in the future and new technologies. There are also no children and probably relatively few old people. I think that would also coincide with the target group I have in mind for my book.

Thank you! You're right, it's damn hard to write in a way that creates the same image in the reader's mind as it does for the author. That's why I think it's important to find beta readers every now and then who can give you honest feedback. Of course, this is no substitute for professional editing by the publisher before the book is published. People who deal with it on a daily basis know best what details they need to pay attention to and what can and should be improved.

It will also be important to read other books in your own genre and try to observe the market a bit yourself. Perhaps one recognizes a trend. If you come up with a book about vampires now, you're probably a little late. That would have been great 10 years ago.
You don't have to copy other authors, but you should learn from them. How do they build characters, how do they build a story...? You learn all that in such workshops.
You could also meet with other authors. Maybe there is a kind of book club only for authors. There are also training courses in the field of writing. Maybe that would be a good idea, or you could go to the university and listen to some literature lectures.

Joining creative writing classes is a great idea! I've also noticed that publishers specifically targeting new authors offer such workshops. That could also be very interesting.
It's also not just about "why" you write, but also "for whom" - you should always have a specific target group in mind. This is important for all areas in the book.
And as is said here - writing a book is a lot of hard work and usually takes a long time. Professional help is usually indispensable..

Once I also tried to write a book, but it was soo hard! I wish you a lot of luck!

I'm not a writer. but my sister is a writer. what he needs as a writer is that he is always looking for more inspiration while being alone. so that he can concentrate well on writing his book. and if it's a novel, then the difficult part is when we tell it, it must make the reader able to imagine what the author imagined. good luck mate

I've made an article for you, if you would like to take a look at it, you can follow the link I've provided.

https://ramerlacida.medium.com/tips-for-writing-your-first-book-in-2022-263e3bcff26d

Of course, a single, normal vacation is not enough to write an entire book. My vacation is over now, but I have made a lot of progress in writing and have rediscovered my joy in writing. I want to maintain that in everyday life and continue to work on my work. So I write for myself, but would also be happy to be able to reach readers with my finished book.

I am thinking about a workshop in creative writing. Taking a course directly with a publisher sounds like a good idea.

I'll read your article lacidamarketing right away. Do you have any experience writing and publishing books yourself?

Depends on why you are writing. If you consider writing as a hobby, then it can be a good release from stressful everyday life. Some people do sports and achieve the same result. Therefore, one can also have the need to write, just like sports.


Feedback from other authors can help, too. If you're still learning, I wouldn't pass it up. Or go to writing classes and learn. Then go to professional writers who offer such courses. Look at offers from publishers who offer courses for writers (Novum publishing,...) read blog articles, look at tutorials on Youtube,.... There are many possibilities. But I would not be ashamed to show my creations to others. No master has fallen from the sky:)

I haven’t written a book. If you want to write a book, you should know who you want to write for. If it’s something you expect to publish it later on. Then, you need to study about structuring and other details. You can join a creative writing class.

you have to keep in mind that you can't just write a book during a vacation... unless you're on vacation for months now, if not years :-) so I don't know to what extent you want to write a book... is it just for you or for friends and relatives or do you really want to publish it professionally? You'll have to come up with a plan - but you do, I see… at least thinking of one… :-)
If you don't have any experience with writing, I would also recommend workshops at special publishers for new authors. There you can learn a lot and avoid going in the wrong direction all the time... The professionals can help you in time and save you a lot of work when you think you're done with your book....
What is it about, if you don't mind me asking?

Thinking more than feeling when I write is hard for me. Professionally, I'm used to thinking first and foremost, and it's hard for me to break free from that. Sitting down at my computer is easy. Writing a few lines is too. But then I read it again and delete it right away. I think I still need to figure out what type of writer I am.

As for sharing with readers, I'm nowhere near there yet. I'm only writing for myself at the moment, after all, it's about my dream. I wouldn't let anyone read it until I'm mostly satisfied with it. If I succeed in writing a good book, however, I would definitely like to have it published someday. But I don't know if you have a realistic chance as a new author.

I try to read more to find new ideas for my writings. It works for me. Also I think it's ok to use some help of writing services. I can suggest  reliable serice to write my college essay for me and save my time. They always help me with my writings. These guys helped me with grammar and plagiarism check. Luckily they have affordable prices and I use their help from time to time.

Self-discipline. You will almost never "feel" like writing, so you'll have to force yourself to do it. Do not drink while you write unless you always drink while you write, and always edit sober. Spend time rewriting until each paragraph knits together like the gears of a Swiss clock. Do not share your work with anyone until it is complete. Remember that your book is better than any critique one could make of it, and read better authors than yourself in your free time.

I didn't write a book, but i wrote tethis  The only way to concentrate for me was strictly working for at least 12 minutes a day. The most difficult thing is to start.

I think that's more of a cliché. With Hemingway you probably think more of a glass of whiskey:)

There are two types of writers. Some write straight out without much planning, the second group needs an exact plan, has to prepare consistently and researches a lot in advance. You have to see which group you belong to. If you already have experience, you stick to it. But first you have to find out which type you belong to. It's relatively rare that you sit down and write your first book and then want to publish it right away. It also takes a lot of practice.
Of course, it can be a dream and will probably also become a goal one day, but putting pressure on yourself right away can also inhibit you.
You have to be aware that it takes a lot of practice. You never stop learning and must continue to develop. You need to know whether you are already at the point of publishing your own book. What experiences have you already made? Have you already written stories or is it really your first novel? What topic should it be about?

Better to be moved to write before writing... By "to be moved" i means it has to pour into your heart to the extent of having a strong/uncontrollable desire to write it down at that particular moment. I was actually moved to write my books and they are faultless because it comes from the ONE moving me.
Focus on what you understand really well that it feels like it comes out of you naturally without you thinking too much about it... that also should help convince your readers that you know what you are writing about.

I used unconventional means to publish mine to reduce time and cost as I intended to give the books for free to those who can't afford them for money.

Do you want to write it to yourself or do you want to publish it later? Because this makes a great difference. Anyway, i wish you a lot of luck with your dream!

Professionally, the last few months were very exhausting for me.  But now I am finally on vacation. I have long dreamed of writing my first own book and have now decided to start. Of course, I already have an idea. But just writing away didn't work out well for me. I admire every author who just sits down, maybe drinks a glass of wine and writes. But for me, without planning, only nonsense comes out.

I'd be interested in your experiences. Have any of you written a book? What strategies worked for you to successfully write and publish your book?