Trousers or Pants? Can you Tell the Difference?

.

.

English is English! – No! Not at all!  ”England and America are two countries separated by a common language” — said George Bernard Shaw.

Many readers and writers are surprised to learn that there are huge differences in spelling between English-speaking countries. A book, written and published in the UK, needs almost to be “translated” into American English and vice versa.  And I am not even talking about Canada, South Africa, India or Australia… were there are many more differences.
.

Generally, it is agreed that no one version is “correct” however, there are certainly preferences in use. The most important rule of thumb is to try to be consistent in your usage. The major differences between American and British English are:

• Vocabulary – differences in nouns and verbs, especially phrasal verb usage
• Spelling – differences are generally found in certain prefix and suffix forms

.
Have a look at the many verbs that are differently written in this comparison at www.Spellzone.com:

• … our endings change to or, such as humour (British) into humor (American)
• … our endings change to er, such as theatre into theater, or centre into center
• … ogue endings change to og, such as catalogue into catalog
• L endings do not double in US spellings, such as travelled into traveled……. and the list goes on and on.

Other major differences are:

• Present Perfect
• Past Simple/Past Participles
• Prepositions
• Possession
• The Verb “get”
• Vocabulary

there are also some more subtle differences that might stymie visitors to Britain, especially those who have learnt American English. Linguistics lecturer Dr Lynne Murphy rounds up ten of the subtler US/UK mis-communications.

.
Add to this the local usage of words, e.g. Trousers or pants? Juggernaut or 18-wheeler? Lift or elevator?  Tube, underground or subway? Find more eye-opening differences in British / American vocabulary, for example:

autumn – fall
barrister – attorney
bill (restaurant) – check
biscuit – cookie
caravan – trailer
chemist’s shop – drugstore, pharmacy
chips  - fries, French fries
cinema – movies
coffin – casket
pavement – sidewalk
petrol – gas, gasoline
postbox – mailbox
rubbish – garbage, trash
sweets – candy
.

So, before you upbraid someone. or point out spelling “errors” have a look if it is not a British, Canadian or other English speaking individual or user of keyboards from these country. A person, for example, writing for newspapers in several countries has to adjust the writing for every article/country. And then there are these not native English speakers…

.

<><><><><>

.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 700 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing
http://pinterest.com/111publishing/
http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS     111Publishing @ Google+

Don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.Thanks

.

.
Hyper Smash
.
.

Pingates

 

Reminder: How to Write a Blog / Internet Content

.

.

I just read a blog with terrific content, but it was so hard to read, that I almost skipped the post: 35 lines in one shot! No … , no sub-headings, no bold text, no links, no images… just plain text.  What was the author thinking? Has she never been to other blogs or even read content of websites? Well she is not alone, too many blogs are written like this.
.

Writing for the internet is NOT the same as writing a book.  Research studies confirm how user read on the web:  They don’t !!!

People rarely read Web pages word by word; instead, they scan the page, picking out individual words and sentences. In research on how people read websites we found that 79 percent of our test users always scanned any new page they came across; only 16 percent read word-by-word.
.

Web pages have to employ scanable text, using

• one idea per paragraph (users will skip over any additional ideas if they are not caught by the first few words in the paragraph)
• the inverted pyramid style, starting with the conclusion
• half the word count (or less) than conventional writing
  .

What’s more?
Credibility is important for Web users, since it is unclear who is behind information on the Web and whether a page can be trusted.  Credibility can be increased by high-quality graphics, good writing, and use of outbound hypertext links.  Links to other sites show that the authors have done their homework and are not afraid to let readers visit other sites.
.

Harald Weinreich, a German researcher compiled a dataset, detailing 59,573 page views. Just three of his many findings:

• 10,163 page views (17%) that lasted less than 4 seconds
• 2,615 page views (4%) that lasted more than 10 minutes
• On an average visit, users read half the information only on those pages with 111 words or less. Users will read about 20% to 28% of the text on the average page.

.
So, what can you do to make your blog post / web content easy to read / scan?

• Split it in content chunks / paragraphs
• Write interesting page titles that grab the attention
• Use headings and subheadings to structure the chunk of text
• Write summaries at the end of each page
• Make lists, using bullets and numbers
• Embed links, at least 3 or 4 on each page – good for SEO too!

.

Obviously, users tend to spend more time on pages with more information, structured and easy to read content – and lots of links.    Happy blogging!

.

<><><><><>

.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 700 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

Twitter:   @111publishing
http://pinterest.com/111publishing/
http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS      111Publishing @ Google+

Don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks

.

.
Hyper Smash
.
.

Pingates

 

The Magic behind the Fantasy

.

WilliamStadler

From the small town of Reidsville, and now from Raleigh, North Carolina, William Stadler enjoys writing novels, specifically in the epic fantasy genre where heroes and villains come to life.

William Stadler: “I wrote short stories in sixth grade, and my teacher used to give us six or seven lines to fill in. I’d use those seven lines, and then I’d turn the sheet over and fill up half of the back.  After that, I didn’t write extensively again for over fifteen years (except for a poetry phase).

But then something crazy happened. Steve Jobs died. I’m not typically bothered by the death of a celebrity, but Steve Job’s death really got to me. I started reading some of his quotes, and one said, “Set a goal, and work at it everyday.

Now I’ve heard that philosophy all my life, but something about that instance really got me thinking about what I truly enjoyed doing: writing.  Steve Job’s final words about working at your dream everyday materialized a writing passion within me. Because this has been so liberating, I have developed an inner desire to see people write.”
.

The Pioneers Saga series was created. After months of writing, often until 3 a.m. and on his lunch break, Stadler’s first three novels have been released. He has already begun to work on his next trilogy saga.

His literary influences are George R.R. Martin; Stephen King; Terry Goodkind. Friends say William Stadler’s Stephen King-esque productivity has pushed them to make time for writing. “Hanging out with him has inspired me a lot to rediscover the passion that I have,” a friend said.
.

If you would like to follow William Stadler, you can find him on twitter @William_Stadler.
He also writes a weekly blog, teaching aspiring authors how to develop their writing skills.
Goodreads, almost a must for writers and readers, shows him and his books, as well as Google+

.
William Stadler created a video for The Pioneers series – EXTRACTED 
His Book Trailer can be found here on YouTube: http://bit.ly/11ReXrV

.

.
While on a routine mission in the neighboring province of Broughtonhaven, Caleb Eaves and his squadron are ambushed by a band of assassins.  Left to die in an icy prison, Caleb has not heard from his wife who has gone missing, and he fears that his people have abandoned him.He must find a way to escape and track down his attackers if he ever hopes to regain the life he once he had.
Available on Amazon and B&N, 384 pages, $0.97

.

.

Six months have passed since the victory at Bachenlaw. A new and incompetent governor has been named the head of the Polarist Region, and Broughtonhaven is at risk of being Dominated by these cold-blooded neighbors to the northwest. The Spiritualists plummet into darkness as they struggle to defend themselves from their invaders. The Alpha Council has refused to intervene, while Caleb, Sarai, and the Pioneers fear for the fate of the mainland.
Available on Amazon and B&N, 323 pages, $2.98

.

.

Since the last war, the mainland of Clydenholm has known peace for the past three years. The Pioneers have settled their own civil disputes, and the life of tranquility that Caleb has longed for seems to be within his grasp. What he soon realizes is that this life is farther from him than he knows.

While on an Emblem Run in the Polarist Region, Caleb and Sarai discover that they are being watched, spied on by the Alpha Council. The location of the Pioneers is on the brink of being revealed, and if Juten is discovered, the Alphas promise to demolish the entire island, abandoning the Pioneers to their death.  Amidst it all, a dark evil looms over Clydenholm, one that threatens to expose the very wickedness of its inhabitants. Caleb and Sarai must face their own darkness if Clydenholm will be saved.  Available on Amazon and B&N, 306 pages, $3.02
.

Enjoy the series and gift the author with a review : )    These three books in the Pioneer series cannot only be bought with one click on Amazon, but also be gifted: just click on “Give a Gift” and it will be send to the recipient’s email.  No Kindle necessary with Amazons free Cloud software.  Readers can also order a sample of each book with the “Sample now” button on Amazon.
.

 

Book Reviewers wrote this:
.
5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLY AMAZING
“I have never liked a book this much !!!”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, possibly the next big thing!
“In his debut novel, William Stadler has crafted a refreshing new addition for the fantasy genre.”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to feed your imagination, spirit, and heart
“I was never a sci-fi reader, but I took a chance at “The Pioneers: Extracted” because I knew it wouldn’t merely become a book to expand my imagination. My expectations were abundantly filled by Stadler’s writing style and ….”

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Thriller, Satisfying Story, and Original Fantasy
“This book is both quality fantasy and a read I would recommend to anyone interested in an intriguing novel (I have already bought it as a gift for a couple people).”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
“I really enjoyed reading this book.”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
“This is a great story. I have rarely seen such great depth of character and character development.”

 

.

<><><><><>

.

.

.
Hyper Smash
.
.

Pingates

 

How to Sell 8 Million Books – by Jonathan Gunson

.

.

Jonathan Gunson has written (again) a great blog post:  ”How to Sell 8 Million Books” - in several decades I must add.

The author he is talking about, is best known through his novel Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury’s success didn’t happen immediately.  While he eventually sold more than eight million copies of his novels and short stories, Bradbury actually struggled for years to support his family before making any meaningful progress.

Before he died in 2012, Ray Bradbury recorded the secret of his breakthrough, the moment he stumbled upon the elusive force he needed to power his writing.

See:  http://youtu.be/YlYAhSffEDM  Ray Bradbury on Writing Persistently and read Jonathan Gunson’s blog:  How To Replicate Ray Bradbury’s Success

It’s about building a writing career, one book at a time, not like some people want to tell you, to become a millionaire with your debut novel. It’s about a marathon and not a sprint.

.

<><><><><>

.

.

.
Hyper Smash
.
.

Pingates

Related articles

• Ray Bradbury’s work finally available digitally in the UK (guardian.co.uk)

 

Interview with Patrick Jones, author of “The Wolf’s Moon”

.

Patrick   thank you so much for taking the time today for this author interview. Let’s dive right in:

What inspired you to start writing?
I have written since I was a kid.  I wrote a mystery novel in High School.  My classmates liked the story but it, like everything else, wound up in the circular file cabinet.  Mrs. Ruth Morrisey, an English Lit teacher, encouraged me to write, while my family said I would starve.
.

How did you get the idea for the novel?
One day I sat with a pen and paper and just started writing.  Sandy, my wife, was giving a lecture at a seminar so I decided to kill some time.  The more I wrote, the more it took on its own life.  “The Wolf’s Moon” went from a doodling, to a short story and ended as a novel.  I only wrote what I saw in my mind.
.

Author Patrick Jones

.
How would you describe your book to someone who has not yet read it?
The story is an action suspense thriller that intertwines love, loyalty and in the end, redemption.  Mark Lansdowne wants to be left alone to grieve the loss of his wife to illness but instead is pulled into uncontrolled circumstances which narrowly cost him his life.  Although he knows he and his lifelong pal, Warren Skruggs, should leave it to the proper authorities, things continue to happen causing Lansdowne to take matters into his own hands.
.

Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
Loyalty and Love: The loyalty between Linden and Skruggs: Trusting each other even if it caused their death, never questioning their motives.  True love that Linden has for his deceased wife:  Linden made a commitment and took a vow.  He loved her completely in life, so her death is only a temporary separation.  Love and friendship do not die.
.

Who is your favorite character and why?
Skruggs.  The reason I like Skruggsy is because he would rather see humor than the bad in life.  He always smiles, but when the smile fades he becomes a very controlled, violent individual.  He deeply loves his wife.  He would help anybody at the drop of a hat that needed help.  But he would kill just as fast.

Are your plots based on your real-life experiences?
For a writer to convince the reader that a character is real, he must believe each and every one of them is real.  While one is writing the story he or she lives with each character as though they actually exist.  Maybe they are fictional but life experiences, what the writer sees, feels and hears must be the same for them.  I think this is true regardless of genre if the writer expects their readers to identify with the characters.  Each reader should think of someone they know or have met.
.

Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“Thriller fans will rejoice at the well-paced vignettes and spiking tension.”
.

If Oprah invited you onto her show to talk about your book, what would the theme of the show be?
I would think that I could get on stage and Oprah would say, “How in the world did you write a book and have it made into a movie at this time in your life?” Adele would then sing the song she made for the movie!!
.

What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
The Kirkus Review has captured the essence of the book by the following description of their interpretation:  “Jones’ novel confidently lays the groundwork for future books, with romantic and thriller subplots tightly interwoven in the service of a propulsive narrative. No time is wasted in introducing the characters or the creature, yet nothing feels rushed. Fans of romance may feel shortchanged by the surprisingly chaste nature of Lansdowne’s interactions with the nurse. However, thriller fans will rejoice at the well-paced vignettes and spiking tension. Jones doles out information with care, providing enough history to make things clear without overwhelming exposition. This same care is evident in the novel’s resolution, which ties up loose ends without shutting the door on further developments.”
.

,

Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Years ago, before Indie Publishing, it was hard, if not impossible, to get a book on the market.  Now if a person is willing to pay people (that a publisher pays) it’s not as hard.  What I have really learned is writing the book is easier than selling the story.  When I received my first proof copy, I was satisfied that I completed what I had set out to do.  I have learned literary agents are tough people who have to say, “no,” a lot.  They cannot take too many chances.  Books are their bread and butter and they have to maintain a good rapport with publishers.  If a publisher, after spending time and money promoting a book and it doesn’t sell, he or she is on the street.
I don’t think of a rejection letter as a bad thing.  It just tells me I need to sharpen my skills.  It is like getting a bad review.  I smile knowing I did something they probably did not – I wrote a book.
.

Considering a book from the first word you write to the moment you see it on a bookstore shelf, what’s your favorite part of the process? What’s your least favorite?
Since my book has not been in a bookstore yet, I suppose my favorite part really is working with my wife.  It is fun.  We work well together.  I have not found anything I don’t like, except trying to find new ways to sell my book.
.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about your book?
No, I like it the way it is.  The editor said the first chapter sounded like a travel log.  Maybe, but people who have read the book tell me it helps to understand the Ozark Region. Stephen King wouldn’t have liked Chapter One but I don’t think he has read “The Wolf’s Moon”.  I haven’t heard from him…YET.
.

What genre have you not yet written but really want to try?
A children’s book.  I think it would be fun but I can’t visualize anything yet.  One day, perhaps.
.

If your book would be made into a movie, who should play the main character?
The guy who played the part of the scientist in the TV program SG1, Michael Shanks.  He looks much like I imagined Linden to look and I think he could pull it off.
.

How did you get published? Please share your own personal journey.
We self-published.  Sandy and I shopped around to find someone and decided on Create Space.  We were actually able to speak with a person that advised us.  The rest sent emails.  Yes, most everything had a price tag.  They were not the cheapest nor were they the priciest.  The people at Create Space were easy to talk with.  When we ordered books, they usually arrived before the scheduled delivery date.  They mentored us through all of the steps we needed to go through to get the book published.  We learned that the process does not end there.  There are a multitude of other steps that are necessary to traverse through the self-publishing adventure.  We have met wonderful people along the way who have mentored us throughout the entire process.  Sometimes it is frustrating, but with each baby step we move ahead in the journey.

.
Don’t miss the book trailer for The Wolf’s Moon on YouTube and give it a thumbs up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LUT5eyAjE

.

What general advice do you have for other writers?
If there was any advice I would give to an aspiring writer, it is to write.  Read other people, not for story content, but to see how they put the story together.  Don’t read just the King’s or the Patterson’s but also the Twain’s, Spillane’s and Fleming’s out there.  Then develop your own style.  Anyone can copy a style but to be unique to you, it must be your own style.

When they have what they feel is their style – let a few people read something.  They should be people that will tell the truth and give an honest opinion.  If it’s not what you wanted to hear, don’t get discouraged, get determined.  Don’t quit.
Remember:  There are a great many people out in the world wanting to sell their work.  Whether you sell only one copy or make the New York Times Bestseller List, you did something that many want to do and never do – you wrote and completed a book.
.

What do you find is the best part of being an author?
That is a hard question.  I think meeting, talking, or emailing people who have said they enjoyed the book and they want to know, “when is the next one coming out?”  It is fun to know they enjoyed the story enough to want another.
.

What is ONE thing that you have done that brought you more readers?
Blogging has done a lot but my wife continuously gets me involved with social media.  She says that it is important for people to know that I am no different from them.  I still cut grass, work in my wood shop, go grocery shopping.  I do all the same things that they have to do.  Where they may work in a factory, my job is writing.
.

What’s one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you?
My personal world is a simple, comfortable place, as my immediate family makes life wonderful.  Sandy (my wife) and I like flowers, so we have several gardens around the house.  Our house is like one from a fairy tale.  At the end of a day, sitting with her on the deck having that last cup of coffee, watching the sun set and the moon rise give me great satisfaction and contentment.
.

Where can people learn more about your writing?
To know more about me they can go to the website:  http://www.thelindenchronicles.com .
There readers can see pictures and my blogs.  I like to blog about everyday things.
.

Thank you so much Patrick to get to know you better and to hear about your journey of writing the first book and the first year as an author-publisher.

.

<><><><><>

.

.

.
Hyper Smash
.
.

Pingates

 

2 More Writing Contests

.

.

Monthly TWITTER Writing Contest

Scribendi.com is hosting a writing contest. The first day of every
month at 11 AM, we will announce the topic. Entrants must write a
140-character-or-less tweet, mention @Scribendi_Inc, and summarize the
topic. The contest closes the last day of the month at 11 AM.
Summarize This! promotes concise and precise writing skills in a
fresh, fun way http://www.scribendi.com/summarize_this

Prizes range from free editing to Scribendi.com swap

.
.
Neil Postman Award
Rolling Deadline. Although primarily known as an educationist and a media critic,
Neil Postman was, at his core, a “noticer”—and he particularly noticed what we do
with metaphor and how metaphor shapes and creates our cognitive world.

Postman maintained that words (and words, in truth, are metaphors) are
as much the driver of reality as they are the vehicle. Consequently,
metaphor was not a subject to be relegated and limited to high school
poetry units wherein a teacher drones on about the difference between
“like” and “as” and considers the job finished. For Postman, the study
of metaphor was unending and metaphors were as crucial as they were
omnipresent; they served to give form to and dictate experience. In
honor and remembrance of Neil Postman, who died on Oct 5, 2003, we
have established the Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. The motivation
for the award is simple and two-fold: To reward a given writer for his
or her use of metaphor, and to celebrate (and hopefully propagate)
Postman’s work and the typographical mind. Each spring the editors
will choose one poem from all of the submissions received by Rattle
during the previous year.

The author of the chosen poem will receive $ 500.

There are no entry fees or special submission guidelines. Send
up to 5 unpublished poems plus a self-addressed & stamped envelope
(SASE) to: Rattle, 12411 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604.
To browse previous winners, and for information on how to submit
electronically, visit: http://www.rattle.com/poetry/prize/about/

.

<><><><><><>

.

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

Just Write the Damned Book Already

Reblogged from Meyer Lane's Short Attention Span Press:

You wouldn’t believe how many people I meet who tell me they’ve got a great idea for a novel ... if only they had the time to write!
“You know,” I say, “You’re right. That’s my secret. I have all this free time.”
And if only I had the time to run for President, I’d be in the White House.

Read more… 1,435 more words

. . . Great post by Meyer Lane. And it is not only true for writing the book, yet even for promoting and marketing  your work. . <><><><><> .  

 

CELEBRATING !!! 100,000 Readers on this Blog

.
.

• 100,000 all-time
• 248 today
  
• 582 views on your busiest day, December 4, 2012
  

A big THANKS to everyone of my readers here on SavvyBookWriters .  Today is the big day for this blog: The first 100,000 reader mark is reached.  What a number!  100,000

Thank you for signing up, thank you for commenting on the blog and through social media, and thank you to the guest bloggers on this site!

I couldn’t  imagine this in April 2011, just one and a half years ago, when SavvyBookWriters started very slowly.  Sometimes, there where only five or ten blog readers a day, no wonder, as I had no social media presence whatsoever.  And I must admit that English is not my mother language and I often struggle with my writing. But writing every day improved it – I hope.
.

Two things helped, and they will help you as an author of books as well:

1. Persistence – don’t give up, even if you have a very slow start
2. Get enough audience, join Google+, Twitter, FB, Goodreads …
   .

My goal for future blogs is to bring you fresh and valuable information. Take advantage of these free tips on publishing and marketing your books and subscribe, just click on FOLLOW.  As a blogger feel free to re-post one of the 620 articles that you think are useful for your own readers. Yes, and interesting guest blogs are certainly always welcome!

.

<><><><><>

.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 600 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing
or here:

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK

http://pinterest.com/111publishing/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Y15YYO

https://plus.google.com/113988101794370708359/posts

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/111publishing

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/429942674

http://chime.in/user/ebooksinternational

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

Begin the Life You Have Always Wanted

.

.

Sheila Callaham writes for sure one of the best blogs I know.  In an earlier posts she explained:

“One of the characteristics that separate happy, successful people from all the rest is their ability to look into the future with curiosity, excitement and knowing that the best is yet to come.
.
And, the only way to do that is to let go of the past.  That does not mean discount the life you have lived; rather, it means learn from your hardships and mistakes and then let them go, so you can move forward to create your perfect future.
.
The past can be haunting if you allow it — failed relationships, bad business decisions, trusting someone unworthy of trust.  When you break it down, what people fear most is rejection and failure. This fear often keeps you looking over your shoulder, always on guard for the past creeping up to derail you.
.
Fear cripples your ability to move successfully forward. When you live your life, looking over your shoulder fearing the past, you can’t see the opportunities right in front of you!  The good news is that fear doesn’t have to hold you back.”
.

Find the five simple steps for a successful professional and private life in her terrific article.

.
<><><><><>

.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 600 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

Guest Blogger Adam Santo on Novel Writing

Adam Santo, author of two books is today’s Guest Blogger. His debut novel Temperature: Dead and Rising was introduced last year on this blog and today he gives readers some tips for novel writing:

So, you’ve always wanted to write your own novel. Good for you. It’s an invaluable endeavor to produce a beautifully edited book, also called a manuscript. But there’s a secret to writing no one mentions to a new writer. It isn’t like you can stir instant coffee into a cup of hot water and expect it to magically happen. A lot more goes on under the cover of a book than just words. I hope to explain the writing process in a simplified manner as to how a fictional novel is put together.

In a work of fiction, such as a fantasy novel, an author must bend the rules of our world to fit into their hero’s world. Those rules must still have consequences to match a real world application, just like when the headlights of a car are left on all night. You already know the battery will be drained by morning and won’t crank up. The battery is your hero and the power drain is his/her failing powers after they get used. This is the vehicle that makes a reader believe it could happen (sorry for the bad pun).

Now that that this little rule has been covered, and it’s an important one, I’ll move forward to starting a novel. An
outline creates the backbone to what should happen in your manuscript. They can be indispensable and should
not be forgotten about. Outlines range from typical outlines you most likely used in high school, but I like to use an arch for keeping track of events. It’s a timeline bent on a curve to support major scenes and spaced to add
secondary plots. Paste this outline to a wall of your workspace and refer to it often.

Speaking of plots, I know the timeline will get your manuscript from point A to B, but that makes for a dull story.
Interaction between bit characters is necessary to further a plot and add spice with hidden agendas. Joining broken story lines will keep the reader guessing what comes next. As an example – what happens to a minor character on page twelve should link to page eighty. These small plot fillers help a novel become great. Just make sure they tie into the story. Characters as fodder and character plot fillers are two completely different animals. Try to make the fictional people relevant to your story and final ending.

The time has come to build up your main character and supporting players. Think about making a biography of
each player in the novel. Start with personal features like eye color, hair and color, height, possible skin color, age, and their style of clothes. Where were they born? Do they have an accent? The list can go on forever; just pick the most important and go with it. There is always time to change something later.

Now that you know what they all look like and how they should sound, I would suggest using the characters to tell the story. What the heck do I mean? It’s simple; Joe’s running through a forest with Jill when a tree root comes up expectantly. Do you describe it to the reader? No. Jill yells, “Look out!” in a rush of panic. This brings in the reader. Let the characters do the work for you and you’ll be happier for it.

You’ve got all the pieces in place to start. Twists have been worked, character deaths planned, climax…

We forgot about the pinnacle point of your story! Trudging along endlessly towards a fruitless ending won’t make return readers. Mini climaxes are good for character development and self-discovery, but defeating an inner demon or a real foe will tie loose ends up nicely. Growth for a fictional character is absolutely imperative. Readers are on the journey with your hero; living vicariously through them. Make it worth their while to root for them.

Have them stumble and get back up with dirty knees that don’t wipe clean immediately. The reader will feel your
character’s pain if they can’t get clear of a problem right away. Don’t hurt them too bad, that becomes sadistic and will lose the reader’s interest.

No one can tell you the exact formula to write a bestseller. You might as well load a shotgun with .00 buck and hope something hits the target audience. That’s how writing is. The end result to storytelling always plays out the same – write to please yourself and readers second. It is the best bit of advice I can offer. Follow that and everything else will fall into place.

Author Bio:
Adam Santo was born and raised in Southern California. He joined the Army for a short lived career as a soldier. Currently, he lives and writes in Florida with his family and faithful dog, Copper. His next novel “Bitter Cold” was just launched, see his Book Trailer.

<><><><><>

 

Canada Writes Contests

Alberta Tourism

.

CANADIAN SHORT STORY PRIZE

Canada Writes, with partners CBC, Canada Council for the Arts, Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and The Banff Centre, are pleased to announce the Grand Prize winner will receive $6,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and will have his/her story published in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and on the Canada Writes website.

She or he will also be awarded a two-week residency at The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony, and will be interviewed on CBC Radio. The 4 runners-up will each receive $1,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and their stories will be published on the Canada Writes website.

Submissions to the short story category must be between 1,200 and 1,500 words.  A fee of $25.00 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry. Deadline to submit: November 1, 2012. This prize is awarded once a year to the best original, unpublished short story, submitted to the competition. All Canadians can participate. The competition is blind. A jury composed of well-known and respected Canadian authors will select the Grand Prize winner and 4 runners-up.

<><><><><>

POETRY

The First Prize winner will receive $6,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and will have his/her poetry published in Air Canada’s “enRoute” magazine and on the Canada Writes website. He or she will also be awarded a two-week residency at The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony, and will be interviewed on CBC Radio’s “The Next Chapter” with Shelagh Rogers.

This prize is awarded once a year to the best original, unpublished, poem or poetry collection submitted to the competition. All Canadians can participate. The competition is blind. A jury composed of well-known and respected Canadian authors will select a 1st place winner and 4 runners-up.

The 4 runners-up will each receive $1,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and their stories will be published on the Canada Writes website. Submissions to the poetry category must be between 400 and 600 words.  A fee of $25.00 for administration purposes is required for each entry.

.

Waterfall at Moraine Lake

.

<><><><><>

About the Banff Centre
The first-prize winners in the Short Story, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry categories in both English and French Literary Prizes will be awarded a two-week residency at The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony.  All meals at The Banff Centre are included, as is access to The Banff Centre’s events and performances.  Winners must use their residency within one year of the prize award, at a time that the prize winner and The Banff Centre both agree upon.

Writers have been polishing their words at The Banff Centre in the heart of the Canadian Rockies since the 1930s. The Centre is a hot-bed of creativity, providing time, tools, and mentor-ship for the creation of new work in all artistic disciplines. The Centre’s varied Literary Arts programs are led by some of Canada’s top writers, including Ian Brown, Daphne Marlatt, Nino Ricci, and Fred Wah — Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate. Writers, emerging and seasoned, gain input and inspiration in a retreat setting. Programs are offered in fiction,
nonfiction, poetry, digital literature and innovative forms, and spoken word.

More Grants for writers in Canada:
http://www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/writing/ri127227329682968750.htm

.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are more than 520 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

This is Not Your Book? Or is it?

.

Misspelling, formatting errors, grammar flaws – are self-publishers AND the big traditional publishing houses not editing anymore?

Joel Friedlander wrote a great blog about the the whole editing process.

Read what readers / customers say on the Kindle Forum about these issues:

Carol H. writes:
“I, too, have discovered numerous misspelled words, punctuation, hyphenation, special character errors, and missing text in many Kindle books. And I’m not talking the little self-published books, either — I’m talking professionally published books from the major book houses!  I have no idea why this is happening, but I’ve left feedback on some books’ pages about the errors. There’s no excuse for it in this electronic age. What I hope is that when these errors are fixed, if they ever are, will Amazon automatically download the revised version since our purchase is on record?”

jh writes:
“I’ve bought a couple of books that had particularly frequent and glaring errors, hinting at poor OCR* rather than human error. Things like “1″ turning up in the middle of a word instead of “l” or “I”, which a human wouldn’t accidentally type.  But yes, plenty of poorly proof-read copy in titles that aren’t by big-name authors. Though you do see that in physical books too, especially early editions. Misspellings, funky punctuation, even the old “there/their/they’re” issue…
*OCR = optical character recognition, in case anyone’s not sure what that meant. Basically a computer scanning the page of a physical book/manuscript, recognizing the letters as best it can, and digitizing it. I have downloaded several “free” books, unfortunately, they were not free of misspellings , missing words, and other errors. I just overlook them since they didn’t cost me anything. I haven’t had that problem with the books I’ve paid for. Guess the old saying is true, ” You get what you pay for”!”

.
Santo de Vaca writes:
“@Carol Hannon: I bought a book with some really terrible formatting issues. In the physical book the first letter of each chapter was elaborately drawn and this didn’t transfer well to the electronic version. They fixed it a few weeks after publication and I had the option of downloading a fixed version of the book, which I did. I’m not sure if this is the norm or not for corrections.”
.

Granny Daisy says:
“As an avid reader, I often find errors in print and kindle books. Even in established authors you find misspelled or miss used words, or incomplete sentences. I am beginning to think publishers are saving money by not paying proof readers.”
.

J. Robertson writes:
“I have found spelling and grammar errors in many paper books as well. So I think its all about the proof reading being done.”

Publish your book the professional way. Well, if you want to be recognized as an author and if you want to publish a professional book, worth the years you worked on it and to be proud of – let it edit. And no, you can’t do this yourself!
.

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

The Rewarding Challenge of Freelance Writing

I want to tell you about how I found an intellectually stimulating challenge in freelance writing.

Not too long ago I was working as a copywriter for an advertising firm. I had studied journalism and advertising in college, and I was one of the lucky few among my graduating class that found a job almost immediately after finishing school. After the endless all-nighters, study sessions, and project deadlines that typified my college experience, I was glad to be part of the “normal” workforce. A desk job seemed like just the right fit for me.

Unfortunately I discovered very quickly that the advertising world wasn’t something that brought me any happiness personally or professionally. Worse yet, I found myself at the mercy of superiors who had me working hours even worse than those I worked in college although my official hours were 8-5. The work was neither rewarding nor inspiring, and most of the people in my office seemed jaded on a daily basis.

After over a year at the advertising firm, I decided to quit my job and start a new career as a self-employed freelance writer.

I won’t lie to you reader: those first few months out on my own were very tough. I assumed that I’d hit the ground running with my modest connections in the writing industry and my formidable copywriting skills. But it turns out that freelancing is a much more feasible career option in theory than it is in practice. I had to work hard just to get free gigs, writing assignments that I needed if just to add more content to my still small writing portfolio. Luckily I had amassed a small amount of savings just in case, so my finances were not as tight as they could have been. But those first few months of freelancing were among the most humbling and instructive periods of my life.

When I did finally start to make money from freelancing, the feeling was like none other. I was struggling to land decent writing gigs one day, and then the next I was juggling multiple clients at a time, writing copy at all hours of the night and trying to keep track of the numerous projects going on. My hard work and persistence was starting to pay off—quite literally.

Of course, in order to make ends meet I had to veer slightly from my initial plans as a freelancer. I couldn’t only sustain myself by writing copy—I also wrote as a guest blogger for a number of sights (as I am now!) to get my name out there. I also wrote on behalf of clients who wanted stronger content on their websites, regardless of the industry that they worked in. In other words, I had to diversify my approach to freelancing. I had to adapt with the market needs if I wanted to survive.

The point of my little anecdote here is to encourage you to set out to achieve your own writing ambitions, no matter how outlandish they may seem. Perhaps you want to write the next great American novel, or maybe you just want to work for yourself as a freelancer like me. Whatever the case may be, I wholeheartedly encourage you to follow your dreams and make them happen, even if it’s a scary option to consider. If I made it, you certainly can too.

This guest post is brought to you by Mariana Ashley, a prolific blogger who provides web content to a number of blogs and websites. She’s most interested in providing guidance to prospective college students who wish to attend online colleges in Montana. When she’s not writing or researching online education trends, she enjoys riding her horse, George, and spending quality time with her four nieces. Mariana welcomes your questions and comments at mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.

.

.

.

.
Hyper Smash

 

21 Important Steps to Write Bestsellers

WritersLittleHelper

In his superb book The Writer’s Little Helper - Everything You Need to Know to Write Better and Get Published - by James V. Smith, Jr. you will discover a list of traits you should pay attention to in order to sell your fiction successfully.  What do readers like in a book? Here are the 21 traits which James V. Smith compiled from his studies and that readers love:

These traits are arranged in a certain order:

1. Appeals to the intellect. The mechanics of a novel: research, organization and structure of a story.

2. Emotions, from connection to excitement. How to engage a reader to create buzz and go viral.

3. Appeals to the soul. It shows if your writing matters and lasts, and if it brings you to the next level as a novelist.
.

I think number one and two are as important for non-fiction as they are for fiction.

1. Utility (writing about things that people will use in their lives)
2. Information (facts people must have to place your writing in context)
3. Substance (the relative value or weight in any piece of writing)
4. Focus (the power to bring an issue into clear view)
5. Logic (a coherent system for making your points)
   .
6. A sense of connection (the power of personal involvement)
7. A compelling style (writing in a way that engages)
8. A sense of humor (wit or at least irony)
9. Simplicity (clarity and focus on a single idea)
10. Entertainment (the power to get people to enjoy what you write)
11. A fast pace (the ability to make your writing feel like a quick read)
12. Imagery (the power to create pictures with words)
13. Creativity (the ability to invent)
14. Excitement (writing with energy that infects a reader with your own enthusiasm)
15. Comfort (writing that imparts a sense of well-being)
16. Happiness (writing that gives joy)
17. Truth (or at least fairness)
    .
18. Writing that provokes (writing to make people think or act)
19. Active, memorable writing (the poetry in your prose)
20. A sense of Wow! (the wonder your writing imparts on a reader)
21. Transcendence (writing that elevates with its heroism, justice, beauty, honor)
    .

This list of 21 was made by the author after studying thousands of reader reviews on Amazon.com and of professional reviews of bestsellers. There are patterns in the way people responded and sorted. Reader remarks were put into categories, every writer can learn from.

.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are more than 500 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it.
There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.
Thanks, Doris

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

Full-time Positions and Free-lance Job Listing

London at Night

.
Online Editor – Full-time Position
Diversified Business Communications is seeking an experienced site editor who will be responsible for managing and maintaining our SeafoodSource.com website, serving the global seafood industry with a goal of providing international news, trends and other business information to seafood professionals worldwide. The site editor is responsible for the successful day-to-day operations of the site, with the goal of making it a top information destination for the industry. The ideal candidate has five years of experience overseeing editorial operations of a website, experience handling editorial budget, knowledge of seafood-related material, demonstrable success editing technical content and prior experience with multimedia. For the detailed job description, essential job functions, and information on applying, take a look at the online editor job posting.
http://www.jobsinme.com/seek/resultdetail.aspx?jobnum=764087

.

<><><>
.
Freelance Content Developer/Copywriter
ICDC College, Southern California
Create course materials for our online occupational degree programs in the fields of healthcare, business, counseling, security and paralegal. To apply, please email us your cover letter, resume and a topic-specific writing sample to www.icdccollege.edu
.

<><><>
.
Copywriter Detroit Area
Firmly established media development firm is looking for a copywriter. We’ve designed numerous web-sites and print media solutions for various Fortune 500 companies, organizations at the United Nations, as well as night clubs, restaurants, etc. This is your chance to put your copy writing stamp on work that will be seen by thousands. We are looking for someone who can work between 5-40 hours a week. To be considered, please send us your resume + portfolio/samples of your work + salary requirements (on a per hourly basis). Location: Detroit, Telecommuting is ok. This is a part-time job.
Reply to: fcszv-3194703261@job.craigslist.org

.
<><><>

Freelance Blog Writers
A Marketing Agency is looking for a WordPress Ghost Writer to write 3 – 4 posts a week. $50 for posts of 1000 – 1500 words, $25 for posts up to 700 words. Online marketing and ecommerce, content marketing, SEO, paid search, ecommerce / retail news, etc. email ghostwriterjobs@yahoo.com with two writing samples.

<><><>

Freelance Writing for Flight Journal Magazine (history)
Flight Journal is like no other aviation magazine in the world, covering the world of flight from its simple beginnings to its high-tech, no-holds–barred future. We put readers in the cockpit and let them live the thrill and adventure of the aviation experience, narrated by those who know the technology and made the history. Each issue brings the stories of flight – past, present and future – to life. Buys all rights for one year. $600 for articles of 2,500 to 3,000 words. Columns vary in size and payment.
http://www.flightjournal.com/contact-us/
.

<><><>

Copyeditor/Proofreader – Print and Web Boston – South
Freelance Estimated Duration: One month, possible extension, Starts: September 3rd. Rate: $20-25/hr DOE
Job Description: We have a one month freelance opportunity with a corporation in Canton. Our client is looking for a Copyeditor/Proofreader to work with their team. We are looking for someone with a minimum of 2 years of proofreading/editing experience in a professional setting to ensure that US spelling and terminology is used. You must have knowledge of AP style to be considered and you will be required to take a test prior to starting the assignment to measure your spelling, grammar and punctuation editing skills.
You will be responsible for checking grammar, spelling, consistency and formatting the web site as well as various print materials. You will also be responsible for checking facts, cross-references, number sequences, geographical differences between UK/US/CA/AU and other verifiable details.throughout If you feel you are qualified for this position please send your resume (and samples if applicable) to: Boston30@jobalert.creativecircle.com

.
<><><>

Experienced Fiction Editors & Proofreaders (LA-CA)
http://www.Book-Editing.com needs FICTION specialists (mainstream and genre) who can perform ALL of the following services: developmental editing, copyediting / line editing, proofreading, fact checking. Qualified applicants will be sent several short editing and writing tests.
Basic requirements: You must be 100% freelance. No exceptions. Work from your location. USA-based. English must be your first language. 5+ years of editing experience and a track record of published fiction (not self-published) that you have edited. Ability to use Microsoft Word’s tracking and comment features. Ability to send and receive file attachments. Ability to check e-mail several times each day (including once per day on weekends).  Consistent availability. Send resume and list of FICTION books edited (and subsequently published) to apply2012 -at- book-editing.com. Preference will be given to applicants who intend to commit long-term, submit a bio written in third person, and provide verifiable feedback/references from clients (published writers). Resumes without book lists will not be considered.
Reply to: cj7nb-3194789528@job.craigslist.org

<><><>

Sports Reporter, Yuma, AZ
An award-winning 20,000-circulation daily located on the Arizona/California/Mexico border, seeks a sports writer who is ready for the challenge of maintaining the excellent local sports coverage. The right candidate will be a talented journalist with a demonstrated ability to write and report. We’d like to find someone with two to three years of experience, but are willing to train recent college graduates.
http://www.workinsports.com/wisquickregapply.asp?referrer=727&idx=84268
.
<><><>

Editor, rural Conneticat
Looking to fill a full-time salary position and to start training immediately. Ideal candidate must have strong writing abilities, journalistic experience and integrity, and a willingness to meet people and investigate the featured towns. Experience with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign is highly desirable. The Rare Reminder reports on hyper-local events that are directly related to the communities of Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Newington and Cromwell, CT. The Editor is also responsible for the content and lay-out of a monthly paper, The Chronicle, which features Cromwell and Middletown. He or she must be willing to work weekends if need be to meet deadlines. Applicants should be self-motivated and driven individuals. The Editor writes articles, manages a team of freelancers, edits and compiles submissions, develops leads for assignments, and lays out part of the Rare Reminder every week on the computer. Please respond by email with a resume and cover letter to mike@rarereminder.com  Employer www.RareReminder.com
.

<><><>

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are more than 500 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “Like” next to it.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr or StumbleUpon – or other social networking sites of your choice) – other writers might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.

 

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates