Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and upcoming events

“The richer we have become materially, the poorer we become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly in the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.”  ― Martin Luther King Jr.

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

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cj Sez: So, tell me, what writer, aspiring to be published, doesn’t want to know more about the language of contract options? Specifically, how much do you know about “Negotiating options in publishing deals?” Writers in the Storm blog spot invited Susan Spann to do a guest post on the subject, and she went into some depth—an article definitely worth reading. And Susan has the credentials to back up her post. She’s an attorney whose practice focuses on publishing law and business. Read all about it here:  http://writersinthestormblog.com/2017/01/negotiating-options-in-publishing-deals/

(And think about subscribing to the blog.)

The following url list of 2017 short story contests came across my desk recently, and I thought you might be interested in one (or more) of them. I haven’t vetted these, so do your due diligence before signing on to any of them.

http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2016/12/13/short-story-contests-2017/   

Be sure to stop back by on Wednesday, January 18, when Lyrical Pens will focus a spotlight on Mystery Thriller Week author, Stephen Perkins and his new novel Raging Falcon (it’s based on real-life events). 

Find out more about international Mystery Thriller Week authors here:   www.mysterythrillerweek.com   The event runs from February 12 to 22 on Facebook. I’ll be participating and giving away surprises, so be sure to stop by when the page goes public. I'll have more info on Lyrical Pens as it gets closer to the date.   

I'm on a blog tour at other MTW author blogs next week, First up is Christina Philippou’s blog ( https://cphilippou123.wordpress.com/ ) on Monday, January 16 (topic is a question/answer interview).

On Tuesday, January 17, I’ll be on Joe Broadmeadow’s blog (https://joebroadmeadowblog.wordpress.com/ ). I’ll be providing excerpts of “Bad Day at Round Rock,” my short story in the upcoming Western anthology THE POSSE. I’m one of six authors, so THE POSSE offers a variety of human interest stories, all with the usual action you’d expect from a Western. “Bad Day” is a tale of history, mystery, myth, greed, and love, all rolled up into one short story.

You'll have two of my posts to visit on Wednesday, January 18 . . . Lyrical Pens to read the spotlight post on Stephen Perkins and then on to my blog tour stop, where my host will be Jude Roy (http://juderoycajunpi.blogspot.com/ ). Deep point of view is the topic of the post. By the way, Jude was recently named a finalist for the 2017 Freddie Award in the thriller category with his novel, THE LYNCHINGS. Congratulations, Jude!  

If you have a chance to stop by these author blogs, please leave me a note so I can say thanks!

Another thing to think about:  Signing up for my quarterly newsletter for info and occasional prizes. Drop me a note at cjpetterson@gmail.com to subscribe. I’m working to send out the first issue, a one-pager, on March 31, and I’d love to send one to you. (‘Preciate it.)

cj Sez: That’s all for today, folks. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Amazon Central Author Page:  http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

Coming in mid-February 2017—“Bad Day at Round Rock” a short story in The Posse, a Western anthology of tales of action, romance, myth and truth.   

More Than Friends is still available on Amazon for a couple of more weeks—six romance novels for less than a buck.   http://amzn.to/2dnqnLJ

How long should a manuscript be?

cj Sez: I’ve written on this subject before, but I think it bears repeating every now and then. Every author begins their literary careers hearing that writing has “rules” to follow. 

The rules that kept (and keep) hammering away at me were show don’t tell, use active voice, be sparse in writing dialect and also with adverbs and gerunds (those ly and ing words), no more than two exclamation points in the whole story, pay attention to the word count, and on and on. I think we all recognize that rules are made to be broken and are revised as trends and tastes change. We’ve also heard writers point out the exceptions to the rules. The thing is, unless you’re a Stephen King, a James Patterson, or a J.K. Rowling, you can’t count on being the exception. And trying to be the exception to a rule can end in failure, especially for newbies. I read somewhere that for every successful exception to a rule, there are at least 100 or more failures.

I have a friend who told me she had a manuscript in excess of 200,000 words that she wanted to submit to an agent. That got my attention. As a former corporate journalist/report writer, I tend to very tight writing. Too tight, editors have told me, so I’m obviously not an exception to the rules. If that were not so, perhaps I would have seventy novels under my belt as one of my other friends does. (In my dreams.) I love to write suspense and mysteries, and after a recent editor review, I was interested in what agents/publishers were looking for in manuscript length for a paperback or hardcover book (eBooks can be very different). Then I thought, why not research the generally acceptable word counts for different genres? Briefly, this is what I found:

ADULT NOVELS: COMMERCIAL & LITERARY

Between 80,000 and 89,999 words is probably what you should be aiming for in literary, mainstream, women’s, romance, mystery, suspense, thriller and horror novels. Below 80,000 might be considered too short for everything except chick lit books which tend to be in the 70-75,000 range. On the top side,100,000 is said to be okay, but passing that level would make it an expensive book to publish—something a lot of publishers are averse to now.

What I found with regard to the high word count of my friend is the opinion that she may need to do more editing; or perhaps, she’s writing the start of a series, and this is her way of achieving continuity.

SCI-FI AND FANTASY

Because of all the world-building and descriptions inherent in good science fiction and fantasy stories, these novels tend to run longer, into the 100,000 to 115,000 range.

MIDDLE GRADE

Middle grade word counts vary between 20,000 to 55,000, depending on the subject matter and age. With books aimed at 12-year olds (upper middle grade) I saw a range of 40,000 to 55,000 words. On the lower end of middle grade, the suggested range was 20,000 to 35,000 words.

YOUNG ADULT

The word count for YA can easily run between 55,000 to under 70,000, unless it’s YA sci-fi or fantasy where, like adult sci-fi/fiction, the word count is understandably larger.

 

PICTURE BOOKS

These are usually expected to be one line per page for 32 pages, so 500-600 words is a good target.

WESTERNS

Westerns, which are often exciting short reads, can be anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 words.

MEMOIR

The word count for memoirs is the same as for novels, so a number of 80,000 to under 90,000 is recommended. Unfortunately, memoirists are notorious for writing long because they feel they have to write exactly what really happened. This genre definitely requires a good editor to keep the manuscript under the six-figure length (100,000) that scares off agents.

Where does your manuscript stand when it comes to the word count rule for your genre? I plan to work my way up to smack-dab in the middle of the preferred count. Maybe I’ll have a better shot at agent/publisher acceptance if I’m not hoping to be an exception to the rule.

Another blog heads-up:  Susan Spann has written another great post, this one on “Understanding eBook rights.” Here’s an excerpt:      

“Whether you publish traditionally or as an author-publisher, it’s critical to understand the rights you own—and the ones you give away (even temporarily) by contract. Otherwise, it’s impossible to tell if you’re getting an excellent deal, an industry-standard arrangement, or an offer you should walk (or run) away from.”

Drop by Writers in the Storm to read more:

http://writersinthestormblog.com/2016/08/understanding-ebook-rights/

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

Amazon Central Author Page:  http://amzn.to/1NIDKC0

Busting Copyright Myths

cj Sez:  Copyright law is a thorny subject for anyone working in a creative field. When I recently read an article by lawyer and author Susan Spann that answered a lot of my questions, I thought my Lyrical Pens readers would also find the information valuable. Ms. Spann has graciously permitted me to re-post her July 8 th “Writers in the Storm” blog in its entirety.

Scot sea thistle

“Busting” Some Popular Copyright Myths

By Guest Blogger

Susan Spann

Copyright law can be confusing for authors, especially when it comes to issues like when (and whether) to register copyright in a manuscript, and what to do if you use a pseudonym. While authors need to understand the basics of copyright, myths and disinformation abound (especially on the Internet).

Today, let’s take a look at some popular myths (and truths) about copyright in novels and other creative works:

Myth #1: You have to register copyright as soon as you finish your manuscript.

False. Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is not a legal requirement for copyright ownership. Copyright attaches to “qualifying works*” automatically at the time of their creation.

Copyright registration is intended to protect “published works” – so authors shouldmake sure that their works are registered with the copyright office within 3 months after initial publication.

(*Short stories, novellas, novels, anthologies, poetry, and similar fiction and non-fiction works all generally qualify for copyright protection.)

Myth #2: A book is not “published” for copyright purposes if you give it away for free, or if you self-publish.

False. Under the Copyright Act, “publication” means “the distribution of copies . . . of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending.”

The Copyright Act does not require that a work be “sold” and does not require any exchange of money (or profits) before the work can be considered “published.” Also, the law does not distinguish between self-published works and those published by a third-party publishing house. Published is published.

Myth #3: Copyright registration offers authors some very real benefits.

True! Copyright registration gives copyright holders some significant benefits under U.S. law. Among them:

• The right to sue infringers to stop infringement.
• The right to collect statutory damages (money, in amounts set by law) from infringers.
• The right to recover attorney fees against an infringer in a successful lawsuit.

Myth #4: If you don’t register the copyright before publication, you can never register at all.

False. To maximize your legal rights in your work, the copyright should be registered within 3 months after the initial publication date. However, authors (or publishers) can register the copyright in a qualifying work at any time.

You may lose some legal rights by filing more than three months after the initial publication date, but others (like the right to sue infringers) can be secured at any time by filing a proper copyright registration

Myth #5: Authors should protect themselves by registering copyright before querying agents or submitting their work to publishers.

False. (Unless the work is already published – which creates a different set of potential problems.) The registration trigger is publication, not queries.

Sometimes authors think they need to register copyright to protect the work from being stolen by unscrupulous agents or publishers. To this, I have one answer: Don’t query unscrupulous agents and publishers. Do your homework and approach only reputable industry professionals. Reputable agents (and publishers) don’t steal authors’ projects. It costs far less (and requires much less risk) to offer a contract.

Myth #6: Traditional publishers always register copyright on the author’s behalf.

False. Many do, but some do not. If you publish traditionally, your contract state, specifically, who will register the copyright. If the language isn’t there, ask for the publisher to add it—and if you don’t know what language to ask for, consult a publishing lawyer.

Myth #7: Registering copyright is difficult, expensive, and requires a lawyer.

False, False, and False. Most copyrights can be registered online at the U.S. Copyright Office website (www.copyright.gov), and registration normally costs less than $50. The website even has a step-by-step registration tutorial that walks authors through the process.

And there you have it…a whirlwind tour of common copyright registration myths and the truths behind them.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled summer fun.

About Susan

Susan Spann writes the Hiro Hattori Novels, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo. The fourth book in the series, THE NINJA’S DAUGHTER, will release from Seventh Street Books in August 2016. Susan is the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2015 Writer of the Year, and a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on publishing and business law. When not writing or practicing law, she raises seahorses and rare corals in her marine aquarium. Find her online at http://www.SusanSpann.com, on Twitter (@SusanSpann), and on Facebook (SusanSpannAuthor).

cj Sez:  There was one more question that appeared in the comments following Susan's post, and I've included it here:

Myth: You cannot register copyright if you write under a pseudonym.

False:  Authors can register copyrights in works written under a pseudonym, using the author's real name OR in the pseudonym itself. However, pseudonymous works that are not registered in the author's real, legal name receive less copyright protection (in the form of a shorter copyright term) than that given to works where the author discloses his or her real name at the time of copyright registration. (Note: copyright registrations are public record, so disclosing your real name when you register does mean people can find it, simply by searching the copyright registry.) 

Thanks so much, Susan.  I hope my readers find as many nuggets in this informative post as I did.    (Note:  I am a subscriber to WITS, and have bookmarked Susan’s blog for future reference:

http://writersinthestormblog.com/2016/07/busting-some-popular-copyright-myths/   )

You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

How to defeat summer writing doldrums

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."

E. L. Doctorow in The New York Times (20 October 1985)

Dauphin Island Sunset (photo by Jeff D. Johnston)

cj Sez:  Are you suffering from the same hellacious heat and humidity as I am? As much as I don’t like cold weather, this long string of 90-plus temperatures and rainy days is making me a slug. And to say I’ve been neglecting my writing life would be an understatement. My writing life has been almost non-existent, so I’m having a go at trading perspiration for inspiration. How am I doing that, you ask? Read on.

From Facebook

The first thing was an attempt to restart the critique group. For most of this year, each of us has been busy with our civilian lives (as opposed to the writerly life). One of us became a first-time mother, another entertained beau coup family and traveled, a third faced medical issues, and I loitered around the house, yard, and computer games. One of our members dropped out, but the rest of us were able to meet again a couple of weeks ago, and boy, did that feel good. I immediately felt inspiration massaging away at the brain cramp.

I’ve started re-reading mystery books—some good, some bad…the bad ones are great because as H. G. Wells said, “No compulsion in the world is stronger than the urge to edit someone else’s document.” (Amen.) Plus, I recognize what I don’t like to read and pray that knowledge will improve my writing.

I attended the Alabama Writers Conclave conference in Birmingham, AL, took in several workshops (I'll comment more on those next week), and had ten pages of my languishing work-in-progress professionally critiqued. When the last word on the last page was “good,” I knew I was on the right track. Great feeling.

2016 Writers Police Academy
200-word contest prompt

On Friday, I had a relaxing lunch with two other writer friends. We had all attended the conference, and the lunch was a nice way to reinforce our learning experiences and enthuse about what we’re going to write next. Me? I think I’ll seek out some prompts and write a few flash fiction pieces, maybe 200 or 400 words.

Yesterday, I spent an hour describing in detail my protagonist’s office space. (Not to be used in active scene, but in my backup document.) Since she will be in the office several times during the story, I needed to get a visual of the layout firmly fixed in my mind.

I’ve also started editing an old short story. The word count needs to be doubled to make it eligible to submit for an anthology. THAT will be a task, because I naturally write very tight. I’m looking forward to it, though. 

The next thing I’m going to do is head for a change of scenery. It’s been several years since I visited family, friends, and old stomping grounds in Michigan, so I’m headed north, 1100 miles from the Alabama Gulf Coast for a whirlwind one-week (gasp) visit. I’m hoping that when I get home again, I’ll be able to set and meet some new writing deadlines.

That’s my plan. How about you? What do you do to escape the summer writing doldrums?

On Wednesday, lawyer and author Susan Spann has given me permission to reprint her post on the myths of copyrights for novels and other creative work. Super interesting and informative piece. Please stop by and let us know if you’ve found some helpful nuggets.

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo