JAMES STIRLING

                        Help and Advice with writing and publishing your work...

    1.    "Wonderful  http://www.lulu.com/  The writer's  best friend"

    Over the last couple of years many services around the Globe have been created on the Internet with new technology, and LULU is one of them.

   At last, the budding writer has a chance to Self Publish written materials as well as photographic content with an end result as good as any established traditional publisher can offer. And the good thing is it is mostly FREE! So how can Lulu do it and still make money?

   I suggest that you take a good look at the website and inspect the contents, for there is so much to offer everyone that wants to publish his or her own writing, http://www.lulu.com/ and they explain how they can offer you free publishing if you make Lulu your publisher.

And....If you are stuck for ideas about a subject to write about then look at their 100 best selling self publishing items.

http://www.lulu.com/browse/stats.php?fType=topSellers

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   2.

    For those of you that are absolute beginners and want a few tips on how to write, carry on reading the articles below.

   The saying 'There is a book in everyone' is so true. The problem most people have is actually committing to writing it.

    So, I have done some extensive (and at times boring) trolling of the Internet looking for some down to earth information new writers need, and have been lucky enough to  find the best article I have ever read - by no less than Best selling author JOHN COYNE. Check his work out on http://www.bookbutler.com/

    If you are serious about writing, and I mean really serious, then you MUST visit his website and read his '100 days' booklet that you can download for free.

EVERY WRITER SHOULD READ THIS.  I cannot, and will not, steal his work to print here, so you are going to have to visit John’s website at;

http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/index.html   When you hit the home page, go to 'Resources' and scroll down to 'for Writers' and hit on 'how to write a novel in 100 Days'.

   There are loads of other interesting pages of information for writers, so don't miss them!  I promise you it will be worth reading John Coyne's article.  John lays it out in simple terms; how to generate ideas, formulate a storyline, and how to explore every avenue of thought to produce a good book, no matter what subject you want to write about.

  Here are two golden rules I have found to work for me  - so maybe they can work for you too.

The best way to write any story is to begin writing. That might sound a bit obvious, but so many folks put off starting a story simply because they don't have a clue where to start.

'What shall I write about?' might be your first question.    Here are two examples to get your mind working.

 Golden rule number One...

 Write your first article. Here's how...

  Next time you go for a walk (or maybe take a trip) take a notebook and pencil with you and jot down the things of interest that catch your eye. (Or you can use one of those little digital notebook devices and play it back later to ‘type’ onto your computer) TIP: Use ‘Word’ in Microsoft to write your stories, and set the font to whatever size suits you best. Personally I use 14 pt New Roman, and enlarge the page to 100. It is easier on the eyes and you get a better ‘feel’ for your story.

   After you return home sit down and start writing about your trip and include the details you have in your notebook. You will most likely have several attempts before you start to see your storyline taking shape, but this is ok, for you will get better with time.

  Or, how about writing a long letter to an old friend? Real or imaginary, it does not matter. Describe your life and what has been happening to you; your health, your family. Write about the good times you shared together, and what your plans are for the future. This is a beneficial exercise, and you will soon begin to write without hesitation. Try not to write in the manner of a journalist in the newspaper, write as if you are talking face to face with the recipient of the letter.

 You might already have an idea for a story and that's more the better; but if you don't (What Planet are you from? the material for a story is all around you) There is no such thing as  'Writer's block' ! That's simply another name for not thinking along lateral lines.

 Golden rule number two....

 Read books.

   The more you read the better you will become familiar with writing styles and how plots are created and developed by authors. Pick any book you like and try re-writing a page or two in your own style, changing one or two sentences around to mean the same thing and see how you get on! This is fun, I promise you!

The essential basics of writing a story…

 1. You must have something to write about.

2. You must have detailed information about the subject you want to write about.

3. You must have a plan for your ‘storyline’ or ‘plot’ for your book.

OK, let’s start with the basics.

1. You must have something to write about.

    For beginners, the best way to start writing is to think about the things you are good at; the experiences you encounter in your own life and that of your family or friends, and about what goes on in life around you. Start in a simple way by getting some experience of writing about a subject. Don’t be afraid! You are the only one going to read what you put down on paper or computer screen until you have finished, and then maybe you think it is worth showing someone close to you.

   “What’s there to write about?” You might ask yourself.

 Lots of things!  The Human mind is not as fast as a computer but it has no competition when it comes to memory! If you are over ten years old then your memory has more stored in it than any computer on Earth.

   ‘But my life is so ordinary, and nothing special happens in it’ you might say.

Are you sure about that? Every day is special because we are still alive! Millions die (and are born) each day on this Planet and you think there is nothing special about your life?  So think about it.

  Let’s create a story subject.  a) You have been a homeless person out of work with no money and living on the street, but have had a lucky break and started to rebuild your life. b) Or, you are a person that has a good job that brings in loads of cash for you, but you are bored and want to try something creative.

c)  or You are disabled and want to write about the things you find difficult to do, or could be improved to make your life, and that of other disabled people, so much better. So right here we have three excellent subjects on which to create a storyline for an interesting book.

   Do you get the idea about things to write about? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of subjects a writer can create stories about. Space (Real or science fiction) War, past and present, Politics, History, Future, Science, Medicine, Humour, Different Cultures, funny people, strange people, lucky people, poor people, rich people, sadness and happiness, the list is almost endless if you really think about it in depth.

  Try this little starting exercise.

   Write a letter to your best friend. Make it ten pages in length, or about 2000 words. Just write, and when you finish it, edit it. That means to go back over it and check you have all the details to make it interesting and descriptive.

   Example;

   ‘Last weekend Tony took me to London on a short weekend trip, and we had a good time. The City was different from my home town, but we did see the sights, before it was time to take the train home the next day.’

Not much of a story, is it? And not only does it lack lustre, but detail!  (As a story, it is about  as useful as a chocolate firegaurd!)

   Now let’s re-write the story, give it some depth, and be more descriptive.

   ‘Last weekend, my husband, Tony, decided to treat me to a surprise overnight visit to London. We went in one of Virgin’s super new high speed trains, and before we knew it, we had arrived in the Capital. The station was buzzing with activity, with hundreds of people walking up and down the concourse, or looking at the electronic boards for information, or sitting having a snack in one of the several cozy little open plan cafe's.

Making our way to the front entrance, we found a black cab, and gave him the address of the hotel we were to stay in overnight. I was thrilled at the sights of buildings and shops, and Tony said to me that there was a surprise to come later that night. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a smartly dressed doorman wearing a top hat, and opening the cab door for us,  he ushered us into the foyer, and to the reception desk. I was so excited, for Tony still would not tell me what my surprise was!

 When we got to the room and opened the door, there stood a huge display of flowers on the table, along with a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice. I could not hold myself back any longer, and said "Oh Tony, please tell me what my surprise is!'

He smiled, and produced two front row tickets to 'Les Miserables' in a famous West End theatre. 

"Here's your surprise, my love" and kissing me on the lips, he said "And happy birthday!" I was bowled over, for I honestly thought my dear husband had forgotten all about my birthday, as he had done in the past. Of course I was thrilled, for the show was wonderful!

  Well! It was a surprise indeed, for we have not been to a West end show for a number of years, and afterwards, we got on a bus and took a night tour of the city, and it was fascinating to see the changes in our vibrant and cosmopolitan Capital. The following morning after breakfast, we again got on a red London bus, to see the sights. So much more lively than our little home town, for the streets in the city centre were full of people, with many tourists taking photographs and admiring the majestic buildings such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and of course, the many museums and places of interest to visit.

   We had a fun time riding around on several other red London Transport buses using a day runabout ticket, sitting in the front seats on the upper deck, and getting a bird’s eye view of the many attractions. Round Piccadilly circus we went, and through Trafalgar Square, Marble arch, and past the Horse Guards Parade. Then we must have walked all over the West End, and after a good lunch in a traditional London pub, we visited several swanky shops in Oxford street. By 5pm we were really tired, and reluctantly, made our way back to Euston rail station to take the train home. It was the most wonderful surprise i have had in years.”

   The above is more descriptive but could be improved further with thought and more content, but it serves as an example of what you should be aiming for.

 2.   Information about the subject.

     Gather together as much information about your subject as you can before you start writing. This is called ‘Researching’.

     I use a note book as well as a little recording device that I keep with me at all times, and when I get an idea or see something interesting that I may be able to use I make a note about it. The internet is also a wonderful source of information and http://www.google.com/ is one of the best search engines to help you find information.

 3.  Plan your book.

    There are two schools of thought on this, but I personally use the one that most of the famous authors favour; that is to plan out the book storyline (or plot) in advance of actually starting writing. you need a 'destination'; a start, a middle, and an ending.

     I have found that the temptation to sit down for half an hour or even only a few minutes and sketch out some ideas, then think that is the whole story sorted and you can start writing, is to be avoided at all costs!  You will regret it later, for time will be wasted deleting passages that do not flow, the storyline could be weak (and usually is the case) and it is a total waste of your energy, not to mention a ‘downer’ to your enthusiasm to be creative in your writing.

  So spend as long as it takes to create that prepared storyline for the complete book you intend to write. It does not matter what kind of book you are going to write, because the planning formula is the same.

Finally, don’t give up writing. I know the feeling well! You can read a great book by a prominent author and say to yourself ‘I’m wasting my time, I can never write like that!’  Who says you cannot? That little voice inside your head called ‘Mr. Doubt’?  How do you think the best authors started? They did not wake up one morning and decided they were just going to sit down and be able to write a blockbuster.  if you have just jumped from the Home page to this one - go back and explore the rest of the content on this website. Read the short stories on page two in ‘Writer’s Corner’. When you have finished doing this, why not begin writing your own short story? You can then contact me using the Guest book page, and I will arrange with you to place your finished story in ‘Writer’s Corner’.

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       Self Publishing CAN Work when you know how.

    In the past there have been so many stories of ‘doom and gloom’ about Self Publishing, on and off the Internet, and 99% of them were probably true a few years back.

    But technology has moved on since those days, and now even the 'traditional publishers' are using POD (Print on demand) so that books can be printed in minutes and shipped to customers anywhere in the World, or delivered to bookstores nationwide, within hours. Books that are self published are more widely being accepted by critics, for it has widened the availability of writing talent, that otherwise may never have been published in the traditional manner.

    This fantastic lightening fast technology is available right now, and any printing company worth their salt will have access to it.  So if you want to Self Publish your book it CAN work – if you go about it properly.

 Basically, you need to do the following:

  A.  Layout of your book.

You have to prepare your book in the manner it will be received by a publisher and their printers. They are very strict about this, so do make sure you prepare your manuscript/cd/floppy disc correctly.

 Font size; 12 pt Courier,  double spaced (OR Times New Roman, as many publishers are accepting this too)

   example:

 ‘The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck’

 By  'I'm the World's worse Poet'

 Chapter One

   "The boy stood on the burning deck where all around him was aflame. Curls of smoke rose from cracks in the deck, and sailors ran around with buckets of water, trying to put out the blaze. The Captain stood tall on his bridge, and calmly announced to the crew that they must abandon ship." (etc to end of chapter one)

Chapter Two

   "At the court marshal of the Admiral of the Fleet" (etc. to end of Chapter two and so on.)

  So remember...Title and author name, and each chapter in bold 16pt. Courier New. Everything else in the storyline in 12pt non-bold Courier  or Times New.Roman.

    At the time of writing this article this system was mostly recognized as the standard format to submit your work to any publisher. But publishing needs change, and you should consult with your intending publisher about the book layout system they are currently using.

   Publishers eceive hundreds of manuscripts in paper form and on disc every week, and their professional readers need to speed - read to make a decision about accepting the work or not. Double spacing using the above formula is the easiest way for them to do their job accurately. Anything submitted in any other form will usually go straight in the rejection files without even looking at it.

OK, you now have your layout.

 Editing your book

 This is the most vital stage of presentation to a publisher. If your storyline is full of spelling mistakes and 'dodgy' grammar, it will join the rest of the bad manuscripts in the rejection tray.

 You don't have to be a professional editor to do a good job, but you certainly will have to read the story through at least five times. Even after this, you can still find the odd mistake, and it is not always a spelling or grammar mistake, because it could be a description. Easy to miss!  So use the services of a PROOF READER.

 For example; "He lay on the white sands of the beautiful tropical beach and looked through the leafy branches of the palm trees. A breath taking Panavision view of the horizon was highlighted by the azure blue sky."

   Now this guy must have fantastic eyes to see both THROUGH the leafy branches of the palm trees and see not only a panoramic view of the horizon- but the sky as well?  Physically impossible of course! So that is something you can miss in editing, simply because when you wrote it, the view in your mind did not translate to your description on the page.

 So read each chapter carefully; look for spelling mistakes first - and don't rely on 'spell check' on your computer! use a good dictionary. 

 Then go back and read it again, this time looking for any descriptions that could be better written, and change them. Oh, and by the way, don't be messing about with constantly changing your story! You spent months writing it and those first ideas are probably the best. When you are certain the book is properly edited let a friend or member of your family read it. They will soon tell you if you've missed something. Better still get a PROOF READER to do a professional job for you.

Ok your book is edited.

 ISBN registration  

    Look at mine (on my published books) on the Homepage. That's a kind of 'bar code' if you like, for it is a uniform method for any publisher, shop, etc. anywhere in the World to trace instantly your published work.

   Apply for an ISBN registration (universal price code bar) yourself, and submit statuary copies (of the finished book) to legal deposit libraries. (i.e. Library of Congress (and/or) British Library).

 Printing

    You’ve edited your book and chosen a cover image with the help of a printer, who then prints up a small number of copies you need to use as samples for marketing, with an option to print further orders on demand as they come in. You chose a price structure around GBP£5.99 as the retail price (US$9.99) for a paperback of around 240 pages with one color cover and content of black text only. This will allow a good profit margin incentive for the retailer and an acceptable commission for you, the author, to cover some of the initial set-up expenses.

  Now you are ready to market your work. Take a look at the book shelves in your local bookstore or Supermarket and you will see the various sizes for books. Your first consideration should be to publish a paperback version, for this is the cheapest way to start, and much preferred by many popular book outlets these days. 

Alternatively, you can forget about ISBN registration and printing and have a publisher do it all for you. Either way, you will still need to submit your book in the correct format as advised above.

A great company to take care of the preparation, printing and ISBN stuff for you is Grosvenor Publishing. Website;  www.selfpublishing.co.uk

    Some Self publishing companies will give you the ISBN for free, and take care of distribution as well, if you make them your sole publisher.  http://www.lulu.com/ is probably the best of the lot for this service.

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Famous writers that have used self publishing;

George Orwell, Agatha Christie, Thomas Hardy, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway,

TS Elliot and William Blake, to mention just a few.

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    Websites that offer sound (and reliable) advice to writers who wish to publish their work.  I cannot of course vouch for each and everyone of them personally, but they are websites that come highly recommended by other writers and writer websites that use them.

http://www.bloomsbury.com/   http://www.writers-write.com/  http://www.author-me.com/  http://www.whitmorepublishing.com/

http://www.publishamerica.com/  www.booksandtales.com/pod/   http:/www.writersweekly.com/  http://www.sashaproductions.com/

back to HOMEPAGE

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