Question about writing a book.?

Question

I am a college student, and I do not plan to be a professional author, but I have been writing a book over the last couple of years and I really do believe it is a great book. If I get it published is their any way my book can be a "big hit" if I am not a well known writer or have other great books under my belt?

Answer 1

I am a professional writer and there is absolutely no way to tell in advance which books will be best sellers. It depends on your timing in getting it published (is the subject or theme of your book something the public is interested in right now?); the amount of work and money your publisher puts into marketing and publicizing your book (as well as how much time you put in); and, oh yeah...was it a good read or not?

My best advice: write for your own pleasure and entertainment. When you feel you have a finished manuscript, attend writers' groups, conventions, etc. Enter contests (research which ones at reputable websites), make connections with agents, publishers, fellow writers and work the network. Stay away from the anthology scams and such. Writers Digest Magazine is a great source of help and information.

Answer 2

If all you want is for your book to be a "big hit," don't waste your time. There's no way to guarantee what will really be popular at any point in time.

If you're serious about getting it out there, though, go for it! Look up the 2007 Guide to Literary Agents and query some agents that seem like they'd be a good fit for you. Once you find an agent, he or she will shop the book around to the publishers that would best fit your book's style.

You don't necessarily have to have a "name" to have a hit book, but it does have to be a well-written and enjoyable story - something with appeal. Even if you think it is a great book, that doesn't mean that others will (I'm not trying to be mean, just logical), so try joining a writer's workshop. Just "writing" a book doesn't guarantee anything - most writers go through a grueling revision process as well, and working with other writers can make your work stronger by pointing out plot holes, etc. that you might have missed because you are so close to the story.

If all of this sounds like too much work... well, writing is work. Hard work. And it's enjoyable and exilerating sometimes and tedious and frustrating others, and you just have to go with it. If you just want to share your story with friends and family, but want it in book form, try a publish on demand service.

Answer 3

I am a professional author, too. The truth is that the only way a book can be a really big hit is if it is published by a major publisher and the only way that can happen is if you have a major agent working for you. That's the reality right now. As a matter of fact, I heard yesterday that major bookstores like Barnes and Noble and Borders are now charging one dollar per book to place your books on the tables at the front of the store. Only the major publishing houses with major hits can afford to do that. It is rare, but once in a while a self-published book is later on picked up by a major publisher, but it doesnt happen often.

Your best bet is to go to Preditors and Editors and start researching agents and small publishers. They publish warnings about the bad ones. Also, visit Absolute Write Water Cooler and check their Background Checks and Bewares section for info on "baddies" in the business.

Contests are sometimes helpful, but both of the sites I mentioned above will tell you which contests are legit and which arent. NEVER pay any kind of a reading fee or entry fee for a contest.

Good luck. Keep Writing and remember it took James Patterson something like 61 rejections before he got his first book published.

Answer 4

If it garners critical acclaim, it might wind up on the best sellers list. I didn't know who Dan Brown was, or if he ever wrote a book before the Da Vinci Code, and now look at him. J.K. Rowling's first book was the first Harry Potter book, and look what happened to her. But the first thing you need to do is find an agent that market your book for you and get the attention of the publishers.

Answer 5

u have every chance of being a good writer but u can never really tell. i myself am only 16 but i have been told my many people that my writing is wounderful but i have been told by more professionals that6 my writing is amature so u never really know