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  • gigigalt 7:27 am on February 12, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Book Publishing Contracts: "Take it or Leave it?"   

    Book Publishing Contracts: Take it or Leave it? 

    TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT? I DON’T THINK SO!

    Don’t throw your hands up in the air and assume you can’t understand what is in the contract before you.
    And for your sake and that of your family, don’t cave into a cigar puffing publisher that shrugs his shoulders and pronounces, “Take it or leave it.” You always have options, and one of your options may be to refuse to do business with pricks. Let’s face it, you had the brains to write a book, you can learn to understand contracts. It’s not rocket science. And to be sure you haven’t missed anything, you’ll get the final okay from an attorney who doesn’t charge you an arm and leg. Remember they work by the hour, so you do your homework first. Make sure you aren’t dealing with a shyster that is learning at your expense.

    Attorney Lloyd J. Jassin tells what not to miss when drafting and negotiating your book publish contract. He says, “For authors, it is helpful to keep in mind that most contracts are not take-it-or-leave-it propositions. Be courteous. Be tactful. Knowing what to ask for is critical. Use an agent or attorney who understands the parameters of the typical publishing deal to negotiate your contract. Working through an agent or attorney allows the author to preserve his creative relationship with the editor or publishing house.”

    I highly recommend the following article to all authors and publishers. Even if, you have been in the business a long time, there have been many changes in the industry, and more to come in 2012.

    http://copylaw.com/new_articles/final.three.html

    Copyright 2012 Gigi Galt

     

  • gigigalt 6:37 pm on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Straight Talk From Cowgirls Who Write   

    Cowgirls Write Rein Free 

    Straight Talk From Cowgirls Who Write

     

    I don’t know if Maria Langer would like to be called a cowgirl or not. But when a friend put me on to Maria’s blog a few weeks ago, as I read it, that’s the image that popped into in my head. I could even hear her voice. I’ve known a few who talked like her. They’re the kind who got you as a kid to go horse back riding and talked you into a 2,500 mile trip on a whim. They’ll always be stuck in my head as cowgirls–amazing straight talking women–the kind that come out shooting from the hip and telling the world how it is with them. They were oblivious to public opinion. Today, they still are.

    My instincts tell me that women like that always tell the truth and that listeners, are free to take it or leave it. My heart wishes I had the grit to ride the range with them–at least for a day or two–strong, free and fearless. But, no doubt, I’d get saddle sore quick–want to go back to a soft chair and my laptop. There are people who live their adventures and ones like me who write about them. Maria Langer’s does both.

    As near as I can figure, when she isn’t flying around the skies taking pictures, she writes. To date, she’s published 79 book. Her fascinating blog is called, “An Ecletic Mind.” Being a freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer, must leave little time for faults. The only thing wrong with her? Her blogs are so good–you can’t stop reading them.

    http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/02/07/more-self-publishing-insight/

    http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/01/14/5-ways-to-make-your-blog-posts-more-readable/

    Copyright 2012 by Gigi Galt

     

    • Maria 8:19 pm on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Whoa, fellow cowgirl! Thanks for the kind words. You’re making me blush right down to my boot tips.

      You certainly see right through me. I’m definitely a straight talker who says what’s on my mind. Gets me into plenty of trouble, too. (Apparently, many people don’t want the truth — or what I think might be the truth. Who knew?)

      I appreciate the plug and will try to keep on writing — especially if it means getting nice surprises like this blog post.

      Cowgirl up!

      Maria

    • gigigalt 7:06 pm on February 11, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Howdy Maria! I am honored. The hired man will park your horse out back. Come on in and make yourself at home. You’ll be guest of honor at the hoedown. We’ll even have a Box Social. The cowboys all love that. Lol. Seriously, thanks for showing up to say hello–for giving thanks for the mention and not being mad. What a wonderful surprise! You made my day. : ) Gigi

    • Noussa 7:00 am on May 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Very cute Danielle! I’m sure the cute little piotsl will love it! Now she just needs some cute little cowgirl pants with FRINGE on them! =-) My oldest daughter had one pair of red cowgirl pants with fringe when she was little, and she started cutting paper into fringe pants and drawing fringe pants on her pictures and everything. She LOVED em!!! Maybe i should buy or make a pair for her now that she’s almost 21! Whatdya think?!=-)

    • gigigalt 2:43 am on August 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks for your comment Noussa. I somehow missed this. Sorry for the delay. I appreciate your

      Excerpt deleted from 3/16/13 Duffy

      P.S. Joe from Country Time Schools, Pauline Black from the YMCA, Richie Feurgason, Jerry Zilinsky, Nancy Sanders, and Troy Faunceten, were near me by the piano. I told Pauline, “Somebody should be video taping this!” She said, “Someone is!” Later, Don Lessner asked Maxine’s friends Gladys, Bea and Paul, if they knew, who the video man was. They didn’t. Later, Barb Nesbitt, Lorie Kunkle, Diane Bartz, and Coach McCahill all tried to find him, but to no avail.. He’d vanished. Or so it seems, however, if it ever shows up, I will be sure to send you and your uncle a copy.

  • gigigalt 7:45 am on February 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Where In The World? A Real Location Or Fake?   

    Where In The World? A Real Location or Fictional? 

    721px-Three-masted_schooner_Linden_of_Mariehamn,_Åland

    Advantages of the Real Location

    1. The allure of real location increases your stories marketability.

    2. Readers of historical fiction enjoy learning facts about time periods–enjoyment is enhanced.

    3. Getting the support of the community about which you are writing.

    Disadvantages of Real Location:

    1. Although it’s true you don’t have to invent street names and other details about the location, the opposite side of that argument is that you need to know all those details.
    2. Readers will catch small errors. While they might forgive a few discrepancies, chances are that if you make serious errors, they’ll tell you and–even worse–the world. No liberties or assumptions permitted.

    Extra Work Involved:

    1. Reading everything you can about your location.

    2. Looking for old pictures.

    3. Visiting the site at the appropriate time of year.

    4.Time spent enlisting the help of local experts.

    http://archive.feedblitz.com/373880/~4122144

    http://seekerville.blogspot.com/search/label/Amanda%20Cabot

    The Seekers (Seekerville) with Audra Harders

    Title: “Author Beware – It’s Not as Easy as it Seems: Using Real Locations for Your Book’s Setting

    This great article by Amanda Cabot appeared in  Seekerville. She was the guest blogger of  Audra Harders‬

    “Amanda is the former director of Information Technology. She  has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She is now a full time writer of Christian historical romances. Amanda is delighted that her Texas Dreams trilogy received critical acclaim, in part because of their historical authenticity, and that the staff at Fort Laramie found her research so accurate that they’re carrying Summer of Promise, the first book in the Westward Winds series, in their gift shop.”  Seekerville.

     

     

    Three-masted schooner Linden of Mariehamn, Åland.

    Photo: Wiki Commons/Kevin Murray

     

    • Alan Jankowski 12:43 pm on February 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      It’s a lot easier to use a real local these days thanks to Wiki and Mapquest and the like…a few clicks and you can usually get all the details you need…
      Cheers,
      Alan.

    • gigigalt 1:54 am on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Yes, absolutely. One New York Times best selling author who writes five books at a time, recently revealed in an interview she does most research–by internet, map quest, email and telephone. But for authentic historical novels, such as Amanda’s Texas Dreams Trilogy, although the research may include internet searches, it goes far beyond it. (The link to the Seekerville post explains the difference between gathering first hand information and internet based research.) Next, I will be posting the story of another author who describes in great detail, how he exclusively uses the internet to write his romantic fantasy’s.)

    • Clark C. Gable 4:20 am on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Breaking away from familiar surroundings to find love. Traveling to an untamed wilderness filled with strong independent and daring men. The life of a young woman exposed to the perils of the land and the uncertainty of her future. A very powerful setting for romance.

    • gigigalt 2:16 pm on February 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Yes, Mr. Gable. Powerful indeed. If you are not writing romantic stories, it’s a pity. This sounds like a story i’d like to read. You DO have a way with words. Nice to hear from you again. : )

    • cwc6161 6:50 pm on February 13, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thank goodness for research! In my current WIP, I knew that I wanted to set one (possibly more, it’s still a WIP) scene at an off-campus hamburger joint that’s been at the same Tallahassee, FL, locale for more than fifty years. I’d visited the location just two years ago, but just to make sure, before I wrote the scene I decided to Google it. Lo and behold, the building still stands, but one year ago the restaurant’s ownership changed hands, it has a new name, and it’s no longer a burger joint. Just goes to show that one quick search can save a writer from egg on his or her face!

      Candice

    • gigigalt 6:01 am on February 20, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Hey Candice. Thanks for sharing this! Btw, when you say “WIP” are you referring to The Women’s International Perspective–the global source for women’s perspectives.? Would you be willing to share a little about this? : )

      • Walston 7:54 pm on February 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        I guess I’m lucky but I don’t use any special locations- I only use generic ones. I think that a lot of people use real locations unnecessarily. Mostly, it’s the people who make a story- not the location. I think it would be best to i rename one that I know. When one thinks about it, most places are generic- one can often work out what a place has by the number of people in it- pubs and post offices, banks and halls, Churches and news agents etc. In fiction it is fine and I wouldn’t dream of writing any thing else. Setting fiction in a real place seems problematic to me.

    • gigigalt 11:28 am on February 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      My Dear Mr. Walston. You make an excellent case for NOT using real locations. I thank you, and I am sure others will also. But when writing long stories, I put my characters, not only where I can
      imagine, but where my readers can also.

      This works better for me, but all that really matters, is the end result. Is it a good story?

      I appreciate your addition to this discussion!

      (unedited)

    • gigigalt 2:48 am on August 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      P.S. Hello Walston! Read today’s blog––8-26-12–– entitled: Love Boxes: What Is A Fiction Travel Book? I think you may find it interesting. I have much stronger feelings about this now after working with it for sometime. ; )

  • gigigalt 11:41 am on February 8, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: How To Build A Great Title: Title Tricks!   

    How To Build A Great Title: Title Tricks! 

    flatecover-41

    Darlene Quinn, the best-selling author of “The Web” series, writes an outstanding blog to help other writers. Her interviews are always exceptional, but this one’s a must read! Her guest blogger is Sylvia Ney.

    GUEST BLOG BY SYLVIA NEY – TITLE TRICKS

    “Some writers can’t seem to create a title until their story is complete. Others often start stories based on a title. Below is an exercise I recommend to help spark the imagination.”

    http://www.darlenequinn.net/guest-blog-by-sylvia-ney-title-tricks/

     

  • gigigalt 4:54 pm on February 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Do It!, If You Can Put It Into Dialogue   

    If You Can Put It Into Dialogue, Do It! 

    “As a general rule, if you can put something in dialogue, you probably should.”

    Leslie Wainger

    Executive Editor, Harlequin Books

     

    • Alan Jankowski 12:47 pm on February 9, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Lol…I think that’s a bit extreme, but I know you shouldn’t go too long without dialogue…you don’t want pages to go by without anyone speaking…it would be like “Where did the people go?” Did they leave?
      Cheers,
      Alan.

      • gigigalt 1:08 pm on February 16, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Not really Alan, however, you do have a point. Because the quote is out of context, it could be taken that way. But in case you didn’t notice whose quote this is, let me assure you, that Leslie Wainger knows what she is talking about. I will come back and write a complete explanation if you promise to humble yourself and read it. Seriously, it was good of you to comment. (Had to kid you a bit!)

        • Walston 5:28 pm on February 26, 2012 Permalink

          I’m not sure about dialogue. (Does “di” refer to there being two and if so can we have two alogues?)

          Some times dialogue is wonderful but not always. It can become ponderous trying to attribute the dialogue. Like with all writing, some times it can be very destructive to the sense and flow of a story.

          I like to use dialogue in a limited way. To say the things I don’t want to say it’s wonderful to be able to attribute it to some one else, Also, I like to use it for emphasis. It’s also good to use it to break up a story a little but really, if that’s why it’s being used perhaps the plot should be looked at. I think it has a place in humour too.

          I think that dialogue can be a trap. It tends to cause a lot more writing and often it is unnecessary. I like to look at dialogue and if I think it could be removed without any detriment to the story some thing ought to be cut.

          Often I see stories written where they use ordinary prose only to repeat it in dialogue.

          Just because an author uses dialogue doesn’t mean the author is good. Indeed, I think it can be a problem, particularly if it isn’t handled properly. Another trap is that in the prose the character is described and then suddenly they are talking and the dialogue doesn’t match the character as described at all.. Another problem I have noted all too frequently is that the dialogue can be much too simplistic and grammatically correct. Most people don’t speak like that.

          I suspect that one of the great advantages of dialogue is that it breaks up the pages of print, which reinforces that it is essential to have small paragraphs.

        • gigigalt 12:15 pm on February 28, 2012 Permalink

          All well said! You have made some very good points. Thanks so much! P.S. I will get back to this a.s.a.p.

  • gigigalt 2:14 pm on February 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Don't MissThis!. How to "Hook, Logline   

    "Hook, Logline, and Pitch?" Don't MissThis!" 

    Don’t Miss This! It’s Great. 

    The following are excerpts by Anne R. Allen, a guest on Ruth Harris’s blog. In January, Ruth’s Blog was nominated for the Top Writing Blogs Award by ECollegeFinder.org.

    Read this article in its entirety. It’s practical and easy to digest–a great guideline for any writer. (Don’t you just love a “cheat sheet” that gets the job done without all the detours?) Not saying you still won’t have some work to do, but at least you aren’t sidetracked. It saves so much time.

    For starters Ms. Allen says:

    1. “A PITCH can contain either or both of the above. You can make a pitch in writing or in person. It tells you–in the shortest amount of time—what your book is about and why somebody should buy it.”

    2.” LOGLINE is a term that once applied only to screenplays, but has crept into the literary world. It consists of one or two sentences describing the story’s premise, like a film description in TV Guide.”

    3. “A HOOK is longer—a paragraph or two giving the characters, premise, and conflict, like a book jacket cover blurb. The hook should be the main component of a query letter to an agent, editor, or reviewer and is essential for your back copy or Amazon blurb”

    The article breaks it all down, step by step and shows you how to do it by examples she provides.

    http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2012/01/hooks-loglines-and-pitches-what-every.html


     

    • Alan Jankowski 5:55 pm on February 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I noticed Anne is on MWiDP…I’ll be with that publisher soon, this month as matter of fact…I guess I’m in good company…and where did you go Gigi?

    • gigigalt 2:31 am on February 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      http://markwilliamsinternational.com/2012/01/20/play-it-forward-where-next-for-mwidp-2/
      Yes. An independent e-book publisher (MWiDP). It does sound like good company!

    • Anne R. Allen 6:17 pm on February 3, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks much for the shout-out. Actually, it’s my blog, and Ruth is my once-a-month blog partner. It’s called Anne R. Allen’s Blog…with Ruth Harris. We were thrilled to get the nomination. Unfortunately the voting got a little messed up when a couple of nominees used bots to rack up points and crashed the site. But they’ve finally got it up and running for a few hours before the deadline tonight.

      I’m so glad you found my post on hooks, etc so useful. Really appreciate the kudos.

      And yes, Mark, Saffi and co at MWiDP are fantastic people to work with!

    • gigigalt 4:07 pm on February 5, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Many thanks for writing Anne! Sorry for the confusion. I came across something on Ruth Harris first, and that in turn led me to your blog. (Your book shelf was what first drew my attention–one of my favorite books is “Women Who Run with the Wolves,” By Clarissa Pinkola Estés) Thanks again for writing about the “hooks.” As fantasy minded as I am, I love the down to earth and practical. I plan to refer to it often. Best wishes and congratulations to you and Ruth and your associates.

  • gigigalt 8:17 am on February 1, 2012 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: "Said" words you can use instead   

    Grammatical Parking Spaces: Your Favorite Said Words? 

    flatecover-58
    There’s nothing wrong with simply using “said” in your dialogues. It is about as unoticablle as the word “the.” The main thing to remember is that often the word “said,” or any word used in place of it, is not even necessary. If you can eliminate the “he said,” and the “she said,” and the reader still knows who is speaking, all the better. Another thing, is that when we proof a story, is to watch if we have unnecessarily, repeated the names of the hero and heroine. Again, if the reader knows who is speaking, repeating names will only make his or her dialogue sound stiff and artificial. All this said, here is a list I started recently of what I call “said words,” ones that can substitute for the word, “said.”

    Whimpered

    Pronounced

    Recited

    Repeated

    Indicated

    Proclaimed

    Publicized

    Affirmed

    Asserted

    Drawled

    Gasped

    Murmured 

    Whispered

    Commented

    Remarked

    Mused

    Muttered

    Whined

    Whispered

    Commented

    Mused

    Exclaimed

    Cried

    Called out

    Hollered

    Screamed

    Yelled

    Howled 

    Conceded

    Photo Courtesy: Bobby Jones (WC-PD)

     

    • Clark C. Gable 3:16 am on February 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I enjoy the image produced by: She whispered in a breathy voice ” . . .”

    • gigigalt 5:20 am on February 2, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Yes, amazing, isn’t it, how so few words can conjure up such a vivid picture. Thanks for sharing this Mr. Gable. (Forgive my being so formal by calling you Mr. Gable, but it feels right. I used to watch an old movie, where Marilyn Monre kept calling Clark Gable, “Mr. Gable.” The way she said it was indeed a cross between a whisper and breathless sigh. Exciting. Lol.

      • Walston 2:05 am on February 28, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Doesn’t this reinforce the need to be careful with dialogue? Isn’t it saying that dialogue too often has an element of “falseness” to it.

        While the list is useful in that one needs to introduce it with a feeling of authenticity ( which is so often lacking,) it is also saying that dialogue can very rapidly trap a writer.

        I think that dialogue is subservient to the sense of driving the story. If the story doesn’t move in terms of its plot its not going to be improved with dialogue. If it’s moving, then, I suspect the reader won’t really mind if it’s delivered with or without dialogue.

        I have formed the belief that if the paragraphs are short it is as useful as dialogue. Basically, readers want to be able to read in bite sized chunks and not be swamped with a maze of verbiage which is a long paragraph. Dialogue or small paragraphs can deliver this.

        If dialogue is to be used it should be done very carefully and authentically. It shouldn’t be used as a tool to lift a story out of having been bogged down. I think readers can sense it when this is done.

        I listen to people when they tell stories. In oral story telling, dialogue is used sparingly. The story isn’t normally framed by dialogue. It’s invariably used for emphasis, I think that is very instructive.

        What am I saying? I am the one who has written a whole story, pages long, which consisted of a single quote! I’m only saying that rules can be broken, that often they should be and that in writing, one should be authentic in driving the story. Using dialogue can be the most rapid way to lose authenticity and drive. The writer should be very careful in using dialogue, Used well it can be brilliant, but this is unfortunately uncommon.

        • gigigalt 12:22 pm on February 28, 2012 Permalink

          Whiston. Once again, you have contributed valuable and thought provoking insight. Love it! Thank you so much. I will get back to this a.s.a.p. Gigi

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