tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post1848951768398007021..comments2024-03-29T03:03:52.813-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Make the Most Of Your Spring With Ask the Editor Free-For-AllDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8023209628679776932011-04-06T14:40:10.097-06:002011-04-06T14:40:10.097-06:00I have a question about e-books, kindle and kobo.
...I have a question about e-books, kindle and kobo.<br />Are there various places that short stories can be submitted?<br /><br />dellabarrett@hotmail.comDella Barrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-5362766169805091482011-04-06T12:29:58.353-06:002011-04-06T12:29:58.353-06:00Are there any set rules as to how long a paragrapg...Are there any set rules as to how long a paragrapgh should be when writing a fictional short story. A reader wrote the following about my excerpts: Your writing is clear and engaging - although I think you can split your long paragraphs into shorter, more easily ingested nuggets."<br /><br />Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.Vivienne Diane Nealhttp://oneworldsingles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-334049958913575142011-04-06T08:47:16.435-06:002011-04-06T08:47:16.435-06:00Virginia - re: when to use "that" and wh...Virginia - re: when to use "that" and when to use "which" - a quick way to think of it is that "which" is always preceded by a comma, and "that" is never preceded by a comma (unless used in a different context, of course). <br /><br />Here's an example: "The hotel that I stayed in was in Times Square." vs. "The hotel, which was really expensive, was in Times Square."Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59172017808549914872011-04-05T20:43:47.572-06:002011-04-05T20:43:47.572-06:00Elle, thanks for pointing out how to format for a ...Elle, thanks for pointing out how to format for a traditional publisher.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049394691761207300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14591681713003686422011-04-05T20:41:24.319-06:002011-04-05T20:41:24.319-06:00Kathryn, thanks for your thoughts about using thir...Kathryn, thanks for your thoughts about using third person to communicate thoughts. It's certainly an interesting approach.<br /><br />It's such a balancing act between all the different ways to do the same thing. I suppose that's what makes it art.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049394691761207300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3229221258427974912011-04-05T20:35:01.232-06:002011-04-05T20:35:01.232-06:00Please explain when to use "that" and wh...Please explain when to use "that" and when to use "which."Virginia Walton Pilegardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825040621998676190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28448469161816287052011-04-05T20:25:51.409-06:002011-04-05T20:25:51.409-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Virginia Walton Pilegardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825040621998676190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87890556395333052652011-04-05T20:04:10.704-06:002011-04-05T20:04:10.704-06:00Elle, I'm going to have to find out how you ke...Elle, I'm going to have to find out how you kept the italics here! I even tried copying italics from a Word doc and then pasting them here, and the italics changed to normal font here! LOLJodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8480676794943443662011-04-05T19:56:56.702-06:002011-04-05T19:56:56.702-06:00John, Jodie is correct in saying that thoughts sho...John, Jodie is correct in saying that thoughts should be italicised, but when submitting to a traditional publisher italics should be indicated by underlining the words in question (just to confuse matters further).<br /><br />So, your example would go to the publisher like this (minus the blue bolding):<br /><br /><a rel="nofollow">I hate the color blue</a>, James thought. He moved to the windows and opened the curtains revealing a sky filled with clouds. He smiled. <a rel="nofollow">I love cloudy days</a>.<br /><br />And come out printed like this:<br /><br /><i>I hate the color blue</i>, James thought. He moved to the windows and opened the curtains revealing a sky filled with clouds. He smiled. <i>I love cloudy days</i>.<br /><br />Of course, if you're self-publishing then just use italics.<br /><br />Elle<br />HearWriteNow & Blood-Red PencilElle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76884670570925973642011-04-05T19:50:15.090-06:002011-04-05T19:50:15.090-06:00Thanks, John and Terry. Glad to be of help. Kathry...Thanks, John and Terry. Glad to be of help. Kathryn, I agree with your example, but I think often a direct thought in italics is much more immediate and compelling than an indirect thought, especially at a stressful time. Kind of like direct quotes are more immediate and compelling than indirect quotes or paraphrasing what someone has said. Direct thoughts I would put in italics are generally of the shorter, more emotional variety, and include swear words.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31126850701312854442011-04-05T19:44:17.381-06:002011-04-05T19:44:17.381-06:00Jodie - thanks for your answer about the dashes an...Jodie - thanks for your answer about the dashes and quotes in beats. I admire anyone who can actually find and understand anything in CMS.<br /><br />TerryTerry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64377696861566104422011-04-05T19:42:22.819-06:002011-04-05T19:42:22.819-06:00John: Unlike Jodie, I'm not a fan of interject...John: Unlike Jodie, I'm not a fan of interjected thoughts that are italicized. (See--it's a subjective business!) On rare occasions, for emphasis, fine. But it's a lazy writer's technique, in my opinion. Third person POV gives you all the leeway you need to telescope in and out of someone's head--you just have to group the inner thoughts so you aren't making the reader nauseous with all that pulling back and zooming in.<br /><br />James moved to the window and opened the curtains. The sky was filled with clouds. He smiled. He hated the color blue, but cloudy days suited him just fine.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61429912679995270352011-04-05T19:35:29.519-06:002011-04-05T19:35:29.519-06:00Martha: I'm a little hazy on your book concept...Martha: I'm a little hazy on your book concept. I'd urge you to think like a publisher, since that's what you'll be. "A Book and a Dish" = great concept for a blog, but are you planning a compilation here, of reviews already posted online, and you now hope that someone will buy them? Why would they--are you taking the blog down? Also keep in mind that book reviews have a fairly short shelf life.<br /><br />When becoming your own publisher, you are suddenly forced to protect your own bottom line. It's sobering.<br /><br />That said, if you 're convinced there's a market for this book, you might arrange to meet with a book packager to see what services they could offer in its design.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8011791924667137302011-04-05T19:33:52.642-06:002011-04-05T19:33:52.642-06:00Jodie, thank you for taking time to respond to my ...Jodie, thank you for taking time to respond to my question regarding internal dialogue. I also appreciate that you took time to break out the difference between Direct Thoughts and Indirect Thoughts.<br /><br />Your response has really helped me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.<br /><br />All the best, <br /><br />JohnAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049394691761207300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42573015510139206562011-04-05T19:29:46.218-06:002011-04-05T19:29:46.218-06:00Anonymous: I agree with Maryann. I just heard this...Anonymous: I agree with Maryann. I just heard this addressed at an agent panel I moderated. The agents know the biz is tough right now, and that people need to make decisions on how long they'll put off having a book out. The stigma attached to self-publishing--if done well--is no longer the same. As a matter of fact, if you put out e-books, you might be considered "cutting edge"!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86989099217127345282011-04-05T18:54:16.935-06:002011-04-05T18:54:16.935-06:00Mac, I will offer a suggestion regarding your firs...Mac, I will offer a suggestion regarding your first question as to how to plan a release party. Are you wanting to do that virtually or in a real setting? For a real setting, I just did a launch party at a local B&B. I sent out special invitations to family and friends and acquaintances. We had an assortment of refreshments and I did a little talk about how the book came to be.<br />As for a virtual launch, there are sites that specialize in that, and you can find them by doing a Google search for Book Launch Parties. Good luck.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15449452235757813332011-04-05T18:50:15.469-06:002011-04-05T18:50:15.469-06:00Anonymous, publishing your books yourself as e-boo...Anonymous, publishing your books yourself as e-books will not hurt your chances of eventually finding a publisher for a subsequent book. A lot of authors, including myself, are doing e-books and getting published by traditional publishers. And if your e-books do real well on Amazon, you can make as much money, or more, than you do with a traditional publisher.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2304298658292252472011-04-05T18:47:46.116-06:002011-04-05T18:47:46.116-06:00<>
LM. you can include thoughts in action s...<><br /><br />LM. you can include thoughts in action scenes but I would keep the thoughts to a minimum, especially if it is a male character in the middle of some action. Men seem to focus on the action and think later, while women would be more apt to do some processing along the way.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-325742760800487562011-04-05T18:11:40.891-06:002011-04-05T18:11:40.891-06:00I'll have to remember those find and replace s...I'll have to remember those find and replace shortcuts.<br />Thanks, Jodie.<br />Morgan MandelMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71909656886423375372011-04-05T18:00:36.369-06:002011-04-05T18:00:36.369-06:00Oops! Thought I'd changed that first one to &q...Oops! Thought I'd changed that first one to "heck". ;-)Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30810771055576143622011-04-05T17:20:59.661-06:002011-04-05T17:20:59.661-06:00John, direct thoughts, in first-person present ten...John, direct thoughts, in first-person present tense, like "What the hell is she thinking?" or your "I hate the color blue," should be in italics. (I can't seem to put them in italics in this comment box, so I put quotation marks around them, which of course wouldn't be there, since they're thoughts and not spoken words.) "he thought" is not necessary, since the italics indicates direct thoughts.<br /><br />Indirect thoughts, like, "He wondered what the heck she was thinking," and "He hated the color blue," would not be in italics, or in quotation marks.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34432860216565755602011-04-05T15:42:25.956-06:002011-04-05T15:42:25.956-06:00What is the proper way to delineate internal dialo...What is the proper way to delineate internal dialogue from external events that take place in the same paragraph?<br /><br />For example:<br /><br />I hate the color blue, James thought. He moved to the windows and opened the curtains revealing a sky filled with clouds. He smiled. I love cloudy days.<br /><br />Okay, horrible writing sample, but is that the right way to handle it? Should the internal thoughts be set off with quotes or as italics? It seems to be handled differently from author to author. Is there a standard and correct way to do this?<br /><br />John<br />https://twitter.com/#!/jlwardxAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049394691761207300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64164238859022533092011-04-05T15:22:49.216-06:002011-04-05T15:22:49.216-06:00I have 2 questions. First question. My new book ...I have 2 questions. First question. My new book will be out in June and I want to have a release "party." When my 1st book came out it did just that, came out. This one I want to make a really big deal of so how do I go about creating a release party?<br /><br />Second question. I have a site called A Book and A Dish where I post my reviews and the author's favorite recipe. I would like to publish a book under this name but not through my publisher. I've never self-published before and have no idea how it's done. I want to make this a donation book with the proceeds going to Animal Shelters. Can anyone out there help me? My email address is marthacheves@bellsouth.net<br />Thanks<br />MarthaThink With Your Taste Buds - Chickenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14095428312331087558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81532323862409975022011-04-05T15:21:58.102-06:002011-04-05T15:21:58.102-06:00Hello, my question is about action scenes. When do...Hello, my question is about action scenes. When doing action scenes is it alright to make it personal by adding in character's thoughts using 3rd person personal or will it break the flow?<br /><br />http://lmpreston.blogspot.comLM Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624508396760965680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30552507096710115882011-04-05T14:57:24.885-06:002011-04-05T14:57:24.885-06:00I've published one mystery in hard cover, and ...I've published one mystery in hard cover, and it did reasonably well. My first (small) publisher has since gone out of business, though, and I can't find a publisher for the second in the series. I'm considering publishing that second mystery as an e-book, and since I have the rights back to the first mystery, publishing that one as an e-book as well. If I do that, will I jeopardize my chances at finding a publisher for other work? My third book is unrelated to the first two--it's women's fiction rather than a mystery/thriller.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com