How do you write a book?

[Kenzie]

It's not cheating! It's inspiration! They put it out there for everyone to see. Someone's going to be inspired by it.

[Brigid ✩]

yeah, but you don't want to make your own stories too similar to stuff that's already out there, or people will just think you're copying someone else.

[Veronica, What the neck!?]

Well, sometimes with media, i see or hear somthing that makes me think of something else that makes me think of an idea for a story. It's a chain reaction. But you are right about making the stories too similar. That is when it is cheating, or plagerism, as it is know in the literary world.

[Brigid ✩]

right. plagiarism. that's the word i was searching for... i just wasn't sure how to spell it. lol.

[Xerxes Break(Vivian Ephona)]

Yeah. Plagiarism is bad. I'm trying to make part of my story not seem like that. My character figures out the evil guy is her dad. I just need to re-word it.

[Brigid ✩]

sounds like maximum ride (heehee. i love that series!!! except the fourth one)

[Kenzie]

The fourth was a disapointment. Is he making a fifth?

[Xerxes Break(Vivian Ephona)]

I haven't read the forth yet.

[Kenzie]

You'll be disappointed.

[Brigid ✩]

yeah, the fourth one sucked so bad, i almost wanted to cry. lol. but i think there will be a fifth one, so i'm hoping that it will be better.

[Kenzie]

That wasn't what I though when told us she needed to save the world. I thought it would be action packed, but it wasn't. You should still read it, though. It's really good, just not what we were hoping for. It really let me down. I'm not hoping for much from the next book - if there is one - 'cause then I won't be disappointed.

[Brigid ✩]

yeah... i just felt like, "what's the point of winged kids saving the world from global warming??? Anyone can do that!" if they're going to save the world from something, it should involve their wings somehow, so they're like "the only hope". that's what makes a good sci-fi story.

[Kenzie]

Yeah...I just really hope he makes another one. And what's up with Max? She totally likes Fang, but is too stuborn to admit it. Just tell him that you like him. End of story. He can kind of tell. But Fang, dude, you got to let her decide and stop throwing yourself at her.

[Brigid ✩]

wait--didn't max kiss him first? and she did tell him that she loved him, but she was like on laughing gas. lol. :)

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

Wow. This sounds really strange.

[Brigid ✩]

wait sella have u read these books??? trust me: they're not as weird as i'm making them sound. they're actually really amazing--at least the first two books are. then the third one is okay. but the fourth one is really random and stupid. argh. i was so disappointed.

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

No, I haven't. Are they kind of like Artemis Fowl?

[Kenzie]

I don't know never read them. But yes, she did kiss him first, but now he's kind of pushing himself at her. And she's not dealing well with it. I mean, come on, you don't have to ignore him all the time.

[Xerxes Break(Vivian Ephona)]

Wait! What about the other girl from school?! Did Max kiss Fang before that?

[Kenzie]

She kissed him, first book. When he was injured after fighting Ari on the beach.

[Brigid ✩]

it was so cute :) awww.
and no sella, it's really not like artemis fowl at all. it's a lot better, in my opinion.

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

Okay, good. I didn't like Artemis Fowl that much.

[Kenzie]

Neither did I, for some reason, though I only read the first couple of chapters. You should definitely read Maximum Ride, though. Hey, Brigid. Do you read Fang's Blog? If not you should check it out. Here's the link:

http://maximumride.blogspot.com/2008_...

Take note that this is in the middle of the blog's. You go to the right and there's a list so that you can scroll and read what you haven't read yet. This was one of my favorites.

[Brigid ✩]

omg, kenzie thanks for telling me to read that!! it totally made my day it was so hilarious!!! i'm still laughing. lol. :D

[Kenzie]

Did you see the picture that Nudge posted of Max and Fang. It was so funny, 'cause underneath it she put, 'gotta run, when Max and Fang see this they're going to kill me.' Lol. It was so funny!

[Brigid ✩]

no i did not see that....lol. i only read the latest entry. it was like the funniest thing i've read in my life. i emailed it to one of my friends (who is also obsessed w/the series) and she also thought it was hilarious. :D

[Kenzie]

You've got to see it. It shows a picture of them kissing, posted by Nudge. What Nudge posted underneath was so funny. Keep in mind that it was a drawing, though.

[Brigid ✩]

ok

[Brigid ✩]

argh. kenzie i couldn't find it... could u post a link to it or something?
OMG BUT I READ IT'S GOING TO BE A MOVIE!!! YES!!! it doesn't come out til 2010 though...

[Kenzie]

Sure, here you go.

http://maximumride.blogspot.com/2007_...

[Brigid ✩]

AWWWW. That is so cute! :) Thanx kenzie

[Kenzie]

It's a good photo of them. Nudge had better run for her life. LOL.

[Brigid ✩]

yeah... :D lol

[Xerxes Break(Vivian Ephona)]

RUN NUDGE RUN!
*Max and Fang glare at me*

[Brigid ✩]

haha.

[Terry]

Stephen King once said something to the effect that writing is like archaology, you just brush away the dirt and find something that is already there.

I sit at a keyboard (not much into pen and paper because my penmanship is atrocious) and just let my fingers go at it. The story develops on its own I find. Sometimes I have to go back and refresh myself on something that happened earlier, but it is all there in a #12 Font for the reading.

As for being published, I am nearing 40 and haven't found anyone who wants to do the publishing for me so I broke down and self-published through a site called www.wordclay.com. Their service for the actual publishing is free, which was the exact right price for me, and if there are any sales you will get royalties from them. I cannot attest to how good they are as of yet, but I am willing to take that chance to see my work in print.

[Brigid ✩]

well, sometimes i use lulu.com, which doesn't really publish work but gets it bound and printed w/a cover and everything. it's cool :D

[Jackie]

I am 31 yrs old and feel nowhere near as talented as Brigid is. But I also feel she has a true understanding of what is needed for writing, a passion for writing anything and a genuine love of the work involved. And even if you don't feel that talented I think you should try,try and try again!

[Brigid ✩]

omg jackie you're like making me blush! am i really that good??? wow...

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

Yes you are, Brigid!!

[Brigid ✩]

So r u, sella!!!! :D

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

Thanks XD

[Brigid ✩]

XD

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

I love this emoticon thing!! XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD It's so accurate...XD XD XD XD XD

[Brigid ✩]

XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! wow... i think i had too much coffee today.

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

COFFEE??? DID YOU SAY COFFEE???

BOING BOING BOING XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD

BOING BOING BOOINGGG

[Brigid ✩]

LOL
XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD

coffeecoffeecoffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[adi]

This is what I do:
I come up with a good, structured story, then I just start writing. Once I have the basic idea down, and I'm happy with the story, I just go through and add more meat (not literally) to the writing. Like adding an extra conversation, more explanation, etc.

[Brigid ✩]

i know what u mean adi! i'm kind of a chapter-by-chapter sort of writer. so i'll write a chapter in a rush, but then i'll go back and edit it a few times before moving on to the next one. i have a bit of a problem w/the whole 'structured story' thing... it usually starts out as just a concept...

[[deleted user]]

lol Brigid, I like to just write the story through first, and then go back and make fixations to it.