questions on the industry

[wiggbuggie]

hello i have a few questions on professional autohers and in general how books are written and made so:

1. some books are really long does the author really sit down and write a 600-700 page book?

2. can anyone be an author? I mean what if i started to write and finish a book using microsoft word and send it to a publishing company can i get my book out like that?

3. what about editing and stuff does the author do that as well?

4. is this really a "profesional job" you know 8-5 with weekends off or something you do for fun write a book write another one later at your own time and pace etc

and any other info you might wanna share in writing books and being an author thanks

 

[Tariel]

1. How long a book takes to write REALLY depends on the writer. Some people can churn one out in a few months, others take a few years.

2. You could certainly try, but the chances of a publishing company accepting your book are very low.

3. Honestly, I'm not sure.

4. Again, it depends on the author and how serious he/she is about his/her writing. Most published authors I know spend at least a few hours daily working on wither books or articles and other works for publication. Look at this way: a person trying to make a living by writing HAS to write regularly. However, I don't think I know anybody who writes 8-5 M-F consistantly. Really, writing is too draining to do that. If I doing an emotional scene I can only work for a little over than an hour in a sitting, then I need to do something to refresh my emotions.

Anything else? Get published everywhere you can. Even if all you want to do is write books, the publishers will be more willing to look at you if you already have a portfolio.

 

[Lindon Tinuviel]

1. some books are really long does the author really sit down and write a 600-700 page book?

Yup. But we generally take a few bathroom breaks. Really, though, that's a huge project. Writing is only the first step -- the real work is in re-writing. A 600-page book may very well have been re-written from a 1000 page rough draft.

A book of that size will certainly take months to write, re-write, re-re-write, and polish. It could take years, decades, or even a lifetime.

2. can anyone be an author? I mean what if i started to write and finish a book using microsoft word and send it to a publishing company can i get my book out like that?

Sure. Many publishing houses still want to see a hardcopy (20# bright paper, preferably with a high cotton content), but almost all of them will accept electronic submissions.

But that's not what you want to do. No, what you want to do is write the book (then re-write it, then re-re-write it, then polish it to perfection), and then send out a query letter.

A query letter (you can find examples online) is a short letter describing your book and asking if the company is interested. Check the company's submission guidelines to find out whether they want the whole manuscript or not, and in what format.

3. what about editing and stuff does the author do that as well?

Yeah, that's mostly what an author does. Write, re-write, and polish, forever and unending.

4. is this really a "profesional job" you know 8-5 with weekends off or something you do for fun write a book write another one later at your own time and pace etc

Whatever works for you. One writer I know writes from around 7 every morning until about 6 every evening. He even skips lunch because it makes him sleepy. One guy wrote his novel in intervals whenever he had to wait for his wife to get dressed.

However, some books are written on a "work for hire" basis. This means that you will complete the project to the company's satisfaction by a certain date. If you don't, you may lose the job, have a reduced bonus, or have to repay the advance. These sorts of jobs almost always go to experienced, published authors.

and any other info you might wanna share in writing books and being an author thanks

Just one thing -- writers write. So write.