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WritersReaders.com Tips for Writers
Audio Message from Jerry
Weekly tips that help writers understand the marketplace and business of publishing books.
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One thing I’ve learned over my career in this business, all authors need encouragement, support and a bit of publicity and help on occasion. Most of all, we need inspiration and a passion for what we do and a drive to overcome obstacles. I came to TIPS for WRITERS with this powerful story on overcoming obstacles. It will, I believe serve everyone, authors and readers alike.
A few times in a lifetime, we come upon a person or a story that impacts us so deeply our entire field of awareness is altered. It may open our eyes to a whole new world we’d never considered before, compel us to study a new philosophy, or possibly give us a new hero to place above all previous heroes. A time such as this came to me when Garret Lee Frey entered my life. I met him between the covers of As I Am, a most touching book and his first effort at sharing his story and his incredible accomplishments. I was blessed with the privilege of being asked to edit the work. It was destined that I walk a while with this amazing young man.
At the time I met Garret, he was a “nearly five year old boy.” A child filled with wonderment, Garret reveled in all his god-given senses and was driven to explore the “the world around him.” He loved the April breeze on his cheeks, the nature presented to him by the row of evergreens that filled his back yard with the sweet aroma of pine.
Garret had no premonition of the approaching moment in time in which life, as he knew and understood it, would come to an end . . . “I do not remember the day I was born and I do not remember the day that I died. I only remember my life ‘As I Am.’”
It was April 24, 1987. Garret jumped for joy into his father’s arms when he showed up at the babysitter’s home to pick him up. In the driveway, sat his father’s shiny motorcycle. His dad had previously taken him and his older brother for short rides in the neighborhood, always paying careful heed to the helmet laws and rules for cycle safety, but this would be the longest ride Garret had ever taken before. A full mile from the babysitter’s home to his own with a promised stop for bubble gum on the way. Seated safely, helmet in place, Garret was ready for the ride of his life. But, the mysteries of fate were at hand.
Garret had forgotten his trusty yellow scarf, that special thing in the life of a four year old. Understanding, his father went back to retrieve the scarf and tied it securely around Garret’s neck, tucking the tied ends inside his jacket, an extra measure of warmth on a breezy, April in Iowa day. Soon, Garret was reveling in the wind on his face, planning his out-of-doors play on the arrival home, and anticipating the sweet, spicy taste of his favorite bubble gum. As his curious mind was taken in by the joys of life around him, he vowed to live each day to its fullest. Then, destiny entered in. Garret was about to experience a course change he could never have imagined.
In that miniscule flash of time, the beginnings of Garret’s story were written. A freak accident when his trusty yellow scarf unwound in the wind and was caught up in the rear wheel mechanism rendered him to a life of quadriplegia. Garret’s spine was snapped; he was paralyzed from the neck down. He would become ventilator-dependent for every breath of life thereafter.
The destiny of his life’s journey would also become the journey of those closest to him, a devoted mother, Charlene Frey, determined to bring her son home, a dedicated family, and one most special friend. Over the years, many other lives walked parts of this journey with Garret. Precedents were set and barriers broken down that will affect generations to come with a landmark ruling by the United States Supreme Court guaranteeing disabled children a public education in all fifty states.
Now, through a magnificent effort on the part of Garret and that one special friend, Dr. Karen Pirnot, a child psychologist who has also devoted over twenty years of her life to Garret, we all have been invited to walk a while by his side. I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to mothers and inspire writers everywhere than to share this magnificent chronicle.
For me, an attempt to guide the reader’s perceptions with a typical written review critiquing my own journey with Garret and Dr. Pirnot would fall far short. It would sadly lack the power which lies between the pages of “As I Am”. Only Garret can tell his story, and he has with the help of Dr. Pirnot and electronics now available to the disabled. Yet, after my own walk with him, I can offer this insight. Anyone who loves beauty, the power and glory of nature working with the power of mind and Spirit, will be moved. Anyone who admires courage, determination, and the perseverance of the wind itself, will be touched. Anyone who has wandered on the edge of peril or despair will be given hope. Anyone who has already fallen over the cliff will be lifted up.
If you have an opportunity to read As I Am, I promise that you'll walk away overwhelmed at the power of attitude and commitment. No obstacle will be too daunting. I think what impresses me the most is Garret's desire to give to others with what he has that does work, and well. His heart and his incredible mind.
I was fortunate enough to meet Garret, now 26, and his mother, Charlene, this week when they traveled from their home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Sarasota, a feat in itself, to offer a presentation to schools and libraries. Dr. Pirnot, an author herself, and her husband, Dr. Carl Davis, live here now and worked diligently to set up these events. When asked his dreams, Garret replied “to give back to others. To have a website where disabled folks can gather and support and help each other.” There was a collective sigh in the meeting room. Then, he added with his brilliant smile, “And buy my mother a modest home in Sarasota County where we can be warm in winter.” Garret’s father passed away only a few weeks ago.
If anyone out there would like to help Garret achieve his so deserved dreams, As I Am by Garret Lee Frey may be obtained on Amazon.com or directly through Dr. Pirnot as Garret will receive more profit than if purchased through a bookseller.
www.drpirnotbooks.com.
**Susan Haley is the published author of two books, a third to be released in the fall. She’s written several articles on networking, an award-winning poet and prose writer, a contract copy editor and book reviewer in high demand. She is a columnist for “The Florida Writer” the official magazine of the Florida Writers Association, and serves as Facilitator for the Sarasota County Chapter. She also contributes a variety of editorials and excerpts of her work to various publications. Susan can be contacted through her website: www.sucarha.com
Has a simple conversation ever led to a defining moment? Let me tell you about mine, because it might just take you on a new writing journey.
I was an attendee at an Infinity publisher’s conferences a little over a year ago. My book, Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery had recently been published. Five years in the making, I was ready for a little R & R – or so I envisioned. When each attendee was given the opportunity for a one-on-one mentoring session with one of the major presenters. I requested Jerry Simmons - but nearly regretted my choice when he uttered his first piece of advice: “Lois, it’s time to start on your second book.” He took one look at my crestfallen face and uttered the very words that defined that new moment: “You know, you don’t have to write it all alone.” That was it. That simple statement planted a seed ready to germinate. By the time I returned home from that conference, that seed had already begun to take root.
I began to think back to my last book presentation, when a member of the audience asked if I could talk about some of the non-surgical paths to beauty. Great topic, but that wasn’t what my book was about. Where to begin?
Here is what I decided: Listen to Jerry and write it, but don’t go it alone. Let me outline the steps I took toward the completion of my second book: a compilation of chapters written by selected individuals – each a nationally recognized expert in a given field. Hopefully learning about the steps I took toward the compilation of this second book will inspire and guide other authors to try this format.
Step 1 Developing a list of topics
I listed twelve topics. Each topic became a separate chapter in my new book
Part 1: Lasers, fillers and dermal devices (3 chapters)
Part 2: Your skin, teeth and hair (3 chapters)
Part 3: Estheticians and spas (2 chapters)
Part 4: The body beautiful (2 chapters)
Part 5: Make-up Illusions (1 chapter)
Part 6: Wrapping it up (1 chapter)
Step 2 Locating and recruiting experts
I had some good contacts from interviews I had conducted for three magazine articles I had previously written. Then I networked to fill in the gaps. When I called key organizations for recommendation, I did the following:
● Introduced myself and my credentials as an author/journalist
● Stated my mission (Writing a new book about. . , felt it wouldn’t be complete without a chapter on . .
● Stated my criteria for the expert I was seeking to write about . . .:
Someone who was knowledgeable, highly respected in their field, and had a bit of personality. (I wanted chapters that would exude a sense of fun while imparting solid knowledge.)
Examples of organizations I contacted: ASCDAS (American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery), the ASAPS (The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry). In most cases I was referred to either a former president of their association or a member of one of their key committees.
Step 3 Recruitment process
Phone call contact to:
a) Introduce myself and provide a few credentials
b) Explain mission of second book and the fact that I was seeking contributors to this work
c) State source of recommendation and how/why I particularly wanted this person to create a chapter (a little sincere flattery doesn’t hurt!)
d) State what’s in it for them: i.e. recognition and promotion. I would interview each contributor and write up a two page introduction, including photograph, to appear at the beginning of each expert’s chapter.
e) KISS principle: Ease process by providing options: (One expert was happy to talk with me, but didn’t want to do the actual writing. We worked out an arrangement of a series of early morning phone interviews: He spoke while I listened, took notes and recorded our conversations. Using play back of the recording along with my notes, I wrote up a first draft of each session and e-mailed it back to use as a working model for our next session.
Note: the recruitment process was easier than one might imagine. Most readily agreed. Two ultimately backed out due to schedule overload.
Step 4 Tending to legalities:
Developed a basic legal contract to: a) define the assigned topic, establish the fact that it is a contributory work b) protect me (and them) from possible future litigation: i.e rights of republication of any previously published material, permission from patients to include their before/after photographs and case histories, etc.
Step 5 Deadline Madness:
This was the most difficult part of the process. Why? Each of these professionals was already on overload due to an extremely full schedule of professional responsibilities.
I found it a delicate balance of friendly reminders, gentle prodding and firm requests.
Step 6 Editing
I assured each expert that although I would edit the chapters to improve clarity, Organization and suggestions, I would not change anything without their express approval. I edited using a bold red font so that edits literally popped out off the page. (Edits included added words for clarification, altered phrasing - usually by consolidating but in some cases by requesting expansion or clarification of a thought.
I used a strike through font for words I deleted.
Editing was a back and forth process until I felt near perfection from each chapter. (Is anything ever absolutely perfect?) I sent each expert their final chapter for one last look and received (and saved) their sign off of acceptance.
Step 7: To Market, to market:
Well, I’m not quite there yet, but getting close. I have my proof copy in hand and Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour will be published later this month. If you are interested in learning details about this panel of experts, you can take a peak at:
www.ticktockstoptheclock.com
I hope this article serves as a source of inspiration for your own creativity, just as Jerry’s words did for me.
Good luck with your next book!
Lois W. Stern
Author of Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery
www.SexLiesAndCosmeticSurgery.com
The answer to the basic question of how to Kindle-ize a book depends on your book and your objective for its Kindle format. At Five Rainbows Services , we have converted six of our Slipdown Mountain Publications books to Kindle format plus almost two dozen more for clients. Some have incorporated graphics and photos,
including a series of illustrated kids' books.
If your book is all text (e.g., a novel) and you don't mind the Kindle edition possibly looking somewhat amateurish, you can convert using one of two conversion methods.
(1) Digital Text Platform -- You can upload the Microsoft Word source file for the book directly via Amazon's Digital Text Platform interface. As Word tends to bloat its files with extraneous codes, you might not like the results. You can also upload a PDF through Amazon's DTP, but that is probably the worst option and can result in lots of weird
formatting in the Kindle edition. You can preview the results online using Amazon's Kindle simulator application.
(2) Mobipocket -- You can download the free Mobipocket Creator software and convert your MS Word or PDF file into a Mobipocket format (just be sure to check the "no security" option). The resulting PRC format file can then be uploaded to Amazon's DTP. You can preview this file using the free Mobipocket Reader Desktop software, although it will look
somewhat different on an actual Kindle. If you have a Kindle, you can put the PRC file directly on it to preview it.
However, the only way to make a book look its best on the Kindle is to convert it to HTML and then tweak the HTML. The Kindle supports only a limited subset of HTML tags plus some Mobipocket-unique tags (which are necessary to force page breaks and populate the Kindle's menu of navigation options, for example). If you want an active hyperlinked
table of contents (or any other links within the book), you may have to create them or, at least, correct them, depending on how you generated the HTML.
If you have a book with any illustrations or photos, those graphic elements must be converted to grayscale (Kindle does not support color), sized properly (450 x 500 pixels and no more than 64 KB file size), and possibly adjusted to accommodate the Kindle's limited shades of gray (the new Kindle 2 can display twice as many levels of gray). Kindle also does not support tables, although we have found successful work-arounds for some simple tables.
Another Kindle limitation is that it only supports one font -- Caecilia, a basic serif font -- although the Kindle 2 and the latest software update for Kindle 1 adds the monospace font option. Books that use multiple fonts and a lot of variations can be challenging to convert to Kindle -- although it's only a matter of ingenuity and persistence to produce a result that comes close to matching the overall style and "feel" of the print edition.
So, the basic answer to your question is that most anyone can convert a book to Kindle format and have it available on Amazon's Kindle Store, if you're not too concerned about how it looks. As always, the devil is in the details. You have to understand HTML and be willing to spend some time learning the ins and outs of Kindle-ization to produce better results.
Is the Kindle format compatible with other readers? Not as-is, since Amazon applies its proprietary security to the books. However, the Mobipocket Creator software can create files compatible with Mobipocket and many other readers but with its own unique security. If is also possible to get your book into Amazon's Kindle Store via Mobipocket (Amazon owns Mobipocket) but that's another, and rather long,
explanation. Today, you can get the maximum exposure for your e-books by using a three-pronged approach -- Mobipocket (and its Amazon connection), PDF, and the Adobe EPUB format (which is how you can provide books that can be read on the iPhone and iPod Touch and most
other mobile devices).
Amazon just recently announced that all of its Kindle books can be read on the iPhone and iPod Touch using the Amazon Kindle application, provided you also have a Kindle.
To get started, you should visit .
--
Walt Shiel, Publisher, Slipdown Mountain Publications LLC
http://SlipdownMountain.com
Managing Partner, Five Rainbows Services - http://FiveRainbows.com
editing, typesetting, indexing, book covers, coaching, more
View From the Publishing Trenches blog - http://WaltShiel.com
There are plenty of options to choose from when publishing your book—from the most expensive, which is currently around $40,000, to the cheapest, somewhere around $199 for set-up. Be aware however, that self-publishing companies (sometimes erroneously called Vanity Press) make most of their money by selling the author various services such as an ISBN number, faulty distribution, mass post card mailings, and so on. The self-publishing business model for such companies is centered on printing and selling services to writers, not selling books to readers. There are good self-publishing companies out there. Not all are publishing mills, but it takes time, asking lots of questions, networking with friends and colleagues and looking at samples of finished products to weed out the bad from the good.
Lawyers like to joke that there are “good lawyers” and there are ”cheap lawyers” but there are no ”good, cheap lawyers”. When it comes to self-publishing that is also the case. Going with the lowest priced company will almost always result in a product of poor quality and no matter how well written the book may be, if the printed product is poor, the reader perception will be negatively effected.
Do consumers judge a book by its cover? As much as we might like to think otherwise, the answer is a resounding YES! The front cover art, and copy on the back of the book, the title, the author’s name, the binding... every bit of how it looks is frequently more important than what it’s actually about. Professional, high-quality exteriors and well-designed interiors are critical. If you have invested time and energy into developing your manuscript, do not cut corners on the quality of the finished product. Think with an eye to the future, and give your book the best shot at selling copies as you can.
When we use the written word as a means of communication with others, we expect to have it read. Whether we are writing to share information, philosophy, experiences, creating a story to inspire or entertain, or simply a personal note, we need a reader. We want that reader to feel and understand what we’re saying. If fiction, we want to take them on a journey into the world of our story. We don’t want to simply tell them; we want to take them into the experience with us.
How often has a book carried you to another place or time, allowed you to feel a new experience? Has it introduced you to a whole new group of people? Maybe to a new hero, role model or friend? You laughed or cried, loved or loathed, felt joy or rage, but you felt the characters. You experienced the story and shared in the adventure! For a while, you left your own world and ventured into another between the covers of a book.
This is the power of good writing. This result is what every writer dreams of achieving. And, it simply cannot be done alone. Enter the editor.
Having some form of editing is especially vital in these days of huge changes in the Publishing industry and the ever-increasing number of authors choosing the POD or Independent publishing route. My focus here is to share some basic tips and ideas stemming from what I’ve observed as copy editor for a small press and independent contracts.
Rarely, do we open a book and not see an acknowledgement to those who helped make the book possible. In most instances, we’ll see credit given to an editor. So, just what is an editor’s role and when do you need one?
There are three types of editing:
1. Content Editing – Actually guides the creation itself.
2. Copy Editing – Structure and Grammar check of a completed manuscript.
3. Proof Reading – Typographical errors - Final set of eyes before submission to an agent or approving a galley for a publisher or a printer.
But first, the writer must have something of quality and potential to present to the editor. Possibly, the most crucial editor of all is the writer. The writer must take care and pride in their work. No one wants to pay for, nor is it the job of the editor to clean up an ill-prepared or sloppy manuscript.
Regardless the genre, all writers hope to end up with a book that’s a page turner, a book that will teach, touch, inspire, or entertain a reader. In successful novel writing, it’s downright imperative.
We could spend an entire day in a workshop on only one element of fiction writing. Voice, point of view, and dialogue come to mind instantly. Yet, there are many more questions we must ask ourselves. Does fiction require research and authenticity, an element of believability? What’s required in era and setting? Character and plot development? In non-fiction, what is the best way to present facts, figures, philosophy or experiences? The list goes on. In this article, however, I’d like to introduce the need for editing more as an ATTITUDE about how we must look at writing.
Having basic skills in grammar and expression is an obvious requirement but as important, and what I’ve seen sorely lacking in most new authors’ work, is a basic knowledge of the elements of their genre. This is especially true in the case of fiction novel writing.
No matter your past experience or profession, no matter your mastery of language skills, there must be an effort to learn the elements required in your chosen genre - fiction or nonfiction. I’ve literally had to labor my way through novels written by accomplished journalists or teachers simply because they didn’t know the elements required in fiction writing. Regardless how knowledgeable they are in their content or the nonfiction story they wish to tell, I’ve noticed that few new writers are aware of how to best present it.
We’ve all heard the motivator “Practice Makes Perfect” or the more you do it, the better you’ll become. True, but first you must know what is required in the mastering of your specific skill. All the practice in the world won’t make a champion speed skater a figure skater if they don’t know the elements of figure skating. The same is true in writing. An award winning essayist can write ten novels but the tenth will be no better than the first if the elements required in good fiction are still missing.
Once you’ve chosen the type of book you want to write, the easiest and best way to sharpen skills is to read a lot of genre-related books by various authors. Get a feel for it. In the role of reader, what moves you and what doesn’t?
Before you start seriously putting a manuscript together, invest in a few How To books relative to your genre. Get a pocket copy of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style, a dictionary, and a Thesaurus. Research the wealth of information available on the Internet and in your library. A subscription to Writers Digest or The Writer magazine is another valuable and affordable asset to all novice writers. Know how to set up a basic Word Document file that is manuscript specific.
There are basic and powerful rules that do apply to all genres.
More is not necessarily better. Every single word must move the content forward. Redundancy, repetition and long boring dissertations can be death for a book. In fiction, the hue and cry is “cut, cut, and cut!” I’ve copy edited novels that could be improved simply by cutting a hundred pages or more.
Stay focused on the plot, the subject, or the message. The reader doesn’t want to go off on an irrelevant side trail just when you’ve captured their attention or moved them to the edge of their seat. If it happens too much, you’ve lost them.
Never subtly intrude on your character’s personality by inserting author-driven opinions or assumptions. This is called author intrusion and it robs your characters of their own voice and impact.
Never write with a condescending tone, assuming you have to over describe, explain and reiterate. If the reader isn’t getting your message or visualizing your scene, maybe it’s because you aren’t presenting it with clarity and active tense.
In fiction novels, good dialogue is crucial. There are entire books devoted to mastering dialogue. Invest in one. Know how to do it and do it well. Know how to punctuate it. A successful novel depends on it.
Avoid ‘ly’ adverbs describing tone. If your character is angry, make the comment itself show the anger rather than the continual ‘he said, angrily’. Or ‘she said, thoughtfully’. Avoid speaker attribution when it’s obvious who’s speaking. He said/she said after every line of utterance is the first indicator of bad dialogue.
Write it like you’d speak it. Make use of contractions frequently. That is how we speak as a norm and it brings the character to life.
Be consistent. If you choose to attempt a dialect, slang, or accent, be familiar with it and be consistent. If you want to drop g’s, that’s fine, just make sure you are consistent throughout. It’s most helpful to read your dialogue out loud, perhaps with a family member taking another speaking part. Feel the sound of it.
It is also imperative to remain consistent in verb tense. Don’t start a sentence in past tense and end it in the present. The one exception may be found in dialogue.
Punctuation is probably the most generally abused element in book writing. In most cases, the hard and fast rules we all learned in high school English apply. But due to the volume and length in book writing, we are given a bit of leeway to facilitate the flow of reading, accentuate a style, and avoid having our book appear like someone dropped bird seed on it.
Over and above the standard rules of prepositional phrases and dependent clauses, think of a comma as taking a breath. Again, read your work out loud and make note of your breathing. The words and, or, and but don’t automatically call for a comma if the statement is one fluid thought.
Learn the proper use of a semi-colon and quotation marks. These are quite likely the most errantly used articles of punctuation. A semi-colon is used when both elements of the sentence can stand alone. Basically, it’s a softer rendition of a period. Many use it as replacement for a comma. Often two short, crisp sentences are more powerful. Nothing is harder to read than long, seemingly endless sentences peppered with commas, emphasis quotes and semi-colons.
Too many quotation marks are distracting for the reader. I call it the picket fence effect. If you want to call attention or add emphasis, use italics. Book titles and proper names are now seen italicized in lieu of quote marks. Single quotes are used only when quoting within a quote. Don’t continually use them for achieving emphasis.
Limit overuse of exclamation marks. Doing so lessens the effect when you really want to show intense emotion.
These are just a few of the things to consider when beginning the creation of a book. Writing is a lot of hard work and a continual learning process. The author is their own first editor by becoming knowledgeable in the elements of good writing and reading out loud, but we are too close to our own work to be the only editor. Close family and friends can offer input and support but, in most cases, shy away from honest critique in deference to author feelings. Writers need impartial and fresh eyes and honest critique. I’m an editor, but I’m an author first and my most valuable asset is my editor.
Susan Haley, Author
RAINY DAY PEOPLE – A Novel
FIBERS IN THE WEB
Susan Haley is the published author of two books, a Children’s E-book, an award winning poet, several articles on networking, the copy editor and book reviewer for Pepper Tree Press Publishing and book reviewer for AME Marketing out of San Diego. She also contributes a column to “The Florida Writer” the official magazine of the Florida Writers Association, of which she is Facilitator for the Sarasota County Chapter. The audio version of her novel “Rainy Day People” was awarded runner-up Finalist in the 2008 Indie Excellence National Book Awards. She also contributes a variety of editorials and excerpts of her work to various E-zines and newsletters and local papers.
