| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| book idea.. where to go from there | 11/7/2009 | Sandy McCutcheon |
Q: The other day out of the blue while driving in my car... out of no where appears a thought for a ...
A: Firstly it is great you have an idea for a book and exciting that it arrived as it did. There is a ...
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| Non profit writing | 11/6/2009 | Rhonda Campbell |
Q: Rhonda, Thank you in advance for any help you can offer. Although I love to write, I have never ...
A: Congratulations on pursuing your writing passion! What you have achieved is commendable. It sounds ...
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| Character Deaths | 11/3/2009 | Sue Viders |
Q: I am currently focusing on one novel in particular, and in an effort to convey an important theme, ...
A: Catherine... and so the first thing I can thing of is... who would want to read a book about how ...
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| uneducated | 11/2/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: i am writing a short story later to be turned into a movie script, and don't know the process of ...
A: Darren! The process to protect your story is called "copyright." From the moment you put pen to ...
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| Publishing a book | 10/23/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I have finished writing a book in Spanish about personal growth and meditation and would like your ...
A: It's funny you have the exact genre of book that I just finished editing last fall, which is now in ...
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| Publishing a book | 10/23/2009 | Sandy McCutcheon |
Q: I have finished writing a book in spanish about personal growth and meditation and would like advise ...
A: Hola! Josė, Thank you for the question. Your book sounds very interesting and is certainly a ...
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| Publishing book | 10/23/2009 | Rhonda Campbell |
Q: I have written a book in spanish about personal growth and meditation and would like to know how I ...
A: Jose, CONGRATULATIONS on writing your book!! I encourage you to secure a literary agent who has ...
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| Compiling a book of quotes | 10/19/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I have two questions: 1. Over the years I have compiled hundreds of quotes on various subjects. ...
A: Using any quote has to have credit given to the author- otherwise, it is plagiarism. You can see ...
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| characterisation | 10/18/2009 | Sue Viders |
Q: I am writing a fiction book that I hope will be popular with younger children and also older ...
A: Not at all... younger kids dream of being older... may have older siblings... You also might talk ...
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| characterisation | 10/18/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I am writing a fiction book that I hope will be popular with younger children and also older ...
A: First I'd like to tell you that you can not write a book that is popular for young children, older ...
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| trademark | 10/18/2009 | Rhonda Campbell |
Q: I have a friend who has wriiten a book about a longtime friend of his who is now deceased. He has ...
A: Names are not generally trademarked. However, in some cases they are. I highly recommend that your ...
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| trademark | 10/18/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: I have a friend who has written a biography about a longtime friend of his. He has been threatened ...
A: Tim! Well, a lot depends on where you're talking about the trademark existing as to what the law ...
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| Trademark | 10/18/2009 | Sandy McCutcheon |
Q: I have a friend who has written a biography about a longtime friend of his. He has been threatened ...
A: Although the law varies from country to country, there is usually no problem with writing a ...
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| Using quotes & names in a Memoir | 10/7/2009 | Sandy McCutcheon |
Q: I have completed a memoir and mostly only used first names or referred to persons as "the twins" or ...
A: it is an important one. I am sorry not to have replied earlier but I am travelling at the moment. ...
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| Using real names in memoirs and personal essays | 10/6/2009 | Sandy McCutcheon |
Q: McCutcheon, As the author of a memoir, I'm hoping you'll be able to speak to my question. I'm ...
A: but I have been travelling. There is no need to change anyone's name in a memoir unless you are ...
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| Is my book outline too similar to the Saga Twilight? | 10/5/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: I noticed some similarities to the Saga Twilight, Below I've supplied the books' outline to my ...
A: Jess! While I've read a couple of the Twilight books and am familiar with Wizards of Waverly Place, ...
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| I am writing my first book | 10/4/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: How do I start a book that supposed to be about me?
A: I'm sorry I don't have the tools to teach you how to write an autobiography- but starting it can ...
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| childrens book | 10/2/2009 | Rhonda Campbell |
Q: I am writing a series of 3 kids books, with CD's to go along. How do I print & press the books? ...
A: Congrats on working on your children's books! I have never printed a book myself. I suggest you ...
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| fiction writing | 10/2/2009 | Susan Rand |
Q: My question is how do I know that my plot works? I was writing about a boy who starts to go to a ...
A: Of course you do not have to start everything again! Suppose you were to sit down and write a Harry ...
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| non-fiction | 10/2/2009 | Susan Rand |
Q: I want to write book or e-book about sex offenders. 11 yrs ago I was convicted of sexual misconduct ...
A: It sounds like you have an interesting project going here, and it seems you have high expectations ...
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| When to publish | 10/1/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: Is there a right time to publish? Like, should I push to get my book published before Christmas? ...
A: You might be under the impression that most hopeful writers are- that you can just get published and ...
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| Margins/Typesetting | 10/1/2009 | Sandy McCutcheon |
Q: I am a new author and have no clue how to get started. What margins and spacing should I use? And ...
A: This is a simple one. It does not matter! The most important thing is to write the story. I ...
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| writing fiction using actual locations | 9/30/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: I am attempting my first fiction novel. I am taking an online creative writing class and reading all ...
A: Donna! You may certainly use real cities, counties and freeways. It's done every day. But the trick ...
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| liability - non fiction writing | 9/30/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I am a young teacher who is just starting my second year of teaching special education teacher. I ...
A: No, you won't have a problem. When you refer to one of your students that said this or did that, ...
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| Novel or Memoir? | 9/29/2009 | Susan Rand |
Q: I have been going back and forth the past year or so wondering if I should write a memoir about my ...
A: Ask yourself these questions: 1. Do I have enough material or can I remember enough incidents, etc. ...
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| To end quote or not to end quote... that, is the question... | 9/29/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I'm writing a baseball scene as described through the voice of a radio broadcaster. My character is ...
A: You don't begin with an opening quotation mark unless you've ended with one. Even though he is an ...
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| names | 9/28/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: 1. I am writing a true story of events that happen to me. Can I use fictitious names that sound like ...
A: 1. Yes, you can create fictitious names that sound like their real names. It's done all the time. ...
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| new author | 9/23/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: Can you tell me what is considered successful for a book by a new author? Is 250,000 copies sold ...
A: Danielle! Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been deep into edits on our next book and forgot ...
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| editing a manuscript | 9/21/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: How much writing/rewriting does an editor do when it comes to manuscripts? Are they there to just ...
A: Danielle, There is no set "how much" of editing and rewriting is required to edit a manuscript ...
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| book sales | 9/20/2009 | Bobbie Christmas |
Q: Is there a website that shows how many copies of a particular book an author has sold? Thanks ...
A: It depends on the type of book, but 250,000 copies would certainly be severely optimistic, ...
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| Plot flaw | 9/20/2009 | WordChannel |
Q: Well I'm writing a book and I'm already far but now I made a last minute change. The problem is now ...
A: I'm not sure I understand your question; how do you mean you "have a reaction to something and don't ...
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| book sales | 9/19/2009 | Bobbie Christmas |
Q: Is there a website that shows how many copies of a particular book an author has sold? Thanks
A: Although I don't know of a site that tracks book sales, http://www.titlez.com allows you to track ...
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| liability | 9/19/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: I am learning. You had a great response. Here's mine: at what point are you liable for a truth based ...
A: There's a couple of companies out there that claim they offer "liability" insurance for authors. The ...
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| freelance editing | 9/17/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I'm curious, how do people get into freelance book editing? Thanks ANSWER: Actually, there is no ...
A: That I would have no idea. There is no way to know that data. What a profession earns depends on ...
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| freelance editing | 9/17/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I'm curious, how do people get into freelance book editing? Thanks ANSWER: Actually, there is no ...
A: I don't know. It is a good question. You can check your local area for editorial companies and go ...
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| freelance editing | 9/16/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I'm curious, how do people get into freelance book editing? Thanks
A: Actually, there is no such thing as "freelance editor." Freelance writer, yes. If you want to book ...
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| Faction Profits | 9/16/2009 | Paul Watt |
Q: I am just to embark on writing my first book which I think will be `faction` based on the remarkable ...
A: Greetings from Melbourne, Australia! This is tricky and I'm afraid I don't have a clear answer. If ...
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| Company names/Peoples names | 9/14/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: I am writing a book that is based on a true story though will be marketed as fiction. I have ...
A: If it is based on your life, then it is an autobiography and is non-fiction. But you stil can't ...
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| promotional tours | 9/12/2009 | Jannie Balliett |
Q: When a new author is promoting a book do they have the right to refuse to do certain interviews if ...
A: That's usually outlined in the publishing contract between the publisher and author. There are ...
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| liability | 9/11/2009 | Cathy Clamp |
Q: I am learning. You had a great response. Here's mine: at what point are you liable for a truth based ...
A: Tom! Sorry for the delay in responding, but I had to decide how best to answer this. The truth is ...
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