I know one person of a certain vintage on here has written a book
Has anyone else succeeded or at least attempted it?
Yes, twice and a couple of collaborations. Another two on the way
I have always wanted to do it and I have an idea with some potential that I'm away to start (I have another two ideas but they can wait)
Any tips?
All the experts say "just write", and that's it. **** all will ever be worthy of publication if it disna exist. As Michael marra used to say of songwriting, "Write everything, you can aye chuck it oot if it's nae good". Protect your copyright. Give **** all away, even the fact that you're doing it. Some prick attempted to gazump me, using my sources, but never quoting my own MS, which he had obviously see, the ****ing thief. BACK EVERYTHING UP. BACK EVERYTHING UP. BACK EVERYTHING UP, and leave an updated flash drive away from yer hoose in case of fire, flood, pestilence or burglary
How long did it take you?
Collaboration about a month to write and compile. Editing, layout and printing about another month. I think it was the same for the other two, but I just handed over the text on a memory stick.
How do you go about getting it published?
Collaborative effort taken care of by the editor of the publication we all wrote for, so self-published. But that's a rocky road, with distribution the real pisser. One of the others saw me approached by a self-publisher with an editor an illustrator already in place.
Writers block happen?
No. Factual, so it was research, get it doon, then edit. One of the 'projects' currently in train has a lot of ideas which exist in chapters, part-chapters, notes on my phone, scribbled-on hotel notepaper. It's in at least 3 historical sections, and I'm nae writing it chronologically, so stitching it together, and continuity-checking is going to be as big a task as typing the ****er oot.
One thing I have is plenty of time due to my job and the fact I have an almost 5 year old. Which can only be a good thing.