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Re: Writing a book. Worth publishing?

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NocturnalPhilosopher is not online. NocturnalPhilosopher
Joined: 28 May 2011
Total Posts: 1393
13 Jan 2015 03:17 PM
So I'm starting to write a book just for fun. It might just turn into a short story, but here's the summary.

It's based on a group of Roman soldiers in the middle of the northlands in Europe, attempting to claim the area for the Roman Empire. Nonetheless, the natives aren't too keen on their arrival and begin raiding the Roman outpost daily unto the point where both sides take such heavy losses that they end up working together (under tension) against a massive den of wolves that is slowly migrating to avoid the Roman expansion. So, it's a bit of an action novel with Romans, a mix of native cultures including the Saxons, the Nordics, and the Britons, along with the tense factor of survival.

Any good?
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TaiWolf1234 is not online. TaiWolf1234
Joined: 16 May 2010
Total Posts: 23207
13 Jan 2015 03:20 PM
Interesting.
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mageofpower is not online. mageofpower
Top 100 Poster
Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Total Posts: 43654
13 Jan 2015 03:21 PM
So it's just German Russian Wolf truce of WWI but set in ancient Rome? Why steal that historical event and add Romans?
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NocturnalPhilosopher is not online. NocturnalPhilosopher
Joined: 28 May 2011
Total Posts: 1393
13 Jan 2015 04:47 PM
Hmm. Well, there's more to the book that just that. I just gave you a summary.

Eventually the Romans will be reduced to just a few men to the point in which those very men join one of the northland tribes.

Plus, I'd say that two sides joining forces to gun down wolves is a little less interesting than two sides joining forces to fight wolves with blunt axes if not their own bare hands.

By the way, you mentioned stealing a historical event. Events can be retold. Events can be modified to suit a fictional interest. In fact, the event you mentioned was one of the inspirations for writing this book.

So I'd hardly call it stealing.
Any real opinions?

And thanks tai, for taking an interest.
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WiFiKing42 is not online. WiFiKing42
Joined: 29 Nov 2011
Total Posts: 19098
13 Jan 2015 04:50 PM
I always try to catch the attention of a fan site or a forum (like this one, maybe) before trying to publish, especially if you're not a frequent writer or is easily demoralized (like I am). Maybe try posting a couple of pages on a site for free, then see if the followers would like to buy the full book?

I'd surely be interested in it.
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SwedishLemon is not online. SwedishLemon
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Total Posts: 8728
13 Jan 2015 04:51 PM
I'd buy it.
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yrreb5288 is not online. yrreb5288
Joined: 10 Feb 2012
Total Posts: 311
13 Jan 2015 04:51 PM
Pretty sure I've read this plot before..
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yrreb5288 is not online. yrreb5288
Joined: 10 Feb 2012
Total Posts: 311
13 Jan 2015 04:53 PM
Only the Romans vs. Small village, with them attacking the outpost constantly part, though.
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mageofpower is not online. mageofpower
Top 100 Poster
Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Total Posts: 43654
13 Jan 2015 04:58 PM
Any real opinions?

REAL opinion!? REAL OPINION!? Was me asking why you "borrowed" a historical event and then replaced Germans/Russians with the Romans not a "REAL OPINION!?" Was it a "Fake opinion?"
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romuluz is not online. romuluz
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Total Posts: 18124
13 Jan 2015 05:00 PM
Meh, plot seems a little generic and anti climatic, especially with the roman soldiers dying in the end although I do like your use of history as inspiration for your story, but you could stand to make it a tad more original.
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romuluz is not online. romuluz
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Total Posts: 18124
13 Jan 2015 05:09 PM
Especially with the roman soldiers suddenly joining the barbarians willy nilly in the end*

Sorry for the typo, what I get for rushing this while waiting for a halo 5 match to load up.
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Pruz is not online. Pruz
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Total Posts: 31781
13 Jan 2015 07:12 PM
I'm writing a book and it's gonna be worth publishing.

40 Chapters plus one Epilogue.
Each chapter 4500+ words.
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SwedishLemon is not online. SwedishLemon
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Total Posts: 8728
13 Jan 2015 07:21 PM
Pruz, uh... you know publishers don't publish books more than five hundred words (and that's for fantasy books, which are generally longer than other types) until after you've made them lots of money, right?
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NocturnalPhilosopher is not online. NocturnalPhilosopher
Joined: 28 May 2011
Total Posts: 1393
13 Jan 2015 10:34 PM
@WiFi, thank you very much.

@Swedish, thank you as well.

@yrreb, the only thing I've seen that's close to this is what mage has previously mentioned. It was my partial inspiration.

@mage, you seem to be set on making my creativity seem as unoriginal as possible. It's not that your opinion isn't real so much as it's not what anyone would call "productive" in the sense that I'm asking for. I need tips on how to improve; not criticisms on what you think I'm "copying." As before, it's inspiration, not something I'm trying to "steal."

@romuluz, the Romans don't just join the natives at the first sign of failure. As before, most of this is summarization. Details would include struggles to the point of having some of the last few Romans approach the verge of death. The northlanders that have raided them thus far are mostly vengeful to the point of letting them suffer and die of their wounds, but a few of them take to compassion and help them little by little each day to recover. Eventually the compassionate natives present the Romans to the tribe to be reevaluated by the skeptical leaders of the northlanders. The Romans are at first almost unwilling to commit to their change, and even end up engaging in Holmgang with a few of them. In the end, they become more like the tribespeople and the natives begin to pick up Roman values. How unoriginal do you assume my idea to be now..?
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marc12267 is not online. marc12267
Joined: 25 Nov 2008
Total Posts: 25897
13 Jan 2015 10:39 PM
PUBLISH IT RIGHT AWAY
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Pruz is not online. Pruz
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Total Posts: 31781
13 Jan 2015 11:09 PM
It's worth a try.
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SwedishLemon is not online. SwedishLemon
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Total Posts: 8728
13 Jan 2015 11:14 PM
sorry sorry, not five hundred WORDS. I meant PAGES. Not more than five hundred PAGES. Sorry again.
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Pruz is not online. Pruz
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Total Posts: 31781
13 Jan 2015 11:29 PM
Usually the whole book is 500 pages.

I'm pretty sure 150,000+ words would cover that.
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Pruz is not online. Pruz
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Total Posts: 31781
13 Jan 2015 11:30 PM
I should really cut it into sequels.
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Proudmary123 is not online. Proudmary123
Joined: 19 Nov 2012
Total Posts: 80
14 Jan 2015 12:01 AM
http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=21
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simsf1 is not online. simsf1
Joined: 27 Dec 2009
Total Posts: 10905
14 Jan 2015 10:11 AM
I think it's a bit far-fetched. The presence of Britons outside their Isles back then was unlikely, especially in force. And if Rome intended to conquer an area, they'd send at least a full legion or two, more than that considering they have no allies in the immediate area like Caesar did. I mean, they had the ability to recruit 700,000 troops from Italy alone, so chances are they wouldn't send a small expeditionary force to conquer a region single-handedly. The concept, however, is interesting.
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PickachuGirl is not online. PickachuGirl
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Total Posts: 42645
14 Jan 2015 10:13 AM
I dunno I can't really tell you

It's not my type of thing to read, it all depends on you, buddy.
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ShadowDemize is not online. ShadowDemize
Joined: 07 Nov 2012
Total Posts: 74
14 Jan 2015 12:04 PM
I want the book to exist really bad now. :D
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NocturnalPhilosopher is not online. NocturnalPhilosopher
Joined: 28 May 2011
Total Posts: 1393
14 Jan 2015 04:54 PM
Thank you for your compliments. I'm grateful for them.

And sims, I thank you twice.
Not only do you compliment the idea, but you gave a productive criticism.

I'll continue writing/typing the novel in full force soon enough. I left off on page 73.
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romuluz is not online. romuluz
Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Total Posts: 18124
14 Jan 2015 04:56 PM
Still pretty unoriginal. Sounds like battle for Terra and countless other b movie plots. Maybe throw in a few twists and turns here and there? Perhaps make the main antagonist one of the romans as opposed to the wolves, as I am on board with mage on this one. There's a difference between using history to inspire your work and just downright retelling it in a different time frame with different factions.

Also swedish, where in the world did you come up with publishing companies not publishing a story that is more than 500 words unless you've already made them money? Are you insane? Publishing companies wouldn't even bother with a book that's only 500 words. You barely can even get the start to the introduction to a publishable work in 500 words. Besides there are countless authors who have published full on novels for companies as their first work. Authors such as J.K. Rowling, Ray Bradbury, and not to forget Christopher Paolini, all of whom started careers with their first full length novel with respectable publishing companies. It's all based on quality man, not quantity.
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