This is my first entry in this particular blog and as the assignment says, we are to pick out a subject area that we would be interested in researching this semester. I have chosen a subject area that is sort of relevant to my journalism major but at the same time it isn't relevant at all.
The topic I have chosen to research is how to write a novel and most importantly, getting a novel published. I have chosen this because I have always had a love for writing stories, ever since I was in third grade. I loved writing stories just as much as I loved reading stories, probably a little more, because I was able to put my own creative touches to what I was writing. Since I have gotten into news writing and I am working my way to receiving a journalism degree, my creative writing has kind of taken a backseat, but not so much that I'm no longer interested in doing it. In fact, I want to write books of my own in addition to becoming a journalist.
What I know about this topic is enormous. I could go on all day about what I know about it but I am going to give out the condensed version. I will be the first to admit, I have not had any sort of formal class or training about writing creative novels, nor have I had any of my own creative works published, save for the numerous news articles I've done for my high school and college newspapers and a poem I wrote in sixth grade about Halloween that was published in a poetry book. Most of what I know about novel writing has come from reading other books and seeing the author's style and how to use some of that style in my own stories (i.e. like the first-person narrative, I use that in all of my stories if I can). English classes have also helped me because spelling and grammar helps to make a good story (you can't write a novel if you can't spell or don't have good grammar in my opinion and no, spell check on Word doesn't count!). The rest of my knowledge comes from my own brain and common sense. For example, I know that you have to write down your story ideas right away before you forget about them, that any plot, good or bad, can be turned into a best-selling novel if done right and that writing a novel of your own takes time, dedication and patience.
However, upon doing some research on how to write a novel, I have realized that while there is a lot I know about novel-writing there is a lot that I don't know, specifically about getting a novel published. I came to this realization while looking at this website.
As a kid, my dream was to have my own publishing company, but while reading this article I realize that for at least the first 2-3 books this won't be a reality and I am now going to ask my first out of three questions that I am supposed to search for: How to find a publisher that you can send your novel to for them to look over? Another question is how to get an updated issue on publishing markets for books in my chosen age category? And most importantly, how to copyright my novel so that others don't "steal" my own ideas? These are just three of the many questions I have about getting a novel published and I hope to get these questions and more answered as I continue to research on this topic.
Hope this first assingment is along the lines of what you want Professor Metros! Comment if you have anything to say on it =].
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