Tag Archives: Writing

Are you a writer?, Authors and writers

Do you consider yourself an author?

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2013-04-19 10.28.47

Do you consider yourself a writer? And from that do you consider yourself an author? The definition of a writer according to Google:

-a person who has written a particular text

-a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job or regular occupation

To them the definition of an author is

-a writer of a book, article, or report

-be the author of (a book or piece of writing)

So why do I hear from fellow writers from my meetings, online interactions or at conferences people that they are not writers? I have replied the same way each time that they are writers in every sense and give them examples.

But that tactic doesn’t work it seems for I still hear it. Not from those who have told me in the past for they know my answer but from new people they still do.

Granted when I first started I thought until I was published that I did not consider myself one either. It was people from one writer’s group that drilled it into us, telling us that we were not allowed to say we were not writers in the meeting for we were all considered as such.

So, I get it. I just don’t know how to reply anymore when I hear it now. I guess until they start believing it themselves no one else will be able to change their mine. But worse others will start to believe it as well.

Editing one's manuscript, Where do you find your editor?

Writers group: Is it okay to use them as your editor?

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Chilling

 

Last week I met three friends who are writers. We meet weekly, we keep the group at just us four and we have the best of times. One of them told me that a member of a larger group that we are both part of told her, “I don’t need an editor. You guys are my editors.” I don’t remember for sure but I think my mouth dropped. While a writer’s group is great for small edits, plots, pace and loop holes just to name a few, we are not a full proof editorial services company.

Sadly there are writers who do feel this way. A few things can go wrong in this setting. For this particular group and member she is at every meeting, makes sure she submits every single time and hates it when time gets away from the meeting. This is what happened for her to make that remark. You may submit a manuscript that will get tossed in file 13 for the errors found inside. Plus the dynamics of the group can change for her if this is her only place where she will get help for her work.

Editors are expensive. I mean EXPENSIVE. While my two publishers have editors on staff to go over my manuscript you have to submit a top-notch edited piece first to them not one riddled with mistakes. I’m blessed in the sense my editor is spot on amazing.

There are places one can find an editor if one can’t afford the prices. I have heard of writers asking professors from colleges or high school, editors just starting out on their own and even English majors who are about to or just graduated.

One spends so much time on writing their manuscript including editing and revising it. Your work deserves the best shot at making it, why sell itself short?

Finding a title for your bok, Naming your manuscript

How do writers find titles for their books?

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yewa

Finding the right title for one’s book is important. Readers will pick up a book for the cover or will be intrigued by a title of the book. I been fortunate that people have named my books for me. I know, not fair. Right? Maybe fortunate is not the right word. Perhaps blessed is the better term.

The reason I am thinking of this topic is the third book in my Jasper series is close to being done. Once that is done I will let my editor work her magic over it before sending it over to my publishers. Only I don’t have a title for it yet. I have not even given it a second thought let alone taking the time to sit back and mull this over. I am not one to have a working title when I start a new piece. Some authors are like that while others know soon what the moniker will be.

So the question I have is to those who have titled their books how do you go about doing this? Are there steps you go through for the process? Is it blind luck? Or do you get help like I do? One would think after all this time I would be able to do this without much headache but I suspect if I am left on my own devices it will be just that, a headache.