Rob Bignell's Blog, page 274

Strike conversational tone in nonfiction book

The most significant problem with nonfiction books that I edit is their tone ��� they are either a dry read or too preachy. By dry, I mean they stick solely to the facts and sound like an encyclopedia article. By preachy, I mean they come off as self-righteous. The tone of the former tends be flat and unvarying while the latter is a tiring, constant shout.

The best nonfiction manuscripts, however, have an entirely different tone, specifically one that is conversational. Reading them feels like I���ve been sitting at a campfire talking with understanding friends.

To strike a conversational tone in your nonfiction book, see if you���re doing the following:
��� Being informal ��� While the book���s structure may be quite formal, the wording doesn���t have to be. Write the book as if you were speaking with someone you know and like. The writing should be accessible and at times even entertaining via subtle humor. Don���t be too loose, however, or you can undercut your professional appearance.
��� Sharing stories ��� Personal anecdotes and others��� insightful stories can be weaved into the manuscript to help explain concepts and issues. Often readers will identify with the struggles relayed in those stories and will better relate to you as an author and connect to the book.
��� Encouraging the reader ��� Be upbeat in your manuscript. Avoid negativity and instead focus on assisting the reader. Remember, a reader has come to you, through your book, for help. Show them through your tone that you welcome them and believe they are capable of benefiting from what you have to tell them.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Every writer���s nightmare: Everyone vs. every one

These two words drive everyone nuts! Or is it ���every one nuts���?

Everyone (one word, no space) is a pronoun meaning ���every person in a group,��� as in ���Everyone at school was a real jerk today!��� my teen daughter exclaimed, as she swung open the door.

Every one (two words, a space) means ���each��� and so refers to single, standalone objects that usually are part of a larger set, as in Every one of those apples has a worm in it!

One trick to get the right spelling is to simply use each in place of every. If the sentence makes sense (Each one of those apples has a worm in it!), use every one. If the sentence doesn���t make sense (Each one at school was a real jerk today!), then use everyone.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Writing Inspiration: It���s okay to do less

Write a little less. Don���t lower your standards but lower your output so you can spend time meeting with your friends or being with your family. After all, you can���t be a good writer if you find it a negative experience due to forced isolation.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Danish editing client publishes second novel

An editing client of mine from Denmark, Victoria Ichizli-Bartels, has published her second novel, ���A Spy���s Daughter.��� The novel follows the story of Hannah, a scientist living in post-Soviet Moldova, who goes to Germany to collect a state-of-the-art high-resolution microscope to take her lab���s research to a new level...but troubles begin when Hannah learns that her deceased mother during the Cold War held a secret job as an American spy. Hannah suddenly finds herself entwined in unresolved, decades-old conflicts between nations and the individuals who served them. The novel is available online.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Five Great Quotations about Science Fiction

���The trouble with science fiction is that you can write about everything: time, space, all the future, all the past, all of the universe, any kind of creature imaginable. That's too big. It provides no focus for the artist. An artist needs, in order to function, some narrowing of focus. Usually, in the history of art, the narrower the focus in which the artist is forced to work, the greater the art.��� - Philip Klass

���Science fiction is what I point at when I say science fiction.��� - Damon Knight

���If science fiction is the mythology of modern technology, then its myth is tragic.��� - Ursula K. Le Guin

���A science fiction story is a story with a human problem, and a human solution, that would not have happened at all without its scientific content.��� - Theodore Sturgeon

���Politicians should read science fiction, not westerns and detective stories.��� - Arthur C. Clarke

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.

 

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Writing Inspiration: Add to your collection

Collectors always are easy to buy gifts for; you simply obtain an item that expands their collection. When writing, what do you ���collect���? Do you prefer to write descriptive paragraphs of settings? Haiku? Space opera action scenes? Expand your personal collection by spending your writing session working on what you most enjoy penning.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.

 

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Add reader���s guide to end of your novel

Readers who have reached the end of your novel are prime candidates to talk about your book. One great way to encourage them to do so is by adding a reader���s guide. This provides some boost to members of a book club or a reading group who want to recommend that your title be added to their monthly rotation.

The reader���s guide need not be long. In fact, a set of 25-30 discussion questions or just 2-3 pages maximum in a paperback is more than enough.

The challenge facing you the author is to ensure the discussion questions are open-ended, that they focus on key points in the key, and that they are interesting enough to foment conversation. One way to accomplish the last point is to ask readers to provide examples from their own experiences as part of the answer; for example, if the novel is Albert Camus��� ���The Stranger���, one question might be ���Would you characterize yourself as a ���stranger��� in your community? In what ways?���

Discussion questions might address the following aspects of your novel:
��� Title���s significance
��� Meaning of symbols in the story
��� Character���s controversial decision(s)
��� Whether or not the reader agrees with a character���s actions
��� Changes characters undergo
��� Nature of relationships between characters
��� Ways readers might identify with characters

The reader���s guide can be posted to your blog or website as well as to the book. When readers see the intriguing questions, they might purchase the book or feel encouraged to get it on their book club���s reading rotation. And be sure to include in the description on the website pages where people can purchase your book that it includes a bonus reader���s guide.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Avoid ���publishing packages��� if self-publishing

A number of companies offer ���publishing packages��� ��� often costing several hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars ��� to format your book, design a cover, and then upload it so it can be sold online as an ebook or paperback. Are such services worth the cost?

The straight answer is no.

The whole idea of ���self-publishing��� is that it���s a do-it-yourself operation. You write the book, you find volunteer editors for it, you format it, you design it, you purchase it, you upload it, you market it. Theoretically, this all can be done for free or at worse for the minimal expense of an ISBN. Granted, to a first-time author, self-publishing can be a daunting task. But there are a number of online tutorials and inexpensive (and even free) books available that take you through the entire process. Other than the commitment of time, you really can do it all yourself.

Let���s suppose, though, that there is one task you just absolutely can���t do, such as cover design, maybe because you lack an artistic eye. All too often, these ���publishing packages��� aren���t offered �� la carte, though. So, you can end up signing for consultations (read ���hard sell for more services���) and paperback copies of your book when all you really want is a cover designed for your ebook.

Even if you can purchase just the specific service you need, most of these companies are way overpriced. By shopping around, you can find those services for a significant fraction of the cost from freelancers with as much ��� if not more ��� experience and expertise. Often, freelancers also will provide you with just the specific service you need rather than forcing you to pay for services that you don���t need or want.

Companies offering ���publishing packages��� tend to eliminate a major advantage of self-publishing: If you spot an error in the text, you can quickly correct it and upload the revised manuscript for sale, again at no cost to you other than time. Packages generally limit the number of corrections you can make before you are charged; in addition, there���s often at least a several day lag between you requesting the corrections and the new version being uploaded and put out for sale.

Be forewarned, a number of companies offering publishing packages engage in unethical business practices. They are not interested in helping you become a successful author but in making a profit by preying upon novice writers. Do your research, and you���ll find several reputable and inexpensive freelancers who will help you achieve your dreams, should you even need assistance at all.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Fixing a broken word: Accidently vs. Accidentally

A lot of writers are messing up these two words, though for the most part, it appears to be done inadvertently.

Accidently seems to be right, as accident is just being used as an adverb, which means adding ly, as in He accidently knocked over the vase.

Alas, accidentally is the correct spelling. To get an adverb, rather than tack ly onto the end of a noun generally we add it to an adjective or a verb. In this case, accidental ��� an adjective ��� is the word we use to get to the adverb. The correct version of the above example sentence would be He accidentally knocked over the vase.

Of course, as accidently becomes more widely used, dictionaries increasingly are listing it as an acceptable alternate spelling. Until the spelling becomes universal, though, stick with accidentally.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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Writing Inspiration: Lessen social isolation

Write in public places. While not a substitute for quality conversation, being around others and interacting with some of them can help lessen the sense of isolation you might get from writing in your own home. Coffee shops, public libraries, and cafes all are great places to write.

Professional Book Editor: Having your novel, short story or nonfiction manuscript 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.



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