Thread: New member...new book.

Hello ladies and gentlemen. How is everyone doing. A little about me.. My name is David from Chicago, Il. I am a former Infantry Marine. I was stationed all over the country and finally in Camp Lejeune, where I did a combat deployment in Afghanistans' Helmand Province. I got out of the Corps last year on the 4th of July, a little more than a year ago. I am trying to get some jobs and ultimately become a Police Officer.

As for my writing career. I do not have one. I do not have much of an education in the writing subject. My father has written for years, mainly blog, short stories, and political rants. I learned the basics and I have an extremely good imagination and ability to put certain words together. So where does this leave me now?

While in Afghan, I lost many men, friends and brothers. My dream was to write a book based on not only my own, but other Marines' experiences, thoughts, feelings and over all mind set of each event that took place while there. This is a book I hope will target not only the military enthusiast BUT also a person whom may not know about the war or military in general. I do want to make this book professional while making it easy on the "average" reader.

This book is a story of our lives there, and mainly a tribute to all those whom died and to those who came home with the curse of knowing we remain for those who did not.

Your personal views in regards to politics, the war or the world I hope will not affect your help in this book. Any help will be appreciated. I HAVE the first chapter 'done" and have no idea where to go with this next. Thank you for your help whoever is out there reading this.

Hello David, welcome to the forums! We have writers here who have had novels published and many who are still working on their first one. Lots of good advice and tips to help beginners, too.

Hello David, and welcome to the forums. I'd like to help out with tips and some (hopefully) useful advice, but first I have to know how my job's going to look like (I'm a teacher and last year I did more than a full time because one of the colleadgues was ill) With such a workload I can't spend any time on writing, not to mention offering help to others. I'll know what and how before September 1st.


Nickie

Nickie Thank you. I appreciate it greatly. No worries on rushing, as I don't plan on this being even near done in the next year. lol. I also don't expect anyone to write this for me, so you have nothing to worry about in regards to you over working yourself. I can send you the things I have done and if a small tip or idea comes around, I will take it.

Hello, David. First of all, respect to you for your time in the military. I know of (and have read) a lot of military officers' books. People like Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, who served in the UK's Special Air Service. I've also read those written by other people, like Black Hawk Down. I, myself, write in the genre of military thrillers. My last book involved two Marine Force Reconnaissance soldiers. What I will say is that you have an advantage over the likes of me: First-hand experience. That is invaluable when pursuing publication. Publishing houses snap up ex-military officers because they know they've got the inside scoop, have lots of stories to tell, and will invariably appeal to readers.

I'd love to take a look at your first chapter.

Welcome to the forum.

SAM thank you. Any help you can offer will be amazing. If you are writing anything on the military I can ATTEMPT to critique if you want. Ill happily send the chapter I have now. I just do not know were to put it with the forums on this site..

Put it in the "Writers' Workshop". It can only be accessed by members of the site, thereby protecting your first rights.

doing so now. Btw what books you have out? I may wanna read them.

I'm working on my eighth novel, but at the moment only one of them are available for purchase. If you look at the bottom of any of my posts, you'll see a signature. The "here" in the bottom one is a link which will take you to a site where you can buy my most recent novel.

Thank you if advance if you decide to purchase.

Excuse the price. It used to be £9.99, but with it being available over Amazon within the next two weeks, I had to up it to £10.72 to ensure a profit on Amazon. It works out at $16.80, which is a lot (too much, if you ask me) for a 150,000-word novel. But such things are unavoidable.

Welcome, David! First, THANK YOU for your service. I do think that a book of the type you're working on has a market especially if it's well written. Reminds me a little bit of the tv series Band of Brothers.

I see Sam has already directed you to the Writer's Workshop. We have some excellent writers who focus mainly on that forum, I think you'll find it very helpful. Any other specific writing questions can also be discussed in Writing Discussion.

Put your feet up and get comfortable, we're glad to have you here.

~Foxee

Thank you all for ur help. Anymore will be greatly appreciated. I posted my chapter in the writers forum. So if you ever have a minute feel free to read it.

Sure thing! I left you a visitor's message on your profile about that. (You'll see the link for your profile at the very top of the page to the right of the blue 'fconnect' thing)