Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 106
January 21, 2016
How should you credit your editor? Advice from a former publisher
Yesterday was RozFest here on my blog :-)
Today is a re-blog from Ms. Morris with info I’ve never seen before; and, believe me, I’m always out there looking for info for this blog…
Should your editor be credited as a contributor to your book? What about your proof reader, copy editor? And where should you credit them?
Long ago, I ran an editorial department in a small publisher, so I thought it might help to give some guidelines.
Here’s my post about front matter, which explai...
January 20, 2016
Writing Paradoxes
Yesterday, I re-blogged a post from Roz Morris—Three Paradoxes of the WritingLife.
Today, I’m going to comment on those paradoxes…
First, though, let me tell you a bit about Roz:
She’s an extremely successful Ghostwriter.
She’s written three excellent books about writing.
She written two fantastic works of fiction.
She’s available for Speaking and Tutoring.
She’s a Book Doctor.
She has her own Radio Show.
I’ve Re-blogged her numerous times.
And, I’ve written about her before…
So, let’s get ba...
January 19, 2016
Three paradoxes of writing life
Roz Morris comes through with some writerly wisdom…
Today this is a re-blog—tomorrow, I’ll blog some of my own thoughts about it :-)
Yesterday I spoke at the New Generation Publishing selfpub summit, and the discussions threw up some interesting paradoxes that writers encounter.
1 We must produce, but never rush.
Unless we’re writing only for the satisfaction of filling a document, we need an output mentality. We set schedules, aim to present work to critiquers, editors and re...
January 18, 2016
What Happens to a Book After It’s Published?
To answer the question in the title of today’s post, I need to first bring up the differences between Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing there, I brought them up with those links :-)
And, I shouldn’t ignore the common sentimentamong authors that publishing can feel like giving birth…
Plus, there’s the old adage that once a book’s published the author should respect its right to grow up as it pleases…
The thing is, just like a parent’s “intercessions” in their child’s life after they’...
January 17, 2016
The triumph of the linguistic free market
Today’s re-blog reinforces the valuable adage that writing has no “rules” and also explores why some folks think it does :-)
The Idler’s annual Bad Grammar Awards are not about ridiculing grocers. They are about promoting the public discussion of grammar and, perhaps more importantly, exposing cant and humbug.
This is a noble aim and I am proud to support it.
By chance, I myself noticed a fine dose of cant and humbug the other day, in the Idler’s announcement of its Bad Grammar...
January 16, 2016
Publishing: A lot of Smoke and Mirrors?
Today’s re-blog is a bit of sober reflection on the idea that a writer, when contemplating getting published, can leave all that promotion stuff to the publisher—or, actually, leave Anything to the publisher…
In which I’m made to eat my words as I come full circle through the maze of publishing to discover that the grass isn’t necessarily greener over there; it’s still mostly desert scrub from every direction…
Last year I wrote a general post about the publishing industry which r...
January 15, 2016
#DIY #MFA and You Don’t Pay :-)
Back in October of last year, I published the post,”I Don’t Have to Pay for an MFA in Creative Writing ?“.
Click the Image to Enter the Do It Yourself Master in Fine Arts (creative writing) Site
In that post, I said:
“Just in case you don’t know what an MFA is, it’s a Master of Fine Arts degree and,according to one source, it can cost $US 13,800 in a public institution or $US 36,300 at a private school.”
Today I received an email from the Founder of DIY MFA,Gabriela Pereira, in which she said...
January 14, 2016
5 Reasons Internal Dialogue is Essential in Fiction (And How to Use It in Your Story)
Today’s re-blog is certainly for writers—But—readers also might want to explore why the characters in books need to think :-)
Today, I have a special treat for you guys. Author, speaker, editor and long-time W.A.N.A. International Instructor Marcy Kennedy is here to talk about internal dialogue—when to use it, why we use it and how not to get all cray-cray with it.
Trust us. As editors, Marcy and I see it all. Often newer writers swing to one extreme or another. Either th...
January 13, 2016
The Life-Changing Nature of Writing a Book
I recently wrote about a relatively new place for writers and readers to mingle—Medium.
I’ve been scanning it daily (as I do other sources of potential material for this blog…) and I have many bookmarked articles to share with you…
However, the other day, one article jumped ahead of the others—How My Life Changed When I Started Writing My Book.
It was written byKirsten Shaw.
Here’s a bit of bio from her site,Kirsten Inc:
“Kirsten Shaw is an independent marketing specialist based in San Franci...
January 12, 2016
Print options and free books: two of my own rules I’m breaking this year…
Re-blogging Roz Morris again today…
She’s so knowledgeable yet still learning :-)
In my last post I talked about publishing options in a changing world. Well, this year I’m reversing a couple of my own fervently held policies. So today I confess. (I’m an indie. I reserve the right to change my mind.)
Change #1 Putting print editions on IngramSpark
If you’re self-publishing, one of the main debates is which print on demand company to use. CreateSpace is free and has the most se...
