How do you write a book?

Isn’t that what editors are for? :smiley:

I know you mean it as a joke, but there are people who think editors take your raw prose and rewrite it. That’s the writer’s job; if the book requires editing, no editor is going to buy it.

I read once (before the internet, so no cite) that if you give an editor one mistake to fix, they’ll make five more changes. Also, especially for a first novel - sending in a mistake filled manuscript gives them and excuse to forget your ms and concentrate on the other fifty they’ve just received.
Only had non-fiction published, so far. Working on a trilogy. Still.

First novel had a few unconnected scenes which I wrote first and they led to a natural resolution.
Second novel followed a very detailed arc that began with one brilliantly clear event.
Third novel, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. I should be rewriting it now.

Can I crib this and use it as a sig line on the writers’ board I frequent? Pretty please?

Well, I started. I have two pages that need to be cut down to one or filled out to be an entire chapter… I’m not going to worry about it now though.

I’ve been on “The night was” for six months, good thing it takes place in the Yukon :slight_smile:

For a good beginning, hire Boyo Jim to create the first sentence.

To paraphrase Chris Baty, of NaNoWriMo Fame, " Ask yourself, is this a good time to release the ninja’s into the court room scene."

Only if you want to write one than no one will read. :wink:

Perhaps “memorable beginning” would have been more accurate.

When is it not a good time to release ninja’s?

Advice from a quite successful, well-known author here:

http://www.bernardcornwell.net/chapters/writingadvice.htm

A ninja in a courtroom is always good. I don’t think I’d want a ninja in a childbirth scene, though.

But it has inspired an opening sentence!. “Yuki suddenly realized it was going to be a breach birth, and called in her most skilled ninja.”

This is beginning to sound like those old John Belushi “Samurai _______” sketches.

Did he ever do a Samurai Surgeon? I don’t recall one, but it would seem a natural.

Go ahead.

Unless you are a celebrity who doesn’t think you need a ghost writer, that is.