(More) tips for writing well (Austin Govella at Thinking and Making) Published Wed, Jul 8, 2009 by Austin Govella. Updated Wed, Jul 8, 2009. As an editor, I’ve noticed several recurring bad habits you heathens would do well to disabuse yourselves of immediately. Almost without exception, these bad habits instantiate themselves as a series of stock phrases and constructions that reflect a lack of focus, a lack of fully developed argument, or the kind of intellectual laziness that sets in as you slog through your first draft. These things happen, That’s ok. Editing helps you save yourselves from these offenses before your thoughts hit the world and everyone knows your dirty secrets. but you can edit yourself, and you should. Use the following checklist as a guide to tightening up both your words as well as and what you mean. 16 things to check when you edit Be vicious when you edit. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
After you edit… The finished piece should be so tight, terse, concise, and clear that it’s boring. Boring. Write like you talk. Self Publish a Book - Lulu.com. Why Every Entrepreneur Should Self-Publish a Book. I’ve published eight books in the past seven years, five with traditional publishers (Wiley, Penguin, HarperCollins), one comic book, and the last two I’ve self-published.
In this post I give the specific details of all of my sales numbers and advances with the traditional publishers. Although the jury is still out on my self-published books, “How to be the Luckiest Man Alive” and “I Was Blind But Now I See” I can tell you these two have already sold more than my five books with traditional publishers, combined. If you, the entrepreneur, self-publish a book you will stand out, you will make more money, you will kick your competitors right in the XX, and you will look amazingly cool at cocktail parties. I know this because I am seldom cool but at cocktail parties, with my very own comic book, I can basically have sex with anyone in the room.
But don’t believe me, it costs you nothing and almost no time to try it yourself. A) Advances are going to zero. B) Lag time. C) Marketing. Now, 1. Amanda Hocking, the writer who made millions by self-publishing online. When historians come to write about the digital transformation currently engulfing the book-publishing world, they will almost certainly refer to Amanda Hocking, writer of paranormal fiction who in the past 18 months has emerged from obscurity to bestselling status entirely under her own self-published steam. What the historians may omit to mention is the crucial role played in her rise by those furry wide-mouthed friends, the Muppets.
To understand the vital Muppet connection we have to go back to April 2010. We find Hocking sitting in her tiny, sparsely furnished apartment in Austin, Minnesota. She is penniless and frustrated, having spent years fruitlessly trying to interest traditional publishers in her work. Then it comes to her. "I'm going to sell books on Amazon," she announces to her housemate, Eric.
To which Eric replies: "Yeah. Let's jump to October 2010. So let the historians take note: Amanda Hocking does get to Chicago to see the Muppets. What went in had to come out. Publish Your Book Today with iUniverse. iUniverse will not rent, sell, share or disseminate personal information about you with other people or non-affiliated companies and organizations. For more information on our Privacy Policy, click here.
Note that by requesting a publishing guide, you acknowledge your call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. How to get your manuscript published As a writer, you have poured your heart into your manuscript. "It’s nice to have somebody support you through the process, to guide you through and ensure the book is the best it can be. " – iUniverse author, Julie Hockley. How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method. George Orwell’s 5 Rules for Effective Writing. In our society, the study of language and literature is the domain of poets, novelists, and literary critics.
Language is considered a decorative art, fit for entertainment and culture, but practically useless in comparison to the concrete sciences. Just look at the value of a college degree in English versus one in computer science or accounting. But is this an accurate assessment of value? Language is the primary conductor between your brain and the minds of your audience. Ineffective language weakens and distorts ideas. If you want to be understood, if you want your ideas to spread, using effective language must be your top priority.In the modern world of business and politics this is hardly ever the case.
In many instances, imprecise language is used intentionally to avoid taking a position and offending various demographics. This is hardly a recent problem, and as George Orwell wrote in his 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language, the condition is curable. 1. 2. Poor Faulkner.