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Original poster

To think about writing a book around my crazy life?!

258 replies

itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 12:35

So I’ve been talking to some colleagues today, just general chit chat but it ended up going down the route of my life and how crazy it’s been.

I’m only young but ive been through a lot in my life 🫠 and recently managed to escape a very narcissistic ex and horrendous marriage, full of control, emotional issues etc.

my colleague very seriously suggested that I think about writing and publishing a book - and it really did get me thinking…

Ive always loved reading, I have an English lit & lang degree, and I adore writing (copywriter by trade)

I guess my question is, where and how would I start?! Is it really feesable and is there a market for actually making money from all the work you put into writing?

Also, is someone’s literal life story something you would want to read? Granted it’s pretty full on and dramatic 🤣

I would love to hear opinions please!

OP posts:
TorroFerney · 07/07/2025 14:44

itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:39

Jesus honestly I didn’t realise my ‘writing style’ would cause so much offence!!

clearly I wouldn’t write a book or copy in the way in which I’ve written this post.

this post was a quick brain dump of an idea I’d had. Mumsnet never fails to amaze me in how shit it can make you feel in a matter of seconds.

Well no one can make you feel anything that’s not possible. What I would say is have a think about self worth and how to improve that. I think you’ve perhaps latched on to someone saying something nice and why wouldn’t you when you’ve had a traumatic life and you’ve consequently made more of it than others would.

id work on not being affected by people’s comments whether positive or negative if I was you.

TorroFerney · 07/07/2025 14:41

itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 13:56

Thank you - I understand.

I always seem to overshare and massively regret it after Blush

Show quote history

That’s a trauma response, perhaps spend some time working through that?

EmeraldShamrock000 · 07/07/2025 14:41

Are you prepared to open your life story to the public for scrutiny?
Advertising on media, podcasts, discussing it at length. Is there any chance your ex could sue you for defamation?

TorroFerney · 07/07/2025 14:40

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/07/2025 13:23

Am I the only one that interprets 'you should write a book' as changing the subject and they're not particularly interested?! On a couple of occasions people have said it to me and I've definitely thought they meant 'put it in a book if you want to tell people about this, because I'm bored of hearing about it'

I think it can mean different things when people say it. But they never a really mean you should write a book I agree! It’s conversational fluff.

Original poster
itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:39

Jesus honestly I didn’t realise my ‘writing style’ would cause so much offence!!

clearly I wouldn’t write a book or copy in the way in which I’ve written this post.

this post was a quick brain dump of an idea I’d had. Mumsnet never fails to amaze me in how shit it can make you feel in a matter of seconds.

OP posts:
manicpixieschemegirl · 07/07/2025 14:37

Agree with @LookingAtMyBhunas about the writing style.

Berlinlover · 07/07/2025 14:37

People have told me that I should write a book about my life but in all honesty my life has just been one tragedy after another and it’s got to the stage where I find my life an embarrassment.

Original poster
itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:35

Bbq1 · 07/07/2025 14:34

A copywriter with a degree in English Lit and you can't spell feasible correctly?

This has been pointed out already..

God for it somebody makes a typo!

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 07/07/2025 14:34

A copywriter with a degree in English Lit and you can't spell feasible correctly?

LookingAtMyBhunas · 07/07/2025 14:34

DiscoBob · 07/07/2025 14:32

I had a friend who did that. Self published. It was absolutely unreadable and deeply boring.

Please don't.

Self publishes usually are. And then they tell everyone they're a 'published author' 🤔

QueenofallIsee · 07/07/2025 14:32

In my experience when people say ‘you should write a book’ it’s because they don’t quite believe the story they have been told. I’m not implying anything at all about you personally but it’s an expression in my world that’s used to convey disbelief.

Original poster
itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:32

DiscoBob · 07/07/2025 14:32

I had a friend who did that. Self published. It was absolutely unreadable and deeply boring.

Please don't.

I feel sorry for your friend if that’s the way you speak about her 🥺

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 07/07/2025 14:32

I had a friend who did that. Self published. It was absolutely unreadable and deeply boring.

Please don't.

Veryvulture · 07/07/2025 14:30

gimmeabreakfgs · 07/07/2025 14:11

?

everyone’s story is unique! I have lead a very varied and ‘interesting’ life, and no one else had lead anything similar!

OP do what I have done, write your memoirs for your family for when you have gone, whilst you can remember it. My kids have no idea of my life BC - when I’m gone they can read and be shocked. But getting published? Unlikely.

Show quote history

Think I need to do this, both me and DH had horrible starts to life, and a lot of shit since and a lot of it, with the kids ages, is not yet shareable…guess it’s probably kind of therapeutic writing it all out too?

MyQuirkyTraybake · 07/07/2025 14:28

Ultimately you're selling your story to the publisher. So you need to get an outline, at least a few chapters and how you'd develop that in to a book and really pitch hard on why people would want to read your book specifically.

What's unique? What are you aiming to do? Go look if there's other books similar to what you're attempting. Evaluate competition in the market - what do they do well?

Also are you qualified? This is sort of verging on therapy and you'll be more credible perhaps if you co-write with a therapist who has experience in this area?

Ultimately, why do you want to do this? Loads of people want to write. What will keep you going when you want to quit?

Sunshineofyourlove · 07/07/2025 14:24

Just start writing. Write every day. Find your voice. Don't get bogged down in thinking about agents/publishing/book signings. In fact forget about all of that, it will distract you.

Original poster
itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:23

LookingAtMyBhunas · 07/07/2025 14:21

Loads of people think they've got a book in them and it's very rarely the case. It's also a lot harder than people realise.

I agree your colleague seems to just be appeasing you and wanting you to move on tbh.

On paper, my life is a lot more 'traumatic' than yours, that doesn't mean others want to read about it.

'and im now learning to find myself again. It’s been a journey!'

If you were to write a book you'd also need to really rethink your writing style if this is how you do currently.

Understood. I didn’t go into detail regarding my life story and wouldn’t want to on here…

Everyone has a story to tell, I don’t think it’s necessarily right to comment on whose life was / who has had it worse. It’s subjective but I’m sorry if you’ve had a traumatic past.

I don’t understand your comment in terms of my writing style. Again writing style is subjective and differs from person to person.

OP posts:
LookingAtMyBhunas · 07/07/2025 14:21

Loads of people think they've got a book in them and it's very rarely the case. It's also a lot harder than people realise.

I agree your colleague seems to just be appeasing you and wanting you to move on tbh.

On paper, my life is a lot more 'traumatic' than yours, that doesn't mean others want to read about it.

'and im now learning to find myself again. It’s been a journey!'

If you were to write a book you'd also need to really rethink your writing style if this is how you do currently.

Sandandsea123 · 07/07/2025 14:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Original poster
itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:18

Thank you everyone. The responses have been helpful and insightful. I guess I got carried away with myself thinking I could possibly make something I am passionate about (copywriting) into something more than my daily grind BlushGrin

OP posts:
ErnestClementine · 07/07/2025 14:15

Oversharing can be a trauma response - have you spoken to anyone like a therapist about your experiences? Might be good to process it all before you explore whether to write a novel about it. Regardless of whether you go on to write a book, journalling in and of itself can be healing.

And eye roll at those who think copywriters can't make a typo.

333FionaG · 07/07/2025 14:12

You need to steer away from autobiographical references and make your story fictional, using your life experience as resources. Writing about a series of crazy events doesn’t necessarily mean it will make a page turner. There needs to be a twist or two and a sub plot running at the same time, to keep the reader engaged.

Original poster
itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:12

Youdontseehow · 07/07/2025 14:05

But you say earlier you massively overshare and regret it …….

Show quote history

No, I said I massively REGRET it

I know I’ve over shared in the past but to be honest it’s my life to talk about as I wish, those who ask questions I will respond to.

OP posts:
gimmeabreakfgs · 07/07/2025 14:11

Samas · 07/07/2025 12:41

What makes your story unique? It's not clear from what you have posted.

?

everyone’s story is unique! I have lead a very varied and ‘interesting’ life, and no one else had lead anything similar!

OP do what I have done, write your memoirs for your family for when you have gone, whilst you can remember it. My kids have no idea of my life BC - when I’m gone they can read and be shocked. But getting published? Unlikely.

Youdontseehow · 07/07/2025 14:05

itsokayokay · 07/07/2025 14:03

@Youdontseehow I don’t talk much about my personal life, only if asked about something or if it naturally falls into conversation.

But you say earlier you massively overshare and regret it …….

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