AboutBobbie Christmas Expertise As the author of the triple-award-winning book on creative writing, Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), I help writers power up their prose, edit and revise their manuscripts, and increase their chances of selling to a publisher. I also help writers polish manuscripts for self-publishing and sometimes assist in the process.
Experience Experience: I have more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of the publishing and communications industry and have run my own book-editing company since 1992
Organizations:
Board of Advisors, Georgia Writers Association (past president)
South Carolina Writers Workshop (past vice president)
Florida Writers Association (charter/lifelong member)
Atlanta Writers Club
Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature (SPELL)
International Guild of Professional Consultants
Publications:
Write in Style (Union Square Publishing), A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation), A Cup of Comfort for Friends (Adams Media), A Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Sons (Adams Media), Haunted Engounters (Atriad Press), Remembering Woolworth's (St. Martin's Press), First-Time Home Buyer magazine, HomeBusiness Journal, Apparel Industry Magazine, Edge Magazine, Atlanta Jewish Times, Time Travel Australia, American Writers Review, Points North, That's Entertainment, Atlanta Parent, Agnes Scott Alumnae Magazine, and several dozen other places
Education/Credentials:
Journalism: University of South Carolina
Three decades of on-the-job training in publishing, marketing, communications, advertising, newspaper and magazine production/writing/editing, book publishing, etc
Awards and Honors:
First Place, nonfiction, Georgia Writers Annual Contest, 2005
First Place, education, Royal Palm Literary Award, 2004
Best in Division, Georgia Author of the Year Awards, 2005
Finalist, Best Books 2005, USA BookNews
Third Place, nonfiction, Georgia Writers, 1999
Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year, 1998
Many other awards
Past/Present clients:
Olin Frederick (publisher), The Writer's Machine (publisher), Russell Dean & Company (publisher), Keith Harrell (author of books for John Wiley & Sons and Hay House), Dale Butler (member of the Parliament, Bermuda) and hundreds of writers. I also edit books for print-on-demand companies that help authors self publish.
Question QUESTION: Hello and thank you SO much! My local critique group (now dissolved) insisted that formatting for submission be done 12 pt. courier new and that two spaces follow each full stop. At 435 pages, my novel is likely too long, but is this spacing style truly the standard? They also insist emphasized words and inner dialogue (thoughts) be underscored. Yes, I need expert help.
ANSWER: The group was correct with one exception. Twelve-point Courier type double-spaced is standard, but space only once after a full stop. Yes, when we used typewriters, we spaced twice, but with computers, we space only once. It's easy to use the Find and Replace function to correct that flaw, but but it won't change the word count, and at 435 pages, the word count is obviously more than 100,000. Most publishers prefer novels to be between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Delete a few of the less important scenes to lower the word count.
Inner dialogue should be underscored, yes, as well as emphasized words; however, both these items should be used seldom if at all. Make the dialogue strong enough that the type style does not have to explain to readers which word to emphasize. Show the characters' thoughts through their actions and dialogue, rather than internal dialogue, too, whenever possible, and as a result, the story will become stronger.
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QUESTION: Many thanks for the sound advice.
One other question: What's the standard for getting a word count? My group says 265 per page. Another author says 10 words per line, 25 lines per page, and inch margins all around.
Answer Those lengthy methods were necessary when we used typewriters (although the figure I learned was 250 words a page), but most publishers simply need an estimate, and the computer will give you an accurate enough estimate easily. Go to Tools and then Word Count, and voila, you'll get a figure that is close enough.
Oh, and yes, the margins should be at least an inch on all sides.
