| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| styles of fiction | 7/21/2008 |
Q: to begin let me tell you that English is my second language, but I write English as good as i can. I ...
A: Salvador: The simple answer to your question is: Sure! It's perfectly okay. So long as it sounds ...
|
| Romance as Lesser Art? | 7/17/2008 |
Q: Oh, Vincent! You have no idea how glad I am to come across you at allexperts! I love writing. ...
A: Jennifer: 1) My personal opinion is that "art" is highly subjective. Asking if Romance is a ...
|
| classes | 7/7/2008 |
Q: Where do you teach and could you recommend any schools in Sacto area.
A: Cathy: Guess I need to update my profile. I taught a series of fiction classes for about four ...
|
| how to start? | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I've had loads of wonderful ideas to write a fantasy book and now i just need to put them together ...
A: There's really no single way to go about beginning a book. Different things work better from one ...
|
| questions | 7/4/2008 |
Q: whats your opinion about someone analyze all things around him , usually searching for trunth , ...
A: The simple truth is that it's impossible to say. Sure, having a good imagination will help, but ...
|
| names | 6/17/2008 |
Q: i have real trouble with thinking up names for people, places and things. Is there any advice you ...
A: Chris: Well... "things"? Most things have their own names already, or are you inventing new ...
|
| Sci-Fi Crossover...1 book or 3? | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I recently decided to take my writing seriously and have begun a novel that's been hanging around ...
A: The quick and dirty answer to your question is: Absolutely. If you want to see a good example of ...
|
| inquiry: How to sell articles to magazines | 5/29/2008 |
Q: Good day! I need information on the following questions. 1) What is the correct format in writing ...
A: Generally speaking, manuscript formats should simply be double-spaced with one-inch margins all ...
|
| writing books | 5/19/2008 |
Q: would like tto know what is the limit of words can be used. What is the best way of completing the ...
A: Rosie: Generally speaking, there is no word limit. However, there are some exceptions to this, ...
|
| novels | 5/14/2008 |
Q: what should the word count of a novel be
A: Mary: Most publishers will tell you that the word count for a first book from an unpublished writer ...
|
| genre fiction? | 5/8/2008 |
Q: One agency says it doesn't want "genre fiction" On the website of recent books, and series, however, ...
A: Yes, mystery is definitely a genre, and private investigator stories would be a subcategory of this ...
|
| Will my readers have sympathy for this character? | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I'm not good with psychology. This question is for a story I'm writing. Let's say there's this ...
A: Cindy. One of the things you'll find is true is that, if you're serious about being a writer, you ...
|
| Agents | 3/1/2008 |
Q: I keep reading incidents about bestselling authors who got noticed by agents only after selling ...
A: Yes, to all three questions. To attract an agent, use whatever methods they recommend (which you ...
|
| Agents | 3/1/2008 |
Q: I keep reading incidents about bestselling authors who got noticed by agents only after selling ...
A: Oooh, no. Sorry if I gave that impression. Self-publishing is NOT the best way to get the ...
|
| Agents | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I keep reading incidents about bestselling authors who got noticed by agents only after selling ...
A: Well, if I understand what you're referring to, the process goes like this: 1) Author tries to ...
|
| libel | 2/27/2008 |
Q: Vincent, I wrote a book about charity in an underdeveloped country. I used factual events and NGOs ...
A: Tim: Okay... I'm going to have to err on the side of prudence and warn you to be very careful with ...
|
| libel | 2/26/2008 |
Q: Vincent, I wrote a book about charity in an underdeveloped country. I used factual events and NGOs ...
A: First, regarding the fraud and embezzlement... Do you have proof? If you could demonstrate that ...
|
| Copyright cleances - what needs it? | 1/9/2008 |
Q: I've written a time-travel novelette starring my grandkids and me traveling back to 1927 and ...
A: Quoting small sections of copyrighted material, including poetry and songs, would quite likely fall ...
|
| Copyright cleances - what needs it? | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I've written a time-travel novelette starring my grandkids and me traveling back to 1927 and ...
A: Nope, you're in the clear. Nothing you mentioned requires any sort of copyright permissions... ...
|
| My story | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I am 15 years old. And i have a great interest in writing. A few days ago, i had the urge to write ...
A: Marissa. As you know, my specialty is fiction, not biography. But I'll share my thoughts, anyway. ...
|
| chapters | 12/12/2007 |
Q: my manuscript is almost complete and I would like to know how many chapters a realistic fiction ...
A: Tom: The number of chapters is irrelevant. Publishers will care more about word count. For a ...
|
| book idea | 11/15/2007 |
Q: I had this idea for a book but I'm not 100% sure about it. I started out writing a book based in the ...
A: If nothing else, writing this history will give you personally a better understanding of the worlds ...
|
| Stories seem to abrupt | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I like to write Fantasy stories, and am working on developing my own world. I am great and making a ...
A: Tyler, this is pretty much just my opinion... and one I've never heard anyone else voice... but here ...
|
| 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: Al: No, it certainly isn't out of the question. You don't need a Ph.D. to be able to share your ...
|
| Characters | 10/12/2007 |
Q: What's the secret to making characters live? Thank you.
A: Two things, really. First, make them fully-fleshed. You, as the writer, need to know these ...
|
| my writing | 9/5/2007 |
Q: I was looking on the Internet to find some answers about the way I write and what I should be ...
A: Naomi: Well, bear in mind that my answer is mostly speculation. I certainly can't psychoanalyze ...
|
| invisible character | 9/5/2007 |
Q: Remember the question "pouring out words" when I mentioned I had started a sea story? Well, it ...
A: Okay. So what is it that makes this character different from the others in your story? Sounds like ...
|
| Boring heroine | 8/31/2007 |
Q: I've been working on a YA fantasy novel for about 4 years. I've used many fantasy standards (elves, ...
A: Michelle: Yep. That's a problem. After all, if you might hate your character, your readers almost ...
|
| What not to do.... | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I'm beginning to write a fantasy book at the moment and I know that it's a very popular subject to ...
A: No, there aren't any elements that are off-limits. Of course, you really don't want your story to ...
|
| dialogues | 7/24/2007 |
Q: I'm trying to write an espionage book, and I'm going on well with the first three chapters, but I ...
A: Giulia: I want to preface this by saying that your question is really very broad, and impossible to ...
|
| Agency | 7/17/2007 |
Q: I don't understand this on a literary agents website: "For fiction: please send a query letter with ...
A: Credentials can mean many things, and in the case of fiction writing, it can mean awards won, ...
|
| Getting published | 7/2/2007 |
Q: My name is Allison, and I've wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. Books have always ...
A: Allison: Congratulations for finishing such a lengthy work! That takes a lot of persistence, and ...
|
| advances | 6/24/2007 |
Q: If an agent does sell your work, when can you receive an advance? At what point or at what ...
A: Advances are gauged based on how the publisher expects the book to sell. The better they expect ...
|
| advances | 6/23/2007 |
Q: If an agent does sell your work, when can you receive an advance? At what point or at what ...
A: To answer the second question first... I dunno. Probably. But I'm not well-versed on who uses ...
|
| advances | 6/23/2007 |
Q: If an agent does sell your work, when can you receive an advance? At what point or at what ...
A: It all depends on the terms of the contract, but if there is an advance (and there isn't, always), ...
|
| Proof-reading | 6/19/2007 |
Q: Is it a good idea to let friends proof=read your novel?
A: If you're talking about proofreading as in "looking for typos," then sure. So long as they know ...
|
| changes to a contract | 6/18/2007 |
Q: If you have concerns about something in an agency contract, what is the best thing to do? Thanks
A: The best thing to do is to express your concerns to the agent. No contract is immutable; you can ...
|
| Contracts | 6/18/2007 |
Q: An agency on its website has a contract that goes on to say that they are free to sell an idea ...
A: Is it "fair"? Sure. Is it a good idea? Well again... not in my opinion. The principle stated in ...
|
| Contracts | 6/18/2007 |
Q: An agency on its website has a contract that goes on to say that they are free to sell an idea ...
A: One of the questions I'm asked a lot in my classes has to do with the concept of stealing ideas. ...
|
| Book Market | 6/11/2007 |
Q: Do you think there's a need in the book market for a book on supervion (effective leadership) for ...
A: Maybe it's just me, but I don't see much difference between "supervision" and "management." And ...
|
| getting a publisher | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I retired early from AT&T in 1998 and since then I've written 9 screenplays, 2 stage plays and 2 ...
A: Wow, I've not heard of any who don't accept queries. I'm not suggesting you send a copy of the book ...
|
| getting a publisher | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I retired early from AT&T in 1998 and since then I've written 9 screenplays, 2 stage plays and 2 ...
A: I'm going to assume you still have some copies of the previously-published book. What I'd recommend ...
|
| Proposal | 5/21/2007 |
Q: When you write proposals to agents, so they will send it to a publishing house, my question is, when ...
A: It's referring to the types of people you expect to be in your target audience, specifically with ...
|
| what a certain genre is | 5/3/2007 |
Q: My novel is being looked at right now. While I'm waiting far a reply I'm still sending query letters ...
A: I have never in my life heard this term in that context. But I would assume that it means the same ...
|
| how many races is too many? | 4/23/2007 |
Q: in fantasy almost every world has a conglomerate of races on both sides of an epic conflict. ...
A: Not really something I can answer for you, Patrick. "How many is too many?" It depends. And this ...
|
| fantasy cliches | 4/23/2007 |
Q: i am in the beginnings of writing a fantasy novel and hopefully eventually a trilogy. But i think ...
A: In my opinion, asking if elves are too cliche to write about anymore is like asking if love is too ...
|
| pouring out words | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I've been working on a scifi/fantasy novel (I say both genres because there's such a fine line ...
A: Okay, I totally understand where you're coming from. That first book I mentioned...? I spent ten ...
|
| pouring out words | 4/17/2007 |
Q: I've been working on a scifi/fantasy novel (I say both genres because there's such a fine line ...
A: Carissa... Wow. Whether you know it or not, you've given me a LOT to comment upon... far more than ...
|
| Basic rules of fantasy | 3/13/2007 |
Q: I have been quite an avid fan of the fantasy genre and am now embarking on a journey which i hope ...
A: There are no "rules," but there is some degree of expectation on the part of many readers. The ...
|
| synopsis length for fiction | 3/7/2007 |
Q: Another question for you. In preparing my synopsis, I’ve been trying to determine the appropriate ...
A: You're absolutely right that there's no hard and fast rule with regard to synopsis length. However, ...
|
| Can you help me? | 2/23/2007 |
Q: I don't know if any of my questions have already been asked, and I'd appreciate it if you could ...
A: Caroline: This must be a common school assignment, because I've answered these questions (or ones ...
|
| A Few Questions | 2/22/2007 |
Q: I'm doing research for a class at my high school, and I'd like to ask a few questions. Any and all ...
A: Alyssa: I'm more than happy to answer your questions. Bear in mind that my writing career is ...
|
| Writing books | 2/9/2007 |
Q: I was wondering how I can locate a publisher without submitting a manuscript right of the bat. I am ...
A: Tina: "Locating" a publisher is quite simple. Here's Google's directory of book publishers: ...
|
| writing guidelines | 2/5/2007 |
Q: Can I use the names of stores and designers without receiving permision, such as bloomingdales, ...
A: You bet! I mean, assuming you're not going to be making slanderous statements against them. Even ...
|
| names | 1/8/2007 |
Q: I’ve written a fiction novel and have a question for you. Am I allowed to reference names of ...
A: Yes, it's perfectly acceptable, Michael. No question about that. But the better question is: Do ...
|
| book length | 1/5/2007 |
Q: I've been writing for a long time now and I have decided to put it all down into text. My question ...
A: There are no hard and fast rules about how long a novel "should" be. For a first novel, however, I ...
|
| My Novel | 12/7/2006 |
Q: Well, I've been trying to figure out exactly what I will be writing about, and I have found my ...
A: Rob: Certainly, the more planning you're able to do ahead of time, the better things generally work ...
|
| Copyright/libel referring to real places in fiction novels? | 12/3/2006 |
Q: Vincent, Congrats on your writing awards. Here's my query. I researched the name of actual small ...
A: Carl: Defamation law, including libel, is nothing to take lightly, but neither is it something to ...
|
| Writing | 12/2/2006 |
Q: I write fictional short stories and have been doing so for around eight years. Nothing published. I ...
A: It generally takes me 5 years to write a novel, so I see no issues with a few months for a short ...
|
| guilt | 12/1/2006 |
Q: I want to write novels and am on my second go around. The first time failed because my life felt too ...
A: Making time is hard enough for those of us without all the obligations in life that you've listed, ...
|
| I'm stuck | 11/29/2006 |
Q: I'm a typical teen and I have been wanting to write a book since the age of twelve. I have no I idea ...
A: Rebecca: This may not be the most helpful thing to you, but given how far-reaching your "problem" ...
|
| Writing first fantasy book | 11/27/2006 |
Q: Okay, well I have actually got the plot down, and the few main characters. I found this awesome ...
A: I'm a firm believer in the idea of doing a lot of pre-writing in your head. In your case, that ...
|
| Um...I am asking a question. | 11/23/2006 |
Q: I am Chance and I have a few questions. I am writing a novel. I started it three days ago and i ...
A: Chance... Yes, indeed... Publishers will certainly sit up and take notice of good works by young ...
|
| literary agents | 11/3/2006 |
Q: Vincent, I've just completed (the 3rd rewrite) of my manuscript and currently working on query ...
A: Denise: Truthfully, the first question I'd ask is this: Who besides you has looked over your ...
|
| Narritives | 10/18/2006 |
Q: With my book, I've placed very high importance on making my characters seem realistic (as realistic ...
A: Charlotte: First, I do agree with you... such narrator switching can, indeed, remove a lot of focus ...
|
| book proposal? | 10/7/2006 |
Q: The book agency requires a synopsis with the first 3 chapters without specified requirements. The ...
A: Tibor: Table of Contents? No. Again, if this were an actual book proposal for a NON-fiction book, ...
|
| book proposal? | 10/6/2006 |
Q: Wales, I would like to ask some technical info about ‘How to build a book proposal’. Is there any ...
A: Tibor: I'm a little confused by your question, because in item #5, you mention descriptions of ...
|
| My New Book | 9/28/2006 |
Q: it is so nice to be able to speak to such a well respected writer person like me. I am currently ...
A: Graham. With what you've presented me, I really can't offer you much. I really don't know what ...
|
| Getting published | 9/23/2006 |
Q: So, I've finished my first 150,000-word, adventure novel and I'm eager to get on to my second but ...
A: Welcome to the publishing world, Quentin. Check your sanity at the door. Antidepressants will be ...
|
| writing | 9/17/2006 |
Q: If a person writes a book using a "pen name" will the author always remain anonymous? Also, how can ...
A: Yes, a pseudonym is fairly "safe." If you want it to be, that is. How many people knew that books ...
|
| writing | 9/17/2006 |
Q: If a person writes a book using a "pen name" will the author always remain anonymous? Also, how can ...
A: Al: In this day and age, complete anonymity is never anything you can assume. But the lesser known ...
|
| Dilemma | 9/17/2006 |
Q: After writing countless number of short stories I have finally decided to write a fantasy novel in ...
A: Marko: Here's my advice, and it's 100% straight from my heart. Forget what you think the reader ...
|
| Prologue Layout | 9/16/2006 |
Q: I'm a new writer, working on a fantasy book with my cousin. We've both been a bit lost lately about ...
A: Seth. Here's my rule of thumb when it comes to providing "background" information: If the reader ...
|
| keeping a story going | 9/14/2006 |
Q: I've started many stories and have never finished any. I write about magic/ fantacy, romance and ...
A: Sonia: There could be any number of reasons for the difficulty you're having. Is it inspiration ...
|
| how to make it origional | 8/13/2006 |
Q: i am trying to make my fantasy book origional but it always comes out like a typical fantasy. ...
A: This is a common lament, and for far more than just fantasy. Consider: "boy meets girl, boy dates ...
|
| Poetry | 8/9/2006 |
Q: Wales, I have a collection of poems which are set in a variety of styles, they are on a variety ...
A: The agents with which I'm familiar are not ones who handle poetry, I'm afraid. Truthfully, poetry ...
|
| How much is too much! | 7/27/2006 |
Q: I am an unkown and unpublished writer. I have been writing since I was 12, even though that doesnt ...
A: Beth: No, you're certainly not the only one. Happens to all writers, now and then. What you need ...
|
| How to start out writeing, and how to think of a story | 7/27/2006 |
Q: I am wanting to write a book that is fiction and im having difficulty comeing up with a story. I've ...
A: Kim: I was actually tempted not to answer this, because it's really a very broad question, and I ...
|
| the ending | 7/19/2006 |
Q: wales i was wondering about my ending. Because, for me the ending is the most important part of the ...
A: Hailey: This is a difficult question to answer without having more information. Obviously, I can't ...
|
| formatting | 7/18/2006 |
Q: I am in the middle of writing a dream book and am unsure as to formatting for publisher. the dream ...
A: Okay, if I were typing this up for submission, I'd do it like this: CAR - Expensive, self-driving, ...
|
| formatting | 7/18/2006 |
Q: I am in the middle of writing a dream book and am unsure as to formatting for publisher. the dream ...
A: Well, wipe that confusion out of your head, Rosemary. Formatting is the decision of the publisher, ...
|
| Poetry | 7/10/2006 |
Q: Wales, I am wondering how many poems do I need to make a decent sized book? Thank you!
A: Alexandra: This really depends on what format you'd like the book to be, and of course, how long ...
|
| is there any chance of me being able to publish my book since im 15? | 7/9/2006 |
Q: About two years ago I was inspired to write a urban drama story after listing to one of my favorite ...
A: Natalie: In the world of publishing, age actually works in your favor, for two reasons. First, if ...
|
| Science Fiction? | 6/16/2006 |
Q: Greetings, I just wanted to ask you about writing Science Fiction. I'll admitt I'm not an avid ...
A: Sam: Wow, way to ask one of the broadest possible questions, dude. You're essentially asking, "Can ...
|
| publishing | 5/27/2006 |
Q: I am currently working on a fantasy book, and it may be completed sometime in the near future. What ...
A: No, you won't get laughed at just because you're a teen. Far from it, in fact. If you're able to ...
|
| copy right | 3/27/2006 |
Q: i have written a poetry book but before i ship it somewhere to get published. i wanted to know the ...
A: Rosy: The simple act of putting your words down in "permanent" form (in other words, writing them ...
|
| word length | 3/22/2006 |
Q: ------------------------- FOLLOW UP AT BOTTOM Followup To Question - Hello: Hope you are doing ...
A: Honestly, it's hard to say. My gut feeling is most publishers would think it's a bit short for a ...
|
| word length | 3/19/2006 |
Q: Hope you are doing better. What you said about word length made a lot of sense to me. Anyway, I am ...
A: It's rare that you'll ever want to add length to a manuscript. Editing generally consists of ...
|
| Beginner Writer | 2/22/2006 |
Q: I have an idea for a story but i'm not sure where to start. Its sort of a Sci-fi/modern era type of ...
A: Garret: This is a pretty broad question, and I'm not entirely certain what you mean by not knowing ...
|
| Doling out information | 2/11/2006 |
Q: I read alot about doling out information, like backstory, character history, etc, throughout the ...
A: Christopher: Generally speaking, you present information at the time the reader needs to know it. ...
|
| Switching from screenplays to books | 2/9/2006 |
Q: For a few years I've focused on becoming a screenwriter. Recently, I've considered trying my luck ...
A: Jeremy: Ay carumba... Screenplays and novels are entirely different animals. Now, if you're a ...
|
| fantasy writer block | 1/17/2006 |
Q: im just a litle upset about my resent writing i feel like nothing i write is that original as i wish ...
A: Sergio: I think we all go through this, so don't be too upset by it. One of the things I ...
|
| Pay Expectations | 1/2/2006 |
Q: If you author a book and it sells successfully, what can you expect to make in dollars from the ...
A: A rough ballpark average of compensation comes in the area of about 10% of cover price on sales, ...
|
| short love books | 1/2/2006 |
Q: No one is a expepert at love. And I really don't read at all. However, short stories I tell off ...
A: Short fiction and book-length fiction have their similarities and their differences. Book-length ...
|
| reaserch project | 12/14/2005 |
Q: what i ment is that i have alot of ideas for events in one story but i dont know how to bring them ...
A: Ah... I see. Well, that's another matter entirely. And honestly, there's no real suggestion I can ...
|
| reaserch project | 12/13/2005 |
Q: at my school my first oeriod class is doing research projects on a subject of our choice. i chose ...
A: Nathan. Well, taking an idea for a short story and expanding it into a novel isn't necessarily a ...
|
| finding time to write my book. | 11/27/2005 |
Q: Ok. I have all my plans and everything laid out, but I just can't find the time to finish writing ...
A: Megan: Different strategies work for different people. One option is to set aside a specific time ...
|
| word count | 11/13/2005 |
Q: i'm confused. Most websights say that the average word count for a novel is 50,000- 100,000, but ...
A: Sara: This is a rather subjective question, because different people have different opinions about ...
|
| some questions | 11/6/2005 |
Q: I have to interveiw a writer for a career project i am doing in school. I would really apreciate if ...
A: Nick: I don't know how useful my answers will be for you, but here you go: 1. My daily routine, ...
|
| To be or not to be. | 11/5/2005 |
Q: I have a problem with a character in my book. I don't if i should keep him on the side of good with ...
A: John: I think I know why you're having a dilemma with this. I'm guessing you're approaching it as ...
|
| advice for fantasy writing | 10/27/2005 |
Q: We actually have five questions, and we would be happy for any answers you can give us. 1. Do ...
A: 1. Not exactly, but it certainly helps, especially for book-length fiction writers. 2. Very much ...
|
| Fantasy cliches | 10/16/2005 |
Q: I'm an beginning, unpublished writer with my eyes on the fantasy genre. I have a general question ...
A: Kate: Certain things in fantasy literature are considered pretty much standards. And everything ...
|
| im interested in publishing a book im writing. | 9/24/2005 |
Q: would know the costs and best publishing house to use in publishing 300 pages of fictional ...
A: Rob: You'll need to be clearer. If you're talking about CHOOSING a publisher, then you're talking ...
|
| Getting a story published | 9/8/2005 |
Q: how are you? My names Eric and im currently in the air force and im 19 years old. I've been ...
A: Hey, Eric. Nice to hear that you've jumped into the writing life. (Don't forget your parachute.) ...
|
| I feel trapped | 8/12/2005 |
Q: There are so many ideas out there that I would like to draw inspiration from. This is most ...
A: J: Feel free! Ideas cannot be copyrighted. Information, even, cannot be copyrighted. What CAN be ...
|
| Copy right | 8/9/2005 |
Q: I have and idea for a story, but I don't want someone ells to steal it. How do get a copy right? ...
A: Dan: The easiest way to get your copyright is to write the story. You can't copyright an idea, you ...
|
| Writing Style? | 8/7/2005 |
Q: How do you figure out your writing style? Is it mostly trial and error or did you look at other ...
A: Yes, determining one's style, or voice, is just a matter of time. A writer can adopt different ...
|
| Poetry | 8/1/2005 |
Q: do you know of any referrals when it comes to getting a poetry book published?or who to turn to?
A: When it comes to books of poetry, there are essentially three kinds. The first is a collection of ...
|
| Publishing | 7/29/2005 |
Q: I was wondering if you could possibly give me some advice. I've already finished one story and I'm ...
A: Matt: It would probably be in your best financial interests to try for publication in the UK first, ...
|
| How did you go about getting... | 6/21/2005 |
Q: How did you go about getting your books published?
A: Lane: I could give you the short answer or the long answer. Unfortunately for you, I feel in the ...
|
| Writing | 6/13/2005 |
Q: I am fifteen years old. I believe that I have written a great story. I want to publish it, but where ...
A: Jessi: Generally, the process goes like this: 1) Finish the book, making sure it's as good as you ...
|
| Character Development | 6/10/2005 |
Q: I am a seventeen year old wanna-be writer. I wish to put together a novel for teenagers and adults ...
A: Donielle: Depending on the nature of the trait you're talking about, losing it SHOULD be a case ...
|
| paradise | 6/9/2005 |
Q: I notice that many novelists seem to be living the good life,just how lucrative is it to be a ...
A: Colin: When you consider how many published novelists there are, the number who are living the good ...
|
| Is there a softer side to Satan? | 5/31/2005 |
Q: Mr. Wales, I understand the importance of showing that an evil character has redeeming qualities ...
A: Brandon: I'd need more information before I can answer your question. You see, it really depends ...
|
| Question about specifics | 5/20/2005 |
Q: When some-one decides to write a book about a subject in a particular country, do you need to have ...
A: If you're writing non-fiction, then YES! If you're writing fiction, you have more leeway, but ...
|
| intergration | 5/13/2005 |
Q: Wales, I am starting to write a book on my life story. Everyone has a book in them and I am no ...
A: Don: That type of sequence - beginning "now" and going back to "then" - is a very common one in ...
|
| getting started/right track? | 4/27/2005 |
Q: I'v never written a book before, but I'm an avid fantasy reader. I just started writing a fantasy ...
A: Christen: When it comes to "how" to write a book, there aren't any hard and fast rules to follow. ...
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| Query letters to agents | 4/27/2005 |
Q: its me again, thanks a lot for responding to my last question. I know about query letters, how they ...
A: J - Actually, I work pretty much exclusively in fiction! Check out my latest: ...
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| Writing Teen Books | 4/21/2005 |
Q: I want to write a fiction teen book, but I don't knwo what subjects will be good to write about. Any ...
A: Kendra: Just think of the things that are appealing to teens. If you're going for the female ...
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| Do you answer publishing questions? | 4/20/2005 |
Q: First, if I want an agent, should I hire them before or after being accepted for publishing. Also, ...
A: J: You almost certainly want to hire an agent ahead of time. The majority of an agent's job is to ...
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| Being Taken Seriously | 3/29/2005 |
Q: I spent the past four months outlining and brainstorming my subject, only began writing when I had ...
A: Paula: You don't sound childish in the least when you say your work is a part of you. Of course it ...
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| growing the characters | 3/26/2005 |
Q: Wales, I enjoy writing poetry and song lyrics. I am getting prepared to start my first book. Do you ...
A: Ty: I don't care for summaries, myself. They're too limiting. Sometimes (though rarely) I will ...
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| Working on more than one novel at once | 1/21/2005 |
Q: My name is Ray Pace and I am a young novelist looking to get published. However, I often wonder ...
A: Ray, I think it's a great idea. I do it, myself. Often, you do reach a place where you get stuck. ...
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| A few Qs about writing | 1/21/2005 |
Q: Hey, I'm 16 and I've either written a handful of short stories or the first few pages of a novel-not ...
A: Dan, I just published a novel composed entirely of newspaper clippings, diary entries, email ...
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| Bio help | 12/11/2004 |
Q: Vencent, I have a poetry manuscript that is ready to be sent in, but my publisher also wants a bio ...
A: Jesi: A bio is pretty simple. You really just want the nuts & bolts of things. You may or may not ...
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| Conspiracy Writing | 12/8/2004 |
Q: i have started drafting a conspirational story about a popular and established society. I just want ...
A: Gerard: Yeah, it can be tough to get published when you're doing controversial stuff. Unless ...
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| Science Fiction - Cyberpunk | 11/25/2004 |
Q: I am currently in the process of writing a science-fiction novel with some dominating cyberpunk ...
A: I'm going to apologize in advance, because I suspect this answer isn't going to be exactly what ...
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| chapter length | 11/23/2004 |
Q: Wow, that was helpful. I have one more question that is very important and that is how do you ...
A: Before I offer something for this, Ed, I want you to ask yourself something: Generally speaking, ...
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| chapter length | 11/22/2004 |
Q: My question is this, is there a general number of pages a chapter needs to be to A) get or keep the ...
A: Ed: There's no rule whatsoever regarding how long a chapter is supposed to be. Anyone who tells ...
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| re: Ideas for books? | 11/13/2004 |
Q: Wales, I will get right to my question to keep it short. I don't consider myself a writer, (although ...
A: Sue: I'm not going to say that such things don't happen. Certainly, it's common in Hollywood for a ...
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| What a story needs. | 10/29/2004 |
Q: I am an 18 year old business student from South Australia and have become weary of the life business ...
A: Matthew: First of all, best of luck with the writing. I hope you don't become weary of it, as ...
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| fantasy book | 10/13/2004 |
Q: i have just finished the first thirty pages of my book which is about a world called Mystia which is ...
A: Peter: Well, honestly, you're not giving me much to judge by. Could this be a good story? Sure. ...
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| About publshing my novel | 10/3/2004 |
Q: Respected Vincent M. Wales , I am Dr. Abidi from Karachi, Pakistan. Although, by profession I am a ...
A: Dr. Abidi: Congratulations on the online success of your writings! That's always great to hear. ...
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| My book is based on a mix... | 10/2/2004 |
Q: My book is based on a mix of cornish myth and legends, but I am unsure what age group to pitch it ...
A: Tony: It's almost always best to aim at a specific market. When it comes to marketing your book, ...
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| New writer | 9/18/2004 |
Q: My name is Susanne and I am just 20 years old. I started writing at the age of 10 and was first ...
A: Oopsie... I just sent your document back to you with comments, then deleted your initial email. ...
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| Synopsis and query writing | 9/6/2004 |
Q: I have completed a 75,000 word fantasy novel, but I am having trouble with the synopsis. I did not ...
A: Wow, talk about a small world. The last question I answered about a synopsis was from a person ...
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| synopsis | 9/4/2004 |
Q: I am writing a synopsis of my novel (which I call light sci-fi) but the plot is complex with many ...
A: Lyn: Try focusing your synopsis only on the protagonist's story. You don't need to explain the ...
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| book overview | 9/1/2004 |
Q: please tell me of some good books on the subject of formating a book. I have started writing it ...
A: Carmel: I need more information. Are you talking about formatting the manuscript for submission to ...
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| Narrative | 8/20/2004 |
Q: narrative writing is causing me a head ache. I am over 60,000 words into a novel but I seem to work ...
A: Lyn: The narrative part of a novel is, in fact, that part of the novel that makes it something of ...
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| Writing | 7/22/2004 |
Q: I was wondering if there was such a way, that if someone is not such a good writer that they can get ...
A: Laura: Not only is this perfectly legal, it's also very common. It's called "ghost writing." ...
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| Research | 6/30/2004 |
Q: I'm writing a story set in California, but I'd like to know how you would research this area ...
A: Hannah: Call me "Mr. Wales" again and I'll give you all wrong answers! Please call me Vince. :) ...
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| Hello, respectively | 6/20/2004 |
Q: my name is Aprial Lucero and I got inspired one night with all sorts of ideas and I started to put ...
A: Aprial... I think the most important thing I can recommend to someone just starting out is this: ...
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| First Time Writer | 6/14/2004 |
Q: I have a degree in Marketing and probably have no business writing a book. I am constantly reading ...
A: For shame, Diane! One's degree has no bearing whatsoever on whether one should or should not have ...
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| Number of words per chapter | 6/13/2004 |
Q: Is there any rules that you follow to determine how many words per chapter of a book. Also, when ...
A: Is there any rules that you follow to determine how many words per chapter of a book. ...
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| writing my life | 6/11/2004 |
Q: I am writing a book about my life. But i can't seem to end it. I just keep going and going. I am at ...
A: When writing an autobiography, it's not a bad idea to think of it as you would a fictional story. ...
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| What to do when you finish a book | 6/2/2004 |
Q: Right know I'm writing a book about a teenage girl but catered to adults. What do I do when I ...
A: Antoinette: If this is your first book, and I gather that it is, I would worry about several other ...
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| settings | 6/2/2004 |
Q: I'm working on a novel, but the problem that i'm getting is that the novel basically only takes ...
A: I'm not entirely sure what you mean by saying it feels "repetetive." Having only three settings ...
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| Reader's Interests | 5/16/2004 |
Q: I have noticed that reader's tastes in subject matter tend to be a moving target. One year Mafia ...
A: William: I don't think it's really accurate to say that the interests of the reading public change. ...
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| writer's profit per book | 4/21/2004 |
Q: How much from the price of the book goes to the writer of the book? Where else does the rest of the ...
A: Good thing you're sitting down, Pedro, because this answer will make you weak in the knees. The ...
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| how to get publisher's attention | 4/14/2004 |
Q: I'm trying to come up with an idea to make my book proposal "different/unique"; something that ...
A: Don: You're quite right... children's books are definitely not my specialty. And I also confess to ...
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| Things that your life and work has taught you | 4/13/2004 |
Q: Wales As a young and aspiring author, I would be grateful to receive some of your wisdom and ...
A: Brian... I consider myself a "young and aspiring author," too! :) Very good question! I like it! ...
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| writing books - fantasy | 3/26/2004 |
Q: i was wondering if it is ok to write a book while still in high school and if you will be taken ...
A: It's certainly a possibility, Zandy. Recently, a book titled ERAGON, by Christopher Paolini, hit ...
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| phrasing... | 3/22/2004 |
Q: ..I am finding it impossible to express this thought with good phrasing for a research paper: Film ...
A: Julie: The problem with asking me to rephrase this for you is that I have no idea what the rest of ...
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| Description | 2/29/2004 |
Q: I have some trouble trying to describe a character in a book that I am working on,it's fantasy. ...
A: Character description is, believe it or not, something you shouldn't waste a lot of time worrying ...
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| ballpark, how many chapters are in a fantasy novel | 2/15/2004 |
Q: writing a book is not my problem. cutting it into chapters and how long to make them, is what i need ...
A: Pamela: When you were in school, did you ever have a teacher who assigned a paper for homework, and ...
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