I have entertained the idea of authoring my own book, but am always torn when it comes to deciding on the type.  Have you ever wanted to write your own book? 

 I have been wanting to write my own book for years.  I have started a few ideas, but never got to improving them.  I have learned that when writing a book, when you don't know what to write about; write what you know.  The life you live, and the thoughts you think are a story in themselves.  Share them with the world.  Let people know what it is like for you to live a day in this world.

Tools to writing your own story:

Thesaurus - this instrument is a life saver for me when I am stuck on a word.

Spellcheck & grammar check - you want to write something, but are not grammatically knowledged or are not the greatest speller?  No worries, anyone can fix their work with these gadgets these days.

Whoever said there is no such thing as too much detail, was seriously mistaken.  I have seen books that carry on way too much on something, and it ends up drifting you away from the story.  Now if you have "well placed" detail, and well designed descriptions, that will make a big difference in a story.

I am no expert in writing, but these are things I have learned over the years and through school, that I wish to share with everyone.

Some of my own unpolished written work:

                        PROLOGUE


    Some days I ponder in my thoughts and wonder, if I were to write a book, what would I write about?
Would I tell a tale of a great king, whom fought valiantly in many wars?  Would I share my life and dreams?
If I write these words. . . would I like what I wrote? Or more importantly, would someone else read it?
I find that the story is only intriguing, once it has captured the reader.  Otherwise, it will sit on a shelf and
collect dust.  Therefore to understand my story, I would undoubtedly have to understand each of the minds
of those who choose to travel into my thoughts.  I am no more than a simple man, living a life some would
believe is "simple."  But how simple can one's life be if his life is only how he sees it?  You may go to the
same school as him, learn the same things as he learns.  However, one's mind may see it in a different way.
In a sense, who's to say that living a simple life, is simple at all.  Simplicity, Normality, Perfection.  These
words are different to everyone who reads them.  If you were to ask 100 people what they believe is the
definition for perfection, normality, or simplicity, you would have 100 definitions for each word; because the
world is being seen by over 6,000,000,000 people.  And each one shares a dream, each knows a way to live
and each one has their own beliefs no matter whom they follow.

   
    This is what I think about, how I interpret our world.  Understand that the following words I use in this book
are from my opinions.  Based on what my beliefs are.  I will share my thoughts in a way that is not prejudice. 
These thoughts are expressed with sincerety to those whom follow certain beliefs and don't mind a change in
they way they see things. Almost as if it were . . .

   
                        . . . A NEW WAY

   
    Hmm . . . what should we discuss?  Well, I suppose we can start at the beginning.  But of what
beginning is there?  The beginning of life, time; the beginning of so much more and then some?  A beginning
will start you on the paths in which to make choices.  These paths will become experiences, as you look back
they become memories.  As you look ahead, you see dreams and aspirations, of not just you, but everything
that would be apart of your life. 

    When you start a new project or goal, think about, what will be incorporated within your web of beginnings.
If you believe that a task is impossible, or too complex.  If you believe that you will never become the greatest
philosopher, the most romantic person,or a loving and caring parent, remember this - everything starts at the
beginning.  You see spider webs, and you may think,  how in the world do spiders ever make such beautiful patterns?
 Well, the spider starts by knowing that every masterpiece must start with something to grow upon, so the spider
attaches its web to the sides of tree limbs, grass leaves, or even between building supports; and merges the
beginning strands together creating unity amongst them. 
This will result in a center spot in which the spider may then expand from.
 This is what I call, foundation.  Whether it be, a job, or a marriage, this is where all your dreams, and future
 aspirations and accomplishments will start from, at "the foundation." 

    Have you ever read a book, that had too much detail? Or maybe an informative website that did nothing but
be redundant, in their approach to inform?  I've had my fair share of "less than perfect" reads.  Let me tell you it
sucks having to read it, especially when you have to do reports on it, or describe what you read in a book you never
intended on reading.  These experiences make reading, seem like a boredome.  A good way to make the story
more interesting is to make the characters, you and your friends & family.  As if it were your life, then you can ask
yourself, how would you handle this situation?  Would you fight or would you fly?  Life can throw some serious problems your
way.  Let yourself understand that, however bad the situation may be? Looking at it through someone else's eyes
can - in the long run - become a life long experience you can take with
you wherever you go.  A book with too much detail, sounds like a sophomore, (a person who thinks he/she is wise
enough to know everything, but in fact knows very little, and usually gets his/her facts mixed up).  In that sense, it
seems you are being given more than you can chew, more leaves than the bag can hold, however you look at it
remember in time, the "too much detail" may in fact be the one thing that makes an incredible difference.

    Letting yourself open to new ideas, and possibilities can broaden your thoughts on understanding your life.
Sharing your passions, interests, and dreams with people with whom you can relate.  A person that can be there
to help you fulfill your life goals.  I'll tell you what, lets play a game shall we?  I call it, "What If?"  What I will do
is ask a series of what if questions, and you try and answer them.  Are you ready?  Here we go . .:

What if you never had a friend?

What if all your life you never had a life long goal?

What if you never have a goal at all?

What if you couldn't fulfill your goal due to the world saying no to you?

What if the only response you were ever given when you explained your dreams
to people, were "no, thats too dangerous", " You will never make it to the top"
or, " (...) doesn't put food on the table, (...) does not pay the bills."?

Before reading further, I'd like you to take a moment and think about these questions.  If you can't think of anything
I will gladly share my answers to the questions above, to give you some idea of what to think about.

    If I never had a friend; well for one, I consider myself my friend.  I have a few very close friends,
it may not be alot but I know as long as I have at least one true friend in my life
 then I believe I'm doing OK. But still if I were to never have a friend, I would probably grow rather "eccentric"
 by talking to my pets, and plants.  Humanity, naturally thrives for attention and communication to survive.
Everyone needs to express themselves to another.
 To find a person whom which can understand how you feel, and makes you feel good that you're not the only one
who feels these ways.

    If all my life I never had a life long goal?  These are where you start to think about future endeavors. 
Many of us, have planned out our lives since we were maybe twelve years old.  Many parents have also planned
out the lives of their children even before birth.  So if I never had a life long goal, I would live without worry of
not fulfilling a dream.  I would not strive to become something.  The activities
I enjoy will only ever be hobbies.  I wouldn't try to win anything.  If I never had a goal in life, I would become pretty
darn bored of my life very soon.  One day I'll wake up and feel like I've missed something in my life.  Goals
are what keep the world turning.  Goals help the civilizations to keep on growing, allowing people more
oppurtunities to strive for perfection.  A little stress never hurt anyone, well, good stress (Good stress would be
adrenaline.)  Keeping the blood flowing, aspiring to new exciting heights.  We need to enjoy life, have fun
take chances, make mistakes, get messy *chuckles* and not be afraid to make a difference in the world
or even your own life.

    Hmm. . . If I was always told I couldn't or wouldn't fulfill my dreams?  Haha, I laugh at that question. 
I would live up to the challenge of my opposers.  My reign for proving them wrong will be enough of a life long
goal to keep me on the edge.  Always willing to show a different side of things.  Displaying to the world that
whatever you say Can't, Can.  Whatever you say won't, Will.  The will to be unique is my life long personal goal.

    These are some things to ponder when looking for your life questions.

    This reminds me of the decision making techniques I learned in Health Class.
My teacher had us learn how to understand decisions, and had us write them down on paper.  This activity helped me
understand that our minds have already made the decisions, we just needed to take initiative of performing them.
By writing them down, we could focus on the problem at hand, and realize potential decisions that could be made.
Some will be good, and some will be bad.  Once made you can't go back.  So making the right choices seems
crucial, and demanding.  Sometimes making the right choice, seems like it was in fact wrong, and sometimes making
a wrong move, turns out to be just what you wanted.  Serendipity, a word that is incredibly random.  Serendipity means
that say, you did something completely wrong, but it would turn out to have a great positive impact for you.  This lets us
feel like there is something looking out for us.  Could be mere coincidence, but serendipity seems to always have a
bit of hope trailing behind.

   
 

 Well when I was like 10 I started. Lol. Maybe even younger. It was just about my friends and something I forgot. Really stupid. Since then no not really. My real dream is to grow and have A LOT of money so I can give it to people who need it and then get a permit to be able to have a pet chimpanzee and orangutan. Please don't laugh at me. Seriously...

*Reads the word; book "

*Screams*

*Jumps behind the desk*

*Cries*

Kinda off 

 Do I? Yes, yes very much. I've got a long way to go until I feel something I write is worth a publishers glance, but still - it's not only a dream it's one of my career plans I plan to follow!

 I've written a couple short stories that I've had published, and I have a few starts with novel length stuff, but I never seem to finish. No idea I've had has gripped me enough that I see it through to the end. I think its because I am such a good reader, that when I read my own writing, it doesn't live up to my standards. oh well.

- Jen

g33k1337o7:

 I've written a couple short stories that I've had published, and I have a few starts with novel length stuff, but I never seem to finish. No idea I've had has gripped me enough that I see it through to the end. I think its because I am such a good reader, that when I read my own writing, it doesn't live up to my standards. oh well.

 

- Jen

That's awesome Jen.  Being able to self-criticize can lead to amazing results and a frustrating path (you may never be happy with what you produce, even if it is badass).

 Would you guys be interested in writing a book together in this thread?  Just start writing... each of us can do one part at a time.  Write until you are done, then the next person will pick up where you left off.  It should make for an interesting story anyways.

That is an interesting idea Brice.  Shaden, G33k, and so many other people have great writing talents, and I think we all need to see what we can do when we put our ideas together.  This reminds me of what Onyx_Fantasy and I did together, over pms.  I am eager to see what you guys come up with.

I dont have any writing skills so il just read it as its made :)

Good luck everyone with the book, cant wait to see it develop!

 I can certainly relate Jen, being a really heavy self-critic with a perfectionist attitude. I always find everything I write to fail meeting my own standards - and while this is a great thing about being a writer (always read your work later, so many errors pop up :P) it can be a burden as I always feel like I shouldn't release anything I write to the public because it 'isn't good enough'.

As for that idea Brice, perhaps we could do that. I'd certainly be interested, collaborations are always fun to do with other talented writers.

Sweet!  I will kick it off myself. 

I wrote my own book just last year and it was published just recently. It's a children's English book that I was asked to do for the company I work in. It's being sold and used in KOJEN cram schools across Taiwan. It was a great experience, though very tiring and time consuming to say the least.
I highly recommend writing your own book if you have ANY interest whatsoever. The feeling of accomplishment is outstanding and to see it in use/being read is a great joy. Just don't be too overly critical of yourself and your writing, especially in at the beginning as it will seriously give you writer's block like you've never heard of!

Good luck Brice!

 Ogre how about the RPG story we have started maybe that could be made into a WE novel someday or maybe a part released in the news letter as and when it comes out so it gives people something to read and inspire them to write there own books or short story novels, a few basic Ideas but you get the jist of what I am saying tho,

 Somehow I believe everyone at some point in their lives dreams of authoring their own novel. But theres something you have to have before you can do it. You have to have something you want to say or convey through the book. Personally I probably couldn't  do it, not terribly much I'd like to say and my writing usually too concise and descriptive to be a very good reading. Hemingway could do it but Hemingway is dead, by his own hand. I wish you good luck for your project though. You never know what you can do before you try.