| Subject | Date Asked |
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| freelance writing | 9/24/2009 |
Q: I have a couple of questions about becoming a freelance writer. Is it really difficult to get ...
A: It is not difficult to get started as a freelance writer, so long as you are willing to accept ...
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| Advice | 9/4/2009 |
Q: My name is Shelly and I was trying to get into technical writing but i did not get any volunteer ...
A: Any experience you are able to get in either technical or grant writing will be valuable to you, ...
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| online degree in creative writing | 2/28/2009 |
Q: I'm not sure if you're the right expert here, but I'd like to know where I can find information ...
A: It is difficult to answer your question without more information - are you after a BA or MA? I ...
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| Royalty split? Please help | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I am writing a book about the life of a friend - I happen to be a professional writer (national ...
A: As a professional myself, I would never accept any agreement to be paid in royalties: how do you ...
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| Thank you for responding | 2/14/2009 |
Q: Rand, The book that i want to write is non-fiction. It was an actual event that occured that only ...
A: If your book is to be non-fiction, facts are what you want. But of course you want to make it ...
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| Writing career | 1/27/2009 |
Q: I fell I have a good grasp of English, and it has always been my best subject. My problem is that I ...
A: The first thing you must learn is to proofread everything before you send it out into the world. "I ...
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| Inquiry about the word 'plagiarism' | 1/9/2009 |
Q: I'm Tom. I was wondering about the word 'plagiarism.' - I'm not sure whether you're the right expert ...
A: This is a problem that has been worrying me for some time. As far as I know, there are no hard and ...
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| Should I try to get published | 10/14/2008 |
Q: I am a sixty-one year old businessman getting ready to retire. I have always thought I could write. ...
A: You are right in seeking professional advice for your story. Friends and family are not inclined to ...
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| Do readers not like big words? | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I read in a book: "Don't go searching for synonyms to replace the word "said." These simple variants ...
A: I would certainly use simple words whenever possible (and it's always possible), but I wouldn't ...
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| Keywords | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I am writing my first novel and I have a quick question. I have read books where the author brings ...
A: Those books you have read that reference celebrities, products, etc., were they fiction or ...
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| submitting writings to publishers | 6/7/2008 |
Q: I as a zillion other people want to write that graet American story,win a pulitzer and then get the ...
A: It is difficult to answer this question without knowing whether you are writing fiction or ...
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| Starting out a writing career | 3/12/2008 |
Q: I don't mean to be boastful, but I have always had a knack for writing. From K-8, I would always go ...
A: Why shouldn't you boast? That is a rare accomplishment! So many people claim to be good writers but ...
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| writing | 10/23/2007 |
Q: Do you think it is out of the question for me to write a self help book - similar to Deepak Chopra ...
A: It is not out of the question for anyone to write any kind of a book. You are entitled to write any ...
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| writing short stories, | 6/28/2007 |
Q: susan I have just read your answer to the 16year old girl regarding the writng courses. This may ...
A: I am sorry, but your questions are much too broad and vague to answer in the space allotted here. ...
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| complicated plots | 4/16/2007 |
Q: Do complicated plots make a story boring? I lose interest when a character has a multitude of ...
A: They certainly can be boring, especially in the hands of the unskilled. It takes an accomplished ...
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| questions for writing | 2/27/2007 |
Q: 1.How long does it take to write a book? 2.how old were you when you first started to write your ...
A: The answers to your questions: 1. I have no idea - as long as it takes. This is unknowable, in ...
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| getting a novel published | 2/19/2007 |
Q: I have a novel ready, it is a satire on many things in the form of a science fiction adventure. Many ...
A: Agents and publishers will take you as seriously as you take yourself, as reflected in your writing. ...
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| Creating A Webpage | 2/9/2007 |
Q: I want to create a webpage for my work but I don't want to have to spend money. Do you know of any ...
A: I'm sorry, I don't know of any sites that currently offer free web hosting. If you find one that ...
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| How to keep going! | 1/25/2007 |
Q: I'm about halfway through my novel but I'm feeling as if I've fallen into a slump. I keep having ...
A: It is entirely normal for a writer to be thrown into a panic halfway through their novel. I don't ...
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| What to do | 12/7/2006 |
Q: I have some ideas for writing children's books. Where do I start? Do I need to get it copywrited ...
A: I would suggest you write these ideas down on 3x5 cards or on your computer and add to them as other ...
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| Based on True Events . . . | 12/5/2006 |
Q: I want to write a non-fiction low budget feature about an actual event that took place in my city. ...
A: I'm a little puzzled by "a non-fiction low budget feature..." Is this going to be a book, article ...
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| Putting it together | 11/27/2006 |
Q: First of all, it is an honor asking you for advice. Well I am trying to write a novel, this will be ...
A: Many people want to write and have some ideas they like, but they don’t know how to get started. The ...
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| not sure | 10/29/2006 |
Q: How did you decide that you wanted to be a writer? i want to be a writer too, but everyone i know ...
A: I didn't ever decide that I wanted to be a writer; I have always written, since I learned how. I've ...
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| how to start writing | 10/3/2006 |
Q: I have dreamed of being a writer since I was a little girl and consume books at an alarming rate, ...
A: Congratulations for having a clear idea in mind of what you want to write. A short question is ...
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| online writing job | 9/1/2006 |
Q: I am a psychology post graduate and working as a professional writer in US based company. I want to ...
A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my experience, it is very difficult for a writer to make ...
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| Which Genre? | 8/25/2006 |
Q: I am an aspiring author. I have hundreds of ideas, most of which I have jotted down in different ...
A: May I suggest that instead of trying to fit your book into some slot labeled "Genre" before it's ...
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| writers club or what is it I need to do? | 6/11/2006 |
Q: I have written a book (desktop created) and will need to go through the process of having an editor ...
A: Is this the first draft of your book? Does it represent the best work you are capable of at this ...
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| Freelance | 4/5/2006 |
Q: I was wondering how freelance writing really works. I have so many questions about it. How do I get ...
A: There are plenty of opportunities both online and in the print magazine field for freelance writers. ...
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| Syntax | 3/22/2006 |
Q: Hallo Susan, i explain: <What is history,when isn' t the past re-vision, just a children' stories ...
A: That makes it clearer, but if "Meaning:" is what you meant to say, why didn't you say it? If it's ...
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| am i too young to write? | 2/25/2006 |
Q: I'm 15 years old and i'm not very acedemically inclined. I was wondering is it possible for me to ...
A: Those too young to write are in diapers. At your age, though, you are looking at beginning to learn ...
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| Question about writing jobs/careers | 2/20/2006 |
Q: I am strongly considering a part-time job in freelance writing to put myself through graduate ...
A: Many, many writers with years and years of experience and acres of talent are trying to make a ...
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| Syntax | 2/9/2006 |
Q: Hallo Susan, is it right or wrong in English language? Thanks. < As your first lawsuit was a plot ...
A: It is wrong in English. It should be stated so: Your first lawsuit was a plot to grab my land. ...
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| Muse Swings! | 1/24/2006 |
Q: .. I have a big dream of becoming a great novelist and I have big ideas for stories...I am not in ...
A: If you wait for your muse to appear before you write, you will likely never complete your book. The ...
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| Doing research | 12/13/2005 |
Q: How do authors get answers for their research? Such as--writing a murder mystery and needing to know ...
A: What a good question this is! I seldom get to answer a question as meaty as this. There are any ...
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| HOW TO GET STARTED | 8/24/2005 |
Q: Ms. Rand, I was wondering what kind of advise you might offer to someone who would like to write ...
A: "How-to" material is best presented chronologically: what to do first, what to do second, etc. Not ...
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| Freelance writing | 8/18/2005 |
Q: I've had a "real job" for so long now that I have no idea what freelance writers can command these ...
A: I'm a freelance writer, and my articles (1000-2000 words) get from $15-$30 each. So you can see the ...
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| non-fiction writing | 7/13/2005 |
Q: My writing has been limited to very local venues...school newsletters, teacher association ...
A: I am glad to hear that you have been writing for newsletters; that is good practice if you want to ...
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| How to start, how to keep going, how to finish? | 6/30/2005 |
Q: Okay: how to start, how to keep going, how to finish? Do you have anything you can cut and paste on ...
A: As a beginning writer - which I believe you are - you must realize that nothing in this process is ...
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| Writing | 5/4/2005 |
Q: What is the best way for me to start a career in writing? I have no experience and am almost 50. ...
A: The best way for you to start a career in writing is the way we all start: by writing, studying, ...
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| letter form | 4/7/2005 |
Q: i need to write a letter from a responsible person(eg teacher), confirming information about my ...
A: Such a letter needs only to say: According to school records, Nattalie was born on (date) at ...
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| Eastern Illinois Student Conducting Interview For English Assignment | 2/15/2005 |
Q: Mrs Rand, I'm a student at Eastern Illinois University pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism. ...
A: I will be glad to answer your questions and I hope you will be patient as this could take some time. ...
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| writing | 1/20/2005 |
Q: I am creating my own personal fantasy world, and I am going to start writing novels based off my ...
A: It does no good to ask what your chances might be for they are low indeed - the same as mine, and ...
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| book | 1/6/2005 |
Q: Is it plagiarism to write a book doing the following: First I read a book chapter about 7 principles ...
A: The short answer is "No." The longer answer is: there are three ways to handle this: 1. You may ...
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| Writing a book | 12/3/2004 |
Q: I think i have some great ideas but i dont really know how to start. I have some of the people and ...
A: So you have decided to write a book, or maybe a whole series of them. Excellent! If I were in your ...
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| book | 11/11/2004 |
Q: just one more question, should the book be double spaced? i know once its made into a book its ...
A: Manuscripts are presented double-spaced. This allows the editor to "mark up" the pages with ...
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| book | 11/11/2004 |
Q: this is kind of a silly question, but i wanted to know about how many pages does a book have to be, ...
A: I would say that most books range between 300-500 single-spaced pages, published. How many MS Word ...
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| Writing | 10/30/2004 |
Q: 1- is it really possible to write a book within one month? 2-If u want to strat writing books right ...
A: It is indeed possible to write a book within one month, the question is, how good a book will it be, ...
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| It is hard to begin | 9/17/2004 |
Q: I was wondering how i should start my story. I don't mean how to write it, but how to go about it ...
A: I'm not sure what you mean by "storytelling-wise." The story and the writing are one, as are the ...
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| characters | 9/8/2004 |
Q: Rand, I need your thoughts on developing characters. I have an exhaustive list of questions to ...
A: I am of two minds about this. I agree, it can be fun to discover your characters' personalities as ...
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