R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 38

Ron’s Tuesday’s Tip: The Importance of the Review Copy

Welcome to Ron’s Tuesday’s Tip. Every Tuesday I will share a tip with
you. This week is about:The importance of the Review Copy.

Let’s use your imagination for a
moment. You’ve written your book whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. You’ve
taken advantage of built-in spelling and grammar checkers; you’ve spent hours
check your book and now have an error free book. You submit your book to KDP
and it passes all their tests and is published.

You get your copy of the published work and decide to read it. As you read your book errors start popping up.

“Oh no!” you cry.

Your published work has errors!

The good news is that on KDP you can
edit the content and republish. But it may cost you hours or days and meantime
you have an imperfect book on sale.

I’ve been there. I have learned the
hard way that errors can slip by you. This is one of the main arguments for
hiring a proofreader. But if you can’t afford a proofreader what can you do to
protect yourself?

Order a Review Copy of your book before
it is ever published. I used to favor simply reviewing the book online. But now
I believe that such an action is flawed. There is something unique about
holding a copy of your book in your hand. For one thing it relaxes you. Instead
of being a writer checking your work, you become a reader.

Now that you are relaxed, you read your
book the same way you’d be ready anyone else’s book. And your mind is not
pressured. As you read minor errors that you might not have detected online
popup. So you take a pen or pencil, mark the error and the page prior to moving
on.

Later you go back, find the errors and
edit them. The result will be more errors removed. If you have the time you
might want to start at the beginning and reread the book, this time using a
different mark to indicate errors. You might read the book three times!

The idea is to remove as many errors
as is possible. Hopefully by the third time you’ll find very few errors or none
at all. It might not be as good as a professional, but it will produce a book
with less errors and have a more professional look and feel.

Why must I go through all that
trouble?

It’s really quite simple. You are the
writer and your mind knows what you meant. So every time you read your story
your mind is involved. It is comparing what you actually wrote and what it
knows you meant. And, unfortunately, it often superimposes what you meant to
say over what you just read. That results in you missing the error.

To fight this tendency, you have to be
very careful. A professional proofreader hasn’t read your book before and has
no previous idea of what you meant. So, it is easier for them to pick up on the
errors.

Because of that, you need to be
proactive and devise ways that fight this tendency and enable you to read,
proof, and edit without that subconscious battle. As an editor with TR Writing
Service I use the proof copy. I don’t have the subconscious battle going on
because I didn’t write the story. However, I may have assisted in the writing,
in which case the problem could reassert itself.

But whether I’ve written it or not I
learned the hard way that the printed copy is far more effective than the
online preview. The reason is obvious to me. When reviewing the copy online I
am tempted to skim over portions. I am ready to publish, and I get impatient.
But if I use a printed copy, I must be patent for it to arrive and then to sit down
and read it.

In addition, it gives me a better look
and feel of the whole book. I can see the cover and how it looks plus I can view
all the content! In that way, I get to see an overall view of the book and spot
things I wouldn’t have spotted online. It makes a big difference.

Remember, when doing anything by
yourself you MUST do more!

It is the cost of being independent
and on a budget.

For information on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.
We have a Free booklet telling you about our services. And we are upfront on
our prices (all are low).

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Ron’s Tuesday’s Tip: Be A Businessperson

Welcome to Ron’s Tuesday’s Tip. Every Tuesday I will share a tip with you. This week is about Be a Businessperson.

I’ve written before on the subject of being a businessperson. However, this is the first as part of Ron’s Tuesdays Tip. I’ve resurrected the old article and added material that I believe is important for you.

Chances are you’re thinking I’m not interested in a business, I just want to write and sell books. But surprise, writing books is a business!

While writing can certainly be fun (it
is for me), it can also be profitable. And for that reason alone, you need to
think of your writing career, no matter how many books that entails, as a
business.

This may come as a surprise to you, but the Government thinks you’re a business.

That’s right. When you do your income
taxes and show that you made money through royalties or the sale of your books,
the government regards that, and you, as a business. Which means you probably
owe taxes.

So, you should consider yourself a businessperson also!

Actually, your Business includes the
authorship, publishing and marketing of your book(s). And like any business you
need to think like a businessman or businesswoman. And this thinking will
impact your whole life.

For example, do you dress like a businessperson?

I am speaking of what you wear in
public, especially when you are out in the public signing books, being
interviewed, etc. I dress casually in normal situations, but if I am marketing
myself, I wear a shirt and tie, at least. Your appearance matters whether you
think it should or not. If you are attending a book club or making a speech or
doing an interview how you dress makes a difference.

As a general rule I’d recommend
business casual. You might consider business attire (suit & tie for men,
dress for women) or something a little more casual yet still reflecting that
you are serious about your business. In previous videos that I made I opted for
a shirt and tie. It suggests business without being overpowering.

What about having an Office?

That depends on you. I have an office
at home although I have considered having an actual office independent of my
home. There would be certain advantages, but it is not necessary. The whole matter
comes down to what works best for you. Some writers like a formal setting like
an office, while others prefer a more casual setting. I’ve found that I can
write in just about any place. For complete transparency I also you the local
library as my extended library but that is mainly for research and marketing
purposes.

Publishing nowadays requires access to the Internet. You can get that just about anywhere, such as a library. If you are on a low budget and/or have little space at home, libraries are ideal. Most provide free WIFI and may also have computers you can use for free.

How do you carry yourself?

Another aspect of thinking like a
businessperson is how you carry yourself. This is something I had to learn.
Slouching, hands in pockets, and staring at your feet are not positive selling
points. I wasn’t that bad, but I did have to learn to not only be confident,
but to act confident (although not overbearing).

But the concept goes deeper than
clothing and acting like a businessman. It also includes having an idea of how
you are going to run your business. For example, you have a book. Who’s going
to publish it? How do you plan on selling it?

In our case we created our own
publishing business, T&R Independent Books. The T stands for Teresa and the
R for Ron. We are the exclusive publishers of our books. I have blogged in the
past about having your own publishing business and probably will again. But for
today I will just say that it gives you all the power and all the profits but
also entails you doing all the work. We use Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) as
our publishing platform.

There are a number of items you need
to know to be a successful businessman. Before moving on let’s nail down the
concept itself.

When I think of myself as a
businessman, I have several pictures in mind. I see myself being interviewed
about topics other than my books. I see myself as someone people respected and
wanting to know. I also see myself making decisions, supporting charitable
works, and so forth.

Face it you’re a businessperson. Face it and embrace it!

For your benefit I’ve included two
video’s that will help you understand just how important this is. Included in
the videos are basic facts and helps. And it is all FREE! Just click the link
below.

For information on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.
We have a Free booklet telling you about our services. And we are upfront on
our prices (all are low).

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Ron’s Tuesday’s Tip: Why I Write

Welcome to Ron’s Tuesday’s Tip. Every Tuesday I will share tip with you. This week I is about Why I Write.

You might think I
write Christian fiction books because I was called of God to do so. And you’d
be partially correct. But it is more than that. The call came many years after
I first felt the urge to put words on paper.

The truth is that I had the urge to write as an teenager who knew nothing about God. I like to write and to read. It is fair to say that reading books led me to the desire to write my own books. But it goes back further than that.

It was as a little boy that the urge to write had its beginnings. I was a child with a good imagination. Because I was under heavy medication at the time, there were restrictions on physical activities. I was able to play Little League Baseball (not very good), to play in the sand near my house (I was probably very good at that), but not much else.

So, I turned to my imagination for entertainment. I got most of my ideas from TV. I just changed the heroes from their TV monikers to me. Now that’s not a very unusual beginning. A lot of children have active imaginations. But mine grew with me, so that when I entered my teen years (still with physical restrictions) my imagination and the English language (my favorite subject) met one another. It was almost love at first sight!

The problem was
that when I tried putting my imagination on paper it lost some of the glory
that existed in my mind. It just wasn’t the same. But, instead of quitting, I persisted.

It wasn’t until
after my service in the United States Navy (1964-1968) that I discovered the
help I needed. The problem was while it was affordable, it was also expensive
for someone just starting out as a working adult. I signed up and began
learning. The program was offered by a group of authors who would evaluate each
lesson.

I was doing well
until I got laid off in 1974. But I had also undergone a major change in my
life as I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I recognized I was a sinner,
needed a Savior, and that Savior was Jesus. Even so, I didn’t receive the call
to write yet.

I like to say that it took God 30 years to undo the 30 years of the world’s influence on my life. True or not it wasn’t until I was 60 years old that my first novel was published. It was actually three years earlier that the call to write came.

I’d just run into
another roadblock in writing a story. I’d written a few chapters and as usual
hit the wall and couldn’t go any further. It was at this time that I had
recently started reading the Bible from the beginning again and was in Genesis
(I usually read the Bible through every 2 or 21/2 years). I was
reading about Noah and the Ark and I suddenly realized that here was an historical
event that contained the facts but left a lot of room for my imagination.

Looking back, I think of that as the call to write!

My first novel, Refuge: The Genesis Chronicles (no longer in print), won the praise of a President of a Christian College plus an honorable mention by a contest I entered. You wouldn’t be wrong to say that this was a second call or perhaps an affirmation of the call. In either case I began writing on a regular basis.

Since that first book, I have now written eight novels and 2 nonfiction books. I am also working on four new novels. I have also expanded my writing from Historical fiction to include Speculative fiction (future events).

So,
why do I write?

Most importantly,
I write to present a Christian view of life that will bring the Bible alive and
point people to God. Secondly, I write because I love writing. Give me a napkin
or 3×5 index card and I’ll start writing.

And now I’ve reached that point in life where I want to help others get start. It took me 60 years before I was able to publish my first book. I’ll admit the most detrimental obstacle was not knowing Christ. But even after getting saved, it still took me another 30 years to become a published author!

That is why today my wife and I have established TR Writing Services. It exists as a way of giving back to the world and helping new and struggling authors to write and get published in an affordable way. It’s an exciting new venture that keeps my mind active and focused on my own writing as well as someone else’s.

For information on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.
We have a Free booklet telling you about our services. And we are upfront on
our prices (all are low).

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

2020 Candidates & Issues

Every week I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my
blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look at2020
Candidates & Issues.

I am proud to
announce that I have published my latest book. This non-fiction book is titled
2020 Candidates & Issues. The print version is available now at https://amzn.to/2ZozmYw. In a matter of days,
the Ebook version will be available.

I have spent a
lot of time working on this book. One reason is the sheer number of candidates.
Second is the amount of research I had to do to gather their biographies and
their career highlights. Even harder was learning where they stand on important
issues.

To help you understand
I’ve included a page from the book:

Note from the
author . . .

I’m a relic.

That’s right. I
grew up when Democrats and Republicans had civil disagreements that could be
discussed without personal attacks or disparagement.

I believe the
current state of uncivil discussion is not healthy for our nation we love. Whether
you believe it started with the Democrats during Reagan’s Presidency (as I do)
or with the Republicans under President George Bush (as Democrats seem to) it
affects both parties and endangers the American Representative Democracy that
has served us so well.

(Quick quiz:
When were we a democracy and how long did it last?

Answer: We have
never been a democracy. See Chapter Thirty-One.)

We are now
approaching the 2020 election with stark contrasts between Democrats and
Republicans. It comes at a time when America has moved further to the right.

Which way will
America turn next? This book seeks to inform you about each candidate that is running.
The author is himself a conservative, but I’ve tried to present a balanced
picture concerning each candidate.

I’ve also
included my own analysis plus Author Notes which admittedly comes from a
conservative position. But I’ve drawn information from other sources to be as
honest and forthright as possible.

But it remains every
American citizen’s responsibility to determine the man or woman we want to lead
this nation for the next four years. It’s not only important for us but for our
children, grandchildren, and the world.

R. Frederick Riddle

That explains
why I wrote the book. But that only touches on the peripheral. The truth is
that this book is more than just an introduction to the candidates. Their ideas
need to be examined in the light of American and world history. Their words
seek to define America by the slavery that once existed, but that doesn’t come
close to defining us. You the reader, and potential voter, need to first
understand them and then understand America.

Unfortunately,
America has been in the hands of the far left for so long that we are in danger
of accepting their definitions and, ultimately, their solutions. As a counterbalance
I have also included President Trump who is a legitimate candidate. His
accomplishments are so many that I had to trim them down. It would have been
easy to write one book just on him.

It is true that
this election will be a landmark for our nation. It could well determine the
direction this country goes in the next 100 years! If you compare the Presidency
of Barack Obama and the Presidency of Donald Trump, you get a clearer picture.
I only briefly touch on this in the book, but the comparison is remarkable!

Eight years
under Obama saw the “end of the recession”. I say that with tongue in cheek.
The economists will tell you it ended about 2009. Did you notice the end?
Probably not. They based their opinion on data, not on people. Unemployment
dipped to single digits primarily because people gave up looking for jobs.
Whenever the unemployment figures were given, we often heard that the real
figure was in the teens.

Men and women, some
with degrees, lost their highly skilled jobs and worked in the fast food
industry and other low-paying jobs, and still others lost much more. But the
economists were more interested in their own numbers.

Based on
observation rather than sheer numbers, I believe the recession ended after
Trump took office. Now we have true unemployment in the low single digits! This
is just one area of difference.

But we now have
men and women telling us that America is a horrible place to live. We had Obama
tell us to get used to no industrial jobs. Others are using the race card to
promote their own political fortunes.

As a
conservative, I have tried to be fair as I’ve discussed each candidate. I’ve
even identified in a few cases ideas that I considered interesting. One such
idea is making Election Day a national holiday. This has merit. I’d like to
hear more about it. That is why I listed their stands on the issues. Issues are
greater than the candidates. Sometimes we need to look at the issue itself and
forget who promoted it.

I also addressed
other topics that are related in some degree to the election. These topics
include The Green New Deal, Immigration, the Squad, Sanctuary Cities, and more.
They represent my view and you are entitled to agree or disagree. But one thing
is for sure, these topics need to be examined calmly as we consider our country’s
future.

Here are book
details:

Paperback: 191 pages Publisher: Independently published (August 19, 2019)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1686577761ISBN-13: 978-1686577765Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inchesShipping Weight:  12.3 ouncesCost: $9.99
(paperback); $2.99 (Ebook)

As the election
moves forward I will be watching closely. At the moment I am considering writing
a follow-up right after Super Tuesday. In any case, I hope you find this book a
valuable aid in understanding your choices, even if you aren’t a Democrat.

For information on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

How to Schedule Your Time

Every week I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look atHow to Schedule Your Time.

Below is an excerpt from my book TR Independent Books Guide to Writing:

Principle

Really! Everyone knows how to schedule don’t they?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Not because the people are stupid.
They were probably never taught to schedule.

I learned the hard way of the necessity to schedule my time. As I
entered the multifaceted world of writing, publishing, and marketing I found my
time to be precious. Everything and everyone wanted it.

One of the best books on the subject I have ever read was Success God’s Way by Charles Stanley. He included a whole chapter devoted to the subject of time management. It is based on Ephesians 5:15-16: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

However, you do it, it is necessary that you schedule your personal
and professional time.

But Scheduling is more than just the setting up a time for each task, it is making priorities. Every day I make a short priority list – by short I mean no more than three items. It may start out as more than three items, but it often is reduced to a more manageable three.

This is not your typical “to-do” list, but it is related. Think of it
this way, make your “to-do” list and select the top two or three.

If you are like me, having a long list usually leaves items undone and
I a little discouraged. But when I limit it to two or three there is a much
better opportunity for me to accomplish all of them!

Scheduling also involves appointments. As an author you will need to
keep track of when you are to meet with or contact agents or publishers or even
reporters, when you are supposed to do a book signing, and many other events.

Tip #1: Redeem the time:
make good use of your time. Schedule it!

Tip #2: Make your “to do”
list and select the top two or three.

Tip #3: Do it!

Example

I actually schedule my time beginning with my morning devotions. I
have what I call Focus. I usually focus on two, sometimes three items related
to writing. I also write them down in my calendar.

However you do it, make it a habit. You will quickly discover just how
valuable a habit it is!

Application

Scheduling is not really rocket science, but it does require thought. It rests firmly on your concept of what is truly important for your writing career. It is one of your most important priorities.

So if you have never put down a to-do list before do it now. It’s
easy. Start by writing down, in no particular order, everything you think is
important to be done.

Then narrow the list down to seven or ten items (still no order).

Now you have what I call a typical to-do list. Your next step is very
difficult: arranging the items in order of importance. I suggest three
categories: important, more important, and most important.

That will probably take some time, but your next step requires you to
take the top three. By this time everything should be in order of priority. But
it is possible that the top two or three items may be tied. If so, you need to
narrow it down further.

To help you get to your final two or three items, ask yourself what
needs to be done and what has to be done.

Now you have your list of two or three must do items. The final step
is the most important: Do it!

The above excerpt is from TR Writing Services Guide to Writing.

Digging deeper, what is the
danger of not scheduling? Here are some dangers right off the top of my head:

Not
getting it done. If you
don’t schedule your time there is the danger of forgetting to do a necessary
task when you wanted it done.Rushing
the work. When we don’t
schedule the work and then later realize it must be done now, we tend to rush.
Thereby producing a document or book or whatever with errors and sloppy work.Not
enough time to edit. You’re
under the clock and you’ve rushed the work, but still don’t have time to
properly edit. This will result in you publishing a terrible book or being
forced to cancel or delay the book project.

It is never too late to begin scheduling. My body is loaded with lazy
bones which causes me to take shortcuts. One shortcut is to forget to schedule
my work or to make a careless schedule. Either one or both can lead to waste of
valuable time.

That said, I can restart, reboot, or whatever you want to call, but
the main point is to get myself back in the habit of scheduling.  Which brings up my final tip:

Tip #4: Make scheduling a
daily habit.

That is easier said than done. It requires work. Make it the last
thing you do in your work day by scheduling the next day; or make it the first
thing you do in your work day by scheduling that day’s work. Then work it!

And if you forget to do it, get back on board immediately. Sometimes I’ve
neglected a schedule and then realized it after already starting my workday. In
cases like that I stop what I’m doing and schedule the rest of the day. It’s
not perfect and certainly not desirable, but it does work.

For more on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

How to Manage Location of Resources

Every week I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look atHow to Manage Location of Resources.

Below is an excerpt from my book TR
Independent Books Guide to Writing:

LOCATION OF
RESOURCES

As mentioned before, I like my cabinets and shelves to be close by the
desk where I can easily reach them. Being basically lazy it works for me! This enables
me to access the information with greater efficiency. Meanwhile Teresa has her
resources spread out, but that seems to work for her.

The important thing is that it be helpful to your overall work.

Tip: Keep your resources where you can easily
access them.

The RESOURCES

This covers:

books on writingBible commentariesbooks on marketingfinancial recordspublishing
informationResearch materialand more

Your resources will differ from ours, (for example I need Bible
commentaries) but you will have a need for good resources and you will need to
keep them somewhere safe and easily accessible.

But that is not all. You need to also consider such factors as
lighting, storage (paper, ink, incoming/outgoing, and more). In other words,
you need resources that will reflect not only personal preferences but will aid
you in writing the kind of books that you are committed to write.

Tip: Take time to make sure your workspace meets your needs .

Example

It’s not uncommon for me to need to do research for a book. By having
resources close by I’m able to make use of several resources, including my
library and my computer. Having a comfortable and efficient place to work has
been a blessing throughout my career.

As mentioned before I use a task chair as it’s comfortable and work
friendly. Artists, including musicians as well as writers, need to keep a
proper posture. Not doing so can cause a painful back and other more serious
ailments. And correct posture helps you keep focus!

As mentioned before bad posture can lead to sleepiness and an
inefficient approach to your work. I learned this fact the hard way and still
have to fight a tendency to slouch. But having a comfortable task chair has
helped me immensely.

By using that chair plus a computer table I’m able to sit for long
periods of time and accomplish whatever work needs done. There’s the added
benefit of being easily moved to a different location if I desire.

When I first started out writing I had the blessing of a separate room
to be used as my office, but when we moved down to Florida to take care of my
mother-in-law my office was located in her lanai. After she went to glory we
moved to a condo and I enclosed a portion of the living room into an office.
Now in our present home I’ve staked out a place in one of our rooms for my
office.

All of these worked for me because I used comfortable, practical
furniture arranged in a fashion that was economical, comfortable, and efficient
for me to use. Unless you have complete confidence in someone else’s abilities
I would advise this be a DIY project. You know what is comfortable and works
for you.

Application

When planning your workspace, you need to take the time to analyze what
your needs are now and in the future. It may require the investment of money as
well as time. Remember that you need to know what your needs are because an
uncomfortable or inefficient work space will make it very difficult for you to
be an effective writer. It may seem a small thing but it can be a big thing.

When Teresa and I moved to Clarkston, Michigan we took time to measure
and plan the layout of every room before we moved in. We repeated this when we
moved down here to her mom’s house. Although the lanai was good sized, we had
to leave room for mom’s stuff as well. In fact, every time we have moved, we
took the same approach which enabled us to move without being inconvenienced.

The above excerpt

For more on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

How To Setup Your Book’s Page

If you want our free Guide to Writing book just contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com and ask for it. We’ll rush it to you.

As shown in the video setting up your margins is critical to your books. Moreover, you need to set up orientation, headers, footers, and more. Guide to Writing will show all this an more.

How To Setup Your Pages

Every week I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my
blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look atHow
to Setup Your Pages.

Below is an excerpt from my book TR
Independent Books Guide to Writing:

Principle

Page setup is critical to your book. Different publishers have
differing requirements, but I will show you two possible setups.

Standard 11 x 8.5

Top: 1”; Bottom: 1”

Left: 1”; Right: 1”

Gutter: Usually the same as Left or inside

Although this is considered standard, the book is reduced by the
publisher to a smaller size such as 9 x 6 which in reality is the new standard.
I recommend that when setting up your books margins, you use the 9×6 setup. The
follow is only a suggestion; experiment.

eBook 9 x 6

Top: .79”; Bottom: .79”

Left: .79”; Right: .79”

Gutter: none (same as left or inside)

TIP: The Gutter: is the same
as left or inside margin

Some publishers require Headers/Footers, while others don’t want them.
So you need to find out what your publisher wants, which means, that you may
have to go back and copy the manuscript with a unique name and redo the
margins, headers, etc., which is an argument for being your own publisher.

Tip: If possible, d o your setup before
you start writing

We use the 9 x 6 setup. But whatever you use, set it up first, you
can always change it later.

Example

This book’s setup includes the 9 x 6 margins. Since it is both a print
and an eBook and there are page numbers, headers, and footers in the print
version. The eBook will not have them.

Application

We use the 9 x 6 setup because we are in charge of our own publishing.
If we use an outside publisher and they have different standards we can make an
additional copy just for them.

The above excerpt is not meant to be exhaustive. Rather, it provides a starting point for you. The margins given can be a good starting position, but chances are that you’ll need to adjust them according to your book size. For example, many of our books have been converted to the 9×6 size. Plus, the pages range from 250 – 400 in page length. That means that we use the following margins: Top is 0.76; Bottom is 0.76; Inside or Gutter is 0.63; and outside is 0.63.

No matter what your current settings are, you can change them later!

A good practice is to always preview your book before publishing. You
don’t want the gutter too big that it becomes part of the front or back covers.
Nor do you want it too small causing the front and back covers to overlap the
gutter.

For more on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

How to Get a Publisher

Every week I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look at How to Get a Publisher.

Below is an excerpt from my book TR
Independent Books Guide to Writing:

Principle

How does one seek a publisher? First, you must decide what kind of
publisher you need. See the chapters on Self-Publisher, Traditional Publishing,
and You, the Publisher.

This is actually a critical decision. Unfortunately there is a lot of
mudslinging going on. Not to mention confusion. In my chapters on the different
types of publishing I strive to clear it up a little.

But before you make that decision you will want to search the internet
and discover who and what these publishers are. Even more important, is to
decide the overall direction you want to go.

In future chapters I examine each type of publisher closer, but here
it is important that you know what you
need.

Here are just a few things to examine:

How long are you
willing to wait for your book to be published?Can you afford $400
or more upfront?Are you a new
author?

There are other considerations as well. But these three will give you immediate indications as to what you need. For example, traditional publishers often have time lines that result in books being printed as much as two years down the road after signing the contract. On the other hand, self-publishers want you to pay for the privilege which often involves $400 or more.

And if you are a new author there are some publishers who will not
consider you simply because you’re new. These are generally found in your
larger traditional printing houses.

Then there are the publishers who are like self-publishers but have a
minimum order requirement. For instance, I knew of one author who had to buy
$5000 worth of copies at a time, which required that he maintain a storage area.
Here you have the cost of the books plus storage costs. In his case he stored
them at work, but not everyone has that opportunity.

Tip #1: Examine what your needs, perceived and known, are before searching
for a publisher.

Example

When I wrote my first novel, I didn’t know about costs, time, or
submission requirements. So I began looking for a publisher while in the dark.

Fortunately, I had access to the internet and began learning fast. It
didn’t take me long to figure out that traditional publishing was not for me.
While they are free and pay royalties, they were too restrictive.

For example, the traditional publishers often required an
agent (I didn’t have one) plus prospects for publishing soon were
unreasonable (up to two years after signing).

I eventually signed with a self-publishing firm. It cost me about $400
upfront plus the cost of marketing tools which they sold.

Application

It is your responsibility to find the right publisher for you.
Everybody has an opinion, but you are the one who has to live with your
decision.

Read my chapters on the different types. Weigh the facts and decide
which one best works for you.

HANDLING REJECTION

Principle

This is primarily addressed to those who plan to use a traditional
publisher. Self-publishing companies rarely reject a manuscript.

As a disclaimer I have never received a rejection slip because I have
never used traditional publishers.

That said, I can say this with authority: Never let rejection slips stop
you!

Use them as you would any tool. Learn from them. Why was the
manuscript rejected? Did it come with any suggestions as to how you can
improve? If so, you should consider them (but don’t violate your own
standards).

Another thing to remember is that editors have their own ideas as to
what makes successful writing. They are not THE authority.

Tip#2: Use rejection slips as learning tools to help you become a better
writer. Don’t take it personally.

Example

Since I have never had a book rejected I have no practical example to
share with you. But the more meaningful example is one’s reaction to any
roadblock, which is all that a rejection slip amounts to in one’s career.

That said check out your response to other roadblocks. If your
response works in those cases, maybe it will with rejection.

But better is this: As I said in
the Tips: Use rejection slips as learning tools to help you become a better
writer and don’t take it personally.

Application

My suggestion is to stay away from the Traditional Publishers and the
preceding is only one reason. But if you must use Traditional Publishers, then
please pay close attention when listening to them. They each have their own
preferences and not following them will bring on a rejection quickly.

You have a responsibility to yourself. That is why I emphasize
treating rejection as a tool. Instead of being discouraged, see it as something
that will only make you a better writer!

To learn more about getting a publisher and/or agent TR Writing Services is currently giving away – that’s right, it’s FREE! – our TR Guide to Writing. Simply contact us and request a copy (PDF) and we’ll send it to you. While at it why not request the TR Writing Service booklet? This booklet will tell you about our different plans and prices. (The current plan discounts expire June 30th.)

For more on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.

Art of Writing Multiple Viewpoints

Every week I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. This week I am taking a look at Writing Multiple Viewpoints also known as Multiple 3rd Person.

In this blog I will be exploring a
difficult, yet in my opinion, profitable methodology. I previously wrote about
1st and 3rd Person viewpoints or POVs, but in the following I am writing about
having multiple primary characters. Now, as a rule of thumb, you never want
more than one primary character at the
same time.

If you read any of my books I often have
multiple POVs. You should also notice that I follow my own advice and clearly
identify the person who’s POV I’m using.

One last thing before we dive into the
subject, don’t let the subject intimidate you. You can master it if you focus
on applying the principles of good writing.

Below is an excerpt from my book TR Independent Books Guide to Writing:

Principle

Imagine yourself as a reader who gets to read the minds of the characters. Not necessarily all the time, but at critical times. It gives you, the reader, the power and knowledge to understand what is going on to a greater degree.

In Third Person Viewpoints you are reading or “listening” to the thoughts of the primary character. But in Multiple Third Person Viewpoints this is multiplied so that the reader has the opportunity to grasp more and understand more.

That being said, I would not suggest too many characters at one time. Generally I try a limit of to two or three characters. And only with the primary character do I have constant contact.

Tip#1: Generally speaking, multiple characters with observable viewpoints
should be introduced early. An exception is when a book spans many years; you
can space them out.

Tip#2: Unless you are truly great with prose keep your primary character as
your primary POV. In books spanning many years make sure you have a smooth
transition between the old POV and the new POV.

Example

In Perished: The World That Was
you have a book covering 1656 years. It starts with Adam being the primary
character but he eventually dies and another takes his place. This continues
until Noah becomes the primary. One difficulty was that these characters
sometimes lived at the same time, so I had to be careful about the transition.
In most cases this happened at the death of one or in other cases it was in
different scenes.

I do not recommend doing this in a story that is more compressed in time. Most likely your primary character will be constant throughout the book.

Another example from the same book is the inclusion of multiple
primary characters. But it is rare for both to appear in the same
scene at the same time. If such a situation presents itself, however,
only one should be the primary at that time.

Application

Advantages of
Multiple POV

Greater
flexibility within storyGreater
or wider view of storyMore
information available to reader

Disadvantages of
Multiple POV

Requires
a great deal more diligenceRequires
more workCan
confuse reader if not done right

Multiple Person Viewpoint is in my
opinion the most flexible (and hardest) viewpoint for the author to use. That
flexibility is a valuable asset for the author. So don’t shy away from it.

Try it out. Buy books on viewpoint and learn what works for you.

To learn more about multiple Points of View and other writing needs TR Writing Services is currently giving away – that’s right, it’s FREE! – our TR Guide to Writing. Simply contact us and request a copy (PDF or docx) and we’ll send it to you. While at it, why not request the TR Writing Service booklet? This booklet will tell you about our different plans and prices. (The current plan discounts expire June 30th.)

For more on TR Writing Services contact us at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com.

VISIT MY AUTHOR’S PAGE TODAY: amazon.com/author/rfrederickriddle.

ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am
always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was
(Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem
(Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), Pauline A New Home (Book Two), Task
Force Hunter (Book Three), Black Death (Book Four), or Rise of
I.C.E.S. (Book Five), I value your reviews.

If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an
appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email
make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy
(PDF or ePub).

 – – – – – – –

R Frederick
Riddle is the Editor of TR Writing
Services providing help to struggling and/or new
authors to write and publish their books. In addition he is the author of
several books and is best known for Christian Historical and Speculative
Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also
co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the
option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.