The Writer's Mailbag: Installment Five
Just like the Sun Rising in the East
Hey, I love excitement and surprises as much as the next guy, but I also love knowing that certain things are going to happen at certain times. I would probably be a bit concerned if the sun didn’t rise in the east each morning, you know what I’m saying? I like knowing that there are traffic laws that keep me from getting t-boned when I go through an intersection.
And I like knowing that there are people out there who enjoy this series, and that if I write it, they will come.
So here it is, the answer to your requests, and the answers to your questions.
In case you are new to this series, here’s how it works: you ask a writing question of the writing guru (otherwise known as billybuc) and I will include your question and an answer in the next installment. You can ask the question in the comment section below, or email me at holland1145@yahoo.com, or you can also leave it on my website comment section at www.williamdhollandauthor.com.
Now that the introduction is done, let’s get down to it.
STARTING A BLOG
This question comes from Iowa and my good friend Deb:
“Here is a question to ponder for an upcoming installment: I am working on getting my blog up and running but I am having a difficult time setting it up. (Even choosing a theme has me a bit flummoxed.) I have a bunch of content written and ready to go, if only I had more confidence when it comes to dealing with the technical aspects of blogging. What are some good resources for the non-tech savvy writer like me? Thanks.”
I can answer this in several different ways, Deb. I can tell you how I learned about blogging, and then I can tell you some of the correct ways to learn about blogging.
I learned using the bull-in-the-china-closet technique. In other words, I just walked into it and started breaking things.
Seriously, I asked friends. I have a dear friend by the name of Liz Davis in Florida who has held my hand through all of my tech questions. There is no way I trust myself with anything technical online, so she and I correspond quite often. I don’t know how she feels about that, but I am quite satisfied with our friendship.
Actually, to give myself some credit, my first couple blogs were done on WordPress, and I managed to navigate that site quite well using their online tutorials. Honestly, Deb, it was that easy. If it wasn’t there is no way I could have done it. I also watched YouTube videos, and I found some articles in The Writer’s Digest and The Writer that were helpful.
DIALOGUE TAGS
“How often should we use dialogue tags like “he said,” or “she said?” That question is from Bobbi in Utah, and thank you so much, Bobbi, for a question that is important for any novel or short story writer.
The quick answer is not very often.
If you are doing a good job of writing your dialogue and setting your scenes, it should be fairly obvious who is speaking. There are little tricks you can use that eliminate the need to write “he said.” For instance, you can begin a line by writing this: Eli walked across the room, stood in front of Tony, and shook his hand. “Tony, it’s good to see you again.” Using this method, there is no doubt that Eli was doing the talking, and thus you don’t have to beat your readers over the head by adding “he said.”
In other words, do the work and there is no reason for the mundane.
As a general rule, I try to limit “he said” to one or two times per chapter, and I am very conscious of that when I am writing dialogue.
WHEN FACT MEETS FICTION
“Can I use a real-life person as a character in my novel? Are there legal reasons why I would want to avoid doing this?”
What a great question from Kyle in Wales.
The quick answer is yes, you can use real people as characters in your novel. It has been done on many occasions in the past and done effectively. The only time you are risking legal action is when you defame a real person. Don’t go there. It really isn’t worth the headaches.
Having said that, I see where Scarlett Johansson recently won a defamation suit against some French author who used her as the basis of a character. She only won $4,000, but she did win. When in doubt, check with a lawyer.
“Run, Forest, Run!”
THAT DARNED QUERY LETTER
“Bill, I’m getting a lot of agent rejections and no bites. Do you think I need to change my query letter? And if I change the letter, can I re-query the same agents who rejected me?”
Thank you to Delores in California.
Without a doubt, if you are not getting even a nibble from agents or publishers, the problem is in your query letter. In many ways, the query letter is as important as your book. If you can’t write an interesting letter, what are the chances that your book will be interesting? That is the way agents and publishers think and really, who can blame them for thinking that way?
So yes, re-write that query letter and make it sparkle.
On to the second part of your question. If you have re-written your query letter, you really should wait six months to a year before sending query letters to agents who have already rejected you, and quite frankly you probably should change the title of your manuscript at the same time. True, agents and publishers read a lot of query letters, and the chances of them remembering yours six months down the road are slim, but you really don’t want to risk it.
MEMOIRS ARE HOW LONG?
“Bill, I’m writing a memoir, and I’ve heard they are considered in the same vein as a novel. How long should a memoir be?”
Thanks Sue from Dublin, and you are exactly correct, in the publishing business a memoir falls under the novel classification. As such they should be in the 70,000 to 100,000 word range.
WHAT’S ALL THIS TALK ABOUT PLATFORMS?
“Hi! I was wondering if you thought platforms are necessary in order for a writer to succeed?”
Great question from Trevor in Mississippi.
I was going to give a quick answer and say that the only thing necessary for success is talent, but that’s not true. I have seen some published works by writers who I would not hire to write my obituary.
I can, however, safely say that talent is much more important than a platform. History is littered with examples of unknown writers who have found success without building a platform, so it is entirely possible. Do you improve your chances with a platform? Most definitely, especially in this online world we live in. Having a blog or website, having a social network presence, having bylines in your resume, all of these help you to gain a foothold in this business.
Still…and I can’t stress this enough…the most important tool you have in your writer’s toolbox, is writing talent.
Until Next Week
I’ll just be sitting here waiting for the next batch of questions, so get busy writing them please.
Thanks to those who asked questions this week. I’m enjoying this series and in many cases I learn right along with you, so keep challenging me.
Have a productive week ahead, and remember to get up each morning with a smile on your face…. because….YOU ARE A WRITER!
2014 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Comments
Many great questions asked of you. And awesome answers which make sense. I hope you have many, many years to go before you are in need of someone to write your "obituary". This kind of made my heart sink even though you were trying to explain how some writers wouldn't do well at this grim task. Love the installments! Keep them coming. :-)
Shared, up and tweeted!
This really is a wonderful venue to quickly get the word out, as many others could have the same questions. Nice idea, Billy, and it looks like you're having great success.
This series is answering lots of questions for me. Keep them coming!
This series is working well for you. It is great that you give different options to ask questions, including publicly here or quietly via email, something for everyone.
It is really interesting to read the diverse questions that we all wonder about.
Hi Bill. I really love this series. It' sort of like a Dear Bill column? People send in questions and youanswer them in your own unique and entertaining way. Please keep this going? Have a great weekend.
Thanks for another great installment, Bill!
What an interesting selection of queries you answered this week Bill. Oh how the teacher in you sparkles! I love learning new things here and today some more gems of knowledge for me to store away and use. Many thanks my Yoda. Hope you have recovered from your work outside yesterday!
Have a great weekend and plenty of chillax time with Bev xx
Glad to have conjured a smile. It would certainly be great fun sitting and chatting.
flummoxed? What a great word. That will be my word of the day, for sure. Just out of curiosity, here's a question for you:
What's the difference between a memoir and an autobiography?
These questions often arise in my mind while writing, especially about the dialogue tags. As usual you gave clarity to my doubts.
That's an interesting fact about the length of a memoir. I'd never really considered that as I haven't got far but I am going down that path. It ties in with writing the diaries for my grandchildren. Trouble is it started with one and rapidly increased to four!
Hope my daughters realise that it needs time and stamina to write and they limit their contribution to the population! No, I don't mean it - I'll love as many grandchildren as they give me.
Lovely to be back home and, yes, it's raining (but only between the hot sunshine). The holidays were great but home is always better. Hope you're enjoying yours, bill. Have a wonderful evening!
Ann
Wow. believe me, asking friends and finding platforms is most necessary!
Hi Bill. Great stuff Bill. Tip Top Video's
Graham.
I am now looking forward to future mailbag hub.. although I haven't the need for the answers you provided for some of the questions they will be helpful in the future in that I have no doubt...:)
Bill - We need to talk. This can be started on a shoestring and I will send you one of mine.
Bill - We need to talk again about you getting the writers school up and running. Talent like yours was meant to be shared with all of those who have that desire to write. Your training on hub pages is fantastic, but a 3 day live workshop would be unbelievable.
This could even be accomplished with a free Skype account using their conference capability. I have taken courses in options trading using this method and they were almost as good as everyone being in the same room.
Give it a thought my friend, and when you roll out the first training session I want to be included.
I enjoyed reading all of the answers. I'm glad someone asked the question about using real people in novels. I've never done that, although I have mentioned one. I may want to include a real person (mayor, governor, etc) and your advice will stick in my mind.
I have learned so much from reading your hubs. I don't think i tell you that fact enough. Thank you again...
Bill, I'm really loving your "Writers mailbag", my.. my, how you shine! :) Very useful questions and answers. It's good to see that others are having the same difficulties as I am. Nice work.
I hope all is well with you, my best always.
I found Blogger to be so much easier to use than WordPress... I continue to be amazed at folks saying WordPress is easy. It is much more complex, but you can do more with it, of course. I like the simpler life. Thanks for another great installment. ;-)
My thoughts and comments echo Martie's. I've learned so much from your articles, Bill. Thank you! :-)
I love this format and have used it myself. I think it is great especially for those who are either too shy to write in with a question or don't know quite how to word it. Q & A's are great go to places. Thanks for keeping up with the installments :)
On the issue of real people as characters the latest on the Ventura case is illustrative: http://legalnews.findlaw.com/article/2b712f9c4eac2...
Advice from the horse's mouth. Excellent, billybuc! Your willingness to lead by example, sharing the knowledge you have obtained by trial and error, makes you a very special person. I am proud to call you my friend :)
Aaahahahahahaha! I'm quite satisfied with our friendship as well, Mr. Holland. That was good advice you gave about going to YouTube for answers on blogging, They're far easier to follow than step by step written instructions. As far as real-life stories go, a publisher will probably require signed release forms. I just read about that.
It's great that people are getting involved and asking such a variety of questions. I'm sure you have plenty of fans to keep you hopping for awhile, Bill.
Hi Bill, I enjoyed reading this and I learned a thing or two also. These were really good questions and your answers good also. Thanks so much for creating this series and it was fun to read.
This series is always enlightening and useful. Thanks, billy. Up, useful, interesting and awesome.
Useful. Always good to read tips from someone who has been there, done that
Thank you for a well-informed hub.
Once again great answers to great questions.
I am especially grateful for the blog advice.
Wishing you a wonderful day.
Kim
I actually like these questions-answers articles. You do such a good job, Bill. So far, other people have asked some of my questions, so I'll just keep reading the answers. Thanks!
All great questions, Bill. As far as basing a character on someone you know, don't you have to get permission from them first? And preferably in writing?Should their name be changed "to protect the innocent"?
I look forward to your answer in an upcoming installment. Thanx!
Bill, these are great questions! Equally good are the answers. You really break things down for us, and help us to make practical changes in our writing. Thanks for your hard work on our behalf.
Loved all the questions here and always love getting your take on so much in the writing world by this series. Keep up the good work, Bill! Have a wonderful day now :)
Thanks for answering my question, Bill. I never thought to look to YouTube for technical advice. Great tip!
72