Rob Bignell's Blog, page 384

Once
you’ve asked someone to write a review for your book, you might be peppered with a few questions: How long should it be? What do you want me say? When do you need it by?



Consider handing them a copy of the instructions below, particularly if they’re writing a customer review that appears on Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble’s websites or writing a recommendation or Goodreads:

n Length – Any review longer than 250 words is too long if appearing online. Most readers won’t wade through text that is any longer. If a reviewer does write that many words, have them break it up into at least a couple of paragraphs as a large block of text can be hard on the eyes.

n Structure – Write a paragraph like your eighth-grade language arts teacher taught you: Topic sentence; three supporting points; an example for each supporting point; conclusion sentence. It’s that simple.

n Content – Focus on the book’s content. That means no profanity, no defamation of the author or other people, and no book ordering information. The first two are in bad taste while the last already is given on the page and so wastes the reader’s time. By the way, don’t give a plot spoiler either.

n Headline – Readers often select which reviews they’ll look at based on the headline. So make it catchy. Use a subject-verb-direct object format as in ‘Twin Identity’ takes reader on tear-jerking romp (‘Twin Identity’ is the subject, takes is the verb, and reader on tear-jerking romp is the direct object.). Avoid using articles (a, an, the) and conjunctions (and, but, or).

n Typos – Don’t write the review in the little box where it is posted on the website. Instead, use a word processing program and run the review through spell check. Then paste it into the box and upload.

n Rules – Be aware of the website’s rules for writing and posting reviews (certain fields must be entered, such as giving the book a rating); others have a minimum age for who can write a review.



A final note: Don’t tell bloggers or mainstream media how to write your review. They already know and more importantly, they have house guidelines – both for writing style and professional ethics – that limit what they can and cannot do.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

One
time while working as a magazine editor, my designer dropped a “proof” – a copy of how the publication would look when printed – on my desk. Too busy to even complete all the other tasks on my to-do list, I decided to cut corners and skip reviewing the proof. After all, I’d already looked at everything in it a dozen times and had confidence in my staff. There couldn’t be anything wrong with it, right? As the day went on and more tasks found their way onto my to-do list, I overheard the publisher telling another manager in the hallway, “Never leave anything to chance.”



With those five words, my editor’s instincts kicked in. I pushed aside the staff member’s annual review, told my executive assistant to hold the phone calls, and decided the freelance writer awaiting my notes on her first draft could wait one more day. The proof needed my review.



And good thing I made that choice. An embarrassing misspelling somehow had snuck its way onto the table of contents.



After you’ve uploaded a formatted version of your book’s text and its cover, you’ll be asked to review a proof of your book. No matter how busy you are, no matter how much of a rush you are to get your book for sale, no matter how many times you’ve already looked at it, heed these five words: “Never leave anything to chance.” Take one last look at your book.



Once you approve your proof, the book is going to print or be made available for download. If an error is in there, people will buy your book with that mistake for all to see for all posterity.



You’re likely to find errors in your book, too. Looking at a paper version in your hands or an electronic version on a Kindle or Nook is a lot different than reading the text in Word or a pdf on your computer screen. Think of it this way: holding the paper version in your hands is like taking a real car on the street rather than sitting in a simulator as learning to drive.



When reviewing your proof, look for the following:

n Everything should be there – Are you missing information on the title page? Maybe the price got left off the cover. Is the last paragraph of a chapter mysteriously gone?

n Alignments – Make sure the chapter titles and page margins actually are where they’re supposed to be.

n Page numbers – Also known as folios, make sure your pages are correctly numbered. Check that numbering against the table of contents, if you have one.

n Chapter titles – Ensure they’re spelled correctly. A reader might miss a typo in the text but is certain to see any mistakes that appear in large or boldface type.



Fortunately, if a mistake does slip past, you can reload your book. With paperbacks, this can mean a a couple of days that your book is not available for sale while your printer gets the correct files set for printing. Still, it’s better to not sell a book full of typos then one with them – if you do the latter, your book might be flagged for being of low quality (and removed from sales until you fix the problem) or a reader might not recommend your book – or even write a bad review of it, adversely affecting your book sales.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

Don’t
let these two commonly confused words negatively affect your writing.



Affect is a verb meaning to “to influence” “to impact”: The layoffs affect about a third of the company’s employees.



Effect is a noun meaning “the consequences of”: The effect of the layoffs was lower company morale.



Hopefully the effect of this little tip will be correct usage!



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

Want to slow your story to a glacial grind and get readers to put down your story? Then load it with lots of exposition. Problems arising with exposition often (and rightfully) elicit cries of “Show, don’t tell!” from editors.



Exposition is directly conveying information to the reader. For example, you could write, “She found herself falling in love him.” You’ve directly told the reader what is occurring to the main character: she’s falling in love.



A better way to tell that she’s falling in love is to show it. Instead write: “Birray took her in his arms. She nestled her head against his chest as he caressed her back.” That she nestled her head against his chest, in the context of the rest of the story, will show she’s beginning to have stronger than usual feelings for him.



Why avoid exposition? Three good reasons:

n It slows the forward movement of plot – As exposition amounts to straightforward information, some novice writers believe it speeds up the story. In truth, it robs story of conflict and tension. Showing rather than telling what happens allows the reader to see incrementally how a character is pulled and dragged into feeling a certain way or making a specific decision.

n It amounts to lecturing the reader or forcing him to read an encyclopedia entry – A lot of times exposition is background information that the author deems is important to understanding some concept, such as the history of the Clone Wars, the physics behind hyperdrive and the ethical dilemmas of using metagenic weapons. It’s better to sprinkle these matters as bits into the characters’ normal conversation rather than give a long lecture.

n It can violate viewpoint – A first-person story suddenly interrupted with an objective, third-person telling of exposition can be jarring to the tale’s flow. At the very least, it is awkward-sounding.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

In every story, something happens. These events form the structure of your tale. Plot, then, is the drama and action through which characters come to life.



Consider the plot of “Star Wars IV: A New Hope”. During the story, young Luke Skywalker finds his dreams and hopes of leaving a desert world quashed by his uncle. While looking for two runaway droids, Luke meets Obi-Wan Kenobi; one of the droids has a message for Obi-Wan pleading for him to help rebels against the oppressive Empire. When Luke returns home, he finds the farm ablaze and aunt and uncle dead. He decides to join Obi-Wan’s mission to help the rebels. The pair charter a flight with a smuggler, Han Solo. At their destination, they encounter the Death Star. Entering it, they rescue Princess Leia, who sent the earlier mentioned message to Obi-Wan. Returning Leia to the rebel base, they plan an attack to destroy the Death Star. In the end, Luke is the one who fires the shot that causes the Death Star's destruction.



Obviously, much more happens in the movie that those few events. But it is that storyline on which the rest of the story hangs.



A story at its most basic is plot. It’s why when junior high students write book reviews they almost invariably write about what occurs in the story, void of any references to the other elements of fiction except maybe a stray line about who the main characters were and where the story was set.



There are many metaphors about what plot is, most of which are equally apt. Some writers and academicians say it’s a structure that leads us somewhere, others a thread that pulls readers through a story. Using music as a metaphor, some refer to plot as “narrative melody.”



Plot is far more than a series of events, however. Events occur in a story because of cause and effect. Luke goes into space with Obi-Wan because once the farm is destroyed, nothing remains for him on a planet where he doesn’t want to be. Because of this cause and effect rule, most stories are told in chronological order. “A New Hope” doesn’t start with Luke rescuing Leia then jumps to the events that led him to the Death Star. In good stories, these events that occur also should involve conflict. Luke doesn’t just walk aboard the Death Star and take Leia. Stormtroopers chase him, and he is caught in a trash compactor with a sea monster.



There are some basic rules of plot that authors should follow:

n A plot should be logically consistent - Nothing should happen at random in a story. Random events slow the story and confuse the reader.

n A plot begins before the story does - “A New Hope” begins with the Empire’s forces firing on Princess Leia’s ship in orbit around Luke’s world. If the plot began at the chase’s beginning, the main story about Luke realizing his dreams of doing something important with his life would be delayed.

n Events in the plot should surprise the reader - That a sea monster is in the trash compactor waste and that it pulls Luke under into the muck are surprises.

n Keep your characters in trouble - So long as the characters have problems to overcome, the plot can remain interesting. For example, when Luke and his companions escape the stormtroopers by jumping into the trash chute, they find there is no way out – and then the walls of the trash compactor begins to close. In addition, come up with creative ways to get your characters out of their problems.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

Love Letters to Sophie’s Mom
recently received a positive review on Amazon.com. Of the love poems, reader Kyle John Janison wrote, “A number of qualities set this book apart from other poetry collections. ... This is no run-of-the-mill collection and one you’ll certainly enjoy.” The collection traces a relationship from the first dance of love at a coffee shop to its tragic demise as mental illness overtakes the narrator’s beloved. Inspired by a diverse array of writings, including the verse of Pablo Neruda, Dylan Thomas, and Bob Dylan, the collection’s 34 poems touch upon themes including nature, Southern California, and the Northwoods. Love Letters to Sophie’s Mom is available in paperback and Kindle; and just in time for Valentine’s Day, soon on Nook, iBook and other eReaders.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

“Why shouldn’t truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.” – Mark Twain



“The good ended happily, the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.” – Oscar Wilde



“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson



“Fiction is the truth inside the lie.” – Stephen King



“Fiction is not a dream. Nor is it guess work. It is imagining based on facts, and the facts must be accurate or the work of imagining will not stand up.” – Margaret Culkin Banning



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

When other readers and writers give good reviews of your book, it will translate into additional sales. Perhaps even more importantly, it increases your name recognition, raising anticipation for and sales of your next title. The challenge then is to find reviewers



First, a word of caution: There’s a difference between asking someone to write a review of your book and paying someone to do so. There are plenty of people who make a living do the latter –but only an honest few will say up front they may write a negative review, for the presumption is if paid they’ll deliver what you want, which is positive press. Going this route, however, only hurts your book. Readers can tell when reviews are fake, and if there are too many good ones on your Goodreads or Amazon.com page, the sheer volume of them will cause many to wonder if they’re genuine. Asking someone to write a review – even if it’s negative – is a whole other story, though. And if someone doesn’t like your book or otherwise feels uncomfortable writing a review, they can simply decline.



So who can you ask to write a review for you? Consider:

n People familiar with your subject matter – Whether it be colleagues or experts in the field, from teachers of literature if writing a novel to a recognized industry professional if writing a nonfiction title, experts carry the most weight as reviewers. They can speak intelligently about your book’s subject matter and writing style to others interested in the topic, and those in the know usually respect their opinion.

n Exchanging reviews with other writers – Writers, who often also are critical readers, make for great reviewers as they can relate to your publishing effort. Make an agreement in advance with the fellow writer that if she writes and posts a review of your book, you’ll do the same for her. Add the caveat that if either doesn’t like the book, she doesn’t have to pen one but owes on the next book (unless she doesn’t like that one either). On the downside, many writers feel an empathetic streak for their colleagues so are uncomfortable writing bad reviews; because of this, some potential readers may wonder if the opinion is genuine.

n Friends and family – As most readers appreciate the thoughts of others just like them, having average everyday people (C’mon, admit it’s true about your friends and family!) pen reviews is a good idea. If not handled correctly, this can be a hue on the dark side of shady, though, as friends and family members are inclined to write only kind words about your book. They only should write a review for you if they honestly believe the book was good, and there should be no hard feelings on your part if they decline.



By the way, giving the reviewer a complimentary copy of your book rather than making her buy it is customary. Fortunately in today’s tech-drenched world, that’s an inexpensive option as you easily can spring for an ebook download or email a free pdf. If the reviewer asks for a paper copy (and this often will be in the case with the mainstream media), send one or resign yourself to not getting a review.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

Another important element of your book cover is the spine or the thin side that is displayed when your volume is snugly tucked between two other books on a shelf. Because this may be the only portion of the book that potential readers at a bookstore, library or friend’s house see, you want to ensure the spine includes the book’s title and your name as author.



When placing this information on the spine, follow three basic rules. First, the bottom of the wording should face the back cover’s edge. That way, when a book is placed face up on a table, the wording on the spine won’t be upside down. Secondly, ensure any portion of the photograph or illustration from the front cover that might wrap over the spine onto the back cover doesn’t interfere with the wording. A black line from the illustration that runs through the wording, for example, might make reading the title or author’s name difficult. Finally, only add your publishing company’s logo if it will fit, and when doing so, put it at the very top or the very bottom of the spine.



A common question that arises when self-publishing is how thick the spine will be. This can affect the size of the artwork if it wraps from the front to the back covers. Two basic factors determine the spine’s thickness:

n Paper quality – The higher the quality, generally the thicker the spine will be. The typical “white” paper used in self-publishing has a thickness of .002252 inches per page while a book using paper for color pictures or illustrations is .002347 inches thick.

n Page count – The total number of pages has the ultimate impact on thickness. This includes every page from the half-title page all the way to the last one before you come to the back cover.



To determine your spine’s thickness, simply multiply the page count by the thickness of the paper you’re using. So a 200-page book using white paper would be 200 x .002252 or .4504 inches thick. A 200-page book using color pages is 200 x .002347 or .4694 inches thick.



Be aware that if your book is fairly thin – say fewer than a hundred pages – there may not be enough space on the spine to print your title or any other wording.



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

When describing a fair-haired man, don’t use blonde, even if the dude looks like a lady. A flaxen-haired female is a blonde, but a sandy-haired male is a blond (no e, please).



Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.