Ask a Writer

[Gerald]

Great evaluation, Larry!

[M.A.]

I guess the difference is that between copyediting and storyediting. Copyediting is about grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency of usage. Every book needs at least that. There will still be typos; they are a fact of life -- I had eight fellow writers read my last book and I'm STILL finding small errors, particularly with homophones -- but a book that is laden with errors is simply unacceptable.

Storyediting is another matter. I agree that an editor may make it better or worse. In traditional publishing, especially now that it has gone the way of Hollywood, commercial interests often dictate editorial decisions. With self-publishing you can write what is in your heart. But no matter how good a writer you are, you will still have a blind spot: you know your characters and their stories so your mind will fill in gaps that exist in your book that readers will pick up on.

If you can't afford an editor then at the very least one should put together a focus group and get their feedback. I've been a professional writer for 15 years, and I am good at what I do, and yet my focus groups were invaluable. With my first book, my novel, one of their criticisms was that scenes involving one of my minor characters were too far apart so that by the time her next scene came along they had forgotten who she is and her story. So I added scenes. Their other criticism was that they couldn't connect with my female protagonist as much as they did my male protagonist; it was determined this was because I had provided more background info on him than on her. A few lines and paragraphs added here and there and the problem was fixed. These are two examples of things I just didn't see because I know my characters, I know their back story, I know what is in their hearts and minds. But I failed in spots to share that fully with my readers.

When I teach, the one thing I always tell my students is to listen to the criticisms made and if you can't respond with a valid reason for the creative choices you made then you should rethink your position. But if you write with intent, stick to your guns. When I was in uni, my graphics arts instructor actually gave me a higher grade because I would do exactly that: if I agreed with his criticisms I made changes; if I didn't agree I defended my choices. He applauded my confidence and my perfectionism.

My novel, Baby Jane, is now getting four and five star reviews on GR and Amazon. That is partly to the credit of my focus group. I wouldn't release a book without one.

[Paula]

Hi Group,
Anyone understand what's going on with GoodReads bumping the information from Amazon?
Paula

[[deleted user]]

Paula wrote: "Hi Group,
Anyone understand what's going on with GoodReads bumping the information from Amazon?
Paula"

It seems Amazon and Goodreads for some reason had a falling out. Any book covers from Amazon books will not appear on Goodreads including information. I need to do some more research.

[Ginger]

Hey people!

Yes, I noticed it on my author page last night. Along with the notice there are a couple of boxes you can check regarding general info and stating that you have read the book, and then you can upload a cover image from your personal edition. I have not addressed the book info yet, because I deemed 'saving' EL REY to be more pressing. I don't know the cause of it, but it's not too much of an inconvenience right now.

[[deleted user]]

Paula wrote: "Hi Group,
Anyone understand what's going on with GoodReads bumping the information from Amazon?
Paula"

Here is the information I found.

At Goodreads, we make it a priority to use book information from the most reliable and open data sources, because it helps us build the best experience for our members. To that end, we’re making a major change.

On January 30, Goodreads will no longer display book information that comes from Amazon.

This includes data such as titles, author names, page counts, and publication dates. For the vast majority of book editions, we have imported this data from other sources. Those few remaining editions for which we haven’t found an alternative source of information will be removed from Goodreads.

Goodreads then gives the visitor an option to update the information and rescue the book so long as 1) they can get the information from a reliable sources like the author’s website (you must submit URL along with your submission) or a hard copy of the book in your hands.

If anyone else can shed some light on this please do so...

[M.A.]

The frustrating part for me is that my books were never marked for rescue, but I just came online and information and book covers are missing. Must now fix.

[Susan]

Paula wrote: "Hi Group,
Anyone understand what's going on with GoodReads bumping the information from Amazon?
Paula"

nope - confusing as heck and it's bee going on for weeks now - we were warned to "save" our books...but didn't get any detailed info til recently.

[Susan]

Paula wrote: "Hi Group,
Anyone understand what's going on with GoodReads bumping the information from Amazon?
Paula"

nope - confusing as heck and it's been going on for weeks now - we were warned to "save" our books...but didn't get any detailed info til recently.

[Paula]

Looks like we're all in this together - I wasn't notified my books were marked for rescue either - just logged on, and "Poof" no more data.

[Julie]

Paula wrote: "Hi Group,
Anyone understand what's going on with GoodReads bumping the information from Amazon?
Paula"

It's my understanding Amazon became such a pain to work with, Good Reads is going to get their info somewhere else. ??? Can that be right?

http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/33...

[Everly]

If someone reads this thread and finds it a little jumpy, that is because I removed several comments from a user I blocked. I have been on Goodreads for a long time and have seen this particular user make rude and belittling comments to people in the past, and I saw that he had joined this group and done that same to some of the wonderful people on this group, so I blocked him. He had made several self serving and unnecessary comments to me in that past and now that I run my own group. I realized I did not have to deal with that sort of thing here. If anyone was offended by his comments, I am sorry. I run a tight ship around here, as many of you may have noticed. I don't put up with a lot. None of us as writers have time for that.

So please continue to have all the wonderful and thought provoking discussions on here, that we have all grown to love.

[[deleted user]]

Well done Ellie. I was getting kinda anoyed by the troll under the bridge. I've seen him ruin other threads.
davidrory

[[deleted user]]

Elle wrote: "If someone reads this thread and finds it a little jumpy, that is because I removed several comments from a user I blocked. I have been on Goodreads for a long time and have seen this particular us..."

Thanks Ellie.

[[deleted user]]

Hi,
I've got a quick question for those of you writers with 99 cent ebooks on Amazon. How were you able to set the price so low? As an author myself, I've been trying to lower the price of my book, but can only get down to $2.99. KDP simply won't let me go lower. Is it because I'm enrolled in KDP Select or what?

[[deleted user]]

Michayla wrote: "Hi,
I've got a quick question for those of you writers with 99 cent ebooks on Amazon. How were you able to set the price so low? As an author myself, I've been trying to lower the price of my book,..."

Your royalty might be set to 70%. You have to have it let to the lower 30% to sell at .99cents. Let me know if that worked for you and I hoped that helped.

[Paula]

Hi folks - Just wanted to let you know that I emailed Good Reads from the Author's pages - they responded to me lightning quick and rescued my books, and, as you can see, I've got my cover's back, and they still link to Amazon - (you just have to take an extra step to choose Amazon if that's where your work is for sale.

Paula
www.paulamillhouse.com

[[deleted user]]

Charles wrote: "Michayla wrote: "Hi,
I've got a quick question for those of you writers with 99 cent ebooks on Amazon. How were you able to set the price so low? As an author myself, I've been trying to lower the ..."

Thanks, Charles! That's just what I needed to know. Yes, it worked. :)

[Everly]

I have a question.
How many of you, predominantly read books in the genre in which you write? Who feels like it's best to branch out?

[Ginger]

Good question, Elle.

I do read mostly historical fiction and often consciously vow to read more contemporary books, but I find myself returning to my old favorites. My first effort is El Rey: A Novel of Renaissance Iberia, and I have 30k words of another historical fiction, which takes place during the U.S. Civil War. BUT I also love Stephen King and Robin Cook and often use their books to escape from what I am immersed in at that moment. As a result, I had this great idea for a thriller set in post-Civil War New York, still HF but with a twist. Just proves the point that inspiration can come from anywhere.

[[deleted user]]

Most of the time I prefer to read in the genre I write (which is fantasy), but I also love classics and a good old mystery every now and then. I definitely think it's best to branch out. I agree with Ginger that inspiration can come from anywhere!

[Carol]

I like to read several genres. Sometimes a novel, sometimes science or history, and sometimes a memoir.
I concur with Michayla and Ginger; inspiration can come from unexpected places.

[Mary]

When I write Historical Fiction I end up reading history books to get the background and cultural information correct. I like reading Speculative Fiction, Fantasy and SciFi, as long as it stays to more classical roots and doesn't just dwell on the impossible as if anything were possible. Don't know if that makes sense. I recently read Tamed by Sarah Witenhafer, dealing with the Nephilim as mentioned in the Bible. It was a good bit of romance and adventure but I appreciated her handling of the Bible and Christianity.

[Gerald]

Whenever I'd edited someone else's stuff I'd always added the extra space. I hadn't heard this before tonight. It'll be a long road to hoe to get me to stop double-spacing, but I'll come around.

[[deleted user]]

Elle wrote: "I have a question for authors:
As an author myself, I love to read but rarely get as much time as I would like. How often do you read in a week?"

It is a fight. I go back and forth reading during the commute writing in the evening and then vice verse. If I read during commute, to and from work I get at least 2 hours of reading in every day. But I am a heavy rotation reader, so it takes a long time for me to finish reading a book.

[[deleted user]]

Elle wrote: "I have a question.
How many of you, predominantly read books in the genre in which you write? Who feels like it's best to branch out?"

I am an aspiring scifi and fantasy writer, but I read across all the major genres: scifi,fantasy, romance and suspense. I think branching out adds richness to one's genre of choice.

[Everly]

I thought I would chime in and answer my own question. I am a sci-fi and fantasy writer. I have a hard time writing romance, so I have been reading a ton of them in the last few months. I think it is starting to scare my husband. I do think it is helping though!

[Mary]

Elle, read Collette Scott's Hannah's Blessing if you are looking for well-written romance. I often want my life back after I read a romance, but that one was worth it!

[Everly]

Mary wrote: "Elle, read Collette Scott's Hannah's Blessing if you are looking for well-written romance. I often want my life back after I read a romance, but that one was worth it! [bookcover:Hannah's Blessing|..."

Thanks for the suggestion Mary!

[Mary]

She has other books too, and I "know" her from facebook and other places. BTW I also write romances, but usually from the male point of view and I try hard not to be sappy or steamy. This one is an example: I used my son's picture as Tristan, my "hero." It's kind of fantasy, dealing with the occult and taking place in an imaginary setting. You might like it also. Colette's is contemporary. :-)

[Bryn]

Elle wrote: "I have a question.
How many of you, predominantly read books in the genre in which you write? Who feels like it's best to branch out?"

Perhaps it's because I meant to write sf/fantasy, but... I've ended up with a historical, and I rarely read other historicals. Um, reasons? I guess I don't want to be like the next on the shelf. Historical can get 'stuck in the genre' and often bores me. I'd rather have input from sf, fantasy, things from centuries ago - to open the imagination. Nothing worse than the clone syndrome and if you learn to write from what's going on in your genre right now, it's a danger.

Or maybe I just don't dig historical and am here by accident.

[Susan]

I write what I read! I LOVE PNR (erotica) and at times, I've read something and thought "I could do that" or even "I could do better!"
So I tried it. voila! one book out and another on the way!
They're not award winning but I think they're pretty good! Plus the fact that I'm really enjoying the "work" of putting my stories on paper-or rather on "electronic" paper...

[Nan]

Hi Elle,

Here's what I do...

It takes me three to four months of writing to come up with a first draft of a book (planning before then takes up to six months and involves a lot of long walks, bike rides and constant imagining). I don't read ANYTHING while I'm writing because I'm afraid another writer's style will influence my story and writing.

Once I'm done with a draft, I walk away and read like I'm dying of thirst and books are water. I read all different genres. I read for pleasure, fun, and sometimes because I promised another author a review and I never shirk a promise.

Then it's back to editing and I'm on a strict book diet - only novels that have nothing at all to do with my genre. But, at least I get to read!

It's feast or famine for me in terms of reading, but I probably average a book every few days when I'm taking a break, and that time recharges me, lets me stop obsessing about my own words and story, and inspires me because there are so many insanely talented authors out there!!!

[Nan]

Here's a question for everyone...

What do you do when you promise another author you'll read their book and then you don't like it at all?

*I'm a very new Goodreads author so this hasn't happened to me yet BUT I'm SURE it will because, well, you can't like everything you read, right?

We all know how much work goes into imagining a story, making yourself sit day in and day out to create something that's uniquely your own and that you LOVE LOVE LOVE. It's hard and it's amazing and it's soooo personal.

So what do you do? Do you skip reviewing the book? Do you just give the author a decent number of stars? Do you tell the absolute truth even if you've developed a nice Goodreads relationship and actually like the author?

Hmmm....

[Susan]

Nancy wrote: "Here's a question for everyone...

What do you do when you promise another author you'll read their book and then you don't like it at all? ..."

You can always say something nice and give it the STARS you think it deserves. Or speak with the author privately and spell out your concerns etc.BEFORE you even think about trashing it!

I won't and don't EVER EVER EVER EVER give a gripey, snippy, nit-picky, nasty review! (if I hate a book, I either say something generic or nothing at all)

I just imagine the HEART AND SOUL someone put into their work and I know how I FEEL when I get a bad review. I know I will get them... don't have to LIKE them. I don't want to do that to anyone else.

[Ginger]

I agree whole-heartedly with Susan. As I have been married to a temperamental nine-year-old for 20 years, I have learned that it is always best to point out the good things first and reserve the criticism (always constructive, of course!) for a private conversation. If the person asks for an unadulterated opinion including any negative, be gentle. The author probably has a good idea what her book needs anyway. No sense pounding it home. Also keep in mind that just because the book didn't appeal to you, there is a vast market out there for EVERY genre.

[[deleted user]]

Nancy wrote: "Here's a question for everyone...

What do you do when you promise another author you'll read their book and then you don't like it at all?

*I'm a very new Goodreads author so this hasn't happen..."

I always read the first chapter, or what ever is available as a sample before telling anyone that I'm reading their book. It avoids all kinds of uncomfortable situations.

[Susan]

Ginger wrote: "I agree whole-heartedly with Susan. As I have been married to a temperamental nine-year-old for 20 years, I have learned that it is always best to point out the good things first and reserve the cr..."

THANK YOU !!!!

[Scarlett]

Nancy wrote: "Here's a question for everyone...

What do you do when you promise another author you'll read their book and then you don't like it at all?

*I'm a very new Goodreads author so this hasn't happen..."

OK, how do I put this. Um, people have their own standards. It doesn't mean that if you do not like a book, other people will not as well. So for their sake, and for the author sake, always think the book as a whole in your criticism but not on what you feel or think about it. People might say that your opinions are very important harsh or not, sure that's half-true but it doesn't need to be harsh. Because how can you? You can only speak for yourself not the other billion people around you. There's a real way to be really good critic without smashing someone's work on the ground.

Think first; is this a book do you actually usually read? Maybe the sudden change of atmosphere got you uncomfortable? How about the writing? Is the plot too slow or fast? Even if you hated the book as a whole, is there some parts you liked? Did some parts interested you? Then, what is this book lacking? and so forth. It is never a crime to be a positive (somehow) criticizer.

[Ginger]

Yes, I am always surprised at how subjective literature can be. Even a writer as universally touted as Jane Austen seems to polarize her audience. Just look at the wide discrepancy within the reviews for her books on this site.

As a writer you either connect with the reader or not. When you do, it is magical and disappointing when you do not, for both parties. And then there are those who revel in causing misery. I haven't run into any of them on Goodreads, yet. That's why it is imperative to nail down your demographic. Still working on that!

On the other hand, when you go public with your work, you have to expect a certain amount of criticism. Hopefully, it will come through someone as gentle as Susan or Scarlett! There's a reason I likened a writer to my temperamental husband!

[Joyce]

I read non-fiction because I write historical fiction, and I have to know the era I'm writing about. I've been writing about WWII in Pacific. I've read about 12 books, and I don't know a whole lot more than I already knew.
Joyce Shaughnessy

www.blessedarethemerciful.net

[[deleted user]]

Scarlett wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Here's a question for everyone...

What do you do when you promise another author you'll read their book and then you don't like it at all?

*I'm a very new Goodreads author so this..."

i look forward to trading books with someone and getting genuine feedback. one suggestion i would have is to be sure the other person's book is in a genre that you like. don't agree to read a book just because you want someone to read yours.

the questiong i would have for myself would be this: if i don't really enjoy the book, i'll certainly be honest with the author. however, just out of a courtesy, i'll wonder if i should post a positive review for a publicly viewable review. i think that's what i should do, but i'm not positive.

[[deleted user]]

Mhairi wrote: "I don't know the original reason for it, although that could well be it. I do know it's now going over to 1 space so as to save space when printing books. It makes a huge difference, as I found whe..."

i stick with two spaces because i like it better visually. it's easier for me to see the breaks. also, if i'm ever doing a search/replace, and i want to change something at the end of sentences, i can search for two spaces and weed out all the other one-space moments

and, it's how i learned to type in high school back in the 70's.

[Mary]

I wouldn't put out a review that I couldn't give at least 3 stars to, and something positive. I gave 3 stars to one author in a review trade. She was unhappy at first, but afterward said it was a good review and quotes from it in her promotions. :-) I am currently reading a YA fantasy (and I usually like that Genre) for Women's Literary Cafe and I am tearing my hair out trying to figure out what I am going to say. :-(

[[deleted user]]

question: how do you set your margins in order to get a more acccurate representation of how many pages you're typing if it were to translate to print? i've been trying to count words on pages, words in lines, lines per page in various books, but i don't see anything consistent except usually about 28o words per page. i'm sure others have tried this and have come up with something.

[Mary]

Richard, I set a Word Document at 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches and then set .75 margins. (Word has a statement setting that makes that page size,but set the margins manually.) 12 point Times New Roman Type, slightly bigger for chapter titles if you wish, and you should have a good idea of what your "real book" will be like.

[[deleted user]]

that's about what i was thinking. i'm going with that. thanks. i should have tried that because of how the margins had to be set for the format i chose on createspace.com.

[[deleted user]]

oh, line spacing. single? 1.15?

[Mary]

Richard wrote: "that's about what i was thinking. i'm going with that. thanks. i should have tried that because of how the margins had to be set for the format i chose on createspace.com."

Just keep in mind, Richard, that for a print book you have to allow for the center gutter. CreateSpace tells you how to set up the book Block for them based on your size. :-)

[[deleted user]]

yes, went through the createspace process and it was pretty painless except for the cover.