Choosing a Publisher

Ask the Doctor – Sections in a Novel / Self-Publishing

Q: Is there any technical reason for a novel to be broken up into parts? I want to break my next novel up in a way that I haven’t really seen before.

Part 1 – Introduction of the main character (the good guy). Provide plot and conflict.

Part 2 – Introduce opposing character (the bad guy)

Part 3 – Good and bad characters clash, and conflict is resolved.

The first twelve chapters focus on the “good guy” perspective. The “bad guy” is introduced in Chapter 13. If I spend the next twelve or so chapters telling the other side of the story (the bad guy’s perspective), will readers forget the plight of the good guy in the first twelve chapters?

I really want to have the two sides (good and evil) make compelling arguments. By breaking up the novel this way, I hope the reader will be conflicted going into the third part of the book. Any thoughts?  

A: The reason you can’t find any specific material on the subject of breaking a novel into parts is that (at least to my knowledge) there is no absolute rule regarding it.

The only problem I can perceive is that according to your outline, all the clash occurs in the final part, so what will make readers continue reading through the first two parts? Yes, it says plot and conflict will be provided in Part 1, but if there’s only one character in that part, how can there be conflict? Conflict and tension are the elements that make readers turn pages and keep reading.

That said, I can’t judge the book without seeing it, so if you sense that it is working the way you are writing it, trust your gut and move forward. I have seen good books broken into parts for the characters; Franny and Zoey by J.D. Salinger comes to mind, for one.

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 www.zebraeditor.com. 

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Born Without a Tail

Born Without a Tail
by Wulff, Cayr Ariel

 Brecksville Magazine
“Born Without a Tail captures the real scenario of those people who simply find it impossible to turn away, or say no to, a stray or an animal in need of human intervention and love. Wulff writes with an imagery that is easily visualized by the reader. Anyone who enjoys animals in the least will appreciate Wulff’s adventures with these four-legged creatures.”

 

For more information about Born Without a Tail, visit the author’s website, home of Yelodoggie Art and Born Without a Tail: www.yelodoggie.com

Choosing a Publisher

Self-Publishing Book Pricing Research

Writing a book is art. Publishing a book is an all-together different animal. Publishing a book is business.

I spent some time meandering around the Internet exploring self-publishing options and came across some significant book pricing discrepancies.

I found that most publishers charge authors the wholesale price (or higher) for their own book unless bought in large, bulk quantities.

In the business of getting books in reader’s hands, how are authors supposed to make any money reselling that book to retailers? The wholesale price is what retailers will expect to pay.

The good news is that there are self publishers out there that offer low author copy base prices. Author copy prices should always be below wholesale.

Most publishers attempt to conceal this by offering “bulk discounts” on large book orders of 100, 200, 500, or more.

Authors shouldn’t have to buy 500 copies at a time just to get a reasonable “per unit” price.

Something to be aware of. 

Keep writing…

Karl Schroeder

 

Book Promotion

Using Ezines to Promote your Self Published Book

Ezines are a great place to get reviews of your book published. They need content and, as a self-published author, you need reviews – it’s a perfect match!

Here is an ezine that actively solicits and reviews POD books (and you can find many others but conducting a search on Google for “ezine.”
www.mysticlivingtoday.com

Take a look at their site and if you feel your book is a good match for the tone of the ezine, send them a review copy of your book along with a copy of your sales sheet and a cover letter asking for a review.

Send it to:
Planet Starz, Inc.
314 Mill Pond Rd
Bluffton, SC 29910

Don’t forget, Self Publishing Advice will post your review and cover image on our blog. Once you receive a review for your book, you can submit it to selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com with a .jpg image of your cover.

Good luck and have fun!
Kelly Schuknecht
selfpublishingadvice.wordpress.com

Uncategorized

Ask the Doctor: Copyright and Book Titles

Q: A title I’m considering for my novel is [title removed]. Amazon.com says that title is already in use. Are titles copyrighted?

A: As I understand the law, titles are not eligible for copyrights the way longer works are; however, titles can be trademarked if used to cover more than one item in a series, such as a cluster of seminars based on a book of the same name.

Although you could probably legally use a title that has been used by someone else, consider it an opportunity to change the title and make it different, so people who search your title will find only your book, and not others. It’s your chance to come up with a memorable, unique title with a play on words, alliteration, or rhyme.

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 www.zebraeditor.com.