..but I'm not too sure where to start. I don't want to say too much about it (yet) because I don't want to jinx anything. Suffice it to say that I have alot of research to do in terms of content. What are some good books that are helpful for people writing their first book? Maybe that's a dumb question..idk..Has anyone here written a book?

I have thought many a times about writing a book. I just might one day, it keeps comeing up in my mind latley.

Wasted [ a memior of anorexia and bulima] by Marya Hornbacher was beautifuly written ! It had so much information but yet it didnt read like a text book. Im a big fan of footnotes in books. Even if your not intrested in eating disorders , that book is amazing !

it's lucky MS Word has a spell checker

I think you don't wake up one day and say "I will write a book", I think that just happens naturally.

Just start writing a lot, like a journal or something, and READ READ AND READ.

My grandfather was an acomplished novelist and someone asked him once "what do you need to do in order to write?" and he just said "read".

Well I'm sure you read.

Fuck yes it is.

I have a few books on writing

the wordwatcher's guide to good writing & grammer - morton s freeman
motives for writing - robert keith miller & suzanne s webb

once for a short story, I chose a word out of the dictionary to muse on. I dwelled on the word and built a charecter around it, then built the nexy from the first and a relationship and so on... it turned out rather nice. The word was gratuitous, btw

__________________
getting tired of the collective orgasm at the public declaration of the word "change"

Dr. Nathanson

would you care to share a few passages with us?

that's great.
i'm going to write a book also.
however, i am not going to read any books on how to write a book, because i have it all figured out in my head.

if barbara taylor-bradford can write a fucking book, I can write a fucking book.
YESSS.

I'm thinking of not doing that either. I'll save the reading for the legal stuff (if/when I get published).

So my book is going to involve alot of research and interviews..I guess it is the custom to compensate the interviewees, correct? Some of them might be "celebrities"

rly rly dumb question I know.

lol i'd love to share the whole thing but this was years ago in like high school, and i no longer have a copy. It was set in a small town. There was a stranger lurking about the town at night, lmao. It centered around a deaf boy and his mother that lived in the town. I dont even remember the whole story.

__________________
getting tired of the collective orgasm at the public declaration of the word "change"

Dr. Nathanson

Just go for it! I am a firm believer in shitty first drafts. Just get something on paper.

after reading that i'm still not sure what 'kind' of book u want to write, memoir, informational -like this is the history of ____- etc.... may help in giving you more appropriate recommendations

Grace is right, get it on paper... outlines/ parts you think of, always keep paper and pen around etc and then its easier to work out in the long run

i always hear people are writing a book.... is everyone writing a book a part from me?? well i guess i am writing a script....

Something along the lines of "history of____".

just read other novels, for about 20 years. :P
I'm sure there are loads of books that can teach you about structure etc. out there, if the old fag hags i see on the tv who write novels and get them published i suppose anyone can do it if they know their market.

i tend to look at other books in the same genre, and mark them up as i read them, the styles i like/relate to/find as 'easy' to read without realizing i'm having alot of info thrust upon me at once. like how boybythebed explained wasted (great book) the way its written is something i would pay attention to and then adapt it to your style of writing.

I'm writing too, i have my series of childrens books i'm trying to get published now and have been keeping notes etc for another book aswell

Barnes in Nobles, in the bargain section, has had alot of 'how to write' kind of books that you may want to check out too.