Writing and Publishing News from

September 21, 2012

The Writer’s Obligation

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 4:48 am

How often have you heard this advice: Write about what you know? And most people, I think, heed it. Some of us write about what we want to know. Well, if you’re writing articles for a living, for example, you will run out of topics and will have to seek out new ones. Right?

I’ve had people tell me it is stupid to write about what you know because anyone can do research. But I can tell you that I’ve done a whole lot of research even related to things I know well. Research is not just for those who are writing about something quite foreign to them. There are always aspects of topics we are familiar with that we need to look up or refresh our memory about.

Since I started dabbling in fiction, I’ve discovered how important it is to write about what you know in this medium, as well. Even though you are making up a story, it has to ring true to your readers. You can’t just go into a fantasy mode and create a world that doesn’t make sense—unless, of course, you are writing fantasy. Still, if there isn’t a thread of truth—logic—to it, readers will lose interest.

A romance should develop at some sort of believable pace. The killer needs to have a good motive for doing the bad deed. The emotions expressed by a character should be in proportion to the incident supposedly perpetuating them. Sure some people overreact to things—it’s okay to write a drama queen into your story. And there are situations where bizarre behavior is believable. But when we are creating a whole world full of characters, places and situations, readers need to feel that they are a part of it and they won’t if they can’t buy into this world emotionally or aren’t curious enough about it to keep reading.

There has to be a buy-in benefit for your readers. They keep reading either because they can relate, they’re hooked by the unfolding of events—the storyline, they want to know more about this sort of lifestyle or the nonfiction theme of the book or they are simply enjoying the reading experience you’re giving them.

I read through an entire book on my Kindle this week simply because I thought the beginning was so magnificently constructed. I re-read the opening page a couple of times because it was so clever. I did not enjoy the characters or the story beyond that. But kept reading in hopes that the story would fulfill me based on that great beginning. It never did. I was glad to be finished with it. I will note this author’s name and make sure not to order anymore of his books. So his clever opening did not do him any favors as an author, as far as I am concerned. If I were his publishing consultant, I would say, “GREAT job with your initial hook. Now, let’s work on your way of telling a story.” I would suggest that he pay closer attention to the reader’s experience and the writer’s obligation to the reader.

Do you take your obligation as a writer seriously? We all should. If we write fiction, we must cordially invite the reader into the story. For nonfiction, the reader must be able to navigate your how-to, informational or self-help book (for example) with ease.

Send comments to me at: PLFry620@yahoo.com

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http://www.matilijapress.com

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September 20, 2012

The Shift from Fiction to Nonfiction

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:40 am

I think most of you know I am writing my first novel. What a very different exercise in writing. I am so enjoying the journey and am learning a lot. I must say, I am also gaining tremendous admiration for those of you who write fiction so eloquently and seemingly easy.

There are fiction writers who, at some point in their career, decide they want to write a how-to, self-help or informational book related to an interest or special knowledge they have. You might realize, after years of writing fiction, that you have something to teach or share. Or you have been seeking a book on a topic of your interest and can’t find one, so you’ve decided to write one.

It looks easy. But, for someone who is accustomed to writing fiction or children’s stories, nonfiction can be a challenge. What should know before attempting a nonfiction book?

• You must consider your audience just as you do when developing a novel. Give your reader what they need/want. What is missing out there? What information is not currently covered in books? For example, you might be well-versed in vegetarian cooking for a family and you want to share some of your recipes and tips for cooking vegetarian. Your recipes might be unique. But is there an angle you could take with your book that isn’t being covered—something that would make it stand out from the others? Maybe it would be vegetarian cooking for preschoolers or easy vegetarian meals with plenty of nutrition for seniors. The point is, make sure there is an audience for your nonfiction book before you go to work on it.

• Just as plot and the flow of the story are important to a novel, organization is vital to a nonfiction book. Make sure you present the various aspects, steps, information in the most organized manner so that your reader can easily absorb and learn from the material. If you are writing a book on how to bathe a cat, you might start by discussing why you would bathe a cat—what you would hope to achieve—how often it should be done, the types of problems that might occur when bathing a cat, for example. And then list the supplies you’ll need, the type of tub that you would recommend and then the technique. You could follow up with a trouble-shooting section. Strive for logical organization of your nonfiction book or article.

• While listing instructions can be second nature to someone who is used to writing how-to material, it isn’t always easy for the novelist or children’s book author to manage. This is why I suggest hiring an editor who is accustomed to editing and writing nonfiction. But first, you might ask friends to read some of your lists of instructions for their comments and suggestions. It’s especially helpful to run a how-to book on the subject of gardening, for example, or horseback riding by someone who does not garden and who has never ridden a horse. If they can make sense of your instructions, you are probably on the right track.

I encourage writers to work within their area of expertise as much as possible. But if you desire the experience of stepping outside your comfort zone and writing in a new genre or category, be smart. Take with you, the basic skills, but be willing to learn and use new (to you) techniques in order to make your writing experiments work well.

Contact me with your comments and your editorial questions:
PLFry620@yahoo.com

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http://www.matilijapress.com

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http://www.patriciafry.com

September 19, 2012

Meetings With Clients

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 5:11 am

Do you work with clients? More writers and authors do than ever before. But then there are more authors and would be authors than ever before. If you’ve worked with authors—as a book shepherd, editor, consultant or what-have-you—for very long, you’ve no doubt met all types of them with many different needs, projects, expectations and quirks.

While some want validation and handholding, others may desire information and all the tips you can share. Some need direction, others hope to get secrets to success. Some of them don’t know what they need. They may ask for a manuscript evaluation—they want you to tell them they’ve written a good story. But their manuscript might truly need serious editing—something they don’t want to pay for. Editing doesn’t come cheap, but the value can be well worth the expenditure.

Some potential clients don’t want to hear about book promotion or any other foreign or time-consuming endeavors. It’s up to the consultant to help the client understand the whole picture, but some of them simply don’t want to look at it.

I had someone call me a few weeks ago. He wondered how he got my business card. He didn’t know if someone gave it to him or if he picked it up somewhere. He wanted me to tell him how he got my card. I didn’t have a clue, especially since he said he’d had the card for a long time.

He asked if he could meet with me. He was in town for an hour or so—could we meet? I asked what he had in mind—how I could help him? He said, “Well, I think I want to start writing. I’d like to hear what you have to say about that.”

I explained to him that most of the time I can respond to questions via email and that I don’t generally meet with someone without knowing what they hope to gain from a meeting with me.

He said that he was just interested in maybe starting to write, that’s all. And he thought that if he saw me he would remember where he got my card. He asked me how I am with faces—if I might recognize him if I gave him my card. I mean, really????

I told him I wasn’t going to be able to meet with him that day. He said that next time he’s in town, he’ll call me.

Can you imagine? He was so curious about where he got my card that he wanted to meet with me to see if he recognized me and would then remember whether I handed it to him. Maybe he picked it up off of a public restroom floor, for all I know. I wonder if it occurred to him to follow the link on the card, go to my website and look at my photograph.

I generally screen people pretty carefully before I meet them and that is mainly in an attempt to save both of us time. Sometimes people are reluctant to tell me why they want to meet with me. I think that often they don’t know. They just hope that I will have some words of wisdom for them—something they actually want to hear (which isn’t always the truth). Sometimes they just want to tell me their ideas—talk to me about their project. I have one client who pays me an hourly fee to speak to me for exactly an hour by phone and he always uses that time to tell me what he’s been doing. When he lets me know the time is up, he is in exactly the same position he was when he called because he didn’t ask me for any advice or suggestions. He just talked.

Sometimes people want to talk to me about something I can’t really help them with. If they are upfront in their emails about what they want to discuss, I can let them know whether this is something I can help them with or not.

I love helping authors with their projects. And there is much I can offer in the form of editing their fiction or nonfiction manuscript, helping them with their query letters or book proposals, advising them with regard to promoting their book, for example. But there are some things I won’t discuss with them. I especially won’t meet with you just so you can see what I look like.

I have turned off my comments, but would still love to hear from you. Contact me here:

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

September 18, 2012

Can I Write Fiction?

Filed under: Authorship,Editing — Patricia @ 4:51 am

Maybe you haven’t heard. After years of writing nonfiction, I’m working on my first novel. I’m already thinking about my audience. I hope it is you. But if you don’t appreciate a light mystery—if suspense makes you nervous, if you would rather not read anything even slightly romantic, and if too much adventure upsets you, you may not be my audience. If you don’t like reading about animals, learning some interesting things about them and getting to know some charming cats as well as some good and evil people enjoying life and in crisis, well you may not enjoy this book.

Some of you will read it because you know me or know who I am and are interested to see what I might come up with, especially in light of the fact that I can write nonfiction—“but can she write fiction?”

I realize that the pressure is on because this is a first novel, but also because I have a reputation as a writer. Can I uphold it to a degree in a new genre? Heck, I don’t even know the answer to these questions. I’d like to think I’m on the right track. But you, my audience, will let me know.

I can tell you that I have a whole lot more admiration for novelists and I envy you all of your years of writing fiction. I am having a blast. And I’m also finding that it is a lot work—takes a great deal of thought and planning and technique.

Today, I honor each and every one of you fiction writers—those who are in the trenches and writing your first novel as well as those who are promoting your twenty-first novel.

Send comments to me directly. I turned off my comments option because of the huge amount of spam and the small number of legitimate comments. I am always happy to hear from you, though. PLFry620@yahoo.com

I’ve been editing fiction as well as nonfiction for quite a while. If you are ready with your novel, contact me for a free estimate and sample edit.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 17, 2012

The Back of Your Book

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 4:48 am

Have you given any thought to your book’s back cover copy? You may just be starting your nonfiction book or you may be nearly finished with your novel. At some point, you will be facing the back cover. What will you write? Have you given this any thought?

First, consider why you are writing something for the back cover. What is the purpose of the back cover copy? Is it just to fill the space? Should you use an eloquent paragraph from the story? Is this an opportunity to show how well you can write? Not necessarily.

This is your opportunity to sell your book—to pique the interest of someone who picks it up or who sees it online. Your job is to adequately describe your book to your particular proposed audience so that they are inclined to purchase it—so that they want to read it. What is the story about? What is the purpose of your nonfiction book? What does it offer/provide for your readers?

The back cover often includes a brief paragraph about the author. Readers may want to know who wrote the book—what is this author’s experience as a mystery writer or expertise in the subject of the book? And whether we like to admit it or not, a photograph sometimes sways us one way or another when we are considering which book to buy.

I like to use bullets on the back cover of my nonfiction books for writers. Then potential readers can see at a glance some of the things I cover in the book. This technique is effective when writing articles, as well. That’s why you often see me use bullets in my blog posts.

You may have your cover designed. Perhaps you are over-the-top pleased with your cover design—you are confident that it will attract your readers. But what about your back cover copy? Have you written it? Are you not sure what to write? Have you even thought about it? Here are some tips: (notice the bullets)

• Write the back cover copy with your audience in mind.
• Once you’ve written it, read it from the standpoint of your readers.
• Study the back cover copy of other books similar to yours
• Run your back cover copy by actual potential readers.
• Have an editor take a look before finalizing.

If you’d like to send me your back cover copy, I’d be happy to take a look.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 16, 2012

Writers/Authors Submission Guidelines

Filed under: Research,Writing — Patricia @ 5:31 am

I just finished writing the SPAWN Market Update for the member area of the SPAWN website. This month, I included information about Writer’s Market, what it contains and how to use it. I’ve been purchasing Writer’s Market for most of the 40 years I’ve been writing as a career. They’ve been publishing the directory for 92 years.

As a serious freelance article writer for many years, I used to subscribe to the few (then) writers’ magazines and newsletters. I’d seek out their updates as far as editorial and submission changes for the various publications I wrote for and publishers I may want to approach. Then I would note these changes in ink in my current copy of Writer’s Market. This might include changes in editorial staff, addresses, contact info, submissions, etc, I did my best to keep informed as to changes so that I always approached the magazine editors from a professional perspective.

Today, there are is so much turnover in the industry and changes occurring faster than the speed of a bullet. Not only that, there are so many magazines and newsletters and enewsletters attempting to inform writers. It becomes difficult to keep up with it all. One way to do so is through the magazine’s (or the publisher’s) website—specifically, their submission guidelines. While, of course, some editors and publishers aren’t very good at updating their guidelines, most, I believe, do a pretty good job of it.

Before you approach any publisher with your magnificent manuscript or any editor with your great story idea, read that publisher’s/magazine’s submission guidelines. If you can’t find it at their website using your most well-honed investigative techniques (which it sometimes takes), contact them and ask for a copy. The publisher or magazine editor that does not post submission guidelines has nothing to complain about when they receive mis-targeted material.

Do you need help locating submission guidelines for some of the publishers/magazines you want to write for? Let me know, maybe I can help.

Or buy a copy of my book, Publish Your Book. I explain how to locate submission guidelines that are well-hidden. And believe me, some publishers do hide theirs. This is just one of hundreds of tidbits you can learn and benefit from in this amazingly reader-friendly, informative book. It’s available at amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 15, 2012

Who’s to Blame for Your Failed or Struggling Book?

Filed under: Authorship,Publishing — Patricia @ 5:01 am

Over the years, I’ve met hundreds of authors. Some of them are experiencing varying degrees of what they consider success. Many more of them are struggling. Some believe that the publishing system has failed them.

In reality, it is the author himself who has failed all on his own. How? First, he entered into a serious business that he knew nothing about. Let’s use Bob as an example. From the outside looking in, Bob thought he could see all he needed to know about the industry and how to participate as a published author. There were people eager to take his money and produce his book. Bob had met other authors with books, read about them, heard them speak at his church group and civic group meeting about their books. He had attended signings and book festivals. He believed that the book he was writing was every bit as good as some of those he saw on the market and better than many he had bought recently. He was sure that he had more on the ball than most of the authors he met.

Not only that, when he told people about his book, they appeared interested. He had every reason to believe that thousands of people would want it once he published it.

Unfortunately, Bob would most likely end up in the majority group of authors who sell fewer than 100 copies of their books. The number now is right at 78 percent. Why would Bob find himself among the 78 percent of authors who fail? Not because the system failed him, but because he did not take the time and effort to understand the system, his options and his responsibilities as a published author.

Bob remained on the outside looking in. The only involvement he had with the industry, was deciding to go with the first pay-to-publish company he found on the Internet. Soon he had a book to hold in his hands. Turns out it was not a well-written book. Bob was an accountant not a writer. He didn’t know how much better an experienced book editor could make it and why it was important to produce a well-written book. He didn’t have a clear understanding of his audience. In fact, he hadn’t given his audience any thought while he was planning and writing his book. This was simply a book he wanted to write. If he liked it, surely others would, too. And he didn’t know that it was his responsibility to promote his book to this audience. It didn’t occur to him to connect the dots from the process of producing a book to the ultimate end result—people purchasing it. He had no idea how to take his product from point A to point B. In fact, he didn’t even know to consider his book a product.

Just as there is an enormous amount of skill, talent, knowledge, time and energy that goes into becoming an Olympic swimmer, an expert equestrian, a successful restaurant owner or a sought-after actor, for example, so it is with successful publishing.

There’s more to this industry than what you see on the surface. If you want to become a successful part of it, you must invest and immerse yourself in it. The number one recommendation from any expert or professional worth his or her salt is to study the publishing industry.

Here’s my contribution to that end:
“Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author.” Order it from Amazon.com or any other online or downtown bookstore. Also available at my Matilija Press website. See below.

PLF620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 14, 2012

Go Out and Speak About Your Book

Filed under: Book Promotion,Public Speaking — Patricia @ 3:45 am

There are many tasks involved when you take on the responsibility of promoting your book. And if you publish a book, you most certainly have taken on the responsibility of promoting it. If you don’t accept that responsibility, your book will die. That’s the hard truth of it.

Public speaking is a major book promotion activity that many authors pursue. I’ve written a book about how to promote your book through public speaking, book festivals, signings, conferences, interviews and more. It includes being interviewed for TV, radio, podcasts and such as well. It’s all about public speaking and communication. Allworth Press will bring the book out in the fall. Of course, I’ll announce it here. You can actually see it posted at Amazon.com. It’s called, Talk Up Your Book. The book posted at Amazon has the wrong cover on it, though. I expressed my dislike for the cover and they changed it. I love the new cover. I’ll try to keep an eye on it and let you know when it is up.

In the meantime, if you have a book to promote, I’d like to suggest that you take a weekend or a few days during the week and set up some speaking engagements. I spent a recent weekend contacting writers’ group leaders and writers’ conference organizers and managed to set up speaking gigs in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Orange County, Camarillo and Ventura California as well as Las Vegas, NV over the next several months. Of course, you don’t have to travel to speak. You can start locally. Here are some ideas:

• Contact the program chair for local civic groups.
• If your book is suitable, offer to present programs in schools.
• Speak to classes at a community college.
• Get a teaching gig through an adult education program.
• Arrange an author appreciation day (or week) at your public library.
• Do book signings at bookstores as well as appropriate specialty stores.
• Contact people you know who belong to groups. Ask to speak.
• Develop entertaining home parties around the theme of your book.
• If your book is conducive to book clubs, seek some out in your area.
• Create a program to take into local companies.
• Contact hotels in your community and offer to present a program for guests.
• Contact radio/TV program directors and ask to be interviewed.

There are a dozen ideas for getting speaking gigs related to the theme of your book. I’m sure you have others. Contact me and I’ll publish them here.

PLFry620@yahoo.com

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Check out my appearances page:
http://www.matilijapress.com/activities.htm

September 13, 2012

Cleaning the Clutter

Filed under: Research — Patricia @ 4:46 am

I’ve spent time this week decluttering my life. I have yet to tackle my desk and we won’t even talk about all of the shelves surrounding me here in my office. But I have stopped the invasive hammering of spam coming through my blog site. Whew, it is sure a relief to no longer be faced with 30 to 100 spam messages at my blog each day. This means that you can no longer comment at my blog site. That part, I regret. I will probably turn comments back on at some point. It usually takes a while for the spam to build and for my patience to wear out. In the meantime, I can enjoy your comments.

I’ve also been unsubscribing to many enewsletters and other regular messages I’ve been getting for months/years and just deleting before opening. What’s the point in that? Do you get enewsletters and notices/announcements from businesses, individuals, organizations that no longer apply to your situation and that you stopped reading months ago? You can unsubscribe, you know.

This will clear your way to actually reading those enewsletters, announcements and notices that are of interest to you and of value to your writing/publishing work.

If you decide to do as I have this week and declutter your life, make sure that you carefully analyze the material before you hit the unsubscribe button. So often, we receive information that is beneficial to our projects, but we don’t take the time to study it and then we go off and make poor decisions that cost us money, time and the success we dreamed of.

Do you have a personal story along these lines? I’d love to hear it.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

September 11, 2012

Don’t Let What You Learn at Your Critique Group Hurt Your Manuscript

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:04 am

Are you a new author, writing your first book? Perhaps you have attended a critique group a couple of times and picked up some tips for writing good fiction. I receive manuscripts from hopeful authors who have had such guidance, but who don’t have a clear understanding of how to apply the things they’ve learned from other writers.

They might use dialog to move their story, but it is forced and awkward. They may describe a character, but it is inappropriate to the flow of the story. It might interrupt the story, for example rather than enhance the reader’s experience.

If you are writing fiction, attend critique groups, of course. Take the book manuscript you are working on and listen to what the others suggest. Notice how your story affects them—do they laugh/cry in the right places? Did they enjoy the segment you read? Did they find it entertaining or was it painful for them to hear? Sure, there might be one among the group who has a rather warped outlook on what comprises good writing. Spend some time with these folks and you’ll learn who to listen to most. And it isn’t necessarily the one who says, “I love it!” every time you read. It is those who give you the most useful critique. Those who help you to make your story better.

You’ll learn by critiquing others, as well and by listening to how others critique your fellow writers.

But also, you should be reading the type of book you are writing. Lots of them! Whether it is a light mystery, young adult adventure story, children’s book for ages 8-12, your spiritual memoir or a how-to book, find others for exactly the same audience and study them.

You can no longer comment at this blog site. I turned off my comments option because there was just too much spam coming through. I mean a LOT—30 to 100 per day or between 400 and 700 a week. It just became way too overwhelming. If you wish to comment or reach me, please use this email address: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

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