So is it? Is the size of something really important or is it just a matter of personal preference. Surely the answer is relevant to whatever is being compared. I mean, we all love a small piece of cake but we'd love a bigger piece. Im sure there is a particular piece of of bodies that we wished were smaller or bigger LOL No thats not what this post is about !
Whats your prefered size of paperback? Thats my point LOL
Years ago the average paperback was 4" x 7" or 4 1/2" x 7". These days the main publishers opt for 5" x 8" and thats just in recent years. One thing that strikes me as funny is that they still quote in inches while the rest of the world uses centimetres for just about everything.
I like the smaller 4" x 7" even though some can be as thick as a brick, it just feels right. The new 5" x 8" feels good too but then I dont think it will fit in the average handbag. (Thats where a kindle or such device pays dividends) But there is a growing trend in the self publishing world to use 6" x 9". Infact that's both createspace and Lulu's default size.
My question is why? Who profits from these extra inches? The writer, the customer or the publisher?
My guess its probably the publisher , they cost pretty much around the same as a 5" x 7" book, maybe a dollar more for the same size file but if you make the mistake I did with my first book, you use the default setting and then the book, although lovely is too thin and feels wrong.
I just re did FBG in a 5" z 8" size and it feels much better, but then thats just my personal preference.
Maybe thats the point that we all follow the current trend until the trend stops, only deviating when we write something that just outprices itself from the 5" x 8" range.
One things for sure Its complicated !
Friday 28 June 2013
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Guest Posts
The keen eyes amongst you will have noticed a new contibutor to this blog over night in the shape of Wendy P (Wendiann)
Wendy has agreed to do some guest posts, to change it up, and add an extra dimension to this blog from both sides of the pond. See I live in the United Kingdon, Wendy lives in Canada, which will give you, the readers, a unique view into how self published authors fare on different continents
I hope that everyone likes the guest posts as often as Wendy can do them.
Wendy has agreed to do some guest posts, to change it up, and add an extra dimension to this blog from both sides of the pond. See I live in the United Kingdon, Wendy lives in Canada, which will give you, the readers, a unique view into how self published authors fare on different continents
I hope that everyone likes the guest posts as often as Wendy can do them.
A day in the life...
That darned alarm clock went off at 5:11 a.m. After doing my daily sit up, I stared at the closet, trying to decide what to wear. Reaching for my morning medication, I felt every muscle in my body scream as I contemplated what the day would bring.
Tomorrow is hump day, I thought, (which means little to me), yesterday was Monday....today is Tuesday (ICK! The worst day of the week!) Why do I feel this way?
After a busy weekend, having my first signing, I felt that I'd finally taken that first step and would give myself a week away from the writer life. Monday, I woke recharged as I always do after sleeping in for two days (well 8:30), then came home and spent two hours pulling the foot tall weeds I'd ignored for months. The heat beat down at a whopping 27 C and by the end of two hours, my butt had cramped from being bent in half. Why can't all weeds be a foot tall at the same time? I wondered. Why do the bigger weeds only hide the true mess underneath?
My roommate came out to cut the grass and with one look at my bright red face, red sun-touched skin, he told me to sit for awhile (he thought I'd have a coronary). As I look at the little garden I'd started, I knew the side and front gardens would be just as bad. I pushed through until it was all done, took a hot shower and crawled between the sheets, exhausted, yet proud I'd caught up on real life.
As I stood to reach for the dress clothes to start my day, a familiar cramp began in the back of my leg. CHARLIE HORSE....my calve screamed! I wobbled, kneading the stiff round ball back to where I believed it belonged. Being creative, I likened the pain to plucking your eyelashes out one at a time. Tears rolled down my face until the mass finally relaxed. Whew...that was over with!
Thinking I'd conquered the worst...I looked at my right foot of the same leg, to see the baby toe thrust out in an odd direction. As I contemplated why it was pointing east....within seconds, I realized my mistake. It seems I'd massaged that ball only for it to relocate in the bottom of my foot. As I hobbled around trying to dress simultaneously, the clock showed I would be late ten minutes. Enough! My head said....this is only Tuesday? That means I have three more mornings to face this week. Is it any wonder I reach for a new dream?
On that drive to work, I wondered if Anne Rice or Steven King have to pull weeds?
Tomorrow is hump day, I thought, (which means little to me), yesterday was Monday....today is Tuesday (ICK! The worst day of the week!) Why do I feel this way?
After a busy weekend, having my first signing, I felt that I'd finally taken that first step and would give myself a week away from the writer life. Monday, I woke recharged as I always do after sleeping in for two days (well 8:30), then came home and spent two hours pulling the foot tall weeds I'd ignored for months. The heat beat down at a whopping 27 C and by the end of two hours, my butt had cramped from being bent in half. Why can't all weeds be a foot tall at the same time? I wondered. Why do the bigger weeds only hide the true mess underneath?
My roommate came out to cut the grass and with one look at my bright red face, red sun-touched skin, he told me to sit for awhile (he thought I'd have a coronary). As I look at the little garden I'd started, I knew the side and front gardens would be just as bad. I pushed through until it was all done, took a hot shower and crawled between the sheets, exhausted, yet proud I'd caught up on real life.
As I stood to reach for the dress clothes to start my day, a familiar cramp began in the back of my leg. CHARLIE HORSE....my calve screamed! I wobbled, kneading the stiff round ball back to where I believed it belonged. Being creative, I likened the pain to plucking your eyelashes out one at a time. Tears rolled down my face until the mass finally relaxed. Whew...that was over with!
Thinking I'd conquered the worst...I looked at my right foot of the same leg, to see the baby toe thrust out in an odd direction. As I contemplated why it was pointing east....within seconds, I realized my mistake. It seems I'd massaged that ball only for it to relocate in the bottom of my foot. As I hobbled around trying to dress simultaneously, the clock showed I would be late ten minutes. Enough! My head said....this is only Tuesday? That means I have three more mornings to face this week. Is it any wonder I reach for a new dream?
On that drive to work, I wondered if Anne Rice or Steven King have to pull weeds?
Sunday 23 June 2013
Cheesy Romance Films
This morning one of my all time favourite romantic films was on Movies 24. The movie is called "It had to be you" and stars Natasha Hendsridge and Michael Varton. Now I am a huge Michael Varton fan but in this film there is a definite lack of chemistry between these two romantic leads.
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Now the plot well - Charlie Hudson, a retired crisis negotiator for the NYPD, is engaged to Claire Parker, a beautiful and successful business woman. Claire has planned a weekend in New York registering at Bergdorf Goodman, staying at The Plaza Hotel, etc., laying the foreground for the ensuing wedding. Due to an unexpected business opportunity, Claire is called away. Anna Penn, a school teacher, is scheduled to register for her wedding with fiancée' David Allen, an advertising executive, who is unable to partake in the weekend. Consequently, Charlie and Anna end up spending the next three days planning their respective weddings together. Over the course of the weekend they consult with an embittered cast of wedding advisers who, while helping them plan, simultaneously deconstruct the institution of marriage as a whole. Henry Taylor, Charlie's old partner and best friend, drowns himself in his police work and embraces an addiction with alcohol to escape his personal loneliness. Tracey Meltempi, Anna's best friend, is a sexy, vibrant hair dresser, who is weary of Anna's decision to resign from her high expectations of finding "crazy love," and settle with David. By the end of the weekend, what started out as a weekend of shopping becomes a weekend of self discovery that will change each other's life forever. Neither Anna nor Charlie can go on with their lives as they had planned. As a result, fate brings them back to each other. Four injured souls cross paths in their search for truth and in the process heal one another.
Sounds like the usual romantic comedy all wrapped up with ample opportunity for some soul searching, tender loving moments and some pandering to others.
Now I have no idea why but this was never released at the box office, certainly it has something of a cult following and you either love it for what it is or hate it. Fans of Natasha are split, fans of Michael are split 50/50 as to its good and bad points
I came across this film about ten years ago, lying on the couch one afternoon choked with the cold and it looked like a good bet to watch that afternoon and it was. Woodern acting at times apart I loved it including the end scenes complete with twinkle lights. Maybe it was the cold affecting my judgement, maybe not but it became a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Part of the charm of this film was the soundtrack, which was never released and drove me a little mad trying to find out who had sung some of the songs and I wasnt alone. The boards on IDMB for this film were also filled with peple wanting to know and between us we worked it out and I managed to get some of the tracks.
Ive watched it 100 times or more and it doesnt get worse, its grown now into a film I love to cosy up with. one which will always have a place in my DVD collection and on my Sky HD box to watch to my hearts content whenever I need an hour of cheesy romance
So whats ur cheesy romantic film getaway ?
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Sounds like the usual romantic comedy all wrapped up with ample opportunity for some soul searching, tender loving moments and some pandering to others.
Now I have no idea why but this was never released at the box office, certainly it has something of a cult following and you either love it for what it is or hate it. Fans of Natasha are split, fans of Michael are split 50/50 as to its good and bad points
I came across this film about ten years ago, lying on the couch one afternoon choked with the cold and it looked like a good bet to watch that afternoon and it was. Woodern acting at times apart I loved it including the end scenes complete with twinkle lights. Maybe it was the cold affecting my judgement, maybe not but it became a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Part of the charm of this film was the soundtrack, which was never released and drove me a little mad trying to find out who had sung some of the songs and I wasnt alone. The boards on IDMB for this film were also filled with peple wanting to know and between us we worked it out and I managed to get some of the tracks.
Ive watched it 100 times or more and it doesnt get worse, its grown now into a film I love to cosy up with. one which will always have a place in my DVD collection and on my Sky HD box to watch to my hearts content whenever I need an hour of cheesy romance
So whats ur cheesy romantic film getaway ?
Saturday 22 June 2013
Free Book
Blackpool Here We Come is Free today on amazon for all kindles and kindle apps - it will remain free till 12pm PST (Thats Pacific Std Time LOL) around 8 am tomorrow morning for GMT customers
The hope with this giveaway is to attract a new bunch or readers. So please - help yourself to a copy. get it here on Amazon
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Personal Appearances
Two of my fellow writers, who I am glad to call friends will be doing public appearances and signings this weekend. Both are in Canada, so if you're from that neck of the planet and find yourself near them stop in and say hello
Wendiann
Wendiann will be at McNally Robinson Saturday Jun 22 2013 2:00 pm, Winnipeg, Grant Park by the Cash Desk
See this Link for details
Meanwhile Jennifer Bogart
Jennifer will be at Chapters in Ottawa - details on the picture attached.
Im sure both would welcome as many extra readers and friends as they can.
Wendiann
Wendiann will be at McNally Robinson Saturday Jun 22 2013 2:00 pm, Winnipeg, Grant Park by the Cash Desk
See this Link for details
Meanwhile Jennifer Bogart
Im sure both would welcome as many extra readers and friends as they can.
Monday 17 June 2013
Mmmm
My need for Ice cream after finishing writing an emotional chapter made me thing about 3 things.
1. Can you set your writing mood by listening to music as you write?
2. Do you reach for the comfort food after writing an emotional scene or is it just the tissues.?
3. If writing something emotional upsets you should you change the genre you write for? Should you limit yourself?
See sometimes this is about ramblings and musings
So 1. Can you set your writing mood by listening to music as you write?
Well I think you can. After a strange day I managed to change my mood by listening to my favourite love songs and I found it easier to write the scene. By using those love songs I could put myself in a place where it was easy to get inside the characters head and express the love he felt for his pregnant wife.
Now on the other hand had I been listening to "Pour some sugar on me" by Def Leppard, well now thats a whole different erotic scene LOL
We all use music from time to time to help our moods but I have definetely found it beneficial these last few weeks getting right into the mood of my characters. Which leads me to no 2
2. Do you reach for the comfort food after writing an emotional scene or is it just the tissues.?
I guess the answer to that one is - It depends. I certainly did tonight - a tub of Strawberry shortcake Haggen Das but I dont always, it depends what I am writing. I do however keep tissues nearby and on my person when editing on the go, on my kindle.
Emotion doesnt normally, or hasnt in the past, got to me too often but in the last few months, boy thats changed. Im a heap when it comes to reading, writing or editing an emotional bit. I have no control mechanism to stop myself reacting to it and have written scenes with tears dripping down my face until I cant see to write. I need to learn new comping mechanisms, thats a new skill if ever I heard one. Until then I will rely on ice cream and chocolate !
3. If writing something emotional upsets you should you change the genre you write for? Should you limit yourself?
Mmmm now this a question and a half. for me the answer is no, no limits. You should write what you want, what you think others will want to read, irrespective of the genre. Lines cross all the time, they get blurry, so why cant you write something that crosses two. Or should you stick to womans fiction, or crime or a thriller. Or can a writer grow and write for multiple genres?
Now maybe that should be my next experiment !
1. Can you set your writing mood by listening to music as you write?
2. Do you reach for the comfort food after writing an emotional scene or is it just the tissues.?
3. If writing something emotional upsets you should you change the genre you write for? Should you limit yourself?
See sometimes this is about ramblings and musings
So 1. Can you set your writing mood by listening to music as you write?
Well I think you can. After a strange day I managed to change my mood by listening to my favourite love songs and I found it easier to write the scene. By using those love songs I could put myself in a place where it was easy to get inside the characters head and express the love he felt for his pregnant wife.
Now on the other hand had I been listening to "Pour some sugar on me" by Def Leppard, well now thats a whole different erotic scene LOL
We all use music from time to time to help our moods but I have definetely found it beneficial these last few weeks getting right into the mood of my characters. Which leads me to no 2
2. Do you reach for the comfort food after writing an emotional scene or is it just the tissues.?
I guess the answer to that one is - It depends. I certainly did tonight - a tub of Strawberry shortcake Haggen Das but I dont always, it depends what I am writing. I do however keep tissues nearby and on my person when editing on the go, on my kindle.
Emotion doesnt normally, or hasnt in the past, got to me too often but in the last few months, boy thats changed. Im a heap when it comes to reading, writing or editing an emotional bit. I have no control mechanism to stop myself reacting to it and have written scenes with tears dripping down my face until I cant see to write. I need to learn new comping mechanisms, thats a new skill if ever I heard one. Until then I will rely on ice cream and chocolate !
3. If writing something emotional upsets you should you change the genre you write for? Should you limit yourself?
Mmmm now this a question and a half. for me the answer is no, no limits. You should write what you want, what you think others will want to read, irrespective of the genre. Lines cross all the time, they get blurry, so why cant you write something that crosses two. Or should you stick to womans fiction, or crime or a thriller. Or can a writer grow and write for multiple genres?
Now maybe that should be my next experiment !
Saturday 15 June 2013
New Pages
Today I have added new pages devoted to the Sit and Do Nothing series and also And When & Now What all written by Wendiann (Wendy Proteau)
Wendy is a proud Canadian who crossed my path on Authonomy and we have been walking similar lines ever since.
Along this road to becoming a writer, you meet lots of people, some are likeminded, focus individuals and you are pleased to know them and call them friends. If you're lucky they become trusted associates who you look to for help when the writing gets to you, sometimes they become "best friends" who help you to shape your life and adventures.
The sit and do nothing series is something she has been working on for a while. A self help series of workbooks that help you to find the changes you want to make with a question and answer format that make you the star as you should be. They will not tell you how to live your life, they will not preach, they ask you questions with humour to help you work through lifes trials.
Amazon links have been added to the dot co dot uk site but they are available on all amazon sites.
Then you will find a page for her two fiction books - And When and the followu up Now What - both available in both paperback and Kindle format
Check them out, it takes but a few clicks of your mouse finger and you may like what you see !
Wendy is a proud Canadian who crossed my path on Authonomy and we have been walking similar lines ever since.
Along this road to becoming a writer, you meet lots of people, some are likeminded, focus individuals and you are pleased to know them and call them friends. If you're lucky they become trusted associates who you look to for help when the writing gets to you, sometimes they become "best friends" who help you to shape your life and adventures.
The sit and do nothing series is something she has been working on for a while. A self help series of workbooks that help you to find the changes you want to make with a question and answer format that make you the star as you should be. They will not tell you how to live your life, they will not preach, they ask you questions with humour to help you work through lifes trials.
Amazon links have been added to the dot co dot uk site but they are available on all amazon sites.
Then you will find a page for her two fiction books - And When and the followu up Now What - both available in both paperback and Kindle format
Check them out, it takes but a few clicks of your mouse finger and you may like what you see !
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Red Pen of Doom
Ah the red pen nightmare has arrived. This is the bit of editing that I absolutely hate with a passion, come to think of it I hate all editing with a passion.
I love the writing part, the weaving of a storyline, the development of each character, the study of the world around them and then twisting that, making the reader laugh, or cry, eitherway but I really dislike handing it out for editing.
Its that in built repsonse that you think they dont like it, that they dont get it and buy now you'd think Id be used to it, but I'm not.
I feel the same way about people reading any of my books that I know. I want them to love them as much as I do and they inevitably might not. So when a reader tells me that she laughed everytime she read one of them (she was supposed to laugh) it eases my nerves and I think WOW, I got this one right.
At some point in the next few months I will be reaching out for beta reades for my latest project, mainly because it is very different to the three works I have on sale already, more character driven, more of an emotional read and a very big step for me, but that will give me nightmares. Every beta reader is a potential editor with a red pen, more more than one colour LOL
I said recently to the friend who is reading this and editing as she goes along that she had to be brutal with me, brutally honest even, because its no good pussy footing around and not learning the lessons. Hopefully at the end of the process, the book will be in better shape, I will have improved as a writer and I will have grown a think skin !
I love the writing part, the weaving of a storyline, the development of each character, the study of the world around them and then twisting that, making the reader laugh, or cry, eitherway but I really dislike handing it out for editing. Its that in built repsonse that you think they dont like it, that they dont get it and buy now you'd think Id be used to it, but I'm not.
I feel the same way about people reading any of my books that I know. I want them to love them as much as I do and they inevitably might not. So when a reader tells me that she laughed everytime she read one of them (she was supposed to laugh) it eases my nerves and I think WOW, I got this one right.
At some point in the next few months I will be reaching out for beta reades for my latest project, mainly because it is very different to the three works I have on sale already, more character driven, more of an emotional read and a very big step for me, but that will give me nightmares. Every beta reader is a potential editor with a red pen, more more than one colour LOL
I said recently to the friend who is reading this and editing as she goes along that she had to be brutal with me, brutally honest even, because its no good pussy footing around and not learning the lessons. Hopefully at the end of the process, the book will be in better shape, I will have improved as a writer and I will have grown a think skin !
Sunday 9 June 2013
Sunday Morning Love
I have a little time this morning as the mighty toddler monster that is my granddaughter is asleep having run around me since 7am.
Now there she is yesterday on the swings, yelling for her gran to push her higher. She is a daredevil, of that there is no doubt. But, it reminded me that at her age (18 months) of how much they are becoming an individual.
I am currently half way through a re write of a book with a toddler in it and have been able to drawn on madams adventures to make the toddler, hopefully, realistic.
Seeing things through her eyes is no bad thing and reminds me that she is accomplishing so many firsts and will continue to do so, a bit like her Gran really.
Spending time with her is wonderful, oh she has her moments but she is a delight. Oh dont get me wrong, having your nose nipped in the middle of the night, then listening to her laugh because shes hurt you when shes supposed to be going back to sleep tries your patience but you cant help but smile and laugh with her.
It also makes me focus more on time and also free time to write, etc. if I opened my laptop when she is awake then I def wouldnt get anything done as she likes to tap on the keys and write her own masterpiece. Maybe one day she will, I have no doubt this little lady will go on to great things, she is too smart, stubborn and independent not to !
As writers we should all try looking through the eyes of a child / toddler every so often, believe me even if I didn have a toddler in my current work it would still help with others. How they see the world, how they explore, the simplest of jobs becomes an adventure done with a new zest for life.
We should all remember that and look at our writing journeys as a big adventure ! I know I will !
I am currently half way through a re write of a book with a toddler in it and have been able to drawn on madams adventures to make the toddler, hopefully, realistic.
Seeing things through her eyes is no bad thing and reminds me that she is accomplishing so many firsts and will continue to do so, a bit like her Gran really.
Spending time with her is wonderful, oh she has her moments but she is a delight. Oh dont get me wrong, having your nose nipped in the middle of the night, then listening to her laugh because shes hurt you when shes supposed to be going back to sleep tries your patience but you cant help but smile and laugh with her.
It also makes me focus more on time and also free time to write, etc. if I opened my laptop when she is awake then I def wouldnt get anything done as she likes to tap on the keys and write her own masterpiece. Maybe one day she will, I have no doubt this little lady will go on to great things, she is too smart, stubborn and independent not to !
As writers we should all try looking through the eyes of a child / toddler every so often, believe me even if I didn have a toddler in my current work it would still help with others. How they see the world, how they explore, the simplest of jobs becomes an adventure done with a new zest for life.
We should all remember that and look at our writing journeys as a big adventure ! I know I will !
Tuesday 4 June 2013
It started with NaNoWriMo
Last November I took the NaNoWriMo Challenge and 50,000 words later Blackpool here We Come was born. Now it wasn't that simple, obviously, as anyone who writes knows, it takes a lot more than the initial writing of the story but thats probably the biggest chunk and without that there is no book.
So after that I celebrated but the idea of having a daily target stuck with me. when I decided to re write the development book "Left Behind" I figured since I was on a very tight deadline I would use the same method, i.e. a minimum amount each day...and it worked. Deadline met, book finished and now in the process of being edited.
I am currently applying the same process to another re write that I began on 8th May.
But I was asked if I realised what i could accomplish if I wrote 1250 words a day for a year - that would be 456,250 words . On average my books are 50 - 90 K but even at 90K thats 5 new books
and it made me think, really think... Is it even possible ???
Short bursts, 6-8 weeks, yes but then theres editing, covers to develop, polishing and everything else that goes on ... is it possible to do all that and still write 1250 words a day
I feel a challenge coming on !
I have to say so far after nearly 4 weeks I am 1400 words infront of where I should be for 1250 words a day but the hard part will come when it is time to edit.
Anyone else ever thought about doing something like this ?????
So after that I celebrated but the idea of having a daily target stuck with me. when I decided to re write the development book "Left Behind" I figured since I was on a very tight deadline I would use the same method, i.e. a minimum amount each day...and it worked. Deadline met, book finished and now in the process of being edited.
I am currently applying the same process to another re write that I began on 8th May.
But I was asked if I realised what i could accomplish if I wrote 1250 words a day for a year - that would be 456,250 words . On average my books are 50 - 90 K but even at 90K thats 5 new books
and it made me think, really think... Is it even possible ???
Short bursts, 6-8 weeks, yes but then theres editing, covers to develop, polishing and everything else that goes on ... is it possible to do all that and still write 1250 words a day
I feel a challenge coming on !
I have to say so far after nearly 4 weeks I am 1400 words infront of where I should be for 1250 words a day but the hard part will come when it is time to edit.
Anyone else ever thought about doing something like this ?????
Saturday 1 June 2013
Where to write
As I sit here this morning with a trusty gingerbread latte in a well known coffee shop, music playing, other patrons chatting I am wondering why this will probably be the most productive hour of the day!
It seems to me that this is my escape and I have no idea why but the distractions here are less than being at home with housework calling and tv blaring.
I guess it's the ability to write anywhere thanks to my trusty laptop and write anywhere I do and at all hours but surely this must be a strange way to be productive.
If I have learned anything lately it's that I do better when I focus maybe that's why this works ... Whatever it is I love it lol
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