...to want to...

[pollyglot]

write a book, at almost 74? It will require travel to the other side of the world and lots of resources for the research. Probably no-one will publish it, and no-one will read it. Am I wasting the few years I have left and should I just play bridge and walk the dog? Cheers.

Also, Mumsnet has several threads about self- publishing, so you’re not on your own!

Here’s one:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/4550810-self-book-publishing
There are lots of others.
Now go for it! Bon voyage.

Go for it. I'll read it!!!!

Thanks so much for your encouragement. I'm now 5,000 words in and totally engrossed! I even wake up in the night to write a few hundred more words when I have an inspiration.
See you at Waterstones! 😉

How will we know which book is yours???

I love this. Do it. What a great idea x

Of course write it. Glad you've started. Keep us updated in this thread of your progress if you want to as it'll be inspiring to others.

Watch this and enjoy

RantyAnty - what an inspiring lady! Thanks so much for your input.

An update...12,000 words in and going well. Perfect occupation while recovering from surgery.
Cheers, folks.

23,000 words in and all is well. Loving the tranquillity of writing in my own little world.

Well done you. I would love to write a book.I would love to read it when you have completed it.

Thank you ApolloandDaphne!

(are you a Classicist, with that name? :))

37,157 words. I have been confined to a chair with a badly cut knee. So every cloud, and all that.

Well done!!

my friend started to write a book, but gave up as she was getting all her characters in a muddle. Before I suffered with this brain fog I think we'd have made a good team. I could have kept the 'facts' (characters/locations/plot)in line & she coukd have written the story.

now I can barely keep my own name straight.

PinkPinkPink.

Thank you for that laugh! Now 38,800 words, but only because I went back and redacted/removed the raunchy passages might embarrass the hell out of my kids and grandkids. Pity, those sex scenes were my magnum opus. 😉

Well done. What is you book about?

RantyAnty

It's about the American War of Independence, based on the family records of my Yorkshire 4xgt grandparents. What a terrible conflict it was, especially for young families.

Put the scenes back in!

Well done @pollyglot , I am glad you have got started.
Put the raunchy bits back in ! Not only is it part of the story and family history I would love in if I had a gran cool enough to know and talk / write about all of it.

Thanks, guys. I might put the scenes back in, but a little tamer. Really would hate to embarrass anyone. Especially myself. 😉

That sounds like a good compromise, don't make it to tame tho 😉

God no, do it.

Oh you are! Yay!

TRIGGER WARNING! SERIOUSLY - IT'S NOT NICE

Just shy of 60,000 words! Apparently, that makes it officially a novella. Trouble is, Susanna has just died in childbirth, her 20-month old baby died 4 months ago of smallpox, and her new baby is premature and will not survive. Her husband was wounded by a massive splinter from a gun-carriage which caught a 6-lb ball, in the Battle of Bunker Hill, Boston, 1775- it has torn his face open, leaving him with a massive scar. Horrible, horrible. I cannot stop myself weeping like a loon.

Trouble is, it's all true.

I want to highlight the forgotten women's war - the wives of the British forces who also served their king and country. About time they were remembered and their role respected.

Oh, and I kept the sex scenes in. I just hope that these two lovers actually had the amazing love life I have given them. They deserved it.