Hi.
I can hardly believe it myself, but I am writing a book. I was having a chat with a colleague one night last week, and I said that the main thing I was lacking was an original concept. Then, I feared that I would start writing like another author, rather than using a style of my own. I suppose that there is no shame in being compared to Stephen King, for example, any more than I would be ashamed of being compared to George Clooney in the looks department, but I digress.
The thing is, that I got my original idea. At least, I had an idea and I have developed it in a way that is different to any other story I have ever read. As for writing style, well it isn't elegant- it's a story, not a classic piece of English Literature, but it is good.
Who says it is good? My colleague for one. She read what by now must have been about the first quarter of the story and said "S**t" Yes, she actually said it "I've got to the end and I don't want to."
My dad has also been reading it as it has developed. He's not normally an emotional sort, and he said it is "Good", but when I actually saw him today, he said it is "Excellent" and he can't believe that it is me that has written it.
So, what do I do with it? When I first started, I envisaged a short story in something like a magazine. What ignorance. I next thought that it could be included in a book of short stories, but it is now over 25,000 words and as such is classed as a "novella" and therefore is worthy of publication on its own.
So, what next? Do any of you have any experience, or- if I should be so lucky- even work at a publishers?
I am guessing that the most important part is to safeguard my intellectual property. The second thing I could do with is an editor as you can probably tell from my posts, my content isn't bad, but my composition could be improved.
I have noticed a tremendous difference between authors, and therefore can't look at every book and copy the format accordingly. Stephen King doesn't seem to like colons, for example but Word would have me put dozens of them in every paragraph. Some authors don't seem to like commas and I find myself reading sentences several times before they make sense. Although I can do it myself, I wouldn't mind help so that a publisher will actually read it.
The third part is actually getting somewhere with it- getting it on the shelves and making some money. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting to be the next JK Rowling, but if the story really is any good, then I must be able to make some money out of it.
Can anyone help? I'll mention you in my acceptance speech for whatever award I get.
