| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| publishing company salaries | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I recently asked you a question about becoming a book editor and I have a couple of other questions. ...
A: Danielle, I'm afraid I wouldn't have any idea about salaries in NY. Those are closely held secrets ...
|
| uneducated | 11/2/2009 |
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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| trademark | 10/18/2009 |
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 ...
|
| Is my book outline too similar to the Saga Twilight? | 10/5/2009 |
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, ...
|
| writing fiction using actual locations | 9/30/2009 |
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 ...
|
| new author | 9/23/2009 |
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 ...
|
| liability | 9/19/2009 |
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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| liability | 9/11/2009 |
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 ...
|
| Thriller and Prose | 8/31/2009 |
Q: I have just made a decision to try to write some books. I am an avid reader of the Thriller/Suspense ...
A: Pretty much any book by Robert Ludlum or David Baldacci would suit your purposes. They both use ...
|
| wondering how to become published | 8/26/2009 |
Q: Could you please tell me what, if any, are the simplest guidlines to becoming a published writer. I ...
A: Tessa! Well, the "simplest" guidelines are: 1. Write a book that will fit easily on an existing ...
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| writing books | 8/21/2009 |
Q: Is it possible for a writer to unknowingly use someone else's idea when writing a book? For example, ...
A: Danelle! Yes, it's absolutely possible. I've been a victim (of sorts) myself. But "first to shelf" ...
|
| role play | 8/14/2009 |
Q: In writing in a role play i have found out that my writing ability is not at the same level as those ...
A: JP! I'd suggest you spend some time reading the novelizations of the Dungeons & Dragons role games ...
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| Query | 8/12/2009 |
Q: I'm nearly finished with my novel, which contains a prologue set twenty years prior to the remainder ...
A: I wouldn't worry too much about that method of word count. Most everybody uses the computer count ...
|
| View Points | 8/12/2009 |
Q: How many view points is one authorized to include in a book?
A: Berni! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd help. There's no particular ...
|
| writing courses | 8/11/2009 |
Q: I would like to find out what sort of courses one should apply for when it comes to writing novels ...
A: sumi! Frankly, I don't know of many popular fiction authors who have taken such courses. Most of us ...
|
| Important scene | 8/8/2009 |
Q: I'm busy writing a scene in the beginning of my book that is very important to the growth of the ...
A: Vernice! Sorry for the delay in responding. I'd thought I'd set my AllExperts page to vacation ...
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| Do I need information release forms? | 8/6/2009 |
Q: I am currently working on a non-fiction manuscript based on a triple homicide that occurred in my ...
A: Lisa! I saw your question in the pool and thought I'd try to help. The answer is that you really ...
|
| Query | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I'm nearly finished with my novel, which contains a prologue set twenty years prior to the remainder ...
A: Carol! If an agent wants to see the first so many pages, and all that you could send is the ...
|
| One more issue | 7/31/2009 |
Q: Clamp: Thanks for your timely response. Could you kindly tell me how a request for anonymity is ...
A: Howie! Sorry for the delay, but my email ate the notice you were over here. Whether the U.S. ...
|
| Genre, illustrations and publishing process | 7/30/2009 |
Q: Although I was slightly English-illiterate in my early years, I have been developing my writing ...
A: Cassandra! The publisher absolutely chooses the illustrator, so you don't have to worry about that ...
|
| My First Novel | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I am writing my first novel, and I'm nearly finished. I have about 45K and am probably looking at ...
A: Chantal! First, congratulations on nearly finishing your novel! No, you don't need a single ...
|
| my book | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I'll do my best to explain my problem and situation. My situation is i've just started a book (I'm ...
A: Brayden, In Middle Grade (which is what this category is) killing is not okay. The hero/ine can win ...
|
| my book | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I'll do my best to explain my problem and situation. My situation is i've just started a book (I'm ...
A: Brayden! Your first problem is actually pretty easy to solve. Do you use a Thesaurus regularly? I ...
|
| genre | 7/21/2009 |
Q: I'm a first person Private Investigator story, but contains vampires. Can I call it "commercial ...
A: Not really. "Mystery" is a shelf in the bookstore. "Horror" is also a shelf. You'll have to pick ...
|
| Biggest Critic | 7/18/2009 |
Q: Hey, first off thanks for taking the time to read this and help me. I'm very grateful. I've been a ...
A: Cory! First, are you POSITIVE you're a novelist? Not everybody who writes is. Some authors have ...
|
| genre | 7/14/2009 |
Q: I'm a first person Private Investigator story, but contains vampires. Can I call it "commercial ...
A: Stick with the "root" element, which is the mystery. Then move outward because the criminals are ...
|
| genre | 7/13/2009 |
Q: I'm a first person Private Investigator story, but contains vampires. Can I call it "commercial ...
A: Well, that sort of depends. Does the investigator just "happen" to be a vampire and the mysteries ...
|
| Using quotes in books | 7/3/2009 |
Q: I am writing a book that occasionally references scenes from movies - and I need to insert quotes. ...
A: again, Larry! Sorry, I was under the impression you were writing a novel where quotes appeared. ...
|
| Using quotes in books | 7/2/2009 |
Q: I am writing a book that occasionally references scenes from movies - and I need to insert quotes. ...
A: Larry! Yes, this is a copyright issue, and yes, you would need permission to quote this the way you ...
|
| Question | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I'm ariel, I'm curently writing a book and I have it all out in my head. It's about these teens who ...
A: Actually, I think you misunderstood me. 1. Dead killer's spirit is killing people 2. First VICTIM's ...
|
| Question | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I'm ariel, I'm curently writing a book and I have it all out in my head. It's about these teens who ...
A: Ariel! Well, one thing I can think of is to make the spirit killing them the KILLER rather than the ...
|
| Help on Publishing | 6/24/2009 |
Q: I am currently in the process of writing a young adult fiction book. My grandfather has connections ...
A: Kaylee! I saw your question in the pool and thought I'd offer to help out. Your age really has ...
|
| grants | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I am currently writing a science fiction book, I'm only sixteen and I do not have a job, and so I ...
A: Abby! What are you trying to accomplish that you believe you'll need money for? Grants for writers ...
|
| Part of the Writing Process | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I'm writing a novel right now. It's an adventure/horror/comedy/romance novel. The thing is when I ...
A: Chelsie! I'm not sure who told you that there's a "proper process" for writing novels, but you'll ...
|
| synopsis | 6/12/2009 |
Q: i have just finished writing my first book in what i think will be a trilogy, it will definitely be ...
A: Naomi! First, congratulations on finishing your first book! That's a milestone all by itself. :) ...
|
| real life story not mine | 6/6/2009 |
Q: How can I write a story about a real person, places, and events and have it be a work of fiction?
A: Darlene! The only way to make real events into fiction is to fictionalize them. By that, I mean ...
|
| Using Mythology in fiction | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I am currently working on a piece of writing - romance - and am using Greek mythology heavily in my ...
A: Zoe! Stretch them as far as you like! Just make your *characters* aware of the current myth---then ...
|
| Permission To Write About A College In Your Story | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I would like to use a real college and location as a backdrop to my story. While my characters and ...
A: Joanie! It's quite possible that the college would want to give permission. But is there a reason ...
|
| writing help | 5/20/2009 |
Q: Cathy, I am a teenage author who has recently published three books with Wordclay.com. I know that ...
A: Thomas! Sorry for the delay in responding, but I've been doing a little reading up about Wordclay. ...
|
| My first novel | 4/13/2009 |
Q: I am currently writing my first novel, and hopefully not my last. I would consider it to be a ...
A: Justin! Well, your age isn't a problem. You're over 18, so I believe that even in Canada you'd be ...
|
| Need help to bring a writing project to life | 3/30/2009 |
Q: writing is not my background. I have never written any books. But, about 3 years ago, The idea came ...
A: melvin! Sorry for the delay in responding, but my ISP has been down for a couple of days. Yes, ...
|
| Biography | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I have written a Biography on my Father-in-law whom passed 6-5-08. We have not published the book ...
A: Crystal! I saw your question in the question pool, and thought I'd try to help out. Based on what ...
|
| throw-down.... | 2/28/2009 |
Q: how are you? I've come across a passage and have problems with understanding it. Bono and Larry ...
A: 1. A "throw-down" is shorthand for throwing down the gauntlet---a challenge. If you're going to make ...
|
| Disciplin | 2/18/2009 |
Q: I have loads of ideas and I think they are good, at first. Then self doubt creeps in. How do you ...
A: Sara! Sorry for the delay in responding. I'm at a book conference and wasn't able to get to a ...
|
| fiction-nonfiction libel concerns | 2/6/2009 |
Q: My novel is based on a true story. Like many authors, I have extreme concerns with libel issues. I ...
A: Sara! You're right to be concerned about this. It's very easy to get into trouble when you're ...
|
| Use of italics | 2/3/2009 |
Q: My question is about someone speaking over a radio. The listener (where the scene is focused) is ...
A: Scott! If it were my book, I would. It just makes it easier for the reader (including ...
|
| letters in literary works | 2/2/2009 |
Q: I'm working on a fiction novel and I'm using pieces of letters my late friend sent to me when he was ...
A: Andrea! Technically speaking, a writing is the property of the writer. If that person dies, then it ...
|
| Email Submissions: Formatting | 1/31/2009 |
Q: I have a very basic question. As the publishing business continues to move from snail mail to ...
A: Jim! It depends on whether the agent/editor has specifically requested a partial or synopsis be in ...
|
| A book idea | 12/6/2008 |
Q: I have an idea for a book but I don't want to share my idea in fear of someone stealing it. How do ...
A: Georgette! Unfortunately, an "idea" (such as a plot outline, characters, etc.) can't be ...
|
| Writing a Book | 12/1/2008 |
Q: my name's Marion and I've been wanting to write a book for awhile. I'm 16 and I've been told from a ...
A: Marion! Congrats for taking the first step to become a writer. Coming up with the subject is often ...
|
| Chapter numbers | 12/1/2008 |
Q: Is it necessary to start each chapter on the next page with a page break?
A: Donovan! I saw your question in the pool, and thought I'd try to help out. It's customary to start ...
|
| referencing magazines in email queries | 11/27/2008 |
Q: I understand that an email query should be plain text, but how then do I distinguish the ...
A: Linda! You can do one of a couple of things. For example, My writing credits include: 1) "A Great ...
|
| Myth and Religion in fiction | 11/24/2008 |
Q: I am plotting and developing a novel currently but have ran into a few problems about how to portray ...
A: Ricky! The nice thing with fiction is you get a wide latitude to play with. Here's the trick I've ...
|
| Book marketing question | 11/24/2008 |
Q: With my brother, I created two books of artistic depictions of cliches, puns, etc. I submitted the ...
A: Jennifer! Well, the trick with this is that the more books you sell as self-published, the more ...
|
| Getting Started? | 10/26/2008 |
Q: Clamp: Has anyone been successful at turning a journal into a novel? I'd like to give it a try. I ...
A: Cherie! Sure, I don't see why you can't. I don't know personally of anyone who has, but that's not ...
|
| organization | 10/25/2008 |
Q: I have read several of the queries to you and your answers. I feel you are an intelligent lady and ...
A: Gabe! Congratulations on taking the next step toward writing. If you've got several notebooks full ...
|
| expert preface | 10/22/2008 |
Q: I am writing a book and would like to ask an expert to write the preface. Should I ask the expert to ...
A: Houda Araj! First you'll have to ask permission to send the manuscript. A simple letter of ...
|
| Ghostwriting a book proposal | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I am ghostwriting a book for a friend. We are working on the proposal to send to a publisher. ...
A: Chris! Yes, you should definitely list your contact information, as well as your own writing ...
|
| book writing | 10/11/2008 |
Q: I am writing a chapter book. It's my first. I have a few problems. First, I think my book may end ...
A: again! Setting it up for a sequel is fine. But it MUST stand alone. There's no guarantee (even for ...
|
| Writing my first novel | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of my first novel. It is about a distopian society where the government has ...
A: Ryan! Sorry for the delay in responding, but my internet's been down, so I'm having to find public ...
|
| Writing a book | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I am writing a true story of my experience,strength, and hope. I have searched for my biological ...
A: Jessica! Sorry for the delay in responding. My internet's down at home, so I have to try to hit a ...
|
| book writing | 10/6/2008 |
Q: I am writing a chapter book. It's my first. I have a few problems. First, I think my book may end ...
A: Okay, so you're actually running a little LONG, instead of short. That's no problem, so long as you ...
|
| writing books | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I've always wanted to be able to write books, especially fantasy, but I can never get any ideas. How ...
A: Liz! Sorry for the delay in answering, but apparently I didn't get your question the first time. ...
|
| writing a novel | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I am 11 years old, for years I have wanted to be an author, but I never had ideas, now that I ...
A: Eileen! You're at an age where a lot of things are kicking in---physically and emotionally, so I'm ...
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| book writing | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I am writing a chapter book. It's my first. I have a few problems. First, I think my book may end ...
A: Brayden! I saw your question in the question pool, so I thought I'd try to help. When you say ...
|
| Are my books tainted? | 9/25/2008 |
Q: I wrote two children's sci fi adventure novels in 2001 that were picked up by a publisher in ...
A: Kat! Well my best advice would be to contact the publisher and get your rights back. If the ...
|
| Feels like a dumb question at this point... | 9/23/2008 |
Q: Clamp, I think you are the the right person to help me. I've written a manuscrpt. I use a ...
A: JD! Actually, it's not a dumb question at all---and it's pretty easy to solve. An agent or editor ...
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| copyrights & agents | 9/22/2008 |
Q: I've checked literary sources and can't find it. I work under a 501(c)(3) and would like to sell my ...
A: again, Jenny! Well, you probably don't want to fill out the copyright (rather than copywrite) ...
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| online forums and future publications | 9/8/2008 |
Q: I had a story idea come to me and I was not able to name my characters right away so I started using ...
A: Jennifer! Well, first, there's no copyrighting of names, so if you want to use that character's ...
|
| tense | 8/26/2008 |
Q: I do understand that no second person can tell one which writing style to exactly adopt but i just ...
A: Nitasha! I saw your question in the pool, and thought I'd try to help you out. You can use either ...
|
| Character Reactions? | 8/23/2008 |
Q: I'm currently working on a situation (which is what I write when I don't have a story to work on, it ...
A: Joanne! Actually, I don't really see the problem. Cassie's unconscious. That's the PERFECT time for ...
|
| Headers | 8/21/2008 |
Q: Okay, I have manually typed my headers on the top right corner of each page that say Holton/Behind ...
A: Ahhh... You'll need to delete that header and put it on the page where you want it to start. Word ...
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| Headers | 8/21/2008 |
Q: Okay, I have manually typed my headers on the top right corner of each page that say Holton/Behind ...
A: Here you go: 1. Click on View in the upper bar 2. Click on Header and Footers 3. A box will pop up ...
|
| writer's group | 8/19/2008 |
Q: Can you give me some links to really good up to date writer's groups. where i can post some parts of ...
A: Brandon! The two where I primarily hang out are very up to date, with daily activity. The biggest ...
|
| Time & Dedications | 8/18/2008 |
Q: I have finished planning out my novel. I plan on starting the actual writing this week. But school ...
A: John! Well, I tend to write in the mornings because I find that by the end of the work/school day ...
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| writing | 8/17/2008 |
Q: How do i go about getting my book published?
A: Chris! I'll need a little more information before I can advise you. Tell me what you mean by ...
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| "Headers: TITLE -AUTHOR-PAGE # | 8/15/2008 |
Q: Cathy you gave me a link to AbsoluteWrite last week and it has proven invaluable - I'v distributed ...
A: again, Jenny! I'm glad AW has been helpful to you and your group. Yes, the header (for a printed ...
|
| sase | 8/14/2008 |
Q: Honestly, are sase's just a fast way to get a rejection, or has anyone actually gotten a return ...
A: Actually, the acceptance for our first book to a small press WAS received in the SASE. Not every ...
|
| Book titles | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I changed the title of my book twice. This time, when I saw that a title sold by the agency had a ...
A: Titles don't matter at all, so it's not a good thing or a bad thing. About half the time what the ...
|
| photos in book | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I am publishng my third book and this one is more intense than the others. This is a 98 pg+ coffee ...
A: yvonne! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd offer to help. My first book was ...
|
| Speaking to writers' group | 7/30/2008 |
Q: I co-chair a writer's group in the New Haven/ Hamden, CT area. I am looking for a published writer ...
A: Jenny! Sorry for the delay in answering. My ISP provider decided to do an "upgrade" and I'm now ...
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| hi | 7/24/2008 |
Q: right now i'm writing a novel and i wanna be a poet how can i be? answer me please
A: arein! Well, if you want to be a poet, why are you writing a novel? They're sort of different ...
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| published/unpublished | 7/23/2008 |
Q: Concerning the terms "unpublished" and "published" authors, by "unpublished" or "new" does this mean ...
A: I think we discussed this before as part of a "platform." The author credentials have to do with any ...
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| Novels | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I wonder if you can help me. I am attempting to write a novel and am trying really hard to do my ...
A: again, Michelle! Well, a lot is going to depend on your protagonist. There are different kinds of ...
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| published/unpublished | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Concerning the terms "unpublished" and "published" authors, by "unpublished" or "new" does this mean ...
A: By and large, the term "author" refers to books and, occasionally, short stories. Magazine article ...
|
| Next step | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I have just completed writing a book, and I've been reading, Writer's Market to learn what to do; ...
A: Kerri! Lots of questions here, so let's go through them one at a time: 1. How do I write an ...
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| Novels | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I wonder if you can help me. I am attempting to write a novel and am trying really hard to do my ...
A: Michelle! I'm not Catherine (well, actually, I am---just not the one you asked... LOL!) But I saw ...
|
| Chapter format | 7/13/2008 |
Q: I just finished writing 320 page romance. I know the basics of to format a manuscript. I printed ...
A: Sandy! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd try to help out since I publish ...
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| synopsis of mystery novel | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I've had one novel published. I've just written my first mystery and I've been asked for a two-page ...
A: Sukey! Well, I have to admit that mysteries aren't my particular genre. But I have submitted ...
|
| memoir query | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I've just finished my memoir about a time when I was heavily involved in drugs and basically ...
A: Brandon! First, Congratulations on finishing your memoir, and for getting through a rough period in ...
|
| RE: Transplant Survivor | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I am a liver transplant survivor. My intentions are to tell my story and open awareness of donating ...
A: Quite possibly, but you'll need to decide where in a bookstore you'd want the book to be shelved. Do ...
|
| Market Assessment | 7/1/2008 |
Q: An agent recently asked me to send them an assessment of my manuscript's market and its strengths in ...
A: Carol! This seems like a VERY strange thing for an agent to be asking, if they already sell in the ...
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| Book Legality Question | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I'm getting ready to start a book about a whole bunch of experiences i've had with clients...I'm a ...
A: Hy, Byron! Sorry for the delay in answering, but apparently I didn't get the question the first ...
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| Novel Question.... | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I have a great idea and a great structure for a science fiction novel. When I say structure, I am ...
A: David! I'm not Tabitha, but I saw your question in the question pool, so I thought I'd offer some ...
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| Novel writing | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I live in Africa, but I've got an idea of a book I'm working on, which is based in a city in ...
A: Kingsley! One the best things you can do is talk to people who actually live in Germany. ...
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| publishing | 6/17/2008 |
Q: i was just wondering if anyone can get a book published or do you need any speacial degrees and ...
A: Chris! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd offer to help. Yes, anyone can get ...
|
| synopsis | 6/14/2008 |
Q: The agency says it represents commercial/literary fiction. I've written a type of detective story ...
A: At the top of the synopsis, you shouldn't put anything at all. It's only in the query or cover ...
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| dialogue | 6/11/2008 |
Q: i have difficulty with the correct use of written dialogue. i have checked several sites and books. ...
A: Mike! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd offer to help out. But, I'm afraid ...
|
| commercial fiction? | 6/5/2008 |
Q: An agency says that it handles "commercial fiction" How would you define that? I see that they have ...
A: Once again, ALL genre fiction is commercial fiction. If they've represented a mystery, they might ...
|
| outline | 5/30/2008 |
Q: An agent asked to see the first three chapters and an outline. How would I go about making an ...
A: Well, first it depends on whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction. If fiction, you need to ...
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| query or cover letter? | 5/30/2008 |
Q: If it reads "query with 3-5 pages of first chapter and synopsis with SASE" Does this mean to submit ...
A: Yes. Cover letter only goes with a manuscript. They'll be expecting a full query letter that "hooks" ...
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| E-mail Queries | 5/28/2008 |
Q: I was just wondering how the format for e-mail queries is different from mail queries, if there is ...
A: Brandon! E-queries tend to be left justified---that is, there are no tabs at the beginning of ...
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| marketing hook | 5/27/2008 |
Q: One agency wanted a "marketing hook" (if you've been previously published, have a MFA,etc) If you ...
A: A marketing hook is a one-line blurb that a marketing or sales person can use to sell the book to a ...
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| Turning Ideas Into a Solid Plot | 5/27/2008 |
Q: For the past year or so, I've been having random thoughts or so about this book that I'd like to ...
A: Kevin! First, welcome to the world of writing! You'll be happy to know that you fall in one of the ...
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| commercial fiction | 5/23/2008 |
Q: That's another ambiguous term. One agency said they handle "commercial fiction." I am assuming that ...
A: All genre fiction is commercial by its nature. But "commercial" is not a genre in its own right. The ...
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| genre | 5/20/2008 |
Q: Let's say a person writes a story about a Chinese American who starts a detective agency. Does he ...
A: Demetrius! Sorry for the delay in responding, but didn't notice this question come through the loop. ...
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| problems starting the story | 5/18/2008 |
Q: All right, I love to write. I mean I absolutely love the freedom it allows me when I can create my ...
A: Sam! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd try to take a stab at answering it. ...
|
| labels | 5/12/2008 |
Q: There is a story about a game warden trying to find out who is killing hunters. One reviewer calls ...
A: Correct. "Commercial fiction" is ALL fiction, because all fiction is commercial (versus niche, which ...
|
| Too young? | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I am 13. Am I just too young to write a novella? It is YA historical fiction (Reconstruction era) ...
A: Victoria! No, you're not too young to write a novella. In fact, another author your age, Amelia ...
|
| writers groups | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I remember you once said something about writers groups to join. Could you give me a few good ones? ...
A: Sure. That's okay, if you're happy with it. Actually, you didn't write it wrong. I understood what ...
|
| writers groups | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I remember you once said something about writers groups to join. Could you give me a few good ones? ...
A: There are a few good online groups I like. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums ...
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| sending in | 5/3/2008 |
Q: Okay, some of these questions are going to make me sound really dumb. But here goes. I'm sending in ...
A: Here are two threads on another site where I break down the specific elements of both a query and a ...
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| Synopsis | 5/3/2008 |
Q: I have written a two page synopsis, but at two pages, I could only focus on one part of the book. ...
A: Unfortunately, the two page synopsis has to tell the ENTIRE story, not just on one part of the book. ...
|
| sending in | 4/30/2008 |
Q: Okay, some of these questions are going to make me sound really dumb. But here goes. I'm sending in ...
A: Brandon! Last question first: Yes, you'd do it the way you put here, and in the salutation, put: ...
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| synopsis | 4/28/2008 |
Q: Well, before I ask the question, yes, your last reply makes sense. (You asked me if I understood). ...
A: There are two kinds of synopses. One is a "narrative synopsis." This sort of synopsis is like a ...
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| Prologues | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I have been researching every where on the net about prologues. The more I read about the more ...
A: Rose Andre! Well, technically speaking, there's no "supposed to be" about a prologue. What's ...
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| legal things. | 4/22/2008 |
Q: Okay, so I know people write about murder and what not, but that's fiction. I know this is probaly ...
A: Brandon! Well, it depends on what you mean by "trouble." Can you get in trouble with the law for ...
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| that explains it | 4/21/2008 |
Q: I see that an agent who sent me a rejection stated elsewhere "we wanted the agency to reflect our ...
A: That means that 1) The agent thinks they could sell the book; but 2) they're trying (as a company) ...
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| outline or synopsis? | 4/15/2008 |
Q: You remember that I said someone listed that they want 2 or three page outlines, and you said I ...
A: It's really hard for an agent to match up a query with an email question sometimes (because a ...
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| bio? | 4/15/2008 |
Q: One agency asks for query with author bio and I think two or three page outline. I thought I had ...
A: I don't think they want an entire page. I'm thinking (and I could be wrong) that they want it on a ...
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| bio? | 4/14/2008 |
Q: One agency asks for query with author bio and I think two or three page outline. I thought I had ...
A: In this case, I think they are using the term "outline" when they MEAN "synopsis." But that's a ...
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| not sure | 4/14/2008 |
Q: Hey, I'm not sure if you do this thing or not, but I was wondering if you would look at part of my ...
A: Brandon! Unfortunately, I simply don't have time to look at all the samples people ask me to. My ...
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| writing a book about my life | 4/6/2008 |
Q: My sister and I are trying to write a book together. My question is how can we have two narrators ...
A: Richard! Well, it's no particular problem to tell the story from two points of view (POVs.) The ...
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| First Person POV | 4/5/2008 |
Q: Yes, I know I ask a lot of questions. Sorry about that. But I was reading and I've noticed this in ...
A: again, Brandon! Don't apologize about asking questions. :) It's why I'm here. Sure, for dialogue you ...
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| agent | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I asked an agent a question by email, and he replied. I asked if a certain type of genre would be ...
A: It depends on whether the address and phone number appear at the bottom as part of what might be a ...
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| word count | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I know i've asked before, but then I read and keep getting different answers. So... I'm using ...
A: Brandon! The simple answer is to use the word count feature. The "white space" method of 250 words ...
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| topic | 4/2/2008 |
Q: "Hi, I feel kind of embarrassed as I write this. See, I am a 10 year old, but I do want to start ...
A: Eileen! First, congratulations for writing stories that have won awards. That's terrific! I think ...
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| new authors | 3/30/2008 |
Q: The site you told me about was very helpful. I was wondering, however, if there is a way to locate ...
A: Unfortunately, I can't recommend a book to my agent that I haven't read, and I'm so tied up right ...
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| new authors | 3/29/2008 |
Q: The site you told me about was very helpful. I was wondering, however, if there is a way to locate ...
A: Demetrius, ALL agencies work with new and unpublished authors. If you hear otherwise, the person who ...
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| Method for including background info | 3/28/2008 |
Q: Currently, I am working on my first novel. It is fantasy, and my plans consist of starting the ...
A: Melissa! This is a tricky question but it's good you're asking it, because too many books start out ...
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| referrals | 3/27/2008 |
Q: Everything looked good at first. And agency asked for only a query letter. Then researching, I ...
A: No, not necessarily. It just means MOST. Not ALL. If they're willing to accept queries, they're ...
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| submissions | 3/25/2008 |
Q: One agency lists this: "Snail Mail/fiction: query with two sample chapters, resume, and SASE Snail ...
A: Not necessarily. They may be using the word "resume" in place of "bio." Same meaning in the trade. ...
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| Where to start? | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I already have an outline and a plot, but i don't know how to start the first sentence! how do I do ...
A: again, Matt! Sure, to the extent that nobody can copyright an "idea" or plot concept, you're fine. ...
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| manuscript | 3/24/2008 |
Q: At the top of the page is the title name, page number, two inches from that is "Chapter One" and two ...
A: It's perfectly acceptable to do the first page of a sample as follows: 1. Start with a 1" top ...
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| Where to start? | 3/22/2008 |
Q: I already have an outline and a plot, but i don't know how to start the first sentence! how do I do ...
A: Matt! This is something that every writer struggles with. Where to start a book is something that ...
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| agency info | 3/20/2008 |
Q: The agency info is "submit query letter with bio and one page writing sample of project, fiction or ...
A: They CAN mean publishing history. But if you don't have one, then a "bio" should just mention things ...
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| searching for help | 3/17/2008 |
Q: Well, my name is cerelle an i want so bad to write a autobiograohy but i just don't no how to start ...
A: Cerelle! I saw your question in the pool and thought I'd offer to help. I don't write memoirs (the ...
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| numbers | 3/17/2008 |
Q: I've heard that in a manuscript you should write all numbers out. Like instead of June 23 you'd put ...
A: Brandon! Actually, dates are the exception to this rule. According to the Chicago Manual of Style ...
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| Finding my own voice and research. | 3/17/2008 |
Q: The question that I have been meaning to ask all along was how do I find my own voice in terms of ...
A: Sure! Lots of ways. The first thing you should invest in is a book called "Writers Market" This is ...
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| agency | 3/16/2008 |
Q: The agency writes on website to send cover letter and 10 pages. So in the cover letter, I am not to ...
A: Ah! Slightly different situation. In this case, I think they're using the term "cover letter" when ...
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| Me yet again... | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I hope you don't mind. I haven't been able to find an answer for this one. If, in my novel, I have ...
A: again, Amber! No, I don't mind at all. :) It depends on what you mean by "several characters ...
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| AAR | 3/15/2008 |
Q: One agency is not a AAR member. Should I query them?
A: Sure. Not every selling agent out there is a member. But if you get to a stage where they're talking ...
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| Cover | 3/15/2008 |
Q: How is a cover letter with sample pages different from a query letter? My cover letter says that I ...
A: A cover letter is a simple business letter, rather than a "selling" letter. All it really says is ...
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| Finding my own voice and research. | 3/15/2008 |
Q: The question that I have been meaning to ask all along was how do I find my own voice in terms of ...
A: P.J. I don't know that there's a good answer for this. "Voice" is thrown about like it has a ...
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| Query | 3/12/2008 |
Q: Is it okay to write "This is like blah, blah, that you represented"? Or mention other books the ...
A: The trick with this is to make sure you ENHANCE the agent's list. If you write exactly like Clive ...
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| Agency | 3/12/2008 |
Q: Another agency I wonder about. It is listed as wanting "mystery, ethnic, chicklit," and other works ...
A: Then you'll have to play it by ear. Give her a chance if you feel that you "click" when you talk ...
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| Agency | 3/12/2008 |
Q: Another agency I wonder about. It is listed as wanting "mystery, ethnic, chicklit," and other works ...
A: Well, there are two sides to this. While she might not have sold anything in her CURRENT position, ...
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| Agent | 3/10/2008 |
Q: I discovered a more about the agent. It's " No unsoc. manuscript. query first with sase" Does this ...
A: Correct. No sample chapters. No synopsis. Just a single page letter with a self-addressed, stamped ...
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| 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: again, Cindy! Sure. She could go the "Dexter" route---become someone who CATCHES killers because ...
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| 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! Well, you've got two issues at play here. First you've got a young girl that kills for ...
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| submissions | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I spotted one agency that seems to handle the type of book I have written, but on the website it ...
A: Okay, it does appear they want an exclusive query. But they're also giving a time limit of one ...
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| names | 3/7/2008 |
Q: I was just wondering, i know people say names can't be copyrighted and I'm sure it's okay since I've ...
A: Brandon! Nope. You should be fine. The only trick is you don't want to use a real person's FULL ...
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| submissions | 3/6/2008 |
Q: I spotted one agency that seems to handle the type of book I have written, but on the website it ...
A: Demetrius! Frankly, in your place, I'd query all the agents who allow simultaneous submissions ...
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| obtaining copyright permission | 3/2/2008 |
Q: Cathy, I have written a book that has been accepted for publication. The problem I'm having is in ...
A: Photographs are trickier to find out the status of than articles themselves. If the photos are ...
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| matching agents to material | 2/22/2008 |
Q: Do you have any tips that would help me to match agents to my book, to find agents that handle ...
A: "Multi-cultural" really doesn't exist as a proper genre. Some of the larger bookstores will carry an ...
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| matching agents to material | 2/21/2008 |
Q: Do you have any tips that would help me to match agents to my book, to find agents that handle ...
A: I recommend either AgentQuery (http://www.agentquery.com) or the Association of Author ...
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| cover art | 2/16/2008 |
Q: I am in the final stages of getting my first novel published and the editor has begun bringing up ...
A: Paul-Michael! No, I'm afraid an author really has very little say in the cover art. It takes years ...
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| novel | 2/11/2008 |
Q: I have one question. I have just finished writting my first novel and I want to know how do you have ...
A: Sean! One little question--but it's a BIG answer. First you have to decide whether you want to have ...
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| author bio | 1/28/2008 |
Q: What should an unpublished writer put in the author bio?
A: In the author bio of your first book? I'd put something like: Demetrius XXX lives and works in XXX ...
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| query | 1/28/2008 |
Q: One thing is bugging me, a bit, so I thought I'd write for confirmation. Writers Market and LMP ...
A: Demetrius! A lot of agents have literary assistants. They act as both clerical staff and are often ...
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| Putting my thoughts together | 1/20/2008 |
Q: It would be very helpful if you could help me overcome this dilemma, I have a lot of ideas, ...
A: Shamita! Hmm... I know a few other people with similar problems (all of them writers.) A couple of ...
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| can a kid write a book? | 1/8/2008 |
Q: do you think that a kid could actualy wright a book?
A: Wesley! I saw your question in the question pool, so I figured I'd take it on. Can a kid write a ...
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| My first novel as a young author | 1/8/2008 |
Q: my name is Mackenzie Hash, I think that you might be able to help me out. You see, I am a young ...
A: Mackenzie! Wow! Lots and lots of questions. LOL! But it's good that you're thinking hard about the ...
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| query letter | 1/2/2008 |
Q: In an agent-query letter, the title of the book in question is normally italicized. Mywould it be ...
A: Well, you're welcome to send it along, but I'll have to warn you that I have very limited time right ...
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| query letter | 1/2/2008 |
Q: In an agent-query letter, the title of the book in question is normally italicized. Mywould it be ...
A: Dan! No, not at all. You can italicize, bold or even put it in ALL CAPS. You just want the agent to ...
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| Word Count | 1/2/2008 |
Q: I've seen a number of different question and answers about word counts for different types of ...
A: Scott! I saw your question in the question pool and thought I'd take a minute to answer. Sure, ...
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| Point of View | 12/28/2007 |
Q: As a writer yourself, how do you feel about books with mixed POVs? For example, Robert Crais--an ...
A: Al! I'm tremendously impressed with those writers who can pull off mixed POVs. Another mystery ...
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| Book and Movie | 12/24/2007 |
Q: Cathy, I have come up with an idea for a horror movie that I feel would be great on the big screen. ...
A: Well, ideas can't be protected by the copyright process. Only the actual text can be, and that ...
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| Getting Published... | 12/22/2007 |
Q: My friends and I are highschool students. We have something we call the RPG binder and it is a ...
A: Okay, so the problem is going to come up during the submission process of WHO the agent or editor is ...
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| I would love to write a book | 12/13/2007 |
Q: i have just started writing today, the book is about dealing with death in a family with someone you ...
A: Shannen! I saw your question show up in the question pool, so I thought I'd help you out with some ...
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| book | 11/30/2007 |
Q: I am writing my memoirs from the 60’s and want to understand a few things about writing a book ...
A: Dick! Here you go: 1. 250 pages in trade paperback format (which is what memoirs usually are ...
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| Music to write by | 11/22/2007 |
Q: I mostly write fantasy, but I write a lot of genres, and I usually use music as my inspiration. I ...
A: Katherine! Okay, I've asked some writers I know who both 1) write fantasy similar to yours; and 2) ...
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| Music to write by | 11/21/2007 |
Q: I've got a bit of writers-block at the moment and I usually write to music to inspire me and keep me ...
A: Katherine! I saw your question in the pool, so I thought I'd try to answer you. You pose a pretty ...
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| Putting things up on the internet and publishing | 11/20/2007 |
Q: I'm not sure if I should've asked this in the publishing category, because it doesn't directly ...
A: Karina! You're right to ask this question, because a lot of people don't. You're actually asking ...
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| Category? | 11/16/2007 |
Q: I am writing a book about mine and my husbands life. It centers around a serious incident that took ...
A: again, Judy! Sorry for the delay in answering. I apparently didn't receive the question the first ...
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| Category? | 11/16/2007 |
Q: I am writing a book about mine and my husbands life. It centers around a serious incident that took ...
A: Judy! Wow, you raise a really interesting question. I still think the book would fall in the ...
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| Original ideas. | 11/9/2007 |
Q: I was wondering, how is it possible to research the genre one is interested in without sounding like ...
A: Ah, now you're into one of the biggest tricks of writing fiction, P.J. Answering the "why." This is ...
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| hello | 11/8/2007 |
Q: i have to write a report on a career that im intrested in witch mine is writting ive injoyed writtin ...
A: Alicia! I saw your question in the question pool, and thought I'd give you a hand. I'm a full time ...
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| Character Trouble | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I write fantasy stories, and I have no trouble coming up with character descriptions and ...
A: Tyler! I saw your question in the pool, and thought I'd try to give you some guidance. Okay, I ...
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| Direct Quotations | 9/6/2007 |
Q: If a story is written in the third person should the nouns or pronouns in the direct quotation also ...
A: Oops! Sorry about that, Kenneth. POV is writer shorthand for "point of view." You named two of the ...
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| Direct Quotations | 9/6/2007 |
Q: If a story is written in the third person should the nouns or pronouns in the direct quotation also ...
A: Kenneth! Both examples are correct as written. When in third person POV, you definitely want the ...
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| I'm not sure if I'm asking the right person... | 8/24/2007 |
Q: ...but I hope you can help me. I'm close to finishing my first novel, and I've begun each chapter ...
A: Hy, Athlynne! This is a tricky question to answer, because the laws about using quotes are sort of ...
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| starting | 8/15/2007 |
Q: My name is Lisa and I'm 15 years old, and i have a problem. I have this story that i have been ...
A: again! Glad my answer was some help. It might well be that the book/story requires 1st person. It's ...
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| starting | 8/11/2007 |
Q: My name is Lisa and I'm 15 years old, and i have a problem. I have this story that i have been ...
A: Lisa-Marie! Sorry to be so long in responding, but apparently I didn't get the first email. ...
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| getting a grant | 8/4/2007 |
Q: Do you happen to know of any author grants for works in progress? I have a children's book nearly ...
A: Yes, they should state the qualifications for each individual grant. You'll have to read whether you ...
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| getting a grant | 8/2/2007 |
Q: Do you happen to know of any author grants for works in progress? I have a children's book nearly ...
A: Paula! Sorry for the delay in responding, but I was searching for a little information to answer ...
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| A non-fiction based on my life. | 7/30/2007 |
Q: My name is Liz and I'm recently 17, and I'm thinking about writing a book based on my every day ...
A: Liz! First, congratulations on starting the writing process. You're right to start out asking ...
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| Fiction Submittal | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I am looking for a ghostwriter for an approximate 550 page book. How many pages of a detailed ...
A: Yes and no. It sort of depends on the ghostwriter. Some prefer to interview you in person and take ...
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| Fiction Submittal | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I am looking for a ghostwriter for an approximate 550 page book. How many pages of a detailed ...
A: Joe! Okay, the first thing you need to know is how ghostwriting works. There are a couple different ...
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| Male/Female advancements | 7/20/2007 |
Q: I have this question that I'm afraid I'll have to do some character background explaining. I'm ...
A: Okay, then you have three options: 1. He's REALLY good at sex. Word about that gets around, and ...
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| Male/Female advancements | 7/20/2007 |
Q: I have this question that I'm afraid I'll have to do some character background explaining. I'm ...
A: Okay, let's narrow this down a little and see if we can help you better. Maybe if you answer some ...
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| Male/Female advancements | 7/20/2007 |
Q: I have this question that I'm afraid I'll have to do some character background explaining. I'm ...
A: again, Robert! Well, there really ARE plenty of men who manage to convince women to do things that ...
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| "Non-standard question" | 3/24/2007 |
Q: I consider myself as having a good command of English--which is why I pay scant attention to ...
A: Dan! I'm not April, but I just started as an expert in this category and see that your question ...
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