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

[itsokayokay]

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!

This was you
you wanted a listening ear
your colleagues listened for a while and then wished to politely wrap it up

And there’s prospects?

what industry?

Still not the responsibility of the pp

Can I ask what relevance this has to my post?

And the fact the OP seems to think it was my responsibility speaks volumes about how she views telling people her past

In short
if you love your job
and there are prospects, focus on that

This was what I was thinking as well to be honest.

You’re crazy 🤣 it doesn’t suggest that at all, I was merely saying I felt sorry for the girl and the way you described the situation is really awful.

You don’t know what the girl may have been going through.

Do you think your experiences would help and advise other women/people?

I don’t know how you would market it?

one thought I had is you could create an Instagram page and do short videos (2-4 minutes) and explain certain topics and how you overcame it, if that’s relevant.

im following a woman on Instagram who escaped a narcissistic ex, and she does short videos. It has heprd
me understand a lot and if she did a book I might consider buying it

What’s the harm in having a go? It would be an interesting experience even if it goes nowhere.

It IS a common story but my favourite books aren’t always about the story, I love the style of writing, the descriptions, the characters.

Sadly, I do. She chewed half my ear off before I said about writing the book.

and off she trotted glowing with happiness.

i suspect like yourself op

I don't want to be mean although I can't really find a polite way of saying this but what you say here ' Ive wasted SO much of my life on the wrong person, and im now learning to find myself again. It’s been a journey!' it's really not a unique Maybe if you're a celebrity But even then these stories are 10 a penny. your turn of phrase learning to find myself and it's been a journey are really cliched.
Why not attempt to write the book as a form of therapy and if and when you finish it see if anybody's put interested in publishing it or self publish it. alternatively somebody else made a suggestion about using some of your experiences but presenting it as a fictional story So a Crime Story which involves a narcissist - that way you can use events that you know things about but make them character driven.

She did though, because the woman was trauma dumping on her after meeting twice, and at 11:30pm. So she was made to know far too much about what the woman had gone through.

I get it, I used to do it too until I knew better.

Jesus. I guess you’ve had a bad day?

I sincerely hope you don’t have to go through anything that changes your life in a negative way. You sound truly delightful.

You are a copywriter ?!

And this is your response to someone saying don’t bother

good luck op. Brace yourself if
you’re this sensitive!

Most authors of this genre of book self-publish, which is a good option these days. Lots of publishers out there such as Austin Macauley who provide various degrees of support. Sales are typically very low, unless you are very active on SM and drum up interest.
Lulu and Amazon are good platforms for doing everything yourself.
For writing and editing advice I would recommend Reedsy. You might also visit the London Book Fair, which lots of first time authors attend.
Agents and publishers are very hard to attract. Many agents will work with authors who have attended prestigious writing courses.
Also look into writing groups in your local area.
Good luck.

I’d prefer to make it more fiction based, with a storyline following my life events.

No, this is a response to your cruel approach to your babysitter.

Sometimes I suggest people should write a book about what they are telling me as a way of switching the conversation a little.

Just do it anyway?

Write it for how cathartic and therapeutic it'd be to write it. Write it because you love to write. Take your time and just do it for fun. If it ends up being a great novel then that's amazing, if not you still wrote a book and that's pretty darn cool.

I took part in NaNoWriMo one year and wrote a book. I've never done anything with it but it was so fun to write and very therapeutic. I don't think there's an official NaNoWriMo anymore but I'm sure there's plenty of online communities that still do write-along challenges similar to it.

Fuck me, the vipers of mumsnet are bored today.

OP, it doesn't sound like youre in it for money, or fame but more as a enjoyment task. If so, what have you got to lose. People might buy it, people might not, but until you write it, who bloody knows.

I'd suggest writing first few chapters, bit of a synopsis and then chat gpt options. Whether Self publishing or not, this would be the basics youd need anyway.

Best of luck

Cruel approach

i came back at 11.30pm
she proceeded to launch in to very detailed chapter and verse history of her life
I’d met the woman twice
so I listened for a bit, told her she should write a book, nudged her to the front door, handed over the money and she left think she was the next JK Rowling

like someone else….