writing a non-fiction paranormal book and self help....

Hi, I have been collecting information for this book for a long time. and im starting on workiing on some chapters and everything. Ive never published a book before, and my father has been working on the book since i was 3. He is dying of multiple schlrosis and may never be able to finish his book. If he dies before he can finish his book on his theories of the treatments of MS., then i will write a book about children with parent with ms. And I will have it published in honor of my father.
In my paranormal book, I want to be able to write about my wierd experiences when i was a child, all the way to when i decided to start my own paranormal research group. and our investigations and adventures and my theories based on personal experience.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I could really need some kinda feedback about my plans . please'

 

i think it's a good idea

i think it would be very interesting, as a reader, if you split the book up a little, going back and forth from interesting anecdotes (true of course) that are written in a narrative style and technical/job information and your life away from the paranormal that is occuring at the same time as the anecdote, if you have enough of that. also a book written in purely narrative form in first person could be cool too.... what are you thinking of putting into it? you said adventures so i'm assuming you have crazy stories to tell more so than talking about equipment... but putting that in there is good too i think.

as far as publishing i don't have any advice.. i'm just a reader really.

 

well i am the leader and founder of a very sucessful paranormal research group. I thought I could write about our investigations, why they turned out that way,just educational about paranormal and also a story of my life as a paranormal investigator.

 

Hey Ghostlyric,


I've been researching the paranormal as well, and have considered writing a bit of non-fiction paranormal accounts on Long Island. Writing a non-fiction book can be challenging sometimes due to the amount of research one must do, especially with this subject. It sounds like you'd like to combine a 'memoir' of sorts in a journalist fashion, at the same time adding your expertise to the subject. Do so! Non-fiction doesn't have to be dry at all. One can combine their past and tell it in such a way that it grips the reader, draws them in just like a fiction book; and the wonderful thing about it is that it is not fiction at all.

From what I've read, effective non-fiction concerning the paranormal is written in a way that takes the reader on a quest, and then dives deeply into theory while taken on this journey. Imagine chapter by chapter as a balance, dancing between experience and theory. Take your past, tell them the story, and interpret it through your present knowledge. Each part of the theory/theories can be divided up into subsequent sections of a book. For instance, Daniel Pinchbeck's 2012 is divided up into parts, with chapters in each part, slowly unraveling the mystery of Quetzalcoatl (Or perhaps only deepening it, but go figure . . . ) This helps organize the tricky subject of the paranormal and makes it easier to follow. At any rate, that's all I can think of. Hope it was useful in some fashion!

 

I've been a writer for many years. I also help those who want to self-publish, though I am somewhat expensive so I also can tell you the names of some books that teach you how to do it yourself for very little money and yet keep you away from the subsidy presses which will keep most of your profit.

However, it seems as though you are mostly interested in the writing process right now. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was to "just write." I know so many people who never finished writing their book because they got so caught up in the research part. Thus, what you do is write the book leaving a drawn line where there is something you need to check facts on or learn more about, and then keep writing. What you discover at the end is that all you need to research is marked for you and it is likely far less than you thought you really needed had you done the research prior to writing.

These thought come from the writings of Tom Bird. You can learn more about his books here: http://polkadotbanner.com/Authors/BirdTom/TomBird.html

Tom also believes that we don't technically write a book as much as we "release it." When following his methods - which I have used myself for many years - it is almost as if you cannot write fast enough because the book is "there" and you are just transcribing it.

 

FOCUS
Focus
Focus