Ghostwriting With Reasoning

Recently an anonymous blogger sent me in part this private message to the account I have with MyBlogLog:

"... being high literary figure could you tell me that Ghost writing is to cover up some weak positions which may not explain on rationale basis; hence; take the shelter of Ghosts to escape from critical thinking." That's an interesting question, if I am understanding the meaning correctly to be: do people use ghostwriters because they can't think critically themselves?

A ghostwriter responsible for content wouldn't be very valuable if he or she could not write rationally and provide support for positions the author wants to take. This presupposes the material is nonfiction, of course. It doesn't matter for fiction, and I wouldn't attempt to ghostwrite fiction anyway.

It depends (as does most everything) -- it depends on how theoretical, ethereal or philosophical the subject of the writing is. The more concrete, the easier it is to find facts to prove or support a position. As an ethical ghostwriter, though, I draw a line at being responsible for promoting what I personally deplore, like weapons, human trafficking or any sort of violence. I just would not help someone with my efforts to make a case for topics I am against. I would, maybe, edit such works on the basis of upholding the First Amendment. Maybe.

The closest I've come to an ethical dilemma like this was when hired to edit website content that purported to tell men "how to get dates with beautiful women". I gritted my teeth at every innuendo that only beautiful women were worthy of attention. Lauding superficialities just isn't in my character, and I would have never created the piece. I made it more readable, for a hefty price, and I was glad the owner didn't ask me to ghostwrite any more of it.

As far as me "being a high literary figure", I looked behind me to see who she was referring to and then in the mirror to check if I had grown a few inches. Sigh! No such luck. With age we shrink, in many ways.

Missing the Point

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Writer's Block Commitments

Do you know the differences among dreams, goals and commitments? Dreams come to us almost unbidden, although Carlos Castaneda's mentor, Don Juan, taught his followers to enter and control their dreams. The practice of guided dreaming is a long and arduous one. Let's narrow the question to daydreams. What is it about daydreams -- of writing flawlessly in the flow, being a published author, enjoying subsequent successes -- that sets them apart from goals or commitments? It is this: dreams require absolutely no energy. We don't have to do anything, and still we have our dreams. They are very seductive.

Unpublished writers who tell me proudly, "But I still have my dreams!" suggest that they experience only big visions and little actions. Dreams will not become reality without additional effort on your part. That's where the goals and commitments begin, after the dream, the vision.

A goal makes the dream more concrete, more tangible and more probable of attaining reality. Goals are part of a plan, a map. Goals can be mileposts on the road to success. In fact, I encourage celebrating all the small successes along the way to fulfilling your dream. If you plan those celebrations in advance, you will have thought out your pathway and the steps you must take to bring that dream to fruition.

Still, how many trips are planned and marked out on a map, but never taken? What's missing is making the choice to move yourself from the block that is often a fear of failure (perfectionism and procrastination are the most common expressions of this). Commitment is the promise that you will act, invest energy, inconvenience yourself, go without, do whatever it takes to reach those goals. Ironically, you will begin to find that the commitment itself becomes a source of energy and comfort when your physical side flags or your emotions drag you down. And you can renew your commitment, just as married couples renew their wedding vows--different kinds of promises--to replenish your resources.

Use various physical means to remind yourself of your commitment. Some cultures promote "promise rings" for other reasons, but there's no reason why you can't wear something to remind you of the commitment(s) you've made to fulfill your dream via the goals you've set. You can also speak your vow to others, make them public and let your friends participate and support you in reaching each goal. They will certainly be happy to join in each celebration!

Writing Queries and Covers

Earlier this week, I promised to elaborate on the specifics of the six parts of a good business letter. Both queries and cover letters are business communications, always a more formal type of writing with certain informational requirements. The six parts are, according to the Scribner Handbook of English:

• Heading
• Inside Address
• Salutation
• Body
• Closing
• Signature

The heading contains your address and the date. Because email systems sometimes remove formatting, place all the blocks at the left (flush left). On paper, the heading belongs at the right and it is right justified (flush right). And because emails have a built-in header with my name and the date, I may omit it the heading for electronic communications. On paper leave at least one line empty below the heading block.

Begin the Inside Address flush left. In an email, you know at least the name of the company and person you're writing to, right? Find out, even if it means a long distance phone call. Think of it as an investment in your writing career. "Dear Agent" or "Dear Editor" is not only not business-like, it is also poor form and out of style. Place the name and title and full address in a block of lines. Leave one at least one line blank below this block.

The salutation should not be "Hi" or any other word than "Dear" followed by the person's full name. Never address someone who is not already your friend by a nickname or even a first name until they ask you to do so. "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam" or any variations are archaic. Follow the salutation with a colon, at least the first time you contact this person. Leave another blank line below.

The body should also be flush left, with one blank line between paragraphs. In an electronic communication, don't even try to indent the first word of each paragraph. Keep the content short and to the point. The letter or message should fit on one standard page of business stationery. Don't let the illusion of additional length in an email lure you into wordiness or trying to cram in just one more piece of information. Omit humor, gestures of friendliness and personal comments about yourself or the person to whom you are writing. This is business!

Following another blank line comes the closing, flush left and beginning with a capital letter and ends with a comma. It can be any number of typical words or combinations. The first time I write to someone, I usually close with "Sincerely," or "Yours truly,". If we develop a relationship, later on I may use "Best Regards", "Cordially," or even just "Best,". Eschew "Respectfully" and "Faithfully" as archaic. Leave several blank lines on paper to accommodate your written signature as well as a printed one. In email, leaving just one line blank is sufficient. I often end email messages with my full name and contact information, which includes phone number, email address and physical address.

Here's a sample in email format:

Company Name
Ms. Firstname Lastname, Title
Street address
City, State Zip Code
Date

Dear Ms. Lastname:

Body of the message in 2 or 3 paragraphs.

Yours truly,

Georganna Hancock
Street address
City, State Zip Code
Phone number
Email address

See the post on Writing Cover Letters for tips on that kind of content for the body.

Writing Rhetorical Devices

Do you know your antimetabole from your zuegmas? If so, you're all set for the Rhetoric Test Robert Harris offers on his site about de virtues of devices. I'm not sure this would have helped me when I searched for the name of the little quotations or thingies writers sometimes put at the beginnings of chapters (see, I've forgotten the name AGAIN!) Harris just lists sixty rhetorical devices with links to a page of explanations, but that in itself is interesting to read. You might learn of a "trick" to use "to improve the effectiveness, clarity, and enjoyment of your writing." This is part of style, Harris says:

While style is probably best learned through wide reading, comprehensive analysis and thorough practice, much can be discovered about effective writing through the study of some of the common and traditional devices of style and arrangement. By learning, practicing, altering, and perfecting them, and by testing their effects and nuances for yourself, these devices will help you to express yourself better and also teach you to see the interrelatedness of form and meaning, and the psychology of syntax, metaphor, and diction both in your own writing and in the works of others.

Which is the academic equivalent of "how to spark up your works".

Writing Cover Letters

A cover letter literally covers a submission. It is the first sheet of paper in front of a manuscript, or the first section of an email message before submitted material or to which an e-submissions is attached. It is NOT a query. Queries stand alone, asking questions like "would you like to read my manuscript?", "do you accept simultaneous submissions?", "does an article on --- sound like a good fit for your magazine?", or "may I send you this story?"

Both queries and cover letters are business communications and require all six parts of a good business letter. They are, according to the Scribner Handbook of English:

• Heading
• Inside Address
• Salutation
• Body
• Closing
• Signature

I'll elaborate on the specifics of those parts in another post.

It is the content of the body with which we are concerned here. A cover letter presumes that the publication accepts unsolicited submissions or the editor has already asked to receive your work or, perhaps, someone else the editor knows has suggested you send the piece. I can think of no other reasons for writing a cover letter. If you can, please leave a comment.

Conversely, there is no excuse for omitting a cover, either, especially with unsolicited submissions. It is common courtesy. It is expected. It is a record of your submission, and in some cases, it may be vital to having your work understood or even reviewed. In standard business format, mention:

• the title and word count, if the work was requested, and where else and when it has been published (if a reprint submission);
• your writing credits, awards, any expertise that qualifies you to write this work, and information that may be critical but isn't apparent (like well-known authorities interviewed), additional material available (photos, sidebars, sources);
• if applicable, that an SASE is enclosed for the ms. copy's return and/or the editor's response, and don't forget to thank the editor for taking time to read your submission.

You can find some elaborations on the topic of cover letters at Writing World in James Floyd's Cover Me - I'm Going In! and Moira Allen's Cover Letters: When, Why, and How to Use Them.

Writing on Technorati Fans

I've been meaning to give a shout out to the 27 Fans at Technorati. Thanks for "fanning" A Writer's Edge. Please join in the Blog Action Day*Chain if you haven't already, by a visit to the post, follow the directions at the bottom, and get a link on the front page of A Writer's Edge!

• thePuck (Neal Jansons) The Puck Writes
• AricMitchell (Aric Mitchell)
  Special Edition Writing Tips
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• endellion Fix Writer's Block
• housewifeatwork (Crissy Taruc) Housewife @ Work
• phodak (Phil Hodak)The Cure is Worse Than the Disease
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• LindaSW (Linda Simoni-Wastila) leftbrainwrite
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• leannjdavis


• zeldadg (Tricia Grissom) Coffee & Critique Writers Group
• baabaanne (Beth Allen) Aging Boomer Girl


• GlennWalker (Glenn Walker) Welcome to Hell
• Hoyeya (Missy Frye) Incurable Disease of Writing
• incinq (Adria )in cinq
• NyOkieSue2005 (s a)None Current
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• wgburek (Walter Burek)A Writer's Rites
• hawkhill8 News from Hawkhill Acres

• longlivelucyLong Live Lucy
• cottontimer (Hsien-Hsien Lei) Cotton-Pickin' Days

Networking for Writing

It's no secret that I joined a Web 2.0 business group, Kudzu. Actually, they "joined" me to their San Diego website before I even knew about it. There sat the listing, but I did nothing about it -- for a while. When I began to see the company's advertising during local breaks on cable TV, it made me go, "Hmm?"

After I formally joined and filled out the rest of my profile, I looked around to see what I else I could do there. Some actions to take that cost nada in the current economic crunch that most of us are experiencing: ask clients for reviews and network with other businesses.

The site even provides help on how to engage in these good business practices. Kudzu Business Success Center - 5 Networking Tips to Market Your Business in a Slow Economy is just one example of the assistance offered. Marketing expert Susan Gunelius suggests:

1. Just do it.
2. Define your goals.
3. Be prepared.
4. Learn to network effectively.
5. Never stop networking.

It might appear that the latter four counter number one. I think what she means by the first tip is that getting started networking is most important. It takes pushing yourself (especially for shy writers), stretching beyond your constrictive comfort zone. What's the worst that could happen? NOT connecting, not getting new business ... so what? You're not getting any business by blending into the wallpaper, either. Beginning to network before you're all set with tips two, three and four holds no dangers, so, just do it! The middle three will add to your success. And then do number five. Rinse and repeat.

Read other articles here on networking and promotion.

Silly Literature

Litter-ature #1

From Well, now, Bob... by Bob Kalsay, writer and filmmaker.
Writing/Art/Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, eh Bob?

Writing Irregular Plural Nouns

One of the basic editing tasks is to ensure that subjects and verbs match in number . There are three numbers—singular, dual, and plural—that are distinguished in both the noun and the verb, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Let's not worry about the archaic "dual" form here. The greatest problem for writers is the fact that many nouns, which are used for subjects, don't always become plural by the regular method of adding an s or es to the end of the singular form: dog, dogs/church, churches. In fact, most words that end in s, x, ch, or sh form plurals this way.

Irregular nouns don't need a laxative, but they do need special handling when forming their plurals and, subsequently, when writing an associated verb. If the plural of a noun is the same word, take care to use a plural verb when that is what you mean. For example, we may use fish or fishes as the plural form of fish. Thus all the following sentences are correct:

Fishes fill the dish.
Fish fill the dish.
A fish fills the dish. (singular)

Other unchanging nouns include:

barracks
deer
crossroads
offspring
dice (although die can be the singular)
gallows
headquarters
sheep
means
series
species

Find help with forming plurals of all forms of irregular nouns at the University of Victoria's 330 Grammar and Georgia State University's Joanna Crump's grammar pages.

A Cool Writer's Edge

Just found out that A Writer's Edge was the featured resource today on The Freelance Zone, a pretty cool-looking site itself. Editor Catherine Tully, an experienced freelancer, wrote to let me know about it. Catherine called this a "Cool Blog". She has also commented on the post about asking for help. What a cool way to end a hot California day! Thank you, Freelance Zone!

Writers Go Video

I've been writing about book trailers (video intros, teasers, ads) and podcasts (first only audio, now A/V) for writers since they first began. But video is really taking off this summer. Lengthy, full-blown interviews and panel discussions appear in blogs for a zippy technological edge. The latest I've noticed is in Maria Schneider's The Writer's Perspective.

This Writer's Digest editor began on August 4 with a modest segment of a series called "WD Live"and featuring "authors Steve Berry, Brad Thor and James Rollins, discussing how they quietly began writing each others [sic] characters into their respective books." A series of short cine scenes developed and quickly morphed into "Writers Digest.tv" by August 12. You can select from nine episodes in the archive at archive at the BLIP.TV website.

Just prior to and in sync with Schneider's segue from the printed page into full-blown digital presentations, these posts appeared in A Writer's Edge:

Writers' Videos & Trailers, July 27
Writers' Videos & Trailers, July 27 (complete)
Writing for Mobile Video, August 3
Author's Book Video, August 5
"N" on Your Blog, August 7

Words Don't Count, People Do

According to research performed by by some cognitive scientists, we don't need words in order to count, subtract and divide, to perform basic arithmetic, otherwise known as enumeration. How do we do it? One, two, three, four -- that's about as far as some cultures go with words for numbers. Oh, they may have a word for the concept of "many" or "more than three or four", but nothing specific like five or six.

Take English-speaking people and Warlpiri or Anindilyakwa, Australian aboriginal groups that fit the parameters described. Drs. Brian Butterworth and Robert Reeve tested children from these groups in various tasks with tokens. They tried out simple number memory, nonverbal addition and division with various amounts. Their results, while not terrifically conclusive, support the theory that, as Dr. Butterworth said, "...humans posess an innate system for enumeration that doesn't rely on words."

The project was reported in Tuesday's publishing of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluding that words for numbers are "useful but not necessary". Read the AP story for details. Scary! What's next, discovering we don't need language to communicate at all?

Ask for Writing Help

"There are no stupid questions" admonishes the old adage [a redundancy to avoid], however, stupid approaches abound. Two popped up in my email this week at quite different ends of the continuum. One wanted me to quote a price for website writing, the other wanted me to critique her writing, apparently for free. Both were fairly anonymous, hiding behind screen names and using different websites' "personal messaging" systems (which send an email to my computer to go online and check my personal mailbox, in one case).

Let's take the latter example, which happens to be the person who wants help with her writing. She PM'd me, although my signature clearly states "No PMs -- email Writers-Edge@gmail.com". I had a free second or two, so I indulged this kid's whim. I presume it is a kid. Who else would be so rude? My signature also clearly indicates that I am a professional editor as well as a writer. I have had no previous communication with this person, however she feels free to ask:

I've read some of the other advice you've given other writers on their submissions, and I was wondering if you'd take a look at my short story. "XXX" in Literary fiction. I'd appreciate any advice you have.

No compliment. No sucking up. Not even a greeting or a signature! And not even the courtesy of an email asking if I'd do this favor and perhaps attaching the story in manuscript format. I have no idea who she is and wonder why she thinks she can presume.

Then, through a different website, came this gem of an inquiry:

HI
i am looking for a content writer (online) if you are interested please pop
me a email with your capacity and quotes.

Thanks
SAM
This message was sent to you by Nutrition Jobs.

Thanks, but I don't think I want to work for someone with such an inadequate grasp of grammar. A glance at this person's Profile gives no clue as to her real name or website. I did reply to her, asking for more information in detail, but I will be surprised to receive a response.

People, people, courtesy and common sense did not walk out the door when PCs were invented! Disguising your identity is a good method to encourage that you not be taken seriously. Whether or not an email message is a casual note between friends or a business letter depends on the intent. A job offer requires a formal approach. Asking a favor with no attention to first building a relationship is professional suicide.

Writing Altar and Alter

How about a writing alter? I worship words. Nothing is sacred, a sacred word. If none of this is making sense, it's because I am mixing up alter and altar. Confusing these two words is once more a matter of them sounding the same, but having quite different meanings:

alter, a verb (action)
1. To change or make different; modify: altered my will.
2. To adjust (a garment) for a better fit.
3. To castrate or spay (an animal, such as a cat or a dog).

altar, a noun (object)
1. An elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered.
2. A structure, typically a table, before which the divine offices are recited and upon which the Eucharist is celebrated in Christian churches.

Those definitions are from the American Heritage Dictionary via Answers.com. In Latin "alter" means "other" and thus we have the phrase "alter ego" -- another self. Don't sacrifice your credibility with an "altar ego".

Maybe you can remember the differences this way: Alter your wedding clothes before you stand at the altar.

Waiting on Editing

Many new writers wonder what to do when they complete their first books. Should they start right in editing it, take a vacation, work on something else?

Once again I turn to the romance novel writers for inspiration and information. This time, Valerie Parv, known as Australia's queen of romance, who conducts seminars and workshops on creativity and all aspects of the writing craft based on her two best-selling guides for writers.

From Parv's The Art of Romance Writing:

All professional writers know the value of allowing a piece of writing to "cool off" before submission. After a few days or a week away from it, you become more objective in your assessment and more able to spot any flaws. For this reason, I suggest that you allow at least a couple of weeks between completing your manuscript and sending it to a publisher.

This advice presumes you've already gone through rewrites and final edits, but it applies to every stage of preparation. Before you send out the manuscript for the first time (usually a partial to an agent) LET IT REST before the last inspection.

More tips on editing are scattered throughout A Writer's Edge.

Paperback Writing

Apparently this was the week that was video! Remember when we all dreamed of having our works published, and the vision was only a slip-cased hardbound BOOK? Paperbacks were what we found in racks at the drugstore and, perhaps surreptitiously slid under our pillows. The economics of publishing, and perhaps The Beatles, changed all that, as now we settle for being just a

PAPERBACK WRITER

Paperback Writer Video - The most amazing videos are a click away

Writing for Blog Action Day

A few hours ago, the Blog Action Day 08 campaign officially began. This year the theme is "Poverty", and A Writer's Edge encourages fellow and sister bloggers around the world to once again explore this issue on your blogs on October 15th. We've joined. How about you join too?

View and hear a jazzy video at http://www.vimeo.com/1529825 or here at http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1731287208 (via Change.org). You can copy the link to it at Vimeo and Brightcover.TV and email it to friends and get the code to embed it on your own website pages and blogs.

Please join in and if you get a little Writer's Block about what to put in your post on Blog Action Day, the site even offers a page of resources to spur your creativity.


08/23/08 CLARIFICATION:

To join Georganna's Blog Action Day*Chain: Post to your blog about joining & include the link to this post (www.writers-edge.info/2008/08/writing-for-blog-action-day.htm) so I can find yours. Or leave a comment to this post to let me know you've joined.

Your blog will be added to the Blog Action Day*Chain on the main page here at A Writer's Edge.

Detailing Writer's Block

The Devil is in the details could easily apply to Writer's Block. Sometimes we are hung up on a fragment we feel is vital to the story, setting, background, or action. Maybe we need to research it to have the information necessary for an accurate description--or even for an inspiration.

Using details to spark your creativity can be as simple as sitting back and cataloging your environment. Whether it is your room, your yard, the laundromat, Starbucks, the library or wherever you are trying to write, start to notice the details. Capture them with a recorder, be it electronic or old-fashioned pencil and paper. Maybe even make little drawings to accompany the words and help remind you of the experience of being there. Make that Being There.

Being There means fully present, using all your senses and your mind (more on that in a moment).

• What do you smell? How many different fragrances are wafting before your sniffer? Focus on the odor and try to detect all the components, pleasurable and not so much.
  
• Taste is more difficult, and I'm not going to tell you to go around licking everything, but do what you can and note what your tongue experiences, texture, flavor, acid, salt, sweet, savory; breathing in; breathing out; pinching your nostrils shut (no smell changes taste).
  
• Touch, within reason, every object you pass or that you can reach. Feel the various textures and describe them. Feel the temperature. Savor the sensations.
• Seeing, really Seeing, is worthy of an article all its own. Don't just pass your eyes across the scene and call it seen. Linger on each item and scrutinize it carefully. Have you ever studied people's ears? Fascinating!
• Now do the same with your ears, listening to all the music that makes up the background of your life. Separate each component and hear each noises individually. As I have previously advocated, listen in on others' conversations--priceless prose to use in a story.

If you are observing and hearing other people, your thoughts may engage in puzzling out what they are doing or talking about. Before you know it, your imagination is teased back to life wondering, wondering ... and what if?

By the time you are bored recording all this minutiae, I guarantee you will have ideas galore for resolving your temporary interruption in the flow of creativity.

Editing the Editors

People approached me with tips for a "good story" when I was a working newspaper staff member, a radio news reporter, and later as a stringer for a major paper. Then they were miffed when I didn't write about the topic they "gave" me (as if it were a present!) I'm sure they had no notion of the work entailed in tracking down the facts about an issue or story. Also, reporters then seldom had the opportunity to present new stories to the people who decided what to pursue and assigned the jobs (editors).

A similar phenomenon takes place currently in the arena of "grassroots journalism". It is both more and less difficult to find the facts when someone posts on a discussion board or forum that a certain website is a good resource, so why don't I write about it here? Often those posts are anonymous plantings of lightly veiled advertising. If they contain negative comments, the source may be disgruntled former employees, customers, or even competitors.

Take "Editor Report" for example. On the surface description, it sounds good: a place freelancers can post inside scoops on what certain editors are like to work with, how publications treat writers -- all without fear of retribution. A little deeper probing reveals:

• site hosted on a free service
• only one page
  
• no identification of owner available
  
• appears to be based on a particular gripe
  
• contains cryptic linkage
• no dates on complaints
• vague references to a lawsuit
  

I suppose there might be entertain value as gossip, but for useful information? Nada. Grudge value? High. Noteworthy? Only as an example of a bad apple. I suspect it is the work of one of the members of the lawsuit mentioned or a supporter and not a public service for freelancers.

And it took me 30 minutes to dig up these facts and pull them together in this post, based on what I could learn online. Add a few minutes more to find and upload a relevant photo, then plug the whole message into the blog. That's why most leads are so fruitless. Or, you could say I made sour lemonade out of this one.

Writing for Money Online

At the beginning of the month, I offered some good reasons for writers to blog. One item that went unmentioned was "make money". I left it out because I don't think it is true. I don't believe that writers will make money blogging. Not an amount that will make more than a tiny ding in their debts. Perhaps dedicated bloggers can make money, but that is running an online business, not at all the business of writing poetry, articles, or books.

If you would like to explore the possibilities of making money online anyway, take a look at Employed Development. I'm not sure who writes it, or what the title means, but the blog appears to contain some useful posts (you have to dig for them) and a few articles that might help.

Getting started in a confusing welter of tools, plans and scams is eased by semi-anonymous Jennifer's Make Money Work Online. The straight-forward blog title is followed by a handful of useful "Tips, advice, and tidbits from my journey making money online" as she has subtitled the site. She also offers links to other similar websites:

* I Need Money
* Make Money Online
* Secret Money Blog
* The Freebie Blogger
* Ways to Make Money Online

Read the original post on "Blogging for Writing".

Writing Together

The last Silly Saturday post was a screen capture from the WEbook website's Toolbox. The phone dial-like 911 Writers Block uses gadget-filled AV prompts (requires an audio plugin I don't have). So when you're stuck:

• Dial 1 for Settings
• Dial 2 for Characters
• Dial 3 for Dramatic Entrances
• Dial 4 for Dialogue
• Dial 5 to Commiserate
• Dial 6 for Verbs
• Dial 7 for Calisthenics
• Dial 8 to Kill a Character
• Dial 9 for Endings
• Dial 0 for More Help

The last one "Dial 0" links you to the site's forum on Writer's Block. The threads I checked have few entries, so I can't really recommend it as a source of help.

The whole site appears to be a group writing project, very Web 2.0, with voting, groups and eventual publication possibilities.

Against Author Websites

A good journalist presents a balanced picture of an issue. Here's the flip side about authors and writers having websites: a few reasons not to do it.

Don't start a website with the intention of making money, especially if you're beginning from scratch on the Internet. That means, just starting out with no existing presence or platform by which you are known in the electronic media. In order to make money with a website, you need to be able to attract visitors in the thousands from Day One. Why? So that you can quickly justify charging advertisers enough to cover your expenses and make a profit. Don't think that you will make such an income with click-for-pay ad services or affiliate links. Only straight out ad sales bring in that kind of dough.

Another common mistake authors and writers make is desiring a website to stroke enlarged (or depleted) self-images. Yep, I'm talkin' EGO, just like John Edwards getting a big head and thinking he could do whatever he wished and people would still adore him. Putting up a site in praise of yourself with loads of personal photos, tons of testimonials, and TMI about yourself eventually gags even the most ardent fans. They want to know facts about your life, not adulations from other admirers.

Finally, the last faulty reasoning for establishing a writer's or author's website is to sell a book or books. You won't make diddly-squat trying to sell your book only from a website. People don't often buy at top dollar from an author's site, unless they can obtain the (very desirable) material nowhere else. This is mostly because anywhere else is probably cheaper. Visitors will love learning all about your production, right down to the ISBN, which they can plug into a major online retailer's database, usually finding remaindered editions or even new copies a cost considerably less than you think you can charge. Don't forget the time, effort and expenses of fulfillment, too. You either have to pay someone else to ship the orders or do it yourself.

In case you've forgotten, here are some good reasons for authors and writers to establish websites.

911 for Writer's Block

Writing Eight, 8, Ate

08/08/08 -- That's today, Fortunate Friday, the date of the opening of the Olympic games in Beijing. Right now, it is evening there as you can see at timeandate.com. What about the 8s and why fortunate Friday? That relates to the Chinese pronunciation of the name of the numeral and its culture of significance. In Chinese (Mandarin, I think), the word for eight is pronounced the same as the word for prosperity. The date would be, "ba, ba, ba", not for black sheep or to indicate contempt, but for lots of good luck money wise. Very appropriate, because all the athletes are there to "go for the gold".

In English, we don't determine the meaning or the significance of words based on their pronunciation. Eight, which means the numeral 8, is also pronounced the same as the word ate. But there is no connection between "eightness" and consuming food. Similarly, there's no connection that I know between "baa" and "bah". Chinese must be a very confusing language to master!

"N" on Your Blog!

Someone at Simon & Schuster must have read my post on the King video--or else I'm going blind. Now I see the widget to display the series of videos of Stephen King's "N". Enjoy it while it lasts!

Summer Reads Mini-Reviews

Time to catch up on my mentions of book readings this summer:

Oxygen, ISBN: 978-1416556107, by Carol Cassella. An anesthesiologist writing about an anesthesiologist. How droll! But the author's experience undoubtedly lead to the richness and depth of the book, a mystery with twisty subplots to captivate the most bored of minds. If I ever have surgery again, I'll regard the gas passer much more closely and with great respect. I wonder just how much soul-searching doctors really indulge in? Top read!

Disobedience, ISBN: 978-0743291569, by Naomi Alderman. Glimpses into very different lives always intrigue me, and none are more different than those of Orthodox Jews. More so, apparently, if the traditional community is set in staid Great Britain, that bastion of blancmange. The spicy religious sect hold secrets within secrets, gradually revealed as the main character, Ronit, visits the place from which she thought she had escaped her heritage. Sad and unsettling.

Promise of the Wolves, ISBN: 978-1416569985, by Dorothy Hearst. Talking animals are not my preference for historical or fantasy reading. The rabbits of Watership Down bored me silly. However, this first of a trilogy titled "The Wolf Chronicles" has a mystic element to it that caught my interest and eventually enchanted me. Especially the mystery-master talking raven. The wolves became believable characters, even with their silly names, and revealed just enough animal actions to keep a reader reminded of their true nature.

These are all, I believe, debut novels and an interesting mix. I give them an up, down and neutral in the Thumbs category.

Blogging for Writing

Exercise your right to write! If you live in the western world or any other place with laws similar to the U.S. "freedom of speech", they you have a right to express yourself--out loud and in print (that includes on the Internet). Writing a blog is right good exercise of your writing muscles, too. More ways dedicated blogging builds writing skills:

• increases self-confidence
• provides feedback, readers
  
• instant publishing
• improves writing over time
  
• opportunity to experiment
• no pressure writing
  
• develops writing habit
• makes it a pleasure
  
• outlet for writing distractions

The last item is especially for fiction writers. You know those notions that pop up when you're in the middle of a long piece that you want to capture but can sidetrack you from the main story? Blog 'em! You'll get them out of your system and, if they're really good ideas, they'll be recorded so you can develop them later.

If you're interested, read the original Independence Day rant on your right to write.

Author's Book Video

Last week I suggested trying your hand at designing a book trailer or other type of video to help market your writerly services or book. One reader, Melissa Carrigee, chose to be my "crash test dummy" and prepared a slide show with music to help attract customers to her book, Adventures in Home Building. See the results (with music!) at the bottom of the home page of her blog, Melissa's Manic Musings. I've suggested that she see if she can shrink the size of the whole widget and put it at the top of the right column, maybe just above the image of her book.

Read the original post that sparked this madness.

Editing Nonfiction Development

Most people have at least a vague idea of what copyediting entails, starting with proofreading tasks. Many writers perform their own editing; others are more confident in hiring a professional to spot mistakes and "clean up" the writing. However, in traditional publishing, a very different type of editing takes place long before the copyediting stage.

A developmental editor may consult with the writer before any writing is started. The developmental editor can help organize the document or book, determine what features to include, and set a level and framework to evaluate the finished or in-progress work. A method for handling copyrights and trademark issues is often needed. Other tasks may include:

• determining headings, subheads
• setting a format
• finding missing information
• determining graphics style
• checking for timeliness
• rearranging text for flow
• rewriting or moving material to fit format

When the time comes to hand off the manuscript to a copyeditor, the developmental editor might provide a very basic style sheet and/or edited pages that display the required styles of form and usage. The developmental editor may also tell the copyeditor how to achieve a particular level, tone, and focus for the writing.

See all the posts on copyediting.

Writing for Mobile Video

Are you watching Stephen King's story "N"? Watching a story? Has Georganna lost what's left of her mind? I mean watching it here on the Web or on your mobile phone/device? Five episodes were already up when I checked. See the preview. It's pretty scary! If only they allowed embedding the code ...

According to a recent Publishers Weekly article, several electronic and publishing biggies teamed up to create “N,” a video series of made for mobile phones from Stephen King’s forthcoming story collection Just After Sunset . (The book will come out in November.) Two-minute episodes will be available daily from Monday, July 28 through August 29 to mobile phone users at no extra charge through CBS Mobile; on the Web through CBS Audience Network, AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo; and at www.NisHere.com (referenced at the top).

Writing Big Books

German trompe de l'oeil

Too Soon for an Author Website?

This week I read a plea from a small publisher for help with the Amazon listing for one of his books. Two pieces of information were incorrect, and the author was frantic to get them changed. Getting changes made to an Amazon listing is akin to steering a supertanker. I thought, "This is an excellent reason for the author (and the publisher) to have a website just for that book!" The book or writer's website is the authoritative last word, a place readers can find accuracy about what was written and published, obtain a sample of the writing, learn more about the author, and discover exactly what they need to buy the material. A website can direct buyers to the point of sale that provides the best return for the author.

Another use for a writer's website is to provide interaction among the author and readers. Perhaps this is nothing more than an email address where inquirers can send questions or fans can send praises. The writer controls the amount and rate of personal data released. As it feels more comfortable, add a newsletter, a forum, a chat (escalating to real-time communications). Readers these days expect to find a website address on book covers, a place to learn more about the writer and published works, even works in progress and a meeting point to find other enthusiasts. Think of it as a digital fan club.

Writers' independent websites also help establish credibility. Everyone is expected to have one. For authors, a different site dedicated to each book or series of books is a huge aid for crossing genres, even for those who write under pen names. Seldom are the limited spaces allowed by publishers sufficient (and sometimes, even they are also inaccurate or out of date.)

Although it's never too late to add a website to your marketing repertoire, it is recommended that the site precede publication by at least six months. Add another six months for website construction and content development, and you'll see why it's also seldom too soon to start a site.

See other posts here on websites for writers, or consult Hancock Websites.