DOUBLE VALUE AT B&N’S NEW QUAMUT:

A GREAT WAY TO FIND INFO AND GAIN PU BLICITY 

Barnes and Noble has launched  a new “how-to” site, www.quamut.com. Named for the Latin translation of how-to, Quamut offers a broad series of  free articles on  a vast variety of topics, ranging from household repairs to computer technology to more esoteric subjects like dance, music and  spirituality. 

The company can afford to give away the information free because the site is ad-subsidized. B&N also offers several byproducts for sales. The articles are usually relatively short and quite narrow in focus, but packed with information. 

B&N welcomes new contributions, offering writers another easy-to-prepare channel to publicize themselves and their work. Click on the web site to get more information. 

IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE DEMAND

OUTPACES CAPACITY ON THE INTERNET 

That may seem like an other-worldly, almost impossible prediction, but among top Web specialists, it is a very real possibility. Thus far, advances in router speed, fiber-optics and other digital technology  have kept pace with the surging traffic on the Net, according to an article in the New York Times, but with growth projections as high as 50% annually, the concern is a reality. 

Surging numbers of social networking sites and continuous growth of contributors to these networks seem to be the culprit, according to the experts. The increased use of visuals, particularly moving images, demands huge amounts of  bandwidth. Add that to the movies, games and burgeoning use of video promotions and the amount of traffic moving through the Web has become astronomical.  

The Times mentions a shocking report stating that You Tube last year used an amount of bandwidth equal to the usage of the entire Internet in 2000. 

The plus side, the newspaper points out, is the potential for huge expansions in digital-related industries, creating new jobs, new companies and new markets. It offers the potential for American businesses to recapture much of the momentum they have abandoned to foreign competitors.  

Opportunity may be knocking once again. Will our corporate leaders continue to be fat, lazy and rich? Will they blow this chance to rise to our former prominence in the global economy? It will be fascinating to monitor what happens. 

Charlie’s Choice

Weekly Tips to Help You Write,

        Publish and Promote Your Work         

At the request of a number of readers, Charlie’s Choice

will concentrate over the next several months

on the basics of writing in several genres.  I will begin

with the novel, move to nonfiction, memoirs and even

freelanced articles. I hope this will be of great help

to all of you. 

March 26, 2008 

THE NOVEL: ANSWERS TO BASIC QUESTIONS

WE ARE MOST OFTEN ASKED 

There is a distinct pattern to the questions wanna-be novelists ask. I have decided to begin our five-part series on writing a novel by listing these queries along with the responses I offer. 

     1. Where do writers get their ideas for a book?

Ideas come from a wide variety of sources. But unless the one you choose burns inside of you, screaming to be transcribed into print, I caution you strongly not to begin. Writing a novel can be great fun, but it is also a long, arduous task that requires a great deal of pre-planning.

In addition to meticulously designing the ebb and flow of the story you plan to tell, you must get to know each of your major characters intimately before you sit down at the computer. You have to develop motivation…reasons for every twist and turn of the plot.

Unless you know each of the locales in which the story unfolds, you must research them carefully. Simple errors in fact or discrepancies in the way your characters act and react will distract and upset the reader, and possibly cause him/her to stop reading your book.  

      2. What guarantee do I have that my book will be published once I go through the major       effort of writing it?

None, if your goal is to find a major traditional publishing house.

But there are several excellent alternatives made possible by the recent advances in printing technology. Previous columns have discussed POD (October 18, 2007) as well as self-publishing (October 24, 2007). You can find these in the archives. I strongly recommend POD for novice writers planning their first book. Self-publishing is a good deal harder, for it requires the author to personally handle all of the pre-press requirements or oversee consultants who are hired to do the work. But the rewards are a great sense of accomplishment and the ability to make all of the decisions and keep the all of the profits. 

      3. Do I need a literary agent?

The answer is generally, “Yes, you do” if your intent is to try and sell your title to a traditional publisher. Most of the major publishing houses refuse unsolicited manuscripts. They will only consider books submitted by an agent. This does make some sense. They use the agents, who are usually highly skilled professionals, to pretest the book. If the agent, whose income will depend upon the book’s success, is one the publisher knows and respects, your book will receive very careful consideration.

Many of the smaller, independent publishing houses do not require agented submissions. They are more open to your direct submission. As I have written elsewhere, these smaller houses are far more accommodating to new authors. They are becoming a very important facet of the publishing world, for most of the innovative, higher-quality books are coming from the “Indies.”  

     4. Why is it so hard to find a traditional publisher?

Because the pub world has changed dramatically. The caring book lovers who ran the industry years ago have given way to bottom-line CFO’s. Few of the majors take risks with new and unproved authors any longer. That slack has been taken up by the Indies. However, when you consider the time, effort and dollars expended by a publishing house to bring your book to market, you can understand why they are so choosy and demanding. 

     5. How long should my novel be?

As long as it needs to be to tell the story well. Obviously, that’s not a helpful answer, but truly it is the only accurate response to the question. It must be long enough to convey all that the author hopes to relate, yet short and compact enough to maintain a reader’s interest. Most novels range in size from 250 to 400 pages of printed text. Of course, the size of the type, the format and the spacing between lines all impact the number of pages. But a novel written well and sized within that range stands a pretty fair chance of being sold. 

     6. How can I know how many words I have written?

There are two easy methods. The first and easiest is to click on to the word “Tools” on the upper tool bar. The first tool to appear is “Word Count.”  Click on it and you will see a word count, as well as a character count should you ever need one. To count your words manually, estimate 250 words per double spaced page composed in 12 pt type. 

     7. What is the best length for the chapters I write?

There is no single best length. The size of a chapter should be determined by the requirements of the story. On average, chapters range from 10 to 25 typed pages, but they can be far smaller or even longer. They do not have to conform to any scene pattern, but they should form a self-contained sequence that impels the story forward.

Since the end of a chapter is the most common stopping point for a reader when he/she takes a break from the book, it is important that the chapter ending motivates the reader to return to the book later and continue reading. Very often this is accomplished with an unresolved conflict. 

     8. How long should I make my paragraphs?

   While the average seems to fall somewhere between 10 to 14 lines, there are no requirements on length. You may write a very effective one-line graph. Maybe you require 50 or 60 lines to capture the thought you want to express. Gosh, James Joyce never even bothered with paragraphs. He just rambled on with his stream of consciousness.

Do keep in mind, however, that length does have a bearing on the tone of your writing. Short, tight graphs add tension and action, while easy, longer sentences and paragraphs denote a more leisurely pace for a given episode in your tale.  

     9. How should I format my manuscript?

Your goal is to make it attractive and easy to read. No fancy type or colors. It is best to use a basic font like 12 pt Times Roman. Make certain to number your pages and place some identifying name on each page.

Most publishers and agents ask that you set your type ragged right to make it easier to read. That means even borders at the left margins, but ragged right margins. This is easily accomplished on your computer by clicking on the diagram of horizontal lines in the upper menu bar that illustrates flush left margins and ragged right ones. It is the first of the four style models in the bar. 

There are, of course, endless more considerations when writing your novel, and we shall try to cover the most important as this series of writing tips and guides continues over the next several months. Next week, we’ll look at the structure of a novel…how to build and maintain tension and interest. 

‘Til next week, WRITE ON! 

THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON E-BOOK POPULARITY 

Sales of e-books are soaring, Many experts credit the introduction of Amazon’s Kindle and the Sony Reader for the sudden boom in their popularity. Figures compiled by IDPF (International Digital Publishing Forum) and AAP (Association of American Publishers) show wholesale revenues from e-book sales climbing from  about $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2002 to $3.1 million in this year’s first quarter. The all-time peak of $8.2 million came in the final quarter of 2007. 

Many writers are using e-books to promote themselves and their print books. Others are devoting full-time to digital publishing . It is a highly lucrative field, costing little to produce. Informative and well written e-books  can be effectively promoted on your web site and command healthy prices.  

IDPF is sponsoring  a major conference in Manhattan on May 14^th entitled “Digital Book 2008 – New Standards and Global Markets.” Of course, the conference will spend some time promoting IDPF’s new “EPUB” standards, but it will also include a number of challenging sessions with top industry experts. Information is available at www.idpf.org/digitalbook08/agenda.htm. 

Whether or not you have the time to spare to attend this conference, make an effort to explore the potential of e-books. You’ll find they serve as a superb tool to promote yourself and your print work while also providing an income flow. You might want to check back and read the Charlie’s Choice column on e-books that appeared on January 23. It should prove helpful as you plan your e-book program. 

50% OF AMERICANS TURN TO THE WEB,

ABANDONING TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM 

With more than two-thirds of Americans complaining that traditional journalism no longer meets their needs for news, half have turned to the Web as a replacement, according to the latest study (Feb, 08) conducted  by Zogby Interactive. 

While few consider TV, radio or even newspapers as their  main source of news, more than 70% consider all three important sources of information. 75% believe the Internet has had a positive impact on the quality of journalism, while (and this is disturbing) very few (1%) trust blogs to be their primary source for information. 

Despite their concern about blogs, 32% of Zogby respondents state that web sites are their most trusted sources of news and information, followed by newspapers at 22%, television at 21% and radio at 15%. 

While most of us are in the information business, many don’t specifically deal with current news.  Nonetheless, I have detailed this interesting study in the hope that it will help you select the best- read media for your promotions and publicity. The world of media is so volatile that it is essential we monitor it closely to maximize our placement choices.

An Updated Approach to

Negotiating Your Book Contract 

      This is something every book author should read. Book Business Magazine published an excellent article on negotiating book contracts in the digital age, a concern that affects all of us who worry over issues like uncompensated use of our material on the Internet or piracy of our invaluable prose. I strongly recommend you read the piece by James Sturdivant in the March 1 issue. 

      Sturdivant explains that there is no longer any simple standard for contract negotiations nor any one-size-fits-all formula. Internet sales have grown in importance and often are difficult to track. POD technology has brought huge savings in printing, storage and shipping for publishers. Many authors believe they should share in the profits that result from these savings by receiving higher royalty payments. 

      The article also deals with the ticklish subject of net vs gross profits when calculating royalties. It points out that in past years, royalties were commonly based upon the retail sales price of the book. Today a number of publishers have shifted to royalties based on a percentage of the net price (after deductions of 50% by wholesalers).The difference obviously is very substantial, so watch carefully when negotiating a contract. 

      Blogger J.A. Konrath believes that publishers are usually in the stronger position during contract negotiations, and writers often feel intimidated. He is quoted in the article as stating, “With best-selling authors, they use the carrot. For midlisters, the stick is usually used.” 

      Wise words, so be sure to get and file a copy of the article. 

Does More Information

Help or Confuse Buyers of Your Book? 

      eMarketer, always on top of new concerns and trends in marketing and selling, once again hopped aboard an interesting concept. A University or Iowa research team found that people who have only a little information about a product they buy are happier with that product than those who have more info. 

      The study found that “once people commit to buying or consuming something, there’s a kind of wishful thinking that happens and they want to like what they’ve bought.”   

      Intrigued by that concept, emarketer polled several of its own analysts on the subject. Here are some of the responses: 

      “Realistically, people research products to either make themselves comfortable making a choice or to rationalize their primary choice. Either way they can defend it to their partners, parents, friends and siblings.”  

      “It is all very well to say that we are now a self-serve consumer-driven market with more information for people to make more informed choices. But if the process of making a choice and the fear of making the wrong choice is greater than the difference in value between choices, then an increase in choice does not necessarily equate to an increase in value for the consumer.” 

       “If I research and choose a product, I’m expressing a view about myself. Once I’ve made the purchase, I need to rationalize that choice in order to stay consistent.” 

      Maybe we authors ought to re-evaluate our selling copy, simplify our landing pages and generally reduce the complexities of our sales pitch. However, there is a difference in products. The book buyer is searching for content, particularly in the case of a nonfiction book, so it behooves us to reach for a balance between surfeiting our potential buyer with detail, while including enough to whet his/her appetite.  

Charlie’s Choice

Weekly Tips to Help You Write,

        Publish and Promote Your Work          

SPAM—That Worrisome Beast 

What It Is and How to Avoid It 

      It’s a word that throws terror into Internet mailers who don’t understand its basic rules. And they are simple enough to follow. Let’s start by defining what spam actually is. 

      In the broadest sense, spamming is indiscriminately sending bulk mail over the Internet, almost always with a commercial goal. The aspect we are most concerned about is e-mailing indiscriminately to a large number of random recipients who have not specifically requested the information contained in the e-mail. Estimates of the number of spam messages traveling across the Internet today run as high as 90 billion a day. 

      The “CAN-SPAM” Act of 2003 is the controlling Federal legislation for spam. In its most general sense, it controls electronic mail that’s primary purpose is commercial, and requires that such mailings always offer a very clear method of opting out and a valid physical postal address. It also requires notice that the message is an advertisement or solicitation.  

Other Requirements   

• The header information (to and from) must be accurate and must identify the person initiating the mail.
• Subject lines must accurately reflect the content of the main body of the message. If not, it is considered deceptive and subject to fine.
• As stated above an opt-out must be included. It can be a return e-mail address or other Internet-based response medium that gives the recipient the opportunity to instruct you not to send future mailings.
• If you receive an opt-out, you must stop sending e-mails to that address within10 business days.
• You are forbidden to give or sell the name of an opt-out recipient to another party unless you are certain that other party will comply with the law.  

  How To Avoid Sending Spam 

        There are several basic precautions you can take to reduce the possibility your mail will be considered spam and that you might be blacklisted and find that none of your mail is reaching its destination. 

     Never purchase e-mail mailing lists, even if the purveyor assures you they have been developed from opt-in lists. The majority of these list providers don’t double check their lists, seldom remove opt-outs and most important of all don’t tailor the names on their lists to the specific population you want to reach. Some do, of course, but most of those are niche mailers targeted to a very special group of recipients. 

        When you receive a new subscriber or other response, verify the information by sending out a confirmation of receipt and ask the person to reconfirm is accuracy. 

        Stay current with changes to your e-mail list: address changes and opt-outs. 

        Be cautious of sending a broadside out just because you have included an opt-out option. Many recipients won’t bother to respond, and you will continue to waste effort on people who aren’t at all interested in your message. 

     Whenever possible, try to personalize your e-mail or make it distinctive enough to eliminate the possibility that it can be considered “canned copy” and therefore run the risk of being recognized as spam. Wherever possible, send out smaller mailings or break a large mailing into a number of small segments that are sent at different times. 

        Following all of these suggestions should help you maintain a clean and effective mail list that will bring the results you want: lots of new subscribers to your newsletter or more buyers for your books. 

  See you again next week. 

      In Your Schedule Book 

      Atlanta Spring Book Show—Tornado damage has forced a relocation of the show scheduled for March 28-30. Sponsors claim the show will go on, but they have not yet announced the alternative location. If you booked to stay at the Omni Hotel, check the hotel at once, for they have lost use of more than 400 rooms due to the storm. Call 865-922-7490 with your questions about the show.  

      IPPY Awards Deadline—Submission close on April 1 for this prestigious award program. Many national and regional categories to enter. Awards party at Book Expo. Info at http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPAwards.php 

      New York Round Table Writers’ Conference--features top publishers, editors, writers and agents. Scheduled for April 11 and 12. Info at www.writersconferencenyc.org. 

      The Florida Publishers Association will hold its annual retreat on April 12 and 13. An excellent roster of speakers has been assembled for this widely popular annual event. Info available at www.flbookpub.org 

      Texas Library Association Show—will be held April 15-18 Unfortunately deadline for participation as an exhibitor is past. 

      Florida Library Association Show--will be held April 22-24. While other exhibits have passed their deadline for submission, the Florida Publisher Association has extended its deadline until April 18. For a minimal fee, the FPA will display your book face-out, and distribute up to 200 flyers and promotional giveaways. Info at www.flbookpub.org. 

      Connecticut Library Association Show—held April 28-30. Still not too late to be represented at the show by Jenkins Group and Combined Book Exhibit. But hurry. Submission deadline is set for April 7. For info contact aparvel@bookpublicity.com 

      New Jersey Library Association Show—scheduled for April 29-30. Jenkins Group and Combined Book Exhibit will accept submissions for representation until April 7. For info contact

aparvel@bookpublicity.com 

The Power of the Blog 

      If any of you had any doubts about the effectiveness of blogging, just cast your eyes on the political warfare now targeting the Daily Kos, long considered one of the premier liberal blogs. Markos  Moulitsas, the owner of Kos has mounted a vicious campaign against Hillary Clinton. Many of his fellow bloggers feel he has gone much too far with his vitriol. 

      Alegre, who has written steadily for Kos, severed connections and posted a call for a “strike” against Kos. Within 5 ½ hours more than 1250 comments, pro and con, were posted in what has become a wrenching battle within the ranks of liberal Democrat bloggers. 

      Interviewed on ABC, Moulitsas labeled it a “boycott” not a “strike” and said “I think it’s great. It’s a big Internet, so I hope they find what they are looking for.” Moulitsas did admit that the number of deserters was large. 

      It’s unfortunate that this bitterness has developed, for every one of those involved is an avid Democrat, and will hopefully be on the same team once the primary is past. Fortunately, Alegre has promised to return to Kos “if we ever get to the point where we’re engaging each other in discussion rather than facing off in shouting matches.”  

I hope that opens the door to a final reconciliation and assures a win for the Democrat nominee.