Thomas W. Devine's Blog, page 26
April 7, 2014
Satisfying the Judge
I entered my fifth novel, “Island of Regrets” [https://createspace.com/3952232] in the Writers Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Book Awards. The judge commented as follows:
“You have fantastic characters that really drew me into the book. Natalie is an appealing mix of strength and innocence, with a hidden pain that we spend much of the book discovering. Alex is an excellent match for her... Frank is a psychopath with just enough appeal to make him truly a threat on many levels... There is a lot going on ... and much of it works to keep me turning the pages”.
The judge was, however, “never sure [what] the focus [of the story] is... A lot of good material ... great work here ... but nothing strong enough to carry the whole book.”
He advised that, as the author, I should have made it clearer what the main plot was and he said that the sub-plots should have taken more of a back seat.
I did not get that same advice from my professional manuscript assessor or editor or else the published book may have been a lot different.
It comes down to personal opinion, I suppose, but I’d be interested in advice from other authors on the issue of how to make a main plot in a book stand out and sub-plots subservient.
“You have fantastic characters that really drew me into the book. Natalie is an appealing mix of strength and innocence, with a hidden pain that we spend much of the book discovering. Alex is an excellent match for her... Frank is a psychopath with just enough appeal to make him truly a threat on many levels... There is a lot going on ... and much of it works to keep me turning the pages”.
The judge was, however, “never sure [what] the focus [of the story] is... A lot of good material ... great work here ... but nothing strong enough to carry the whole book.”
He advised that, as the author, I should have made it clearer what the main plot was and he said that the sub-plots should have taken more of a back seat.
I did not get that same advice from my professional manuscript assessor or editor or else the published book may have been a lot different.
It comes down to personal opinion, I suppose, but I’d be interested in advice from other authors on the issue of how to make a main plot in a book stand out and sub-plots subservient.
April 6, 2014
Standing Up for Minority Beliefs in Public
“The Wellingtonian” weekly newspaper, during March, provided a topical and newsworthy report on the 40-day anti-abortion prayer vigil outside Wellington Hospital (New Zealand). The article quoted both pro-life and pro-abortion spokespeople.
I don't speak for any organization. I do, however, disagree with Nicole Stews, a feminist spokesperson, who described a tiny prayer group, standing on the sidewalk with three placards, as "invasive".
To my mind, a prayer vigil is the quietest, least intrusive form of social protest. (Compare it with mass marches and noisy picketing, for example.)
Ms Stews is also quoted as saying that the venue for the vigil was inappropriate and that praying could be done in private. In my opinion, the vigil served to remind people that there is still a pro-life viewpoint in society. Encouraging women to reflect beforehand on their choices - even at the last minute outside an abortion clinic - may spare them from later grief, and save lives.
There are many girls and women around the world who deeply regret having had an abortion or having taken part in the process as medical staff.
During my hour with the vigil, our small group was taken to task three times by passers-by with very strongly-held views.
The first was a young man in a hurry, who simply called out, “Jesus died for his own sins not mine.”
Then the mother of a child being pushed in a stroller by her partner paused to debate the point that women who are raped should be able to choose an abortion.
The third was a young woman, very upset, who claimed that she knew three other young woman who, because of their drug-habits had given birth to babies with mental disabilities. “Would it not,” she insisted, “be better for those children to have been aborted?”
They each made me feel very sad.
It was a useful practical lesson on how divided society is over the termination of life and of how difficult it is to change another’s perceptions. At least it was a blessing that no passer-by hurled abuse.
All I can say is that, despite assertions to the contrary, pro-lifers do feel compassion for women who are (as required by New Zealand law) authorised to have an abortion. From my perspective, these women are victims of a morally regressive and selfish mainstream in the world.
An unborn child also deserves compassion and, in pro-life values, that compassion is not best served by a termination of pregnancy.
Feminists like Ms Stews are quick to defend their rights. They should therefore model respect for the freedom of expression and freedom of religion of those who do not agree with them on every score.
I don't speak for any organization. I do, however, disagree with Nicole Stews, a feminist spokesperson, who described a tiny prayer group, standing on the sidewalk with three placards, as "invasive".
To my mind, a prayer vigil is the quietest, least intrusive form of social protest. (Compare it with mass marches and noisy picketing, for example.)
Ms Stews is also quoted as saying that the venue for the vigil was inappropriate and that praying could be done in private. In my opinion, the vigil served to remind people that there is still a pro-life viewpoint in society. Encouraging women to reflect beforehand on their choices - even at the last minute outside an abortion clinic - may spare them from later grief, and save lives.
There are many girls and women around the world who deeply regret having had an abortion or having taken part in the process as medical staff.
During my hour with the vigil, our small group was taken to task three times by passers-by with very strongly-held views.
The first was a young man in a hurry, who simply called out, “Jesus died for his own sins not mine.”
Then the mother of a child being pushed in a stroller by her partner paused to debate the point that women who are raped should be able to choose an abortion.
The third was a young woman, very upset, who claimed that she knew three other young woman who, because of their drug-habits had given birth to babies with mental disabilities. “Would it not,” she insisted, “be better for those children to have been aborted?”
They each made me feel very sad.
It was a useful practical lesson on how divided society is over the termination of life and of how difficult it is to change another’s perceptions. At least it was a blessing that no passer-by hurled abuse.
All I can say is that, despite assertions to the contrary, pro-lifers do feel compassion for women who are (as required by New Zealand law) authorised to have an abortion. From my perspective, these women are victims of a morally regressive and selfish mainstream in the world.
An unborn child also deserves compassion and, in pro-life values, that compassion is not best served by a termination of pregnancy.
Feminists like Ms Stews are quick to defend their rights. They should therefore model respect for the freedom of expression and freedom of religion of those who do not agree with them on every score.
April 2, 2014
March 31, 2014
Thoughts on Book Marketing for Authors
Even if you’re not out to become famous, or earn a living from writing fiction, or wanting to be on a best seller list, you likely want your book read and enjoyed by as many people as possible.
With my 7th novel (Green Machinations) having been indie published at the end of March, marketing it is naturally foremost on my mind.
I have a miniscule budget for marketing of up to $100 for this book. Lol.
I got my fingers burnt once paying a reputable indie publishing platform in the USA a sizeable sum for a book marketing service. I was not impressed by the provided service and even less by the lack of results. After three years the business still occasionally pesters me by phone to buy more services. I’ll never use them again for a publishing platform.
Marketing is not a skill that comes naturally to me and, even though I went on a marketing training course some years ago, is not one I enjoy in practice as much as writing novels. I’d, instead, like to be able to afford to pay a reputable external marketing service provider, even if just a local one here in New Zealand.
I’m just not comfortable with a lot of self/book-promotion advice out there for authors.
This is what I do to encourage readers:
• Build up to publication with postings on social networks – Twitter, FaceBook, GoodReads
• Announce publication on the Internet, including social networks and author-related sites, uploading chapters where provided for
• Use an e-mail list for sales promotion
• Directly give away a small number of copies (wish I could afford more)
• Offer a freebie through Goodreads
• Deposit copies in my local library & in NZ’s national library
• Donate a copy to the NZ Society of Authors, Wellington Branch, fundraiser auction
• Put up cover posters in selected cafe windows
• Try and interest local newspapers (appear to have lost interest in me after first five novels)
• Add book to my blog (www.thomaswdevine.com) links
• Update by Internet profiles
• Encourage readers to rate the book and leave comments on Amazon, CreateSpace & Goodreads etc & encourage direct reader feedback. (I always respond to this with appreciation).
Pushing my comfort zone, I’ve also done book readings and will do more if the opportunity arises. And I’ve tried other things (at least once) that were glaringly unsuccessful, like a press release, interesting a local bookshop and getting free book reviews.
So, hindered by money, I think I do all that I can. Any other marketing ideas for a shy penniless author would be appreciated.
With my 7th novel (Green Machinations) having been indie published at the end of March, marketing it is naturally foremost on my mind.
I have a miniscule budget for marketing of up to $100 for this book. Lol.
I got my fingers burnt once paying a reputable indie publishing platform in the USA a sizeable sum for a book marketing service. I was not impressed by the provided service and even less by the lack of results. After three years the business still occasionally pesters me by phone to buy more services. I’ll never use them again for a publishing platform.
Marketing is not a skill that comes naturally to me and, even though I went on a marketing training course some years ago, is not one I enjoy in practice as much as writing novels. I’d, instead, like to be able to afford to pay a reputable external marketing service provider, even if just a local one here in New Zealand.
I’m just not comfortable with a lot of self/book-promotion advice out there for authors.
This is what I do to encourage readers:
• Build up to publication with postings on social networks – Twitter, FaceBook, GoodReads
• Announce publication on the Internet, including social networks and author-related sites, uploading chapters where provided for
• Use an e-mail list for sales promotion
• Directly give away a small number of copies (wish I could afford more)
• Offer a freebie through Goodreads
• Deposit copies in my local library & in NZ’s national library
• Donate a copy to the NZ Society of Authors, Wellington Branch, fundraiser auction
• Put up cover posters in selected cafe windows
• Try and interest local newspapers (appear to have lost interest in me after first five novels)
• Add book to my blog (www.thomaswdevine.com) links
• Update by Internet profiles
• Encourage readers to rate the book and leave comments on Amazon, CreateSpace & Goodreads etc & encourage direct reader feedback. (I always respond to this with appreciation).
Pushing my comfort zone, I’ve also done book readings and will do more if the opportunity arises. And I’ve tried other things (at least once) that were glaringly unsuccessful, like a press release, interesting a local bookshop and getting free book reviews.
So, hindered by money, I think I do all that I can. Any other marketing ideas for a shy penniless author would be appreciated.
March 24, 2014
Music Reflects Change in Society
I was fascinated to read an article (The Dominion Post, Saturday, March 22, 2014) about research into every chart-topping song in the USA over the last fifty years.
The North Carolina State University study found that, in the last 10 years, ‘song lyrics became more focussed on ambition and individualism – and forgot about love and romance’.
The researchers further described chart-toppers since 2000 as being all about ‘desperation’ and ‘pain’ for the first time in forty years.
Humanity may have advanced in technology but has become lacking in important social areas of life.
Wouldn’t you like to live in a more caring society? Maybe individual effort can bring about a societal change.
The North Carolina State University study found that, in the last 10 years, ‘song lyrics became more focussed on ambition and individualism – and forgot about love and romance’.
The researchers further described chart-toppers since 2000 as being all about ‘desperation’ and ‘pain’ for the first time in forty years.
Humanity may have advanced in technology but has become lacking in important social areas of life.
Wouldn’t you like to live in a more caring society? Maybe individual effort can bring about a societal change.
March 17, 2014
A Character
Mike Simmiss was “born” in 2011 as a character in my sixth novel "Green Expectations" https://createspace.com/4153773.
He is 27 years old (at “birth”) and is the founding president of the Save Our Forests Association (SOFA) – a fictitious band of volunteer conservationists fighting, in the 1990s, for the protection of indigenous forest in New Zealand. He comes from Timaru and works as a science lecturer at a polytechnic in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
He is in a relationship with a SOFA member and avid conservationist, Vanessa Denton, based not so much on romance – she keeps emotionally distant – as on intellect and shared ideals.
The relationship becomes platonic after Mike meets and falls in love with 21 year-old, Justine Mathews. The Mathews family has, for generations, owned an untouched area of indigenous forest which comes under threat of logging for the first time.
Mike is devastated when Vanessa commits suicide in a last ditch protest against the threat to Mathews Bush.
In “Green Machinations” (a sequel shortly to be published) Mike is devastated by her death and revives a flagging campaign to prevent logging in Mathews Bush. SOFA takes a final stand.
New Zealand author, Tina Shaw, has called it: “An excellent story and easy read” and ranks it as “New Zealand writing in the best sense of the term”.
I’m currently awaiting the arrival of the book proof from CreateSpace in the USA. Publication is several weeks or more away.
For information about my books please go to my website www.thomaswdevine.com.
He is 27 years old (at “birth”) and is the founding president of the Save Our Forests Association (SOFA) – a fictitious band of volunteer conservationists fighting, in the 1990s, for the protection of indigenous forest in New Zealand. He comes from Timaru and works as a science lecturer at a polytechnic in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
He is in a relationship with a SOFA member and avid conservationist, Vanessa Denton, based not so much on romance – she keeps emotionally distant – as on intellect and shared ideals.
The relationship becomes platonic after Mike meets and falls in love with 21 year-old, Justine Mathews. The Mathews family has, for generations, owned an untouched area of indigenous forest which comes under threat of logging for the first time.
Mike is devastated when Vanessa commits suicide in a last ditch protest against the threat to Mathews Bush.
In “Green Machinations” (a sequel shortly to be published) Mike is devastated by her death and revives a flagging campaign to prevent logging in Mathews Bush. SOFA takes a final stand.
New Zealand author, Tina Shaw, has called it: “An excellent story and easy read” and ranks it as “New Zealand writing in the best sense of the term”.
I’m currently awaiting the arrival of the book proof from CreateSpace in the USA. Publication is several weeks or more away.
For information about my books please go to my website www.thomaswdevine.com.
March 10, 2014
Bad Pronunciation
When people spoke to me I used to worry about why I sometimes couldn’t understand what I was hearing. After my experience last evening I’m no longer putting it down to hearing loss.
I was reading the newspaper during a commercial break on TV and heard the word “peaches”.
I looked up, thinking, “Now,” that’s an odd thing to be advertising on TV.” I found that the product being promoted related to “pictures”. The commercial must have been made in Australia or at least used an Australian actress.
Of course, it’s not only young Australians who slur their pronunciation of English. For example, I’ve often heard the New Zealand version “pitchas” for “pictures”.
The younger people are these days the more incomprehensible they become.
I think I’ll just cuddle up with a dictionary and remind myself how words ought to be spoken.
I was reading the newspaper during a commercial break on TV and heard the word “peaches”.
I looked up, thinking, “Now,” that’s an odd thing to be advertising on TV.” I found that the product being promoted related to “pictures”. The commercial must have been made in Australia or at least used an Australian actress.
Of course, it’s not only young Australians who slur their pronunciation of English. For example, I’ve often heard the New Zealand version “pitchas” for “pictures”.
The younger people are these days the more incomprehensible they become.
I think I’ll just cuddle up with a dictionary and remind myself how words ought to be spoken.
March 3, 2014
Living Life to the Fullest
How far should you go?
A very brave woman with terminal cancer sent this message to others with incurable illness and chronic conditions: “Make the most of what time you have left on this planet, and live like there’s no tomorrow. And just make every day like it’s your last” (The Dominion Post, February 15, 2014).
She also said that, in the remaining time left to her, she would like to know “that I can help and do something”.
I would beg to suggest that, all around us, too many healthy people are amenable to the idea of living every day like it’s their last, even though they expect to survive well into the future.
And they choose selfish things to do ahead of making valuable contributions to the human good. To them, living life to the fullest means self-indulgence.
Maybe it would be a better message to send, that we should live life as a one and only opportunity and seek to give it real meaning by enhancing the lives of others.
A very brave woman with terminal cancer sent this message to others with incurable illness and chronic conditions: “Make the most of what time you have left on this planet, and live like there’s no tomorrow. And just make every day like it’s your last” (The Dominion Post, February 15, 2014).
She also said that, in the remaining time left to her, she would like to know “that I can help and do something”.
I would beg to suggest that, all around us, too many healthy people are amenable to the idea of living every day like it’s their last, even though they expect to survive well into the future.
And they choose selfish things to do ahead of making valuable contributions to the human good. To them, living life to the fullest means self-indulgence.
Maybe it would be a better message to send, that we should live life as a one and only opportunity and seek to give it real meaning by enhancing the lives of others.
February 24, 2014
Human Self-Destructiveness
In a post, weeks ago, I gave two examples of what I thought showed human self-destructiveness.
Interestingly, I came across a recent article by Stephen Hawking (The Dominion Post, February 18, 2014) in which he asserts that: “Much of the human race’s behaviour throughout history appears not to have been calculated to aid survival of the species.”
Hawking says we still have the instincts necessary for survival in caveman days but now, with modern technology, that puts the human race “and much of the rest of life on Earth” at risk.
How do we go about changing those instincts? Or is that even possible? We’ve certainly shown, as a race, that we aren’t very good at controlling our inner caveman.
Interestingly, I came across a recent article by Stephen Hawking (The Dominion Post, February 18, 2014) in which he asserts that: “Much of the human race’s behaviour throughout history appears not to have been calculated to aid survival of the species.”
Hawking says we still have the instincts necessary for survival in caveman days but now, with modern technology, that puts the human race “and much of the rest of life on Earth” at risk.
How do we go about changing those instincts? Or is that even possible? We’ve certainly shown, as a race, that we aren’t very good at controlling our inner caveman.
February 17, 2014
Researching Facts for a Novel
This is a post about research lessons I've learnt from experience.
After publishing my last novel I entered into correspondence with a reader who questioned the adequacy of my research into the location of a particular native plant.
Using one Internet source, the reader argued that a certain fictitious place in my novel could not be named after the plant because it did not occur in that part of the country. In other words, I hadn’t done my homework. He was right to the extent that I hadn’t done any research on that topic at all, but I turned out to be in the clear. Here's why.
Post-publication, I researched two other equally reputable Internet sites and found that the plant did in fact grow at that location.
I was lucky. My reader backed down.
In an earlier novel, my editor picked up that my military weapon of choice for a particular part of the world was not a likely one. I hadn’t done any research, just took it off the top of my head. I was most grateful for the editorial intervention.
For my next novel, “Green Machinations” – soon to be published – I did my homework on, among other things, heli-logging (standing stem harvesting).
At www.http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heli-l... I came across a claim that the logging technique was “invented” by Phillip Jarman of Port Alberni, British Columbia (Canada) “between May and October 1997”.
I could have run with that information. However, I took the research further and personally contacted the Chief Executive of the former state-owned enterprise, Timberlands West Coast (NZ). He asserted that, as I suspected, heli-logging had been trialed in New Zealand at an earlier date. Timberlands did those trials in the 1980s and early 1990’s. I have no reason to doubt my source so I don’t expect a valid challenge.
In the first draft of the same novel, I started out with a common misconception about the effect of putting sugar in the fuel tank of a vehicle. Fortunately I got cold feet about doing no research on the topic and decided to check it out. A number of websites consistently set me straight.
Lesson summary for new novelists: The Internet can be right and/or wrong; you need to check more than one entry. Word of mouth (from a topic expert) is likely to be more reliable.
Questions for novelists: How far do you have to go with research to avoid mistakes? And what if you don’t realise you need to research a particular topic? Can you leave it to the editor to pick up?
After publishing my last novel I entered into correspondence with a reader who questioned the adequacy of my research into the location of a particular native plant.
Using one Internet source, the reader argued that a certain fictitious place in my novel could not be named after the plant because it did not occur in that part of the country. In other words, I hadn’t done my homework. He was right to the extent that I hadn’t done any research on that topic at all, but I turned out to be in the clear. Here's why.
Post-publication, I researched two other equally reputable Internet sites and found that the plant did in fact grow at that location.
I was lucky. My reader backed down.
In an earlier novel, my editor picked up that my military weapon of choice for a particular part of the world was not a likely one. I hadn’t done any research, just took it off the top of my head. I was most grateful for the editorial intervention.
For my next novel, “Green Machinations” – soon to be published – I did my homework on, among other things, heli-logging (standing stem harvesting).
At www.http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heli-l... I came across a claim that the logging technique was “invented” by Phillip Jarman of Port Alberni, British Columbia (Canada) “between May and October 1997”.
I could have run with that information. However, I took the research further and personally contacted the Chief Executive of the former state-owned enterprise, Timberlands West Coast (NZ). He asserted that, as I suspected, heli-logging had been trialed in New Zealand at an earlier date. Timberlands did those trials in the 1980s and early 1990’s. I have no reason to doubt my source so I don’t expect a valid challenge.
In the first draft of the same novel, I started out with a common misconception about the effect of putting sugar in the fuel tank of a vehicle. Fortunately I got cold feet about doing no research on the topic and decided to check it out. A number of websites consistently set me straight.
Lesson summary for new novelists: The Internet can be right and/or wrong; you need to check more than one entry. Word of mouth (from a topic expert) is likely to be more reliable.
Questions for novelists: How far do you have to go with research to avoid mistakes? And what if you don’t realise you need to research a particular topic? Can you leave it to the editor to pick up?
