Self-Publishing – Page 117 – Self Publishing Advisor

Self-publishing Guest Post: Ask the Book Doctor

The book doctor shares usage advice for the self-publishing author. Always have your work professionally edited, but why not save your editor some work…

Q: Once in a while the word “sits” comes up in our [southern city] writers group, and another member (in her seventies) and I (at eighty-three years) always wonder what is right. When she and I were growing up, the word “sets” was used for an object, not “sits,” as it seems to be used these days. An example is this: A potted plant sits on the windowsill. In my day and age, it would have been this: A potted plant sets on the window sill. Could you please straighten us out once and for all?

A: I’ve found that southerners more than others confuse the two words “sit” and “set.” I hope the following sets the record straight:

Set means the following:
1. place something: “Please set the flowers on the table.”
2. cause somebody to be something: “After a hearing, the judge set the prisoner free.”
3. cause something to begin doing something: “His smile set my heart at ease.”
4. apply fire: “The camper set fire to his refuse.”
5. concentrate mind: “He set his mind to finding an answer.”
6. arrange something for use: “Hunters set traps in the woods.”

The definitions go on, but to sum up, “set” usually shows action that is done to something (a direct object).

Sit means the following:
1. rest with weight on buttocks: “The children always sit in the same places.”
2. be placed: “The trash still sat where we left it.”

Again, the word has other definitions as well, but unlike “set,” “sit” does not, indeed cannot, take a direct object. We cannot sit something down; we must set something down.

In the example of “A potted plant sits on the windowsill,” the verb “sits” is correct. If you wanted to show the action being done TO something, the correct verb would be “set,” as in this example: “I set the potted plant on the windowsill.”

By the way, using “set” for “sit” in a character’s dialogue would be a great way to show that the character is from the South.

What’s your question about writing or publishing? 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.

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Copyright and Copywrite in Self-Publishing

Many authors often confuse the terms copyright and copywrite. Both are important elements in quality self-publishing and your publisher should offer both.

Let’s start with copyright – often the source of a deeper misconception. Some may be under the impression that copyright registration is a must prior to submitting their work to a publisher. That is not the case. Protecting your work is a good idea and should be on your radar, but actual registration is not necessary prior to submission.

The Basics: Copyright law provides the creator of a work (manuscript in this case) exclusive rights to control who may copy or create derivatives of that work. When do those exclusive rights take effect? The instant that creative effort is placed in tangible form – the first sentence put on paper. This specific protection was originally drafted under what is commonly known as The Berne Convention (for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works), an international agreement governing copyright law. This agreement has been signed by nearly every major nation including the United States.

So what does official registration with the US Copyright office accomplish? Protection in the event litigation concerning the creative work, or book, arises, the likeliness of which is rare.

Publishers should offer official registration with the US Copyright Office nevertheless. Make sure yours does. It’s a good idea to let them take care of that process through their professional services. Here is how it works: once your book is published your publisher will likely have you submit the required forms to complete the registration process with the Copyright Office on your behalf. Your copyright is registered on the date the Copyright Office receives all the necessary information, regardless of how long it takes them to mail your Copyright Certificate to you. Keep in mind it is taking the Copyright Office roughly 12 MONTHS to mail the certificates and this is a timeframe outside the control of any publisher.

If you have already applied for a copyright don’t wait for that to become official to begin working with your publisher. Remember, your work is already protected, and readers are ready for your book now.

There is a work-around for concerned authors called the “poor man’s copyright”. Simply mail a hardcopy version of your work in a sealed envelope to yourself and keep for your records. The sealed document will contain proof of ownership in a stamped and dated form. This is not a substitute for registration, but provides a measure of temporary protection.

Side note: Titles cannot be copyrighted.

Book Reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-published Book Review of the Week

Rooms of the Mind
Terry M. Brown
9781432755126, $12.95

The teacher has possibly the most important role in a child’s education. “Rooms of the Mind: Quadrants for Success” is an advisory for teachers and administrators who often have contact with children, giving them advice and tips on how to encourage and flourish their educations on the matter. A thoughtful read with plenty of sage advice on the matter, “Rooms of the Mind” is a top pick for any teacher.

Logan’s Bookshelf
Carl Logan
Reviewer

Uncategorized

POD, Distribution & Self-publishing

Last week we discussed the Amazon store and a few of the resources it provides for self-published authors to utilize in promoting their books. Now let’s take a step back and take a look at how distribution works in self-publishing.

Many authors incorrectly assume that a run of books must exist physically in order for copies to be sold. And for good reason, for centuries that has been the model upon with publishers, retailers, and buyers operated under. Are there still advantages to pre-printed copies of books for authors? Sure, but that necessity is becoming increasingly less important in book distribution and sales. In some cases even a disadvantage. Among the benefits of the POD or on-demand model is that books no longer need to physically exist in order to be sold.

In some cases, books are even printed after they are sold retail. Here’s the short story: a book is purchased through any number of points of sale or retailer locations and an instantaneous print ‘message’ is sent directly to the printer where a single copy is printed, one-off and shipped to the customer with royalties accruing for authors under the pre-established royalty amount agreed upon prior to publication. This explains how POD books can be available at as many as 25,000 bookstores and sales channels across the globe, including Amazon, without that number of books actually existing.

Among the many benefits of this model can be lower retail prices and/or higher profits for authors. No physical inventory to manage, truckers to pay, stores to heat/cool and employees to compensate leaves retailers open to earn higher margins on lower prices, a pricing benefit ultimately passed on to authors.

POD provides self-publishing authors among the strongest, and newest advancements in the publishing world. But it is not the only thing to consider when preparing your book for market. We’ll hit more on those down the road.

Uncategorized

Guest Post: Ask the Book Doctor

Grammar and usage information for the self-publishing writer

Q: I have been using ellipses to indicate hesitant speech in my dialogue. My critique-mate believes my use is incorrect and I should use double hyphens or a dash. I’ve found information to suggest that both uses are acceptable, but I prefer the ellipsis. What do you say?

A: It depends on what you write, but if you write books, follow the authority on the matter, which is Chicago Manual of Style, and it looks as though you win.

Chicago Style says that ellipsis points suggest faltering or fragmented speech accompanied by confusion, insecurity, or distress. “I . . . I . . . can’t believe it; can it be . . . is it really you?”

The dash, or two hyphens, with no space before or after, indicates an interruption or an abrupt change in thought. The following example indicates that someone interrupted the speaker: “I’d like to say—” The following shows a change in thought: “I’ll take the flounder—no, make that salmon.”

Bobbie Christmas, book editor, 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

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