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The Writer's Mailbag: Installment 156
Happy Anniversary!
Okay, who brought the cake? Linda? Anyone?
Happy Anniversary to me and all of you who have followed the Mailbag for the past three years. Pretty cool, right? An ongoing series which has lasted this long and somehow remained fresh and informative . . . very cool for sure!
And what is more cool is the fact that there are those of you out there who have not missed a single Mailbag . . . so my heartfelt thanks go out to all of you for giving this old man your support.
I’ll keep this series going as long as there are questions and continued interest, so let’s do this thing!
Lead or Led (or Unleaded)
From Paula: “I hope at some point in your illustrious career as an educator, you taught 3rd graders...because here comes a circular question from one!
“We all know the past tense of READ.....is READ, while being pronounced, RED. While we're instructed by "some" that the past tense of LEAD....is also LEAD & pronounced LED, I SEE it everywhere, written even by great authors as LED, (including you, bro) So, is this correct? WHICH is correct or is it a double standard word? Is there such a thing a a double standard word? WHY does this one 4-letter word bother me so and besides YOU, where can I find the 100% accurate answer???? Please Lead me in the right direction so I know I have been Led,LEAD by an expert. Is there an example of another word that follows this logic? This is not logic, is it?
“(It's been a while since I've bugged the crap outta you, bro, so today is a good day for it!) It's a sign of my love............Sis and I really want an answer. You're too far away to give me a noogie!”
Well, Paula, our friend MizB answered for me, so here is her answer:
“Bill, Paula put you on the spot and I didn't see your answer, so I'll answer her. Led is the past tense and also the past participle of the verb lead (pronounced with a long e). The only time lead is pronounced with the diphthong eh is when it is referring to the metal, lead. (And I have Mirriam Webster to back me up on that one.) HOWEVER, the pronunciations can be confused with with plead and its past tense pleaded, which is in the legal usage pronounced pled. You can also spell it pled, which is not the preferred spelling. So, don't we all just love English!”
Isn’t that cool when I don’t even have to answer the questions? The Mailbag is running on all cylinders when the readers are doing my work for me. Paula, Sis, thanks for the question. Keep giving me those cyber-noogies. And MizB, thanks for the answer.
MEMORIES
From Bill: “Thanks for taking my question. More good stuff, Bill. I especially thought Lori's question was interesting as I'm wrestling with the same problem, but in a different way. Most of my story is based on memories with a call back to the present once in a while. Should I italicize the memories (although that would be most of the story, or should I italicize the present or none of the above? Something altogether different? Or just leave it? I know you have some thoughts!”
Hey, Bill, thanks for the follow-up question. Now this is just my opinion. I have no idea if there is actually a grammatical rule which covers this stuff, so here goes: I would italicize the present in that situation because that is the least of the two choices. If most of your story is a set of memories, you want that in normal font…..or you could simply start the present-day chapter with the words “Present Day” at the top of those sections. Either way will work!
Book Signings and Marketing
From Peter: “Bill, in one of your recent Mailbags, you mentioned that you don’t think book signings are very effective in today’s world. If that is true, can you tell us what you think is an effective approach to marketing for an indie writer?”
Peter, I’m not sure you’re going to like this answer but hey, I never promised you a rose garden.
The most effective way to market a book for an indie writer? The shotgun approach!
I’m going to start this off by saying there is no sure-fire way to marketing for an indie writer. There are no get-rich quick approaches. There are no magic pills in this game. The cards are stacked against you and the dealer always has an ace in the hole. Get the picture?
Succeeding as an indie writer requires dogged determination and a long-range plan. Find out what works best for you…which is most effective…and then keep doing it. Try new approaches, mix and match, get out and meet people at signings and readings and book fairs…work the social media….and then repeat over and over and over again.
And then success may still not arrive.
I read a book which was very meaningful for me. Now I have a marketing background…got my degree in it and it’s in a nice frame. I’ve owned several businesses over the years, and I’ve used a variety of marketing techniques, so I’m no babe in the woods with regards to marketing . . . but the book I read pretty much summed up life for an indie writer in the three word title: Write, Publish, Repeat!
I firmly believe that quality writing is your best marketing tool, so learn to write well and then keep writing. Publish what you write and then keep publishing.
And then repeat the whole process again, and again, and again!
It’s not that I’m against book signings. I think they have value in that the public gets to meet the indie writer, but I wouldn’t expect huge sales to come from those signings. They should just be a part of your marketing plan. Don’t bet the bank on just signings, or just social media, or just other guerilla marketing techniques.
Write, publish, and repeat!
HP
From Erica: “Bill, are you following the proceedings at HubPages? The earnings have nose-dived. It seems to be harder to make money there. What’s up with this site?”
Erica, I have no clue, nor do I care. I’m only answering this question because you asked it. Six years ago, during the heyday of these sites, it was quite possible to make three, four, or five-hundred dollars per month writing content articles on HubPages. Today that is not true. There may be a few writers still pulling in good money, but the norm is people making just enough money to buy a Snickers candy bar each month.
I’m not here on HP to make money. Never have been! If you are, good luck to you but again, the cards are stacked against you and the dealer has at least one ace in the hole. I can’t be more blunt about this topic. HP is on a slow slide downward, and I fully expect them to stop payments within a year or two. If making money is your goal, you would be much better off with your own blog. At least then you would have full control of the process.
THREE YEARS IN THE BANK
And it’s been a great three years and again, I thank you for it. Let’s see how long we can ride this horse, okay?
2017 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Comments
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For sure, Lawrence, that's the way I've always known "led" to be.
As for HP, I'll stay here because of you and others like you, and that's a good enough reason for me.
Bill
I think you might be right about the way things are going, not just here on HP, but all the other sites like it!
Six or seven years ago there were a handful of sites 'revenue sharing' now there's probably hundreds, if not thousands, and all for an ever diminishing slice of 'the pie'.
I think the real value here lies in it being a place where people like me can experiment, and see if we have the talent to become writers!
Material like this hub help equip us and refine that talent. Thank you.
By the way, I always understood 'lead' and 'led' the way MizB put it, I think it's also in the Oxford dictionary that way.
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Good Janda...not today but next week for sure.
Yay, Bill! I'm looking forward to your next mailbag--on monetizing blogs! Thank YOU!
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Thank you very much, Sparrow! Peace be with you, my young friend.
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Oh God, Janda, you just opened up a bag of worms,and the Mailbag is full for tomorrow. Listen, I'll lead off with your question next week. It deserves much more time than I can give it in an already-full mailbag. Great question and thank you.
Bill, I only found your "mailbag" a couple of weeks ago and haven't read many of your posts to it, so I apologize if you have already addressed this, and I really believe you're hinting here that you're going to do so quite soon, but if neither, please give us some info about monetizing a blog. (If this site is not paying as well as it previously did and might be in danger of folding, I'd love to find another option. Not that I expect to earn a lot of money from writing online, but even a little bit provides proof to IRS, etc., that I am indeed a "professional" writer and should be entitled to tax write-offs, etc.) I'd love your insight on this topic and those of your followers.
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I will miss the other writers as well, Jo...let's hope it doesn't happen.
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That is very sweet of you, DDE. Thank you so much.
Happy anniversary to Mailbag! You're a fantastic writer Sir Bill. Thank you for sharing :) God bless you!
When I first read your work I knew then you shared the best. Well done! Your work is from the heart and valuable to every writer.
Congratulations on this anniversary and all your other achievements as a writer. You are an inspiration. If Hub Pages goes the way of other writing sites, I'll miss most of all the contacts with other writers here.
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I appreciate that, Swalia. Thanks for being part of the community.
Happy Anniversary! I love reading these mailbags as they are full of interesting tips and advice on writing. I have learnt a lot about self publishing through these hubs. Keep it up!
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No leftovers at all, Ann! This was a hungry bunch this week. :) As for the English language, I love the freedom it give me . . . and there is more freedom in writing fiction, especially in dialogue. Yes, indeed, it is a marvelous language and I love it!
Thursday is upon us. I must satisfy a customer or two. Have a splendid day, my friend.
bill
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I hope I'm wrong too, Bill! Never fear...your articles are timeless.
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Thanks for the information on NIUME, Rasma! Time will tell. I just think these content sites are going to go the way of the dinosaur, but I could be wrong.
Best wishes about your dad issues...it will work out for the best, I'm sure.
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Thank you Cyndi! That means a lot to me.
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Manatita, wonderful reflection and thoughts. Thank you for that....I'm somewhat of a Taoist myself. As for grammar, there are times I'll deliberately break the rules in novels because, well, I can. LOL
Pax vobiscum!
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MizB, that one would have slid right by me. I had no idea, but thank you for fessing up.
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Lori, thank you so much. I hope you do make the market some day. I would love to meet you in person.
Three cheers for three years. I can't imagine HP without you Bill. Hope you'll stay around for a long time. Your writing, your mailbag, your mentorship means a lot to so many. I need to get down to your farmers market one of these days.
Great bag!
Bill, a terrifying thought came to me in the middle of the night. The sound "eh" is not a diphthong because a diphthong is a double vowel sound like "ae" or "oi." This editor says mea culpa, my friend.
Congratulations, my Brother.
I knew it was coming, but as they say, things happen, and so it drifted from my memory. Getting young, I suppose. Still, the Mailbag's quality continues to reach for new heights. Impressive stint!
I love Miz's answer which is awesome (To Paula's question) but I always say that we go with the flow, the Tao. So my answer is that the consciousness of the word precedes or is superior to the dictionary meaning.
I had a nice example of this, when I said that we should Love God. Some say that we should fear God. They are also right in the sense that they think of fear as reverential awe. So what do we do? Not look at a dictionary, but put the question to the test on Hub Pages Q and A, to the masses.
Most see 'fear' as a negative word. So we turn around in dark alleys, watch when we cross the street, or feel an aversion sitting next to a certain race or threatening behaviour on buses and trains. Yet we need to leave those who are happy with their reverential awe's. Fear, as a replacement for 'Love' in dealing with God.
Shakespeare and Dickinson; Twain and Bradbury, had no such problems, as they knew instinctively, that we have to go with the spirit of the word... that which is nearly always understood by others. Have a great day.
Congratulations! You have been so true to your mission of enlightening when we have a grammatical (and sometimes philosophical) questions. Thanks for keeper writers on track. You deserve a raise! Take good care and keep the answers coming. Cyndi
Another informative mailbag. Hope your week is great. BTW Recently I noticed how NIUME is at least making an attempt to help folks out. More and more I see them tweeting my posts from various themes. When I check my mail and see this I re-tweet those. Let's see how this will work and if anyone will boost me or not. Who know perhaps if more people, backed other etc. we could make up a sort of conga line of writers and squeeze out whatever funds are available out there. Just a thought. However I still haven't resolved my issue about my dad. I was successful at one time posting my parent's story and highlighting dad now I just have to figure out on which source I will do this once again.
Happy Anniversary Bill. Three years is an amazing achievement for the mailbag. I hope you are wrong about the long term survival of HubPages. I'll never get rich here but it does help to fund those vacations. Have a great week.
'ea' 'e', all the rest of it? Isn't that why English is such a fun language?! It's all to do with short and long vowels and 'groups' of spelling/pronunciation that go together. I could bore you with so many examples but I won't (phew! says everyone). Once you are familiar with such things, it becomes easier, really it does! Now wouldn't English be boring if it were regular in everything? That's why I love it so much. MizB has done a great job in explaining it all.
How I love these questions! The collective answers show how involved and supportive everyone is here.
Brilliant, bill!
Missed the party by one day - are there any leftovers?
Ann :D
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Thank you very much, Bill. The pleasure is all mine!
Happy, Happy, Happy Anniversary, Bill. It's been a great three years, my friend, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to gain the knowledge you share each and every week. Thanks again for taking my question, and I'm looking forward to many more mailbags.
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Shoot, MizB, I have to thank you. Because of you, I didn't have to look it up, because she had me doubting myself. :) Thanks so much, dear friend.
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And that means the world to me, Dora! It truly does. Thank you my friend.
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Linda, the system may be tanking, but your writing isn't, and you will be fine on your own....keep pounding the blog, writing articles, and marketing. You'll be fine without HP's assistance.
Bill, congratulations on 3 years. I'm sorry but it was just too darned hot to turn on the oven and bake a cake. I owe you one. I really like the question from Paula. Why is the English language so darned complicated. Lead led. Plead pleaded (or pled), bleed bled. But read read. (Eye roll).
Book signings--have done one yet but will have something going on the 4th of July.
And then earnings on HP. True $$ are down, but my page views are best they have ever been. Darn, it took me 4 years to figure out how to write and now that I've finally found my niche the whole system starts to tank. Oh well, as you said if you're in it for the money you'll be sadly disappointed.
Congratulations on three years of mailbags! With so many people leaving, it says volume about the respect that we, your followers, have for you and your work. I'll still be following for as long as I can and "thank you."
Bill, thanks for using my answer to Paula's question in your mailbag this week. In my profession, I have to know these things. But I feel so honored by you. Thank you, my friend.
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Well Bill, a very Happy Birthday in advance, because I never trust my memory, and a huge thank you for following me for three years. I appreciate it, my friend.
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Tamara, just one more reason why I like you. We chocoholics must stick together. :)
Congratulations! You started the mailbag not long after I arrived here at the site. Pretty sure I've read most of them. Still look forward to each weekly edition. Keep them coming. Love the photo of your books at the market!! I enjoy coloring a page or two, every now and then, in my copy! Your marketing advice is spot-on, as always. Have a great week! I'll be 78 on Saturday... still kicking! ;-)
Uh Hum! The more chocolate, the merrier! (Must be my Chocolate-delirium, but I think that actually rhymed :-) )
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Thank you Venkatachari M. You have been a loyal follower and you are appreciated.
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I will for sure, Tamara. Chocolate okay with you? :)
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My pleasure, Shprd, and thanks for stopping by.
Congrats bill.
I liked the suggestions for indie writers... txs.
- hari
A wonderful tribute! Please save me some cake...
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Thanks, Martie. It's always nice to hear from one of the HP old-timers. Not sure I have an answer for you, but I'll toss it into the Mailbag for next week.
Congratulations, billybuc! Going on for three years with any kind of project deserves an applause.
There is no logic in languages. What's the logic in the plural of sheep, being sheep, and the plural of pig being pigs.
I also want to know why we are not making money on Hubpages anymore. What could be wrong?
Congratulations, Bill, on the completion of three years of this mailbag series and still worthy of continued for more years. Each mailbag enlightens some point or other and adds to our knowledge.
Your answers (and those of Mizb and Paula) to the first two questions provide many good tips for writers like me. Coming back or going back to the present time from memories is also a great task for writers. I learned some useful tips here. Thanks for this wonderful mailbag.
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LOL...Mike, you never heard of noogie? We used to give each other noogies as kids...rubbing knuckles on each other's heads...hurt like hell. LOL
Congratulations of the three year mark. That is quite the accomplishment. Now, I am going to go lookup noogie. Happy Monday.
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Aww, thanks Clive ! An aging gladiator for sure, but thank you!
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Chitrangada Sharan, thank you so much for always being here. You, and others like you, are the reason this series is so successful.
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Flourish, was that for the next Mailbag? Oh well, I'll do both...I have no idea why they are chosen and no, I don't submit them. I don't do anything on HP other than write articles and comment on other. HP annoyed me about two years ago and I then divorced myself from all the silly changes.
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Wow, Melissa, three years and no payouts? That is disgusting! LOL And still you come visit me weekly. I am honored and grateful, my friend. Happy Summer to you!
Happy Monday Bill! Wow, three years goes by fast...I haven't added any new articles in years and so I have been slowly, very slowly, see my pennies added each month. I have definitely noticed the drop, though...I am almost at the magical $50, if that is still the payout? I am pretty sure that will be the last payment I ever see, lol.
Have a great week!
Bill, I'm sitting here enjoying my Snickers. Why do you think some of your many, many writers bag articles are chosen for Letter Pile while others are not? Do you submit hubs to niche sites or wait for HP? (I do the former..).
Congratulations on completing three years of the mailbag! I am glad that I have followed it all through except few of them .
This installment also has some interesting questions and answers. I agree with your answer in response to the last question.
Thanks for sharing and keep inspiring us!
billy....you are a God Damn Gladiator with these installments. Fab work.
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No, it really doesn't seem possible, Zulma. My goodness, I'm getting old. Just me though...the rest of you seem to be fresh as daisies. :)
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Denise, I have two friends who learned Engish as a second language, and today they speak better English than some of my life-long friends...I marvel at their abilities.
Thank you and I'll try to get that cake here by next week. :)
blessings always
bill
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Thanks John! I totally appreciate it, my friend.
Congratulations on three years of the mailbag and still going strong, Bill. Great questions and answers once again.
Hey Bill,
Happy Monday once again and congrats and smooches from California for the milestone. No cake? Oh well. My waistline didn't need it anyway. I love the grammar and spelling questions as English is a pet peeve of mine. What a mixed up language to make people learn and use... could it be any harder? Anyway, have a great week.
Blessings,
Denise
Has it really been three years already? Doesn't seem possible. Anyway, Happy Anniversary, Bill. :)
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You've been with me since Day One, Janine, and you have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you!
Happy work week to you...and enjoy summer vacation!
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Coming from a marketing expert, Heidi, I really appreciate your comments. Thank you! I do believe you and I are correct in our thoughts. I am just trying to get a few more people on board with it.
Happy Monday my friend!
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I'm just happy you are here, Kristen, question or no question. Thank you my friend.
Great mailbag Bill and happy anniversary! I love your book cover too. I rarely make money here at HP and never made my first payout ever. I hope to ask you a future question real soon.
Happy Birthday to you and the Mailbag! Woohoo!
Re: Marketing, Marketing, Marketing. I went to a writer's conference this weekend and I basically took away what you always hammer home: It's all about continuous marketing of your book, especially when self published. I was surprised when one of the speakers talking about traditional publishing said that luck is also involved. How's that for non-duplicatable?
There's no magic marketing plan. Just constant marketing, monitoring, and making changes along the way. If writers aren't up for that, I think there are some comfortable, predictable jobs out there.
Thanks for being our Mailbag leader! Have a great week!
Aw, Happy three years here at the Mailbag each Monday!! Happy to be following you then and now, too! And thanks once again for always just being you! Happy Monday, my friend :)
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