Guest Post

HAVE A BOOK TO PROMOTE? Lyrical Pens welcomes guest posts. Answer a questionnaire or create your own post. FYI, up front: This site is a definite PG-13. For details, contact cjpetterson@gmail.com cj

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Typing "the end" doesn't mean the manuscript is finished

 cj Sez: Readers, did you ever open a book, read a few chapters (or even a few lines), and then put it down because of errata, i.e.; those typo, grammar, and misspelling gremlins that drive a pedantic like me crazy? One or two gremlins will make me shake my head. If a lot of them, I’ll close the book.


   I used to find that indie books were the worst. They tended to be poorly edited if not poorly written. Now, I’m finding repetitive errors in books by established authors and big publishing houses who should know better. Perhaps it comes down to the time it takes to do a detailed copy edit vs. getting the book to the market.

    The problem with self-published books is that they are so often done on a shoestring (cost-wise) that the author cannot afford to pay for a copy editor. Unfortunately, I’ve come across some authors who simply don’t want to go through the process.

   Speaking from experience, self-edits and beta readers do not, will not, and cannot catch everything that a professional copy editor will. When I was gainfully employed, one of my report/column-writing rules was to get as many people as possible to read the document . . . the more eyes on it the better the end product. That wasn’t easy to do when I was on a deadline of minutes, and my work wasn’t on the top of a co-worker’s list. But the effort was so worth it.

   The same thing is true about an author’s manuscript. I want my manuscript to be the best I can make it. I read the document on the computer screen, and then I print a few pages. Because the text looks different when printed, I have a better chance to find the missing comma, period, or quotation mark that was missed on numerous computer-screen read-throughs. (Chances are there is at least one gremlin in this post.) 

  Sometimes, I make a copy of the printed page and read that. Copying changes the size of the font once again, and I will often find something else to correct. One of the best ways to find those gremlins and discover plot or dialogue problems is to read the manuscript out loud. It’s amazing how much I find.

   Moral of the story: When you’ve come to “The End,” rest assured your manuscript is not finished. It’s probably months away from being ready for publication. YOur MS needs to rest a while before you give it another read-through, and then it needs professional eyes. It’s a personal and financial consideration for each author, but please consider hiring a copy editor if you can afford it. 

   Caveat: Expect that if your manuscript is accepted by a publisher, their punctuation rules may differ from your copy editor’s input, and there could be more changes to be made…be flexible.

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   Books make great gifts, and anthologies may be an even better option...a variety of authors and stories in one book...the gift that keeps on giving.

Promo courtesy of http://www.poisedpenpro.com/

Promo courtesy of Carrie Dalby Author

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

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P.S. TO ORDER a book by any author on-line and support an indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

   If you’d like me to autograph or personalize one of my stories for you, be sure to tell them, and I’ll run by the shop.

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Public Service Announcements for readers and writers

cj Sez:  Jane Friedman’s blog features a post by author and marketer P. S. Hoffman writing about the latest and greatest thing: NFTs. 


   Hoffman says: “Lately, influencers are parading Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs, as the shiny new key that will unlock the future of the internet. /// 

   "But in my opinion, the promise of NFT books is riddled with warning signs.”

   Click on the link below to hop over to Hoffman’s comments and find out why he thinks NFTs might be a rush for fool’s gold
 

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  Makes my teeth itch to see someone use an apostrophe to mistakenly try to make a plural, especially hard to take when I see the mistake came from an author's fingers.

  Pluralizing becomes even more confusing when the singular of a name ends with "s"... whew!

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THANKSGIVING DAY this week ...



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

cj


P.S. Forget Amazon . . . the best gifts are closer than you think, and books are the gifts that keep on giving.

The Haunted Book Shop has all of the Mobile Writers Guild Pieces anthologies available on their shelves.

 If you’re not local, contact them online (they ship!). 



   To order a book by any author and support an indie bookstore at the same time, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

   If you’d like me to autograph or personalize one of my stories for you, be sure to tell them, and I’ll run by the shop.

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Why that particular book?

cj Sez: Rummaging through my LP archives for inspiration, I found a reader questionnaire (from another writer’s blog) and thought what a great idea. So, here is some Q&A for you to think about.  

Photo by The Haunted Book Shop

Q. What makes you want to buy a book –the cover? ... Or is it the blurb on the back of the book?

A. For me, it's both. The cover grabs my attention, then the blurb has to invite me to open the book . . . make me want to know more about the story.

Q. When you get into a story, what keeps you reading? Is it the bad boy hero or the tough, strong-willed woman or the cast of characters that help push the story forward?

A. First, I will not read for a long time to “get into a story.” It has to hook my interest early, certainly no later than the first chapter. Then whether hero or heroine, I want to find some action and a plot. I also like to find humor and some quick repartee in even the darkest of moments. When my heroine is about to go where she’s shouldn’t go or has never been before, I want the scene to be scary, yet inviting me along for the adventure at the same time.  

Q. What makes you like one author more than another?

A. I’ll admit to being a wordsmith, but I also “write tight” … which means I’m not into graphorrhea*.

 *    graphorrhea \ı graf-ә- rē-ә \ n : mental disorder marked by the writing of a long succession of meaningless words.
“A novel of such great length and of so little worth could only have been written by someone caught in the grip of graphorrhea.” 

   I want to be enchanted by the author’s voice…how she/he uses a few precise words and syntax to evoke some “show me” visualization and/or visceral emotion.

Q. If you’re into reading a series, when do you get tired of it…or do you?  

A. As long as the author keeps the storyline and characters fresh, I don’t have a problem with continuing to read a series ad infinitum. It’s when the storyline get stale and takes the same direction over and over that I’m no longer interested in reading the next book, and I’m on to the next author. A stale storyline can also happen in stand-alone books when the author gets stuck on the same formulaic style/theme.

Q. And how about reviews: Do you take a few minutes to write a review?

A. Without readers, authors have no audience, and without an audience, authors are out of a job. Whether on Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, etc., constructive feedback is what keeps us going. We want to know our strengths as well as our weaknesses. We’re polite—we say please and thank you.

   Lyrical Pens would love to know your answers to these questions. So leave a comment, already.

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Books make great gifts, anthologies may be an even better option...a variety of authors and stories in one book...the gift that keeps on giving. 

And on sale now . . . 

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

§§

P.S. TO ORDER a book by any author on-line and support an indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

   If you’d like me to autograph or personalize one of my stories for you, be sure to tell them, and I’ll run by the shop.

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

A Guest Post by Author Barbara Hinske

 cj Sez:  Lyrical Pens is happy to welcome Author Barbara Hinske who is sharing some details of the emotionally charged, first-person research she undertook for her latest novel, The Unexpected Path.

Buy The Unexpected Path Now

   At the time of this post, the Kindle version of The Unexpected Path, slated for launch November 16, is available for pre-order for 99 cents.

 The Unexpected Path is the second in Barbara’s highly regarded Guiding Emily series featuring her newly blind protagonist, Emily Main.

   Take it away, Barbara.

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Now a Hallmark Movie
“Guiding Emily: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Courage has been a reader favorite and has impacted others in ways I could never have imagined. I’ve connected with visually impaired people all over the world who tell me that  Guiding Emily accurately and honorably portrays their mental and emotional journeys as they’ve lost their eyesight. They also insist that Emily Main’s journey to regain her independence has given them hopeI get a lump in my throat just writing those words. I can think of no better legacy than to give someone hope.
 
   In recognition of its accuracy and hopeful message, Guiding Emily has replaced the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a textbook for adults who are learning braille. Counselors are recommending Guiding Emily to their patients for the same reasons.

   I’m humbled by these achievements. The second book in the series has a lot to live up to. I didn’t want to let down the community of visually impaired people who have resonated with Guiding Emily. I also needed to write an engaging and entertaining book for my readers.

   The Unexpected Path (the second book in the Guiding Emily series) comes out on November 16. Advance reviews have been stellar and I believe I’ve accomplished both objectives.

   The Unexpected Path showcases the technology that enables the visually impaired to do their jobs as well as anyone else—and often even better. Emily is a senior programmer at a technology giant. Her text reader allows her to get through her emails much faster than if she read them and enables her to pinpoint buried problems in long strings of computer code.

   Problem-solving is a core strength in any employee. The visually impaired exercise problem-solving skills all day long, every day. The ability to accommodate change is also a key competency that the visually impaired are forced to master.

   Wayfinding provides a perfect example. Most of us can see where we’re going. We’ve also got GPS on our phones and in our cars. Those apps aren’t always accurate. Who hasn’t had our GPS take us the wrong way? We’ve become lost, which is at best an inconvenience and at worst, frustrating.

   Imagine getting lost when you can’t see. I’ve interviewed dozens of visually impaired people for The Unexpected Path and every single one of them has reported being lost. It’s a common occurrence. And it is terrifying.

   Mobility and orientation training includes sessions on how to deal with being lost. Sounds, smells, the feel of the sun on the face, and the location of landmarks (mailboxes, curbs, street lights, flower planters) all come into play.

   I write a scene in The Unexpected Path where Emily leaves home to run a quick errand without Garth. Handlers are encouraged to go out without their guide dogs from time to time because handlers need to keep their white cane skills sharp and guide dogs need to learn to stay home. Emily becomes disoriented due to sidewalk construction that blocks her path. It’s night—in San Francisco—and the fog is rolling in. No one else is out and about. She has to find her way home.

   Writing that scene was harrowing. My pulse is pounding, now, thinking about it. She uses her excellent problem-solving skills to find her way.

   Unemployment among the visually impaired is alarmingly—and unnecessarily—high. Holding a good job is a key component of a satisfying life. I want The Unexpected Path to raise awareness of the unique capabilities and competencies of the visually impaired. And to entertain people. It’s a tall order, but advance readers say The Unexpected Path has accomplished the task.”
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BARBARA HINSKE is an attorney and novelist. She's authored the Emily series, Guiding Emily  and The Unexpected Path, the mystery thriller collection “Who’s There?,” and the beloved seven-novel Rosemont series. Her Christmas novellas include Paws & Pastries, No Matter How Far, and The Christmas Club, which was made into a Hallmark Channel movie of the same name starring Cameron Mathison and Elizabeth Mitchell (2019). Find her on social media and at www.barbarahinske.com 

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cj Sez: Thank you, Barbara, for giving Lyrical Pens the opportunity to highlight your latest novel and the difficult journey our blind friends have to make. We send best wishes for super sales and rave reviews! 

   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

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cj
P.S. TO ORDER a book by any author on-line and support an indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

   If you’d like me to autograph or personalize one of my stories for you, be sure to tell them, and I’ll run by the shop.

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Stop by on Wednesday, November 10...

cj Sez:  Be sure to stop by Lyrical Pens on Wednesday, November 10, for a guest post by author Barbara Hinske.

   Barbara will be writing about her soon-to-be-released The Unexpected Path, the second in the Guiding Emily series that follows the struggles of her newly-blind protagonist, Emily Main.

   P.S. Barbara is the author of the novel The Christmas Club, now on the Hallmark Channel.

   The Kindle version of The Unexpected Path is available for pre-order @ 99 cents.

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That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping onI’m trying to do the same.

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cj

P.S. TO ORDER a book by any author on-line and support an indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

   If you’d like me to autograph or personalize one of my stories for you, be sure to tell them, and I’ll run by the shop.

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6