WRITE A BOOK

NOVEL IDEAS

YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK? GO FOR IT, SAYS PENNY HAW, BUT EDIT YOUR EXPECTATIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

Writing a book is like deciding on which particular car you’d like to drive; suddenly everyone seems to have one. It’s not just that millions fantasise about producing the next bestseller – research conducted in 2011 found that 81% of all North Americans wanted to author a book – but also that the prevalence of self-publishing means it has never been easier to do. Before you hop on the book wagon however, consider the following.

One of the easiest things about writing a book is … writing it. I don’t say that glibly because I’d worked as a journalist for more than 30 years before my book – an animal story called Nicko, The Tale of a Vervet Monkey on an African Farm – was published in 2017. I say it since writing a book

I believe having fun should be the primary incentive of the endeavour.

is best done if you enjoy writing. Why? Because I believe having fun should be the primary incentive of the endeavour.

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY The hard truth about being a published author of a book is that, unless you are among the very few who strike it big, the rewards have little to do with money. According to a study conducted by the University of London, one in 10 authors earn a living from writing alone. Most of us earn a living doing other things, whether journalism, business writing or jobs that don’t involve writing at all.

Even if, like me, you’re fortunate to be published by a traditional publisher (that is, you provide the words and the publisher takes care of everything else) versus self-publishing (whereby you write, and direct and pay for all other processes involved, including selling the book), royalties only become signifi cant when you sell tens of thousands of copies. That’s not easy, particularly in a country like ours, which has a sadly small reading population.

ABOVE: Putting the words tumbling around in your head on the computer screen or page of a notebook should be your primary objective – not the (potential...) reward. Tell the story! GREATER REWARDS But, if money isn’t the motivator, why keep writing and hoping to be published? Once again, it’s about the fun. I loved writing Nicko. It’s based on the true story of my grandmother and her lifelong friendship with the monkey and a miscellany of other creatures in the KwaZulu-Natal mist lands. It’s one of my life stories and seeing it in book form is thrilling.

Rivalling the pleasure of writing it, is sharing the book with others. Watching animal lovers’ expressions as they learn about my grandmother’s deep affi nity with animals and reading the adventures of Nicko and friends to them is the greatest reward I could have hoped for.

So, you want to write a book? Do it, I say. But beware of selfpublishing companies who would like to bleed your bank account to make your wish come true. Do it because you love writing and want to share your story with others. Don’t give up your dream of creating the next Harry Potter, but don’t let that be the only reason for writing.