Living in San Francisco, almost everyone I meet is convinced they’ve got a brilliant novel or memoir buried inside, if only they had the opportunity to write and publish it. With the launch of a new startup called FastPencil, those wannabe authors (no offense — I’m one of them) may be running out of excuses.

The Campbell, Calif. company wants to provide a comprehensive solution for writing and publishing a book. The site is built around a social network of writers, editors, reviewers, and others; it offers a Guided Collaboration tool to help you find potential collaborators, chat with them, ask for feedback from others, and more. Other features include automatic chapter formatting and blog importing. Then, once the book is written, FastPencil can publish and distribute it for you, getting the book listed on Amazon, sold for the Kindle, and even stocked in brick-and-mortar bookstores.

The Kindly, Caring Literary Agent is probably extinct. Today’s agents are more likely to treat you like a paychecks than like the sensitive creative person you are. You won’t get your hand held when you’re blue. You won’t have your manuscript lovingly edited. Even worse than this cold, business-like treatment, you’re unlikely to get your works placed with a publisher by an agent today if you are a budding author.

Today: 40% wont read manuscripts by unpublished authors (those who do usually charge) 80% won’t handle professional books over 90% won’t handle regional books, satire, reference or technical works only 2% have a special interest in literature or quality fiction.

Everyone has a story to tell and if yours is perfect for children, Author Paula Blankenship offers 5 tips to get you on your way to your first book.

Her books offer parents a unique way to read with their children while improving reading skills.

Blankenship’s books include Lulu’s Wild Party and Lulu’s Lost Shoes.

Step 1. Check out your local library!
It’s best to hunt down the youth librarian and ask to check out the summer reading list, where to find reference materials on award-winning children books, and what are some of the librarian’s favorites? Finish step one by sitting down and reading.