Jade Varden's Blog, page 25
October 6, 2014
Writing 101: Consistent Perspective
It doesn't matter which perspective you choose to write from. You're the author, so you can choose to give the readers any viewpoint you want. But whatever you choose, you do have to choose. Keep your perspective consistent, no matter what you do.
Uneven
I made one of my usual epically bad movie choices, just over the weekend. I thought it was going to be good because it looked romantic and it had an actress that I admire, but that's beside the point. The point is that the movie committed to a specific perspective from the first, and stuck with it through three-fourths of the film. There was a dedicated narrator, and everything. So imagine my shock and confusion when the perspective shifted, for just one scene, to someone else entirely. That's called uneven storytelling, and that's not the sort of thing I want to find in books.
Consistent perspective is the glue that holds your entire story together. If we start with a single narrator, it's incredibly jarring when a new narrator unexpectedly takes over. It disrupts the flow of the story, and it confuses the reader. Things suddenly shift, and that can take the reader out of the world you're trying to create for them.
If you're going to change perspectives in the book, start it out that way so readers know where they're going. Don't commit strongly to a single narrator and then change things up unless you're purposefully trying to shake things up. But even so, shake things up with caution. Consistent storytelling is the strong foundation of every story. You don't want to mess it up just for a few quick jolts.
UnevenI made one of my usual epically bad movie choices, just over the weekend. I thought it was going to be good because it looked romantic and it had an actress that I admire, but that's beside the point. The point is that the movie committed to a specific perspective from the first, and stuck with it through three-fourths of the film. There was a dedicated narrator, and everything. So imagine my shock and confusion when the perspective shifted, for just one scene, to someone else entirely. That's called uneven storytelling, and that's not the sort of thing I want to find in books.
Consistent perspective is the glue that holds your entire story together. If we start with a single narrator, it's incredibly jarring when a new narrator unexpectedly takes over. It disrupts the flow of the story, and it confuses the reader. Things suddenly shift, and that can take the reader out of the world you're trying to create for them.
If you're going to change perspectives in the book, start it out that way so readers know where they're going. Don't commit strongly to a single narrator and then change things up unless you're purposefully trying to shake things up. But even so, shake things up with caution. Consistent storytelling is the strong foundation of every story. You don't want to mess it up just for a few quick jolts.
October 2, 2014
Dropped My Balls
At the outset of the week, I was fully prepared to add new writing tips to the blog. I was going to get back to tweeting regularly after my vacation lapse. I was even going to get back on track with my newest novel. I was going to do all kinds of stuff. But then, I dropped my balls.
It's a danger all indie authors face. Sometimes, we just keep too many of them up in the air.
Wish You Were Here...
So there will be no new tips this week, and I can't even make any promises about next week. I'm going to do my best to pick my balls back up and get them back up in the air. I hope to get back to juggling them successfully. But I'm an indie author.
So, really, I have no idea what next week is going to bring.
It's a danger all indie authors face. Sometimes, we just keep too many of them up in the air.
Wish You Were Here...
So there will be no new tips this week, and I can't even make any promises about next week. I'm going to do my best to pick my balls back up and get them back up in the air. I hope to get back to juggling them successfully. But I'm an indie author.
So, really, I have no idea what next week is going to bring.
September 29, 2014
Something's Missing...
Regular readers will notice there is no Writing 101 post today, and you'll see that it won't be here tomorrow, either. You may not find me on Twitter, and you can't expect me to post the tip later today. Because I'm not here.
I'm on vacation! To find out why, re-cap on one of my recent blog posts. Feel free to use these vacation days to catch up on all my Writing 101 tips, and don't get too complacent! I'll be back later this week to share more horror stories, give more advice and tell you what I've learned from my many, many writing mistakes.
I'm on vacation! To find out why, re-cap on one of my recent blog posts. Feel free to use these vacation days to catch up on all my Writing 101 tips, and don't get too complacent! I'll be back later this week to share more horror stories, give more advice and tell you what I've learned from my many, many writing mistakes.
September 25, 2014
Writing 101: Grin and Bear It
You have to be "out there" as an indie author, easy to find and easy to access. You've got to be on social media and build up your author page, join in on forums and respond to fans who have something to say to you. But there will be lots of times when you don't like what they say. Not everyone's going to be a fan. When those non-fans approach you, and they will, you have to learn how to master a necessary skill: grin and bear it.
Let's Get Critical
The entire world is full of critics, and the Internet allows everyone to get critical about anything that they see. Many, many people choose to exercise this right. Some of them are going to do it with you. Can you handle that?
The Internet allows for a type of communication never before seen. It allows for spacial barriers to fall away, so that two people can have real time conversations even from opposite sides of the globe. It allows for exploration that was never possible before. And it allows for people to act a lot like jerks.
...Not to put too fine a point on it. Some people are going to say all kinds of stuff to you. They will be highly critical. They may even get personal. And that's not even the worst of it. You'll run into all sorts on the Internet, and the more you promote yourself the more exposure you'll get.
That might attract weirdos, for lack of a better word. You may have strange stuff said to you, and I mean really strange. Real celebrities get death threats and crazy invitations all the time. If you're trying to be out in the world and make a name for yourself, the weird stuff comes along with the territory. Usually it's harmless. If you suspect that it is not, you do need to alert the authorities. Most of the time, however, this will not be needed. Most of the time, you're going to have to take even the weird stuff in stride.
As with your critics, you have to learn how to grin and bear it. You have to appear to brush off criticism. You have to remain polite but firm with your potential Internet stalkers. You have to remain accessible, but somehow untouchable.
You have to be a professional. I've given that advice in a lot of different blog posts in a lot of different ways, but it always boils down to the same thing: your behavior must remain constant. You are totally unfazed by negativity and criticism and weird stuff online. You are polite, but you are cool. If someone points out a mistake, thank them. Always thank them for their comments and their advice, no matter what it is. Don't have any other reaction. Do not try to change opinions, make arguments or correct your critics.
Say thank you. And move on. You are an indie author. You are a brand name. Once you're in that zone, you stop being a complete person. You're a product to be sold, and no one is going to buy a product that rants and raves at criticism no matter how ridiculous or inappropriate it may be. Grin and bear it. Stay cool. Stay professional. You can always cry, alone, later on.
Remember: say thank you, and move on.
Let's Get Critical
The entire world is full of critics, and the Internet allows everyone to get critical about anything that they see. Many, many people choose to exercise this right. Some of them are going to do it with you. Can you handle that?
The Internet allows for a type of communication never before seen. It allows for spacial barriers to fall away, so that two people can have real time conversations even from opposite sides of the globe. It allows for exploration that was never possible before. And it allows for people to act a lot like jerks.
...Not to put too fine a point on it. Some people are going to say all kinds of stuff to you. They will be highly critical. They may even get personal. And that's not even the worst of it. You'll run into all sorts on the Internet, and the more you promote yourself the more exposure you'll get.
That might attract weirdos, for lack of a better word. You may have strange stuff said to you, and I mean really strange. Real celebrities get death threats and crazy invitations all the time. If you're trying to be out in the world and make a name for yourself, the weird stuff comes along with the territory. Usually it's harmless. If you suspect that it is not, you do need to alert the authorities. Most of the time, however, this will not be needed. Most of the time, you're going to have to take even the weird stuff in stride.
As with your critics, you have to learn how to grin and bear it. You have to appear to brush off criticism. You have to remain polite but firm with your potential Internet stalkers. You have to remain accessible, but somehow untouchable.
You have to be a professional. I've given that advice in a lot of different blog posts in a lot of different ways, but it always boils down to the same thing: your behavior must remain constant. You are totally unfazed by negativity and criticism and weird stuff online. You are polite, but you are cool. If someone points out a mistake, thank them. Always thank them for their comments and their advice, no matter what it is. Don't have any other reaction. Do not try to change opinions, make arguments or correct your critics.
Say thank you. And move on. You are an indie author. You are a brand name. Once you're in that zone, you stop being a complete person. You're a product to be sold, and no one is going to buy a product that rants and raves at criticism no matter how ridiculous or inappropriate it may be. Grin and bear it. Stay cool. Stay professional. You can always cry, alone, later on.
Remember: say thank you, and move on.
September 24, 2014
Writing 101: Write Other Stuff, Too
Indie books appear on the market every single day. The only way for self-published authors to keep up is to keep publishing more and more books, right? It's nice in theory, but it's not all that practical for authors who maintain full-time schedules and want to write really high-quality books. It's okay. You can just write other stuff, too.
The Next Best Thing Can't write four new novels and get them published this year? You're only human, so don't be discouraged if you're not writing and publishing your books as fast as you'd hoped. However, it is important for you to stay in the game and keep your name out there. There's only one thing you can do: write other stuff.
What kind of stuff should you be writing? You're a writer, so there's really no limit to what you can do. But for the purposes of this blog post, we're only going to focus on few tried-and-true methods that will work: Blog: Maintain a blog to give your readers regular updates. Blog about your books, what you're reading or anything else that interests you. As long as you're writing, that's what matters. Don't forget to promote your book on your blog!Articles: Write articles under your author pen name. This will expose more people to your writing, and may encourage them to find you on social media and other places online. When they do find you, they should find all your books.Poetry: Maybe you don't have time to get that novel completed right away, but how about a thin volume of poetry? Write out poems when the mood strikes you, and before you know it you'll have another book you can sell. Short Stories: Full-length novels are very time-consuming. Short stories, a little less so. Write short stories when you can and when you're inspired. Who knows? Maybe you'll create enough to self-publish your own collection of short stories. And if nothing else, this is something you can post to your blog. You may not have the time to churn out books constantly. So write other stuff, too, and remind your fans that you are still out there -- and you're still writing.
The Next Best Thing Can't write four new novels and get them published this year? You're only human, so don't be discouraged if you're not writing and publishing your books as fast as you'd hoped. However, it is important for you to stay in the game and keep your name out there. There's only one thing you can do: write other stuff.
What kind of stuff should you be writing? You're a writer, so there's really no limit to what you can do. But for the purposes of this blog post, we're only going to focus on few tried-and-true methods that will work: Blog: Maintain a blog to give your readers regular updates. Blog about your books, what you're reading or anything else that interests you. As long as you're writing, that's what matters. Don't forget to promote your book on your blog!Articles: Write articles under your author pen name. This will expose more people to your writing, and may encourage them to find you on social media and other places online. When they do find you, they should find all your books.Poetry: Maybe you don't have time to get that novel completed right away, but how about a thin volume of poetry? Write out poems when the mood strikes you, and before you know it you'll have another book you can sell. Short Stories: Full-length novels are very time-consuming. Short stories, a little less so. Write short stories when you can and when you're inspired. Who knows? Maybe you'll create enough to self-publish your own collection of short stories. And if nothing else, this is something you can post to your blog. You may not have the time to churn out books constantly. So write other stuff, too, and remind your fans that you are still out there -- and you're still writing.
September 23, 2014
Writing 101: Are You Shy?
As an indie author, you've got to be a bit of a braggart. You've got to shove yourself in other people's faces constantly. If you're shy by nature, that's a big problem. It's one you're going to have to learn how to overcome.
What Worked for Emily Dickinson... It's not enough for you to write amazing stuff and then keep it all to yourself. Emily Dickinson did it, and it didn't really make her happy. If it had, she wouldn't have written so many poems about death and dying. If you're naturally shy, you have to learn how to pretend not to be. As an indie author, you have to find ways to be extroverted. So you have to find a way to flip your personality. Pen name: It's a lot easier not to act like yourself if you're not actually being yourself. Create a You can't maintain shyness if you're going to be an indie author in today's world. You have to brag, show off, reach out. You have to be an extrovert. So stop being yourself! Step into the role of indie author, and save the shyness for when you're just being you.
What Worked for Emily Dickinson... It's not enough for you to write amazing stuff and then keep it all to yourself. Emily Dickinson did it, and it didn't really make her happy. If it had, she wouldn't have written so many poems about death and dying. If you're naturally shy, you have to learn how to pretend not to be. As an indie author, you have to find ways to be extroverted. So you have to find a way to flip your personality. Pen name: It's a lot easier not to act like yourself if you're not actually being yourself. Create a You can't maintain shyness if you're going to be an indie author in today's world. You have to brag, show off, reach out. You have to be an extrovert. So stop being yourself! Step into the role of indie author, and save the shyness for when you're just being you.
September 22, 2014
Writing 101: Spooky, Stormy and Other Meaningless Adjectives
It's happening more and more. Authors are relying upon adjectives to tell their stories for them. When you're truly painting a picture with words, certain descriptors like gloomy just aren't good enough. After all, your gloomy might look different from mine. So are you really painting that scene, or just using meaningless adjectives?
Blah, Blah, Blah
It was a stormy night, and the horses were spooked in the barn. She could hear them making creepy noises when she got close to the grimy windows.
Notice how I didn't really tell you much of anything in the passage above? What do "creepy noises" sound like? What's so grimy about the windows? And by stormy, what does the narrator mean? Is is snowing? Is it raining? Is there wind? How do I know? The above passage is stuffed with meaningless adjectives. Now let's figure out how to get them out of there.
The wind howled as it battered the windows, driving the pouring rain in all directions. The horses whined and screamed with each brilliant flash of lightning, noises she could hear when she got close to the mud-caked window panes.
Now you can picture the storm and more clearly hear the horses. This passage is more descriptive than the last, and yet it contains fewer adjectives. It sounds like the opposite of what you were taught about writing, but remember that less is more. That applies to adjectives more than anything else.
Don't try to use the adjectives to tell the story; telling the story is your job as the author. Instead, cut out the meaningless adjectives you find and merely paint the picture.
Blah, Blah, Blah
It was a stormy night, and the horses were spooked in the barn. She could hear them making creepy noises when she got close to the grimy windows.
Notice how I didn't really tell you much of anything in the passage above? What do "creepy noises" sound like? What's so grimy about the windows? And by stormy, what does the narrator mean? Is is snowing? Is it raining? Is there wind? How do I know? The above passage is stuffed with meaningless adjectives. Now let's figure out how to get them out of there.
The wind howled as it battered the windows, driving the pouring rain in all directions. The horses whined and screamed with each brilliant flash of lightning, noises she could hear when she got close to the mud-caked window panes.
Now you can picture the storm and more clearly hear the horses. This passage is more descriptive than the last, and yet it contains fewer adjectives. It sounds like the opposite of what you were taught about writing, but remember that less is more. That applies to adjectives more than anything else.
Don't try to use the adjectives to tell the story; telling the story is your job as the author. Instead, cut out the meaningless adjectives you find and merely paint the picture.
September 20, 2014
Big World, Few Words
"I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed Varden’s world building skills and the rich characters she presented."
"With a world that is so big you want to keep exploring and a few surprises at the end that you won’t see coming, 'Hope’s Rebellion' is definitely a book worth checking out."
Christina Escamilla has reviewed Hope's Rebellion . Go read her comments before you buy the book!
"With a world that is so big you want to keep exploring and a few surprises at the end that you won’t see coming, 'Hope’s Rebellion' is definitely a book worth checking out."
Christina Escamilla has reviewed Hope's Rebellion . Go read her comments before you buy the book!
September 18, 2014
Writing 101: Is It 'Worth It?'
Is it really worth it to be a writer? The romantic answer is a resounding yes. And if you're the type of person who likes insecurity, criticism, instability and exhaustion, then it's definitely something you ought to pursue. But if you enjoy getting holidays off and want to have some sort of extra time on the weekends, you've got some hard thinking to do.
Being a writer means paying a ton of money in taxes -- much more than you would if you had a "real job" -- and it means working much longer hours than the 9-to-5 guys who get the luxury of being on the clock just 40 hours a week. It also means being disregarded by everyone you know, because they'll assume it's easy for you to be flexible when it comes to your work. After all, to some of them what you do isn't even going to be real work. So before you pursue the goal of working as a full-time writer, make sure it's really worth it to you...because I promise, you're going to have to give up a lot to make it work.
Everybody Hurts...Sometimes
Do you like instability? That's what you will get if you want to make all of your income, at at least most of it, from being a writer. As an author of books, you're subject to the whims and fancies of fate. You're a slave to the market. And if you freelance, you're subject to that. You'll get jobs and you'll lose them. You'll do work and you won't get paid for it. You'll try, and you will fail. Of course, there will also be times that you will succeed. But there is one truth about this career that cannot be disputed:
It will never be steady. It will never be stable. Things will not be exactly the same from one day to the next, and there will be times you when you honestly have no idea how much money you're going to have tomorrow, or next week. And no matter how much money you do or do not make as an independent contractor, because that is what you are if you are a full-time writer or author, you will have to pay more taxes than anyone else (if you live in the United States, that is, but we haven't got time to go into the tax codes of every country and ruminate about the differences therein).
Are you emotional? If you're an author, you understand something that no one but another author could ever understand. When you're a writer, you have to be able to step outside of yourself and into another world. You have to focus on that world, on another character's problems -- and you have to forget about your own. There are going to be times when finding that focus is impossible, because you just can't get outside of yourself.
No one around you will understand. No one around you will really know the struggle, and there will be times when no one will make it easier for you. Sometimes, in fact, they will only make it harder. And it won't matter. It won't matter if you're crying so hard you can't stop. It won't matter if you're so physically ill you can barely stop throwing up. There will be times when you have to write anyway. I can distinctly remember a time when I was so hazy I could barely speak, and so sick to my stomach I couldn't even have a glass of water. And I still laid flat on my back and worked, upside-down, using my tablet. I was too sick to sit up. There is no such thing as being too sick to write.
Are you lonely? It's only going to get worse. If you are a full-time writer, you will be treated like you are a person who has fun all day. You will be treated like this even after you have to work through Christmas and skip taking a vacation for four years in a row. You will be treated like this even if you work 12 hours a day and sleep for 4 hours a night and you have trouble simply standing up. People think that being a writer is fun or relaxed or somehow enjoyable because you're sitting at home. What they don't realize is that you're sitting at home typing all day, and you're not even in this world anymore. You're in another world entirely, a world that is something harsh and unforgiving and emotionally exhausting. People think it's awesome that you are your own boss. What they don't know is that it isn't true. When you're a writer, everyone is your boss. Every reviewer. Every editor. Every comment you get. Every Tweet you have to answer. The entire world is your boss, because you have to answer to the world. No one will ever attempt to work with your schedule because they do not believe that you have to follow one. No one's watching you punch a clock, so what difference does it make?
That's the attitude that you'll face, and I'm not talking about strangers on the Internet. I'm talking about people in your own family. Every word you write, every decision you make about your life, everything that you do as a writer is subject to criticism from every single person on the planet. That's the life.
Being a full-time author or writer very often means fitting yourself in around the fringes, if you can even find time for yourself anymore. You will be criticized. You will be disregarded. You will be discarded. You will get exhausted and overlooked. You will get treated like your life is a big picnic when it's anything but. You will be exhausted. And you will be, in many respects, completely alone.
So it almost seems silly to ask if it's "worth it" or not. And maybe the craziest thing of all is the answer I'm going to give you: yes. Don't get me wrong. My advice to anyone and everyone is don't be a writer. Don't follow this path, because it's hell. But if all you can do is write, if all you think about is writing, if words live inside you and you have to put them on the page, then you may not have another option. And the day you get an email or a comment from someone who says "I like this," a lot of that hurt will go away. You will get hurt again, this much is certain, but maybe you'll get fan mail again as well. Is it worth it? That's something you'll have to decide on your own. Consider all that you'll be giving up, and all that you'll gain in return, and decide how much the words mean to you.
Being a writer means paying a ton of money in taxes -- much more than you would if you had a "real job" -- and it means working much longer hours than the 9-to-5 guys who get the luxury of being on the clock just 40 hours a week. It also means being disregarded by everyone you know, because they'll assume it's easy for you to be flexible when it comes to your work. After all, to some of them what you do isn't even going to be real work. So before you pursue the goal of working as a full-time writer, make sure it's really worth it to you...because I promise, you're going to have to give up a lot to make it work.
Everybody Hurts...Sometimes
Do you like instability? That's what you will get if you want to make all of your income, at at least most of it, from being a writer. As an author of books, you're subject to the whims and fancies of fate. You're a slave to the market. And if you freelance, you're subject to that. You'll get jobs and you'll lose them. You'll do work and you won't get paid for it. You'll try, and you will fail. Of course, there will also be times that you will succeed. But there is one truth about this career that cannot be disputed:
It will never be steady. It will never be stable. Things will not be exactly the same from one day to the next, and there will be times you when you honestly have no idea how much money you're going to have tomorrow, or next week. And no matter how much money you do or do not make as an independent contractor, because that is what you are if you are a full-time writer or author, you will have to pay more taxes than anyone else (if you live in the United States, that is, but we haven't got time to go into the tax codes of every country and ruminate about the differences therein).
Are you emotional? If you're an author, you understand something that no one but another author could ever understand. When you're a writer, you have to be able to step outside of yourself and into another world. You have to focus on that world, on another character's problems -- and you have to forget about your own. There are going to be times when finding that focus is impossible, because you just can't get outside of yourself.
No one around you will understand. No one around you will really know the struggle, and there will be times when no one will make it easier for you. Sometimes, in fact, they will only make it harder. And it won't matter. It won't matter if you're crying so hard you can't stop. It won't matter if you're so physically ill you can barely stop throwing up. There will be times when you have to write anyway. I can distinctly remember a time when I was so hazy I could barely speak, and so sick to my stomach I couldn't even have a glass of water. And I still laid flat on my back and worked, upside-down, using my tablet. I was too sick to sit up. There is no such thing as being too sick to write.
Are you lonely? It's only going to get worse. If you are a full-time writer, you will be treated like you are a person who has fun all day. You will be treated like this even after you have to work through Christmas and skip taking a vacation for four years in a row. You will be treated like this even if you work 12 hours a day and sleep for 4 hours a night and you have trouble simply standing up. People think that being a writer is fun or relaxed or somehow enjoyable because you're sitting at home. What they don't realize is that you're sitting at home typing all day, and you're not even in this world anymore. You're in another world entirely, a world that is something harsh and unforgiving and emotionally exhausting. People think it's awesome that you are your own boss. What they don't know is that it isn't true. When you're a writer, everyone is your boss. Every reviewer. Every editor. Every comment you get. Every Tweet you have to answer. The entire world is your boss, because you have to answer to the world. No one will ever attempt to work with your schedule because they do not believe that you have to follow one. No one's watching you punch a clock, so what difference does it make?
That's the attitude that you'll face, and I'm not talking about strangers on the Internet. I'm talking about people in your own family. Every word you write, every decision you make about your life, everything that you do as a writer is subject to criticism from every single person on the planet. That's the life.
Being a full-time author or writer very often means fitting yourself in around the fringes, if you can even find time for yourself anymore. You will be criticized. You will be disregarded. You will be discarded. You will get exhausted and overlooked. You will get treated like your life is a big picnic when it's anything but. You will be exhausted. And you will be, in many respects, completely alone.
So it almost seems silly to ask if it's "worth it" or not. And maybe the craziest thing of all is the answer I'm going to give you: yes. Don't get me wrong. My advice to anyone and everyone is don't be a writer. Don't follow this path, because it's hell. But if all you can do is write, if all you think about is writing, if words live inside you and you have to put them on the page, then you may not have another option. And the day you get an email or a comment from someone who says "I like this," a lot of that hurt will go away. You will get hurt again, this much is certain, but maybe you'll get fan mail again as well. Is it worth it? That's something you'll have to decide on your own. Consider all that you'll be giving up, and all that you'll gain in return, and decide how much the words mean to you.
September 17, 2014
Writing 101: The Ampersand, Percent Sign and Other Stuff You Can't Use
As an author, you're free to use words any way you want to paint pictures, evoke emotions and tell your story. But you're not free to use any symbols you want. It's time to find out about the ampersand, the percent sign and the other stuff you can't use.
Symbols vs. Punctuation
The ampersand, the percent sign and the slash actually are not punctuation. That's the first thing you've got to know and that's what you'll need to remember. These parts of the keyboard are actually symbols, not punctuation. And that's why you can't use them.
The ampersand stands for a specific word. It means and. Writing Jimmy & Bobbi is the same as writing Jimmy and Bobbi. However, one is acceptable when you're writing a novel and one is not.
The percent sign is the exact same thing. It is a symbol that stands for a word. If I write 54%, it's the same as writing 54 percent or fifty-four percent. But of course, only one is acceptable in novel form.
Always be mindful of using symbols rather than words. When you're writing a book, always use the word instead of the symbol. There are only a very few exceptions to this rule:
Proper names: If you're talking about a specific brand or business, like Ben & Jerry's, then you must use the symbol. Always write proper names, business names and When it comes to using symbols of any kind, there's really just one simple rule: when you can spell it out, spell it out.
Symbols vs. Punctuation
The ampersand, the percent sign and the slash actually are not punctuation. That's the first thing you've got to know and that's what you'll need to remember. These parts of the keyboard are actually symbols, not punctuation. And that's why you can't use them.
The ampersand stands for a specific word. It means and. Writing Jimmy & Bobbi is the same as writing Jimmy and Bobbi. However, one is acceptable when you're writing a novel and one is not.
The percent sign is the exact same thing. It is a symbol that stands for a word. If I write 54%, it's the same as writing 54 percent or fifty-four percent. But of course, only one is acceptable in novel form.
Always be mindful of using symbols rather than words. When you're writing a book, always use the word instead of the symbol. There are only a very few exceptions to this rule:
Proper names: If you're talking about a specific brand or business, like Ben & Jerry's, then you must use the symbol. Always write proper names, business names and When it comes to using symbols of any kind, there's really just one simple rule: when you can spell it out, spell it out.
