“I’ve always wanted to write a novel . . . How did you do it?”
Now that my first book has been published and is being read, mostly by people I’ve given free copies to, I get that question all the time. Of course, I would prefer to answer questions about my protagonist, a particular scene in the book, or whether I’m working on a sequel, but I understand why the question is being asked. I was asking it myself just one year ago.
So, I decided to conduct a statistical analysis. Hey, I’m still an engineer. I’m allowed to do that sort of thing.
We live part of the year outside of the quaint little town of Sparta in the mountains of North Carolina. It’s the kind of place where people leave their doors unlocked at night, leave their cars running when they dart into the grocery store for a gallon of milk, and allow their kids to walk to school in the morning and ride their bikes to the park in the afternoon without parental oversight. It’s a place where everyone says hello to you on the street or when walk into a store. You get the picture.
So, let’s get back to the statistical analysis. I was sitting on a bench outside of the coffee shop on Main Street sipping on a cup of delicious brew. The temperature was in the high sixties, not unusual for an early August morning in the mountains. The first fellow to walk by me was in his mid-forties about average height and build. He seemed to be headed in the direction of the barbershop, in no particular hurry.
“Sir,” I said, standing and offering my hand, “my name is Bill Bahlke and I’m–”
“You’re conducting a statistical analysis,” he chirped taking my hand and giving it a firm shake, “and I’ll be happy to participate.”
The man didn’t really say that, which leads me to the point. If you’re going to follow this blog, you need to realize that I often make things up. I’m a writer of fiction. If I didn’t enjoy making things up, I might as well be writing an encyclopedia. I will promise you one thing, however, I won’t make things up when it comes to answering the question, “How did you do it?”
That leads me to another question, one that I was asking myself just last week. “What is the purpose of this blog?”
I have just published (self-published) my first book, Frisbee Ball Rules and I am very proud of it.
Wow! That is a statement that I only dreamed of making one year ago, and I can’t tell you the satisfaction I get seeing it in writing or saying it out loud. For me, it fulfills a life long dream and those don’t come by the dozen.
Just wait until the day the first copy of your book arrives in the mail. You’ll sit down on your couch, open the package, and there it is, your labor of love. I can’t begin to describe that experience. Let’s just say that it doesn’t — hold on a second“Honey, am I allowed to say the word suck in my blog post?” I guess not. Sorry.
So, how did I do it? How did I turn off the left side of my brain and start to write? And, what were my many blunders along the way? What tricks did I learn? What shortcuts did I discovered? What can I share with you that will make it easier for you to realize your own dream? That is the purpose of this blog. I’m also going to give you encouragement and someone to bounce ideas off of, if you choose to do so. This is not one-sided. I hope to learn from you as well.
That’s the purpose of this blog. That’s why I’m writing it. The next question is why should you read it? You could, after all, go online right now and buy one or more of the many books that have been written on the subject by the recognized experts. You could attend a writers’ conference and sit through several sessions. You could actually take a class at a writing school or a university. (By the way, I’ve done all of these and if you have the time and inclination, I highly recommend them.) But . . . don’t you just love the word “but” . . . all of those lessons are either written or taught by people who have published dozens of books themselves. They are so far removed from the likes of you and me that they have forgotten what it is like to be a newbie. They are at a different level than us. We will get there, but let’s take it slow. And plus, reading this blog is free.
As a matter of disclosure, I am not an expert of any kind on the subject. I’m not an editor, publisher, a book promoter, or an award-winning author. I’m the guy you can point at and say, “If he can do it, I can do it. If he can do it, anybody can do it.”
Now let’s get back to the statistical analysis, and stop interrupting me. My coffee is getting cold. The point is this. For every person who writes a book and has it published, there are dozens who dream of doing just that and never do. Don’t be one of those guys. You can do this. Now, let’s get started.
Don’t be shy! Come on over and introduce yourself on my Facebook page and let me know if I can help!“I’ve always wanted to write a novel . . . How did you do it?”
Now that my first book has been published and is being read, mostly by people I’ve given free copies to, I get that question all the time. Of course, I would prefer to answer questions about my protagonist, a particular scene in the book, or whether I’m working on a sequel, but I understand why the question is being asked. I was asking it myself just one year ago.
So, I decided to conduct a statistical analysis. Hey, I’m still an engineer. I’m allowed to do that sort of thing.
We live part of the year outside of the quaint little town of Sparta in the mountains of North Carolina. It’s the kind of place where people leave their doors unlocked at night, leave their cars running when they dart into the grocery store for a gallon of milk, and allow their kids to walk to school in the morning and ride their bikes to the park in the afternoon without parental oversight. It’s a place where everyone says hello to you on the street or when walk into a store. You get the picture.
So, let’s get back to the statistical analysis. I was sitting on a bench outside of the coffee shop on Main Street sipping on a cup of delicious brew. The temperature was in the high sixties, not unusual for an early August morning in the mountains. The first fellow to walk by me was in his mid-forties about average height and build. He seemed to be headed in the direction of the barbershop, in no particular hurry.
“Sir,” I said, standing and offering my hand, “my name is Bill Bahlke and I’m–”
“You’re conducting a statistical analysis,” he chirped taking my hand and giving it a firm shake, “and I’ll be happy to participate.”
The man didn’t really say that, which leads me to the point. If you’re going to follow this blog, you need to realize that I often make things up. I’m a writer of fiction. If I didn’t enjoy making things up, I might as well be writing an encyclopedia. I will promise you one thing, however, I won’t make things up when it comes to answering the question, “How did you do it?”
That leads me to another question, one that I was asking myself just last week. “What is the purpose of this blog?”
I have just published (self-published) my first book, Frisbee Ball Rules and I am very proud of it.
Wow! That is a statement that I only dreamed of making one year ago, and I can’t tell you the satisfaction I get seeing it in writing or saying it out loud. For me, it fulfills a life long dream and those don’t come by the dozen.
Just wait until the day the first copy of your book arrives in the mail. You’ll sit down on your couch, open the package, and there it is, your labor of love. I can’t begin to describe that experience. Let’s just say that it doesn’t — hold on a second“Honey, am I allowed to say the word suck in my blog post?” I guess not. Sorry.
So, how did I do it? How did I turn off the left side of my brain and start to write? And, what were my many blunders along the way? What tricks did I learn? What shortcuts did I discovered? What can I share with you that will make it easier for you to realize your own dream? That is the purpose of this blog. I’m also going to give you encouragement and someone to bounce ideas off of, if you choose to do so. This is not one-sided. I hope to learn from you as well.
That’s the purpose of this blog. That’s why I’m writing it. The next question is why should you read it? You could, after all, go online right now and buy one or more of the many books that have been written on the subject by the recognized experts. You could attend a writers’ conference and sit through several sessions. You could actually take a class at a writing school or a university. (By the way, I’ve done all of these and if you have the time and inclination, I highly recommend them.) But . . . don’t you just love the word “but” . . . all of those lessons are either written or taught by people who have published dozens of books themselves. They are so far removed from the likes of you and me that they have forgotten what it is like to be a newbie. They are at a different level than us. We will get there, but let’s take it slow. And plus, reading this blog is free.
As a matter of disclosure, I am not an expert of any kind on the subject. I’m not an editor, publisher, a book promoter, or an award-winning author. I’m the guy you can point at and say, “If he can do it, I can do it. If he can do it, anybody can do it.”
Now let’s get back to the statistical analysis, and stop interrupting me. My coffee is getting cold. The point is this. For every person who writes a book and has it published, there are dozens who dream of doing just that and never do. Don’t be one of those guys. You can do this. Now, let’s get started.
Don’t be shy! Come on over and introduce yourself on my Facebook page and let me know if I can help!