How do you know if writing a book is for you? Here are some clues.
1. You have a blog.
2. You go to book signings with filled with envy.
3. You keep a journal.
4. You own a business.
5. You watch a movie and think, “I wish I had thought of that.”
6. You like to review other books.
7. You read a lot.
8. You like to make people laugh.
9. You know a lot about a particular subject.
10. You find yourself correcting mistakes in books you read.
11. You experienced something traumatic and want to help others dealing with the same thing.
12. You love to read or tell stories to children.
13. You have read almost all of the books in your favorite genre.
14. You are a daydreamer.
15. You are told you should write a book by people who think your experiences or observations are interesting.
16. You love to go to the library or bookstore.
17. You are always asked for advice about something in particular.
18. You embellish ordinary stories to make them more fun to tell your friends.
19. You experienced something transformational and think others might benefit from it.
20. You used to write when you were younger.
21. You are craving a creative outlet.
22. You want to heal.
23. You have ever said, “I should write that down for my family.”
24. You want to be hired as a speaker, consultant, or life coach.
25. You have thought about your manifesto or yearn to explore and understand life’s meaning.
26. You have got that story in your head, but don’t know where to start.
27. You have thought about it before, but dismissed it because you think people will think you are crazy to try.
28. You want to, but don’t have enough time.
29. You think it could be fun, but it sounds too overwhelming.
Does this sound like you? If you saw yourself in any one of these, you owe it to yourself to explore the possibilities. Here are some places to start:
Take a class
Check out the writing courses offered here. Your local community college, library, or arts organization are other likely places to find quality writing classes.
Read a book
The Self-Publishing Roadmap gives insight into the self-publishing world and step-by-step instructions about how to format, upload, sell, and market a book.
The Book on Writing by Paula LaRocque focuses on writing technique and writing style.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White is the ultimate guide for grammar and punctuation.
The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus is a fabulous guide for writing funny material.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron will free you from all of reasons not to write. She gives exercises and explanations on how to overcome fear and writer’s block.
Join a writing group
http://www.scribophile.com/ An online critique group
http://www.writerscafe.org/groups/ A list of online groups
https://www.goodreads.com/group Online groups for readers and writers
Find local writing groups through larger organizations. Find a list of writing organizations at: http://writersrelief.com/writers-associations-organizations/
Don’t let lack of knowledge be an obstacle. Get ongoing writing tips by subscribing to this blog via the form in the top right sidebar on this page.
What are the clues that you are ready to write? Leave a comment and start the journey.
A wonderful creative encouragement for so many! Good for you. When someone tells me they have a book in them, I say “you better let it out — it’s going to get crowded in there.
Becky, I like that visual! Thanks for stopping by.