can you write a book if your not a good writer?

Question

Can you write a book if your not a good writer? I'm horrible with spelling, grammar, and punctuation but I stories that would make great books so can you write a book and then have someone fix all the stuff and make it make sense in a grammar type of sense but yet you still get credit for being the author?

Answer 1

You don't say how old you are. But there is still time to learn. Yes, you can, and you would get credit for authorship, but it would cost you a fortune in editors before you could show it to a publisher or agent. So use that as in inspiration to improve your grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure. If you are still in school, show some of your work to a teacher and ask for them to mentor you. If you are out of school, look for a free writers group at a local library or bookstore or take a class at a local community college. Or maybe take on a writing partner who is more proficient with those technical things. Pax - C

Answer 2

Use spell check and read "The Elements of Style." When you get done with your story and have fixed everything you can fix with spell check, go through "The Elements of Style" page by page and apply it to your book. When you're looking at the "Misused Words and Expressions" section, you can click on "Edit/ Find" on your manuscript document and type in each commonly misused word and see if you are misusing it.
Also, if you have the tendency to misspell or misuse certain words all the time, make a list of them as you correct your manuscript. That way, you'll know what to look for in the future, and you can study the list and practice spelling the words.
I see from your question that you also have a tendency to leave out words: "...but I stories that would make great books...." Sometimes, you can catch those mistakes be reading aloud, or just slowing down and reading one sentence at a time.
If you read your last sentence aloud, you would also find that it runs on and on without time for a breath. You could have asked your question like this:
I have stories that would make great books, but I have terrible grammar. If I write a book and hire an editor to fix my grammar, will I still be considered the author?
It says the same thing, in fewer words.

Instead of hiring an editor, you can learn to be a better writer, and there are plenty of books to help you. I suggest you go to the library and look up books on grammar and story writing. Just having stories doesn't make you a writer; writing makes you a writer.

Good luck.

Answer 3

If you have a story ,you can write a novel. Here is a secret to good writing. Look at a photograph in any newspaper or magazine you want. Then imagine that this photo is the High point of the story. Then write about what leads up to that moment and then slide down the other end of the mountain with a good moral epilogue. It makes for a great way to inspire a story in you. try it. You are right in being able to get editors and writer helpers and all but you need writing friends. you need to be able to bounce your stuff off of others and get a feel of what they think. This is the right place to be.

Answer 4

Here's the thing, being an apprentice writer myself: true, you can get a copy editor to iron out your mistakes; but, it's much better for you to learn how to use the English language. Here's how I learned (no bull): MS Word. I got annoyed at all of those red and green lines under what I wrote, so I clicked on them, read what was wrong, and learned how to avoid seeing them again. Paying attention in English class helps a bit, as well as reading published works.

I recommend this to every writer I come across in here asking for help like this: find other writers (Hi!) and give them your stories for a once over. They'll tell you exactly what's wrong and what's needed. Also, take some classes. There are some out there specifically for this type of stuff. Check out www.writingclasses.com, which is where I've taken a few classes (I wouldn't be recommending them if they didn't help me in some way).

If you want, you could send me a sample, and I can look through it for you. Click on me, drop me a line, send me an IM. If you want.

Answer 5

Of course you can write if you aren't a great writer.If you use Microsoft Word, it'll correct the spelling, grammar and punctuations by itself.It matters how you write the story.The story will only be published if it is a good story (but some of the stories i've seen are boring and are still published).

Answer 6

Yeah... I think so. Well, my first language is not English. I took a writer's course in which I was constantly criticize by the teacher for my grammar and stuffs. But, there was one assignment that I got a really high mark (the teacher is not an easy one). She said she was really impressed by the way I wrote it though she said, there were lots and lots of grammar mistake :D

Answer 7

Yes you can.All you do is write the book and then hire an editor or if you can't afford one just ask a friend or family member to help you.Good news is you wrote a book.Bad news is when its being edited you have to sit there in case the editor doesn't know what the word is.

Answer 8

well if you are not good at spellings that doesn't make you a bad author. you can write your books in the computer on Microsoft Word Document and it will correct the spellings itself.

Answer 9

L.Ron Hubbard managed to write books and he was not that good, and many other writers pull off the same trick,
it isn't writing a good book that is the problem, it is convincing people that they want to read it.

Answer 10

it's called an editor
even great writers have them
or get a cowriter to help you- both your names would be on the book