Does everyone feel like they have a book within them?

[canyourepeatthequestion]

I often think about this and have an idea I play around with in my head. I dont have the talent to write something that others would want to read but I'm tempted to have a go at writing it just because the process itself might be enjoyable. I am assuming it's a very common daydream.

I've got plenty of material. Being arsed to actually do it is another thing entirely.

I've got something within me, but I think at this stage it might well just be cake.

PLEASE don't write a book unless it's a burning need you've had since you could hold a pen

I could not disagree more. If you want to write, write. You might be rubbish. Your first draft almost certainly will be. It might never be good enough to be published. That's ok. But you won't get better at writing unless you just sit down and write.

Just don't submit to a publisher or an agent it until you know its the best it can be, it has been proofread within an inch of its life and you've had constructive feedback that you are willing to listen to from someone that actually knows what they are taking about.

If everyone has ‘a book inside them’, then sadly my inner world would appear to be 12 pages about a hedgehog.

I agree with PPs, @HalloumiFries -- the kind of writing I tend to like best is pretty un-plotty. Eimear McBride's latest is pretty much 'Woman muses in a series of hotel rooms'. Even the much-lauded Sally Rooney's novels could be reduced in plot terms to 'They're sleeping together. They're not sleeping together. They're sleeping together again.'

Write. Do it. Even if it never ends up being published. I've never had a book published despite finishing several manuscripts and while it would be nice, it's more important to me to just be writing. Doing horrible things to my protagonists is extremely therapeutic!

Just have a job that pays the bills alongside... Even published authors earn an average of about £10k/yr (and that's an average including your JK Rowlings etc, so most earn MUCH less!).

Yes absolutely - I've no desire to be published but I love writing.

I do think most people would have a work within them; whether that is simply for their own benefit is up to them!

I wanted to write as a child but I think that was because a number of my favourite book characters were writers. In school I hated anything that involved sharing my own thoughts/ideas whether in writing or classroom discussion. I often experienced a complete blank when faced with any requirement for creativity! If like to see how/if that has changed.

My son writes beautifully and I marvel at how he gets excited and has confidence in his ideas and ability.

I think I'd get a lot from giving it a try. I recently spent a weekend trying to write about a childhood memory. Just a couple of hundred words that I deleted afterwards but it was fun to play around with it.

Really varied experience and thoughts here. Thank you. I'm feeling more encourage to give it a go. But it's interesting anyway to hear about others.

I might try to find an online course to get going.

I meant to say I do appreciate the skill and craft involved. Well actually i appreciate that I know very little about the process but I am aware that wanting to is very different from actually doing it.