Tonight my book went up in smoke

DWSTXS said:

Maybe Tippecanoe should write it as such. an author telling the tale of telling the tale as it were.

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ooooooh. that's a good one!

oops. Sorry. Guess I didn't realize this thread was trying to go not-so-silently into that dark night. My apologies.

It's one of my favorites. However, I think one night, I'll get sick of re-reading it and print it, take it out side, and set it ablaze.

That might make a good book....

Congrats on that decision Tippecanoe, I think you've made the right decision, and one day soon I hope we will ALL able to read a fascinating book.

Welcome back Tippecanoe1841. While the loss of your research is great, sometimes the new perspective can be greater. Good luck. And Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Interested

Tippecanoe1841 said:

literally. A bankers box stuffed full of two and a half years of research, and I burned it all in my backyard. The grim reality finally set in-that no one wants to publish a biography of a U.S. president written by a claims adjuster with a degree in finance. It was apparent that my only options were the PublishAmerica scam or some other vanity publisher, and I wasn't willing to do that. I am not a vain person, and I wasn't writing my book so my family and friends and no one else could read it. That, however, was the reality, and I decided to cut, or I should say burn, my losses now rather than continue to chase a pipe dream. The old adage is to write what you know, but I have been a claims adjuster for 19 years, and that is all I know, except for a bunch of useless information about President William Henry Harrison. Who the hell wants to read a book about insurance claims? Absolutely no one. So as of tonight, my writing career went up in smoke. Now, I can devote my full attention again to the job I get paid to do.

Sorry for the negativity. I needed to vent, and most of all, I needed to bury my obsession with my book project for good. Thank you for your time.

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Hi Tippecanoe,
I would love to learn more about insurance claims! Sorry to hear about your book no longer existing. You are quite knowledgeable in a area that people would like to hear about. Turn your job into one that makes you an expert in insurance claims. It will most likely be a win win situation for you and everyone. Many people like to know what happens behind the curtains in certain fields.

Actually, the more I think about it, an inside look at insurance claims would probably be a hot project given the current national mood.

I think you found more than just charred pages of notes. You found your real self and you also found all of us......

Get an insurance claims adjuster job in a place like New York City. After just one year you'll have enough material for two books.

I think you should give some thought to the reason you are writing. What are your goals? your future plans? I am somewhat a kindered spirit, in that my novel has already been rejected by about 15 agents and the other ten or so agents I sent queries to have not bothered to respond after a month--which probably means no one is interested. I spent over two years pouring my heart and soul, writing and rewriting it, and getting my hopes up--and it will probably never see the light of a Barnes and Noble bookshelf.
There was probably a moment or two when I considered having a bon fire of my own--but only for a split second. I would never destroy something I put so much effort into creating.
I write because I love to write. I love to create characters and I great personal satisfaction in reading my work--especially if I think its pretty good. I kind of feel a bit like the late S Sallinger. He wrote a bunch of books he never even bothered to publish. They were for his own personal satisfaction. If my book is never published I can still find happiness in that I succeeded to write something I felt was very good.
If you are only thinking of success and making money, then perhaps writing is not for you. It would be akin to doing a job you absolutely hated--just because it paid well. Granted money and success and sweet perks, but writing--like anything creative--has to come from your passion. If I never sold a book--which I havent--I would still write.
My solution to the lack on interest from agents is to simply start my next novel. I'm already working on my latest book. My first is entered in the ABNA contest, and I'm praying one of those agents surprises me and offers to represent my work.
If you are interested about Harrison and want to tell his story I don't see why it would not attract some interest. Biographies sell.

I think it is time to put this old thread to bed.