20 years or so ago my first book was published by the first publisher I approached. It was a cookbook but I did not cook a single recipe myself and had never written anything before. How did I do it? Looking back I know I got a few things right:
I had a good idea
I had a good title - French Tarts
I had a contemporary idea - remember how in the 80s people were starting to eat quiche?
It had focus - just French, just tarts
I researched to find a publisher who seemed to already publish books like I thought mine should be - Octopus
I believed in my book and in my ability as a writer

Since then I have gone on to write 12 word processing handbooks, another cookbook and lots of books on expat careers, which has become my specialism. Next month I will be seeing the publication of my 24th and 25th books. The third ed of Career in Your Suitcase (published Bookshaker) and the 2nd ed of Dates (Zodiac). I must be doing something right.

About 5 years ago I started The Book Cooks, which helps others get their book ideas onto the bookshelf. I'm here, at Go Smell the Flowers to answer your questions and help you too to get your book planned, written and out there.

Along the way I have become a journalist yet have no formal qualifications, and have had 100s of articles published and paid for worldwide. I have also edited 3 magazines, so I have had my feet in both camps.

So, everyone, keep those questions coming. I'd love to inspire and empower you to do it too. If I can do it, so can you.

Odd how you would begin this thread and lately, I have been thinking about writing a book myself. But, how do you choose a subject?

Hi Empress

I would start with something that you are passionate about - or preferably - obsessed with! You need to pick a topic that really floats your boat. You need to sustain your own interest throughout the time it will take you to write it - and for at least 100 pages. For a texty book that means 35,000 words!

I suggest my students look for something they are expert on, something they are passionate about, something that seems to be a theme in their lives, an area of their work. But you don't have to start off with a big book. Just a tips book may be enough to satisfy you!

Well, I would say that I'm most passionate about haunting. But, that's not a subject your average person is interested in. How does one go about finding the "gimmick" in that passion of theirs that will attract the public? Writing a book about haunting is something that has been done. How-to Haunt books are floating around the haunted industry all over the place. But, again, they aren't what the average person would purchase. I want my book to be different.

BTW, 35,000 words is nothing for me. LOL!

Hey there Expat....
I will miss your posts on the main page but shall be making use of your knowledge and talents here I do say....

i do have questions.... but a quick explain...
I need to get an income as I dont have one.... yep not working....
Wanting to write and a book has been on the cards for a while... topics my interests are wide and varied keeping the mind focused is my challenge.... how ever in the meantime while i work on my epic.... I would like/need to earn some funds through writing but I have no idea where or how to start..
i have been researching on line and joined a few places to bid on jobs but I have no idea where to start or how to or even if i should.... all I know is I wish to work from home wrting.... any thoughts .... you have seen what I can do... but I dont know.....?

Would that be 35,000 words for an ebook? Seems a little short for a print book. Just asking because I'm compiling a tarot ebook.

Tarot eh!

Cool -we love our Angel cards - Doreen Virtue etc...

The rules for writing in our humble - from the heart is key, word limits - who cares but we did learn that 'imagine your reader wants something to read for 15-20 minutes before they drop off to sleep at night'

This help us open to extreme editing by Expat Inspirer and her team when we were cut in 2 goes from 180,000 words down to under 100,000 words. It hurt at the time but nothing was lost in the translation and Jims story was merged with Ems story and vice-versa....

Our manuscript now sits on a potential agents desk in London as we GO! down the traditional route...

hey funky are you compiling on the original Gardner decks ???? or the modern day sets...
I personally like the Egyptians and very old Pagan decks.. with original Green man,etc....
havent seen them in ages....

Its going global dont worry about that you two....... published before christmas...

OK - it is morning here again. And I am back at the forum, my favourite flower bed.
EN - How to Haunt is a fab title! There must be a metaphor in there for life - how to put the heebiejeebies up your customers or something. How to make your presence felt. How to make the room go cold - or hot - when you are around. Where to start? With a dream. Seriously, start by speedwriting and see where that takes you. If you can write a review of my book Release the Book Within and place it somewhere - Amazon, a website, I will send you a free PDF copy now. That will help. If you sign up to my newsletter, you will see other things I am giving to people who review my new books too. Also, read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. No, scrub that DO the Artist's Way, it is a 12 week course and will teach you to speed write. And I've got loads of free stuff I give away if you go to the Articles page of http://www.thebookcooks.com.

AC - your dream is my dream and mine has come true. you can write, that's one thing. I find your posts insightful. You need a theme. An idea. Throw some around here and see where we end up. or call me on Skype.

35000 is a minimum - cos that's 100 pages and you need 100 pages if you are to have a spine and a bookshop wont like a book without a spine coz it can't go sideways on a shelf. Who Moved My Cheese is a great example of a skinny book that jsut about has a spine and is filled with white space. I have not counted but think it is only 15,000 words! My latest book is 130,000 and that is 300 pages. Eek. a lot of words. so use subheads to break it up into the 20 minute bite-sized pieces Jim and Em talk about above.

Hope this helps. keep em coming.

Still desperately trying to put my pic up ...

Thanks Expat I will throw some around.. and thanks for the vote of confidence.... I am in two minds at the moment... either an Aussie Tale which would be totally about Oz... and my travels and funny aussie happenings.. which could be fun sort of like a travelogue of what we are really like....lol... or a sci fi.. which I have the first few pages but cant seem to get any further on.... so it is sitting on my harddrive... laughing at me... evil little thing it is...
I am leaning towards the first as the second just keeps baiting me to work on it... the longer I leave it the more synister it goes.. which is really what I want.... Stephen King eat you heart out....
I am working on it and will be talking extracts from Aussie and my note pad as time goes on... but I do have at least a planning area... the hard part is putting all together...
Beleive it or not I dont have Skype although Hubby is wanting so I'll throw some around here with you .. and if it goes anywhere we shall skype it... is that ok...?

Skype is free so what is stopping you? Ichat is nicer!
If you want to write a travelogue then you need to read other's - have you seen the Nick Brealey Books - have you read Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse? That's a good one for inspiration. Planet Germany by Cathy Dobson is another example. Writers, read, so that's a good place to start. and remember, what is funny or interesting to you may not be to everyone else! though I am sure yours would be, eh?

thanks Expat....
I have read a few.... lonely planet, and a few... piano player is one I started but have got into it... I pick it up again and try again.... I tend to read heaps... mostly sci fi, Ancient History, Atlantis, and theory type stuff Hollow earth etc.......
I know what you mean about the not funny to others... hehehehehhe...
Ichat will tell hubby...
He tried Skype ages ago but we had trouble with the connection... hubby is trying it again to see what he can ... miracle worker this guy...
Thanks Expat.. I start today...

Whoa! Missed a lot on here.

As far as the tarot book goes, I think it's going to stay an ebook so no need for enough pages to make a book spine. I'm writing about different kinds of tarot layouts, not the cards. Sorry, my tarot deck collection just isn't big enough at the moment.

you can always use big print! If you can it is always worth trying to make a book that could be sold in hard copy and as pdf. why not add some case studies, success stories or your tarot journey to the book to make it reach that 100 pages?

Hey ExpatInspirer.....

Glad to see that the path you took in regards to following your own dreams as a writer, was one that has come true. As for me I always wanted to be a writer but never had the confidence to fully step out onto the path that could lead me closer to writing and FINISHING a book. For now I'm still working on the last details of my own book....someone else actually stepped in to assist me in the publishing process.....but who knows right.
I think the most important thing in regards to writing a book and following through to publishing is actually WRITING the book.
Wish i had more to say in regards to the publishing aspect, but for this moment in time I'm still in the writing process

Case studies are a good idea. I could probably add some example interpretations for people to get a good idea how to use different layouts.

We're still plugging away at getting published...thanks for all your support to date Expat Inspirer!

Indeed, writers need to write. Writers need to get to the end - of what Anne Lamott calls the Shitty First Draft. At least an SFD is at the end, eh? Now you only have to edit it! Only? I like the editing bit, write all over my draft, put arrows here there and everywhere. Last time I cut the thing up with scissors and put it back together in a new order - but it was still an SFD and it felt SO good.

Writer read too. They read books like the one they want to do and copy the good ideas and they read ones they dont like to help them see what they wont do in theirs.

BTW I have a new book out - check out http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com and see all the freebies my publisher has sorted out to help increase sales. This is a new idea but it seems to work

I also need reviews on Amazon to increase sales - so if any of you want a free copy I'll whizz you a pdf right away AND a document that tells you how to write a review.

I have a Date cookbook out on 30 April in Dubai and Jim and Em are coming! Same deal - do a review and I'll send you a free copy.

No bundles of freebies there though I am afraid!

Hey there Jo...

i'll have a look.... if you like... need all the experience I can get....
cheers
Aussie

Hi Expat,
it's the elusive pilgrims here, one half at least. We have just published our guides to the via Francigena, not a great fiction, but something that a few people seem to want. The pilgrim thing - taking time out, a different experience, testing boundaries etc, rather than religion - is really experiencing a renaissance. Up to now, most people have gone for the St James Way, with the result that it risks becoming a pilgrim motorway, but the via Francigena offers a more remote, original option. We want more people to know about. any tips on how to get our book publicised and distributed?

Hi Pilgrims

I'm pretty elusive myself now too! Been in Dubai and met Jim and Em at long last! I have a document called 46 ways to market your book I'd be glad to email you if you contact me off list. There are lots of ways to market - mostly by using the internet, joining forums, posting material on websites, blogging etc. To my mind the main things you should do are:

1 Get as much free publicity as you can - getting book reviews, offering to write articles, do a press release, get on the radio. increase your google rating as much as you can. Join the free site http://www.bookshaker.com and use their author promo services - all are free. They have published 4 of my books actually too.

2 Do free talks to groups of people who know how to network and get your face out there - and sell your book at the back of the room after

3 Grow your global database and send out a newsletter to keep in touch with them all.

as for distribution. amazon takes SO much commission (55%) that it almost does not seem worth selling that way BUT if you print with http://www.lightningsource.co.uk (or com) and follow the tips in Aaron Sheperd's Aiming at Amazon it can really help you there. He has a blog too.

My mate Robin Pascoe went to a small publishers conference in Canada and learned tons - SPAN they are called and there are a few books by the founders too. Maybe that will help?

Hope this helps