YOPJ - For My Writing Friends

"I hope to write a book one day, too."  

This is my first stab at helping everyone who has said this to me.  
 
You surely ARE writing your book today. All you have to do is look back and study your unfinished plot line. You already do you. You write what you know. People wanting to know you and what you know and feel just need those thoughts in a bound collection one day. Wouldn't it be kind of cool if everyone had a beautiful biography or two available for reading? What goes into your bio is completely under your control. It's the parts of you that you want the world to see, just as you go out dressed and politely "edited" for civilized viewing.  
 
Same for your poetry. I just love you people for sharing with us. I often fantasize about a DUP bookshelf of ebooks or book-previews, available to all who qualify to read the works of their peers.  
 
But seriously, if you want to write books, the #1 thing is to declare your intent! You are ahead if you have done that.  
 
Follow up by reading and reviewing your friends' books. This is vital. You give each author about $20 value by doing that, according to my research. That's a public service you need! Freely give to all authors in need, and watch, they will often return the favor.  
 
Notice who does not write reviews. Don't review those books. It's impolite, to say the least, for writers to withhold reviews from their peers. Well, tit for tat, if you don't have qualms with that. It's not violent.
 
Offer your book free to any reliable reviewers. ANY! You will thank me later.  
 
This is the soil of your book garden. Keep it well.