Self publishing advice from writing to marketing and everything in-between.
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Last Byzantineby Ken McClellan
This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.midwestbookreview.com:
No one listens to a heretic. “The Last Byzantine” tells the story of one of the last heirs of the Roman empire, and the Spanish Inquisition that seems to be intent on preventing the truth from getting out. But it seems this truth may be what’s needed to stop the oncoming Ottomans from marching right into Europe and claiming it as their own. An exploration of medieval politics with allegories to the modern day, “The Last Byzantine” is an exciting work of prose that encourages the reader to ask many questions.
For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/byzantine
Q: What is the most appropriate way to end a piece of creative nonfiction? Should I use “The End” or #####?
A: The point is to show the piece is finished. “The End” is appropriate, as well as one crosshatch or number sign (#). The ends of journalism articles are often marked -30-, which is also appropriate for creative nonfiction.
Bobbie Christmas, book doctor, author of Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more “Ask the Book Doctor” questions and answers at http://www.zebraeditor.com.
Did you know that over 40% of all book sales in the United States last year took place online, through e-retailers like Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com? More and more people are becoming comfortable with (and even accustomed to) shopping online. What’s more, consumers are more likely to purchase lesser-known and self-published books, according to Inc. Magazine.
What does this mean for the self-published author? With the convenience of on demand-printing and full-service self-publishing options: Good things. Selling books online is more cost-effective than selling through a typical bookstore, and that means more money in your pocket. Again, make sure your publisher lets you set your own retail price, royalty, and discount to take maximum advantage of shifting consumer trends.
Just something to keep in mind as you write and investigate the publishing options best in-line with your goals.
Have fun and keep writing!
Karl Schroeder
The Book Doctor expounds on usage: “which” verses “that”
Q: In a former column, someone asked for the rule about when to use “which” and when to use “that.” You answered like this:
“I could give you am involved and boring rule, but one quick-and-easy way to remember when to use ‘which’ and when to use ‘that’ is this: If the word can be eliminated, but the following information cannot, you probably mean ‘that.’ If any word can be eliminated, eliminate it and write tight. (Example: I told Jan that I liked fish. Better: I told Jan I liked fish.) On the other hand, if you have the urge to put a comma in front of it, you probably mean ‘which’ (Example: The fish, which had been caught three days earlier, had a distinct odor.)
This isn’t a rule on when to use “that,” it’s a rule that eliminates the use of “that” from all writing!
A: Thank you for your reply, but I am tempted to say: “That is simply not true!” Look at these examples:
The shoe found in that corner was the clue to the murder.
The fact that she was always late did not mean she did not care.
I stand by my original statement that (!) words that (!) are unnecessary should be deleted. Writers who keep their writing pithy eliminate unnecessary words and employ powerful ones.
Keep me on my toes, though. I like it.
Bobbie Christmas, book doctor, author of Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more “Ask the Book Doctor” questions and answers at http://www.zebraeditor.com.
Self Publishing Advisor 