In Illinois, October is a transitional month. The sun vies with clouds, rain, and wind for supremacy. On any given day, it's a tossup what we'll get next. Don't let it be a tossup what you offer readers. Let it always be your best. One way to do this is to ask for help if you're bogged down. Ask the Editor Free-For-All is here to provide that help. Our Editors are on hand to answer your questions about writing basics, manuscript submissions to publishers or agents, aspects of traditional and/or self-publishing, and more. It doesn't happen often, but if we don't have an answer, we'll offer suggestions where you can get one. To Submit Your Question, Follow These Steps: Leave a comment below in the comment section. Include your name and blog URL or website, so you'll get promo and we'll be assured you're a real person. (One link only, please!) Then check before you leave to make sure your comment did get added, since sometimes Blogger tests ...

In my corner of the world, this summer is one of extremes. We went from a drought to a flood, both undesirable. Writers suffer from similar maladies, either struggling for ideas and/or word count, or the opposite, trying to decide which of too many ideas and/or words to include or discard. Whatever your symptoms, our Ask the Editor Free-For-All  can help. Today, as on every first Tuesday of the month, our Editors will be on hand to answer your questions about writing basics, manuscript submissions to publishers or agents, aspects of traditional and/or self-publishing, and more. It doesn't happen often, but if we don't have an answer, we'll offer suggestions where you can find one. To Submit A Question, Follow These Simple Steps: Leave a comment below in the comment section, including your name and blog URL or website. That way, you'll get promo and we'll make sure you're a person and not a robot. (One link only, please!) Double check to make sure yo...

Yesterday was Independence Day for the United States of America. In this exciting day and age, with so many choices of where and how to get published, everyday can be an independence day for authors no matter where you live. Despite the vast opportunities now available, one criteria doesn't change. We still need to write the best book we can. That's not easy, especially if we get stuck on a point and don't know where to turn for advice. That's where Ask the Editor Free-For-All comes in. How Ask the Editor Free-For-All Works: Today, as in every first Tuesday of the month, our editors are here to answer your questions and and help you achieve your potential of true independence. I send e-mail blasts to e-groups, Facebook, other social networks, blogs, everywhere I know, inviting writers to ask questions. Our editors answer, dispensing valuable tips on writing basics, manuscript submission to publishers or agents, self-publishing, and more. To Submit A Question, Follow The...

Once again, it's the first Tuesday of the month, meaning it's Ask the Editor Free-For-All Time! Winter is over. Spring has sprung, and it's almost summer. Wise gardeners have cultivated their soil. Their reward is previously dormant grass and flowers have sprung to life. What about your manuscript? Has it grown or does it remain dormant, tucked away until you can get to it, or maybe until you can figure out how to pull a few weeds or add fertilizer to get your story moving? Our gardeners a/k/a editors will assist you by offering manuscript growing tips. Ask us and you may receive just the right formula to produce a prize winning masterpiece.  We're here to answer your questions, be they from novices or seasoned writers. No question is too dumb to ask. If we can't provide an answer, we'll offer a suggestion about where to find it. It's our goal to help you grow your manuscript to its potential. How Ask the Editor Free-For-All Works: Today, a...

Once again, it's the first Tuesday of the month, meaning It's Ask the Editor Free-For-All Time! The buzz is growing louder as Kindle and other electronic reader sales grow. Many authors are considering whether or not to take the plunge and self-publish. Whatever your decision, be it to tackle the job yourself, or submit your manuscript to an editor or agent at a publishing house, your book will need great editing to get where you want it to go - to your readers. Today, our editors sit behind their computers, at your disposal, ready to answer your questions, great or small. That's right, even the smallest ones count, so don't be afraid you might seem dumb. If we don't come up with an answer, we'll do our best to refer you to someone who just might solve your dilemma. Let's get that book published right, no matter which avenue you decide to pursue. How Ask the Editor Free-For-All Works: Today, and every first Tuesday of the month, The Blood-Red Pencil ...

Spring is a wonderful season. Everything seems possible when the air grows warmer, the grass turns green and tulips, hyacinths and daffodils begin to bloom. In the dead of winter, it's easy to get down, doubt our talent, and wonder if we have what it takes to write a first book or the next; yet in the Spring, when the birds chirp and the sky is blue, all things seem possible. With the change of seasons, along with the promise of new life, also comes showers and storms. Questions plague us. Is our manuscript as good as it can be? Some parts don't look right. Maybe the whole thing should be pitched and we should start over. Don't give up. You may only need a little fertilizer to get your manuscript ready to bloom in all its richness and beauty. That's where our monthly Ask the Editor Free-For-All comes in. Today, and every first Tuesday of the month, The Blood-Red Pencil sponsors our Ask the Editor Free-For-All. I send e-mails to e-groups, F...

Most books never make it to the big screen, while others transition into popular movies, like True Grit , Up in the Air , All Quiet On the Western Front , and No Country for Old Men. What gives certain books star power over others? In some cases, it might be author connections, but for the majority, it's got to be a great story line. Still, if a tremendous manuscript is overshadowed by author errors, that story will go unnoticed. Readers are great at spotting what's wrong with a book, and gleefully latch onto inconsistencies. Industry higher ups are even more picky. It's a writer's job to keep such slipups from happening. To accomplish this, it may be necessary to ask for help. That's where our monthly Ask the Editor Free-For-All comes in. For those unacquainted with this feature, it goes like this: Today, and every first Tuesday of the month, The Blood-Red Pencil offers the Ask the Editor Free-For-All. I send e-mails to e-groups, Facebo...

You may or may not be rooting for one of the teams in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but you should be rooting for yourself. Get ready for your own Super Bowl of writing, whichever may be your choice: finishing a manuscript, submitting one to an editor or agent, or perhaps self-publishing. You don't have to do it alone. Our Editors are all ready to assist and keep you from fumbling. Here's how we do it: Today, and every first Tuesday of the month, The Blood-Red Pencil hosts Ask the Editor Free-For-All.  I send out e-mail invations to various e-groups, Facebook, social networks, blogs, and anyone else I can think of, to come on over and ask our Editors questions. You'll receive valuable tips about submitting  manuscripts, publishing on Kindle, e-books, self-publishing in various formats, along with writing basics. Don't be bashful. No question is to dumb. We all start somewhere. And, if Editor here can't supply an answer, we'll...

The Holidays are over. You know what that means. It's time to get down to business. Time to follow your New Year's resolutions. If you're like me, one of your goals is to get your manuscript in shape. To do that, you may need some help.The good news is you don't have to go it alone. Our Editors are ready and willing to assist. We invite you to ask our Editors a writing question. Here's how it works: Today, and every first Tuesday of the month, The Blood-Red Pencil hosts our Ask the Editor Free-For-All. I send an e-mail blast to various e-groups, Facebook, my social networking friends, blog followers, and anyone else I can think of, to come over and let our Editors share their expertise. You can get info here on submitting your manuscript to an editor or agent, publishing on Kindle, e-books, self-publishing in various formats, as well as the basics of writing. Don't be afraid to make youself heard. No question is too dumb. Everyone starts s...

If Halloween didn't scare you, maybe the thought of Christmas coming at the end of next month will. Where did all the time go? Had you meant to finish a short story for Christmas, or maybe even a book? Or, maybe you have a special manuscript you'd hoped to get done, but you've been stumped about how to do it. For some reason, certain parts of the publishing process elude you. If only you knew the answers. Here's your chance to find out. Not only that, we have a special offer. That's right, we give free answers to a great many questions from people like you right here in our Ask the Editor Free-For-All. Ask a writing question and our Editors will be happy to answer you. Here's how it works: Today, and every first Tuesday of the month, The Blood-Red Pencil hosts an Ask the Editor Free-For-All. We make a call out to e-groups, Facebook, social network friends, and blog followers to come on over and ask questions. Our editors are more than happy to share t...

The weather's cool, the leaves are turning, plus it's football season. What more reminders do you need it's time to buckle down and tackle your work in progress, the one you put off finishing in the off season summer months? Perhaps an unanswered question is still weaving in and out of your head, blocking your way to the end zone. Where can you find the answer? Look no further. Our formidable editors are standing by, ready and willing to huddle with you. That's what Ask the Editor Free-For-All is about. Here's how it works: Today, and Every First Tuesday of the Month, The Blood-Red Pencil holds our Ask the Editor Free-For-All. We call out for e-group, Facebook, social network friends, and blog followers to rush over onto our field. Our Editors love clearing the way, no matter what your call - submitting a manuscript to an editor or agent, publishing on Kindle, e-books, or self-publishing in other formats. We're in your cor...

Intro: If you have a job like I do, I hope you've adjusted to going back to work today after the Labor Day Holiday weekend! Even if you don't, how about taking a break for a few moments and learn what other writers are asking and what our editors are answering. Or, perhaps you'd also like to contribute a question. If so, please do so below.That's what the Ask the Editor Free-For-All is all about. Here's how it works: Today, and Every First Tuesday of the Month, The Blood-Red Pencil  holds our Ask the Editor Free-For-All. We send out e-mail blasts to e-groups, post on Facebook and other likely spots hoping to find those who will admit they don't know everything. We welcome your questions and will provide answers from our able editors. This shortcut will come in handy if you're submitting a manuscript to an editor or agent, engaging in self-publishing, or perhaps just getting your feet wet. The Blood-Red Pencil is at your service. Ask, ...

Intro: It's the Dog Days of Summer. Heat is everywhere and The Blood-Red Pencil blogspot is no exception. Our readers are hot on the trail, searching for answers to their questions, and our editors are able and ready to assist. Today, as on every first Tuesday of the month, we bring you our monthly feature called Ask the Editor Free-For-All. You ask and our editors tell. If other editors feel inclined to add words of wisdom, we welcome their participation. I can't repeat this enough - Don't be shy. No question is too basic or silly. Here's how it works: Today, and Every First Tuesday of the Month, The Blood-Red Pencil sponsors the Ask the Editor Free-For-All. I send out e-mail blasts to e-groups, post on Facebook and other hot spots searching for brave souls to admit they don't know everything. Ask your question and get an answer from an editor before you submit your manuscript to a publisher or agent, or perhaps self-publish. If you're not tha...

Intro: For those who have come down to earth after the long weekend of 4th and 5th of July celebrations.  we offer our monthly feature called Ask the Editor Free-For-All. Our member editors at The Blood-Red Pencil are standing by eager to hear your questions and respond. We also invite other editors to chime in with their advice and wisdom. Don't be shy. No question is too basic or silly. This is how it works: Today, and Every First Tuesday of the Month, The Blood-Red Pencil sponsors our Ask the Editor Free-For-All. I send out e-mail blasts to e-groups, post on Facebook and other hot spots calling brave souls to speak up and admit they don't know everything. Ask a question here and get an answer from an editor before you submit your manuscript to a publisher or agent. If you haven't reached the submission stage, it's possible you still may need answers to roadblocks keeping you from doing your best work. Find out h...