The Writer's Mailbag: Installment Forty

Hi Bill - Interesting that you don't go after article theft. I have done it a few times and I have articles out there that have been stolen. I find it gets me so riled up and that it takes soooooooo much time that I tend not to do it.

Everything that you say makes so much sense, and the information is as worthwhile as a good recipe book. Can we live without it? Sure, but it is so much easier using tried and true methods. Thanks again, from the bottom of my heart.

I know that sometimes writing to a 'target' of words per day means the quality suffers. But there are times when we need to hear what other writers do in the situation. Thank you for replying.

Whenever I hear "Damn it, I'm a writer, not a salesperson!" I envision Dr. McCoy on Star Trek saying it. Okay, sorry for the Trek-ism. I've already droned on about the NASS (Not A Salesperson Syndrome) problem in so many other Mailbags, I'll spare you here.

So I'll address the WAD (Words A Day) problem. I, too, have days where my net word production is maybe 25 well chosen words. Writing is NOT an assembly line; it's always a custom build.

Happy Wednesday!

Bill, the challenge you issued me in the comments of my hub "The Case of the Million Dollar Collar Continued" has been completed. It's titled "Tales of Murder and Suspense (Sonnets Like You've Never Seen Before)" Hope you enjoy.

Bill

Thanks for addressing the issue of 'daily quotas ' I've always felt bad at not being able to set them. I do try to set myself a weekly one but at times 'the well is a little dry ' It was good to get your perspective.

Lawrence

Billybuc I may have mispoken by using the term ghostwriting. Whereas yes I'm open to things like speech writing, I am pursuing many kind of chances to be paid for what I write regardless if its published or I get credit. Also, I didn't have any question in particular.

Great hub, Billy. Great tips as usual. I agree that ignoring reality is fine for fiction; as long as the story is logical for the setting, I feel it works. Thanks for the tips.

wow number 40... and yet it's still so new to me, the answers, the help it's still fresh.. keep them coming my friend.. Bless you

Especially love your perspective in "Going Through the Motions." Thanks for your valuable service.

More great questions and answers Bill. Fancy getting inundated with so many you can't fit them all in one hub. Imagine if you were charging for advice :) I don't do anything about stolen hubs either Bill. I don't really even want to know if any of mine have been stolen. It all just seems more trouble than it is worth, unless large numbers are being scalped. I probably write something most days even if it is just updating and adding info to old hubs. I usually spend one day trying to catch up and read other people's hubs because I have trouble keeping up on a day to day basis. I look forward to the next mailbag.

Hi Bill

Your first answer is in line with what I believe (so it must be a great one, right??? :D :D :D ...just kidding)

But I concur. If the story is one that I will buy into it has to have a ring of authenticity to it if it is to hold my attention. If it is sci fi or something else where we can blur the lines of what it real and what can happen well that of course, as you say, is another story.

but if someone is writing about a particular climate in a particular area it needs, for me, at least, to ring true.

Just letting you know too. I will be hit and miss about getting to answering hubs and reading them for several weeks. My daughter and her family are moving (to be closer to her doctors) so my time is full with being Nini, which I adore. But I will try to stop and visit as often as I can.)

Hugs and blessings and Angels are on the way ps

I enjoyed your Monday mailbag hub once again, Bill. The questions that you receive are always interesting!

Billy Buc, I look forward to your article answering Audrey's question! Thanks for your statement about being satisfied with one paragraph...sometimes that is all I can do and I thought it was only me! We who love to write, probably do a lot of the same things and we don't even know it!

You really inspired me when you said you don't do anything about stolen hubs. That has not happened in my case, but I LOVE your attitude about it! It is so easy to waste time over things like that...you and some of the commenters made a lot of sense regarding that issue.

I think it is wonderful that you have this mailbag going...and going...and going!

LOVED Faith Reapers comment about the TV show "Justified." My husband and I have seen it from episode 1...we are still watching it because at the end of this season the whole series ends and I am always curious to see how a program exits for good.

Voted up and awesome as always. Blessings, Sparklea :) PS: I sent you a newspaper clipping a few days ago...but getting to you from New York State to Washington State - it will probably be like traveling on a slow boat to China. It should arrive within the next few days. --unless I got the address wrong, then it will probably come back to me by covered wagon! :)

I can tell that when it comes to writing you've been there and done that. So, have you had a writer's mailbag with ghost writing as the topic?

Good evening my friend.

Something from which useful knowledge can be learned.

Fully will I know how much do I not know when you answer all possible questions existing out there… “ Then I’ll come away from each day feeling good about my progress as a writer…” ~ your quote is valued.

Up and interesting.

Peace and blessings with us.

PS. Tonight forecasters promise up to 3 in.of last March snowfall.

Whew, you have your hands full or should I saw your mailbag is full to the overflow. Interesting questions posed as always and sensible answers provided.

We loved watching the show "Justified" for about five seasons and then they just kept on with the same old stuff and the main characters that made the storyline left, so ... wasn't the same after that but up until then it was truly interesting with really great characters of all kinds.

You have had a busy Monday!

Peace and blessings

In regards to the reality v. fantasy issue I prefer story lines that are at minimum internally consistent. I feel disappointed and disinterested when the plot feels real and all of a sudden someone can fly or it was all a dream. Glad you are still seeing the questions roll in.

Reality vs fantasy on TV and movies. I want my fantasy to be real. I've been watching House of Cards from Netflix. A first lady on the show did something that is so out of character or her, that it ruined the show for me. Often then that happens, I stop watching. So more opinion is keep it real. naturally, the characters will have more adventure in an episode than most people will have in a lifetime, but there has to be a kernel of reality. Just my opinion.

Hi Bill. Another week with great questions and great answers. So glad to see that you are now taking weekends off. You deserve a break and it's important to recharge those batteries. Have a great week.

Bill, regarding stolen articles, I just had one stolen, and it's buried on some website so well that I can't find it. I finally gave up. You are right, it isn't worth the time. I left a message on the site telling them to remove it, but that hasn't happened. Thanks for making me feel a little better about the decision to let it go.

Bill, you are lucky that you haven't had any hubs taken down. I had one of my best hubs taken down the day after it was published with the accusation that it was plagiarized by me. When I wrote my original Joey the Cat hub, the TV station republished it immediately, minus photos and used my real name. They thought they were doing me a favor, but I had to jump through hoops to prove that MizBejabber's on HP was the original and not the one on the TV website. I couldn't just call the TV station and tell them to take it down because they had been so good as to give me an interview and allow me to use their photos. Most hubs get their best traffic when they are brand new, so I lost a three-day advantage with that one. I've had hubs stolen and HP notified me, but they didn't take those down. Go figure. I think I've seen others complain of similar actions.

Yes, thanks, great weekend but still waiting for that 5th grandchild to arrive. It's female so guaranteed to keep everyone waiting!

Ann

Setting goals is one of my biggest faults. I have to be inspired to write an article. I'm not one who can just sit down at the computer and write a decent article. You can do that with ease!

I do so agree with you about the writing per day. As long as there's something of quality or you've done some research, you've done your job. Setting goals is fine but setting goals with unreasonable time limits is self-defeating and demoralising. We're only human after all. Well, I am....

Another goodie here.

Ann :)

Nice mixed bag. I'll just reinforce your continued excellent statements that if a writer expects to sell books (any books) for money, they must be heavily involved in marketing them. Persons who think otherwise, in the current market, simply do not understand how things are today. You do try to tell it gently, but facts are facts. Thanks, again, for this weekly stimulus. ;-)

Bill, you'll be hiring staff to help with all those questions before too long. Always very useful, a real pleasure to read. Take care now, my best to you.

Thanks for another great installment! I look forward to reading your separate hub about the editing process.

Hope you have a wonderful productive week!

In reference to the daily word count. I'm with you, Bill. It's fine to have a general idea what you want to get done, but setting it as a hard goal is a recipe for disappointment. Some days it is hard to get 50 words and some days it is easy to get 5000.

Looking forward to it Bill!

Good to hear that you no longer write at week-ends Billy. I think that is probably some of the best advice given yet. I know how hard it is sometimes to just switch the computer off and go take a break. I intend to do a lot more of that during the coming months.

You have a great week Billy.

Awesome questions, amazing answers. These are all things I think about and deal with. I use to try to report stolen hubs, now I just let it go... one less headache. One of these days, Google will sort it all out for us. In the meantime, I'll just worry about trying to get my other stuff sold. I don't like the sales aspect of this career, but you are right about the necessity of selling. I may not like it, but it is part of the job. And, hey, I just looked outside my window and saw that my Hydrangeas are starting to bloom. That's the other part of the job... getting to do what I like while enjoying the beauty of life.

I loved reading the questions and answers from other writers. Your answer to the last question was of particular interest since I've been going through one of those spells lately. I agree with you that writing one paragraph of which we can be truly proud is more important and fulfilling than writing drivel.

I agree with breakfastpop. Keep on rambling. Not only does the Q & A inform us, it gives you topics for upcoming articles. We all win!

If you call this rambling, then ramble on! Voted up, useful and awesome.

Lots of good questions and great answers.

"To infinity and beyond......!"

Thanks,

DJ.

Thanks for the help Bill--Just concerned as it is an EBook. Maybe will have to really publish. Always great ideas here for all of us writers in search.