# Could you write a book? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429 "2016-04-17T01:19:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/1 "2016-04-17T01:19:51Z")
I have written my first book in 1999 – 2006, and my second book in 2008 – 2014. I have started writing my third book in January 2016. I have written my first book in September – October 2015, and my second book in November – December 2015. I will start writing my third book this week. You have started writing a book long ago. You can also start this week. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/2 "2016-04-17T02:04:39Z")
I was published in about 2010 but not in fiction. I have been working on a fiction and screenplay for the past year. I get bogged down in research and details and have been considering abandoning the project. I had a small breakthrough last week that was somewhat motivating. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/3 "2016-04-17T02:13:38Z")
I’ve done it! (Which proves that anybody can do it!) ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/4 "2016-04-17T02:38:37Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I was published in about 2010 but not in fiction. I have been working on a fiction and screenplay for the past year. I get bogged down in research and details and have been considering abandoning the project. I had a small breakthrough last week that was somewhat motivating. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/5 "2016-04-17T02:39:44Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I’ve done it! (Which proves that anybody can do it!) In what subject? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/6 "2016-04-17T02:46:01Z")
Sure, if they asked me… ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/7 "2016-04-17T02:49:37Z")
I have written several for my own catharsis or the entertainment of my friends, but I’ve never attempted to publish, because I don’t think I could take the rejection. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/8 "2016-04-17T02:51:08Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In what subject? A fantasy novel (“Urban Fantasy” subgenre.) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/9 "2016-04-17T02:52:33Z")
I think I have good ideas, and I think I have the talent (with a lot of effort) to achieve something readable. But I have no self-motivation nor -discipline. And those are key. Maybe if I was given a lot of money to cover living expenses, a comfortable quiet environment, and especially a looming deadline, I could motivate myself. But that doesn’t happen for first books. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/10 "2016-04-17T02:52:39Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I have written several for my own catharsis or the entertainment of my friends, but I’ve never attempted to publish, because I don’t think I could take the rejection. Thanks. Technically I have published my first book by 2006, and my second book by 2014. I have written these books in Fall 2015, but they are too controversial to be published yet. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/11 "2016-04-17T02:53:40Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > **But I have no self-motivation nor -discipline.** And those are key. I should have copyrighted the description of my state of mind. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/12 "2016-04-17T02:55:49Z")
Sure. I seriously doubt anyone would want to read it. I don’t even want to write it. ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/13 "2016-04-17T03:08:27Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I have written several for my own catharsis or the entertainment of my friends, but I’ve never attempted to publish, because I don’t think I could take the rejection. That sounds a lot like where I’m at. :o I’ve got the skill, and when I focus I can write great stuff. At the moment, I have zero focus or motivation. Plus my skin is very thin. I’m better than I used to be, but even the mildest negative feedback just guts me. ☹ My characters don’t care if I get published, though they would like it if I were to sit down and get a whole story out, I’m sure. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/14 "2016-04-17T03:18:25Z")
I could write but ---- would anyone read it? Yeah – on some level I shouldn’t care but I love reading too much to really bother jotting down my own ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/15 "2016-04-17T03:27:47Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Thanks. Technically I have published my first book by 2006, and my second book by 2014. > > I have written these books in Fall 2015, but they are too controversial to be published yet. You published them? Cool – are they on Amazon? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/16 "2016-04-17T03:38:40Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You published them? Cool – are they on Amazon? No. The books are composed of my posts – both books are about 100 pages. I archived edited and organized my posts – the first book for English language forums, the other for Russian language forums. The books are organized by subject. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/17 "2016-04-17T03:44:04Z")
I know what would happen, because it’s happened before. I’d edit and reedit and re-reedit, never satisfied with what I wrote. I’m always looking for perfection, never want to chop my hand down and say, “Alright, enough!” Publishers would hate me. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/18 "2016-04-17T04:15:13Z")
Did it. Got an agent. Now on submission to Big 5 publishers. We’ll see if anyone bites. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/19 "2016-04-17T04:54:34Z")
I’ve written three substantial books, plus a couple other minor ones that are available on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429/20 "2016-04-17T07:10:18Z")
I’ve been working on while for a while, but a combination of “actual work” and “writing in the wrong genre and being part of the wrong demographic” means I’m struggling to get much traction with any of the local writer’s groups. Been published many times before, though, just not as the author of an actual book. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-write-a-book/752429.md?page=2)