Monthly Archives: May 2012

Editing Honesty

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Doggonit!, Publishing Tails, Top Dog Books and Clubs

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My niece and her book club recently read a self-published novel written by a member of their church. The group was excited to read the book and show their support for their friend. My niece said the writer described the book as “gentle fiction” (I don’t really know what that is but will assume it’s Christian fiction?) and it sounded like the perfect way to debut her book. Naturally, I asked my niece her opinion of the book. What she told me was a story many of us have heard too often. Grammatical errors and mistakes were sprinkled throughout the book. The truth is, the number of errors was so distracting, she found herself unable to finish the book.

Yes, I know this has been one of the most common knocks on self-published books and many are tired of hearing it. But I want to push the point since I am planning to self-publish my novel soon and I strongly believe the importance of editing can never be overstated. I like to follow Elizabeth Spann Craig’s blog Mystery Writing is Murder and she recently published a similar post (see here). Her post describes her son’s experiences reading self-published young adult fiction. Again, errors in the text were a problem – even for a teenager! Could the message be any clearer? If you plan to self-publish your novel, hire an editor. Although there’s still no guarantee your manuscript will be perfect, without professional input, your chances are next to none.

As I pour over the suggested corrections my editor gave me for my novel, A GUILTY MIND, I am humbled by the things I missed. Like most writers, I believed I had submitted a manuscript as polished as it could get. Wrong. Even though she did not find fault with my story arc or pacing, she still managed to find several corrections/comments in every chapter. Every chapter! And boy am I grateful. While a few changes are “up to me” as she put it, most are little grammatical things I didn’t even realize I had done (or not done in some cases). No, there were no missing periods (this happened in the book my niece read) and no misspellings. But what if I had just gone on and published as is? I could have. After all, it has been read by many, including the founding members of my own book club, and no one found these issues. I have self-edited (a must for all writers) several times. I certainly could have published, believing I had done enough. But I would have been wrong (again).

I love the idea of self-publishing but only if writers treat the process in much the same way a traditional publishing house would. The difference is the writer gets to select their editor, their cover artist, their distribution network, and their marketing strategy. Certainly, it’s easier just to write and consider the job done. And that’s fine if your goal is just to see your book in print. However, if your goal is to have many people (that is a loose number, of course) read it, your book had better be as professional as possible. If for example, you self-pub on Amazon and your reviews are more focused on the mistakes than the storyline, your book will not sell – to anyone other than your closest family and friends (and maybe your church book group). But if you want more than that, be honest with yourself and admit you may have missed a few mistakes. Encourage your friends and family to be honest with you. And most of all, hire an editor for their honesty. What you will get is a better book.

The Good, The Bad, and the Arbitrary Self-Imposed Deadlines of Self-Publishing

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Doggonit!, Publishing Tails

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In recent days, I’ve barely looked at my blog and have had no chance to read some of my favorites. I’m sure I’ve missed some great posts and will try to catch up soon. I wish I could say this was due to hard work on my new novel or even preparing A GUILTY MIND for publication but no, neither of those reasons would be true. As I wrote for a magazine last summer, my husband and I are members of the Sandwich Generation, living with our children and an aging parent. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law has been having a rough time with some serious medical issues. Luckily, our family and friends immediately swooped in – the support is amazing. Life certainly does have a way of reminding us of our priorities.

On the bright side, my editor has just completed her work on A GUILTY MIND (there were some unforseen delays in the process but it was worth the wait). She liked it and happily, there were no major story arc changes or flaws! Of course, that doesn’t mean she didn’t find plenty of errors or make suggestions for minor changes – she did. That’s why I hired her after all. I like most of her changes/suggestions and loved some of her reader comments. They were funny and indicated she was engaged in the story. As a writer, I am grateful for positive feedback and constructive criticism. Now, I’m eager to get to work on my changes/edits.

Currently, A GUILTY MIND is scheduled to be published late Spring (or before June 20 in my book). Since I am planning to publish an e-book along with a paperback, that date was set by me before editing delays and the home front situation. The truth is, no publisher will be breathing down my neck if I miss it but…I would still like to make that target date. However, I will not do it if circumstances cause it not to be ready. The wonderful advantage of self-publishing is that I decide when the book is ready (no pressure – really). So, while I would like to devote every hour of the day to completing the task, I don’t know what will happen with my mother-in-law and that has to take priority. So…publication is still pending.

To any other writer who is grappling with setting their own self-publishing date, use your best judgment but don’t beat yourself up if life gets in the way. It’s smarter to do it right than rush out a less than polished book (hint – that means professionally edited and with a great cover). For more tips and advice on self-publishing, check out the blog, Catherine Caffeinated. She is writing about e-books and self-publishing all month and you won’t want to miss it!

And finally, in more good news, I was nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award by a fellow writer who pens the blog, Novels From the Ground Up.  As per the Kreativ Blogger Award rules I must:

A: Thank my nominator and provide a link to their blog.

B: List seven things that readers might find interesting about me.

C: Nominate seven other bloggers.

First, thanks again to my friend and aspiring novelist, Novels from the Ground Up (http://novelsgroundup.wordpress.com).

Seven things readers might find interesting about me:

  • I don’t follow many TV shows but loved SMASH this year. I also like The Next Food Network Star
  • My dog, Bo, who is half lab and half collie purrs like a cat
  • I was lucky enough to spend my high school and college summers in a beach town – absolutely love the smell of the ocean
  • I have always been interested in writing. I was the editor of my HS yearbook for 2 years and wrote for the school paper. I once thought I would be a journalist or news broadcaster. Instead, I spent almost 15 years in Finance!
  • I am probably the worst singer I know – am off key even on the simplest songs
  • The children at our local elementary school don’t recognize me when I don’t wear my baseball hat – really!
  • I’ve read REBECCA too many times to count and still consider it one of my favorite books of all time. A classic

My nominations:

Each of these writers is working hard and loves writing. Although they each differ, I enjoy catching up with them and seeing their latest posts. Check them out whenever you get the chance! Congratulations to All!

Fifty Shades of Book Clubs

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by in Publishing Tails, Top Dog Books and Clubs

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Several of the book clubs in my area have already or are in the process of reading E.L. James’ FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. My own book club has not selected it but a few members have been reading it. Although I haven’t read the book and can’t offer a review, it’s the opinions surrounding it that interest me.

Certainly, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY has received a great deal of press – especially since it’s been banned in some library systems. How outdated does that sound? I admit I don’t know much about the book other than it chronicles a passionate and erotic physical relationship in detail. Some have labelled the book pornographic. I have no idea whether it is or not and frankly, I don’t care. It’s the comments from friends and fellow readers that got me thinking.

One friend’s husband has read the book and keeps questioning her about it while she’s reading it. What does she think? Has she gotten to the part where…? Hmmm, something tells me his interest in the book wasn’t the great plot line or writing style. Another friend’s book group chose it as their selection of the month but a few members, including this friend, have opted not to read it. She laughed that she’s too much of a prude before adding that it just didn’t appeal to her. Fair enough. Maybe the controversy surrounding the book is partially fueling it’s popularity but at least people are reading and talking about what they’re reading. What a positive for the book world!

This book also got me to thinking about book clubs in general and how much I love the diversity in them. When my group read the Stieg Larsson series, a couple of members abstained. The violence was too graphic for their taste. However, that didn’t stop the rest of the group from reading the entire trilogy and devoting multiple meetings to the discussion of the books and subsequent movies (both versions). They didn’t mind because not all our selections can be everyone’s favorite. Lately, my book club has read quite a few nonfiction titles. We’ve also read historical fiction, chick lit, and literary fiction in recent months. That’s important because I’ve read books I never would have selected on my own and was glad I did.

Last week, I was speaking to another friend about her book club when she told me they never read nonfiction (I personally think they’re missing out but I understand). She went on to say, however, that their fiction choices are all over the map, crossing several genres. That sounds good to me. Variety is primarily why I couldn’t be a part of a book club that specializes in only one genre (i.e. romance or mystery) although I like those books, too. There’s just too much good writing out there (okay – there’s bad writing, too, but that could happen in any type of book club). It’s okay to have a favorite style of book but once in a while, readers should branch out and try something different. That doesn’t mean I’m saying book clubs should read FIFTY SHADES OF GREY but maybe one meeting a year, groups should pick something that shakes things up. Discover a new genre or writer.

My own book club may or may not select FIFTY SHADES OF GREY but, either way, I have a feeling I’ll read it. I admit I’m curious and want to know what all the hype is about – good or bad. The only thing I know for sure is that when I do read it, I hope I’m sitting somewhere near the water with the sun shining down and a cold drink in my hand. Just sounds like that kind of book to me.

P.S. I’m always looking for good book club recommendations. Don’t by shy and send me some comments/ideas.

Add Father of Self-Publishing to the List

03 Thursday May 2012

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I recently read a great article titled “14 Lessons From Benjamin Franklin About Getting What You Want In Life” on Business Insider. It was written by freelance writer, Thea Easterly, for a BI blog called DumbLittleMan.com. Most know that Benjamin Franklin was not only an inventor but also an avid reader and writer. Certainly he is known as one of the founders of our country but he was also a founder of  the written word, even establishing the first public library. In addition, he was a printer, setting up his own printing shop in 1727, and a publisher, starting a German-language newspaper and one of America’s first magazines, The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle. 

As I read the article, which was aimed at helping anyone to find success, it struck me that some of his advice was particularly appropriate for writers and especially those who are considering self-publishing. I’ve pulled out a few of his lessons from the article that I thought were relevant to writer’s today:

  • “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” So true. After all, isn’t change what self-publishing is all about? The fact that the traditional world of publishing has been forced to change has been a boon to readers and writers. It is the industry’s slowness to accept that change that may be part of the problem. So be open to change. Just because that’s the way “it’s always been done”, doesn’t mean it’s the only way.
  • “To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.” Hesitation will not get a writer published. If an agent wants to sign you up and you like the deal, then take it. However, if you are tired of waiting for responses to query letters, then take action. Get published.
  • “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Once you’ve decided to self-publish, you absolutely MUST do it in the most professional way possible. You are responsible for not only your writing, but how it’s edited (hire someone!), how it’s packaged, and how it’s marketed. This means self-publishing is not an easy business but nothing worth doing ever is. Be a boy scout and be prepared.
  • “Never confuse motion with action.” This is not a quote I was familiar with but I believe it applies to all writers and how they spend their writing time. We need to look at whether the time we spend on “writing-related” projects is productive. For example, is the hour spent on Facebook helping you? Is it necessary to post daily blogs when two might do? Are you increasing your following or taking time away from your manuscript? As for myself, I spend way too much time dealing with e-mail and other distractions. I may be busy but…
  • “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” Yes, we can all agree life speeds by way too fast. This is one of the many reasons I decided to self-publish. I’m tired of the slow and exhausting process that is querying and submitting manuscripts. It is nothing short of discouraging. Have a little faith in yourself and take your writing destiny into your own hands.

Of course, the truth is that deciding whether or not to self-publish is a personal decision and every writer’s reasons are not the same. Some established writers just want more control over their work. Others write for small niche markets that large publishers are wary of investing in. And still others just want to forge their own path. Whatever your reason, and whatever your decision, Mr. Franklin’s advice is good for all.

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