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The Writer's Mailbag: Installment Forty
Welcome Back
I had too many questions this week and couldn’t include them all. If I left your question out I’ll be sure and include it next Monday.
Having said that, I welcome you back to the Mailbag. Obviously we are not in danger of running out of questions. The only question is whether I will live long enough to answer all the questions I receive. J
We have some great ones this week so I think we best get started.
Reality Vs Fantasy
A great question from Brad: “We talked about this subject several times before, but it keeps popping up . The subject is credibility of scenarios in the police and basically the good guy versus bad guy stories.
Most people can suspend reality in the storyline to enjoy the total picture. I have always had this problem.
Question, Am I supposed to ignore reality in scripts?
I understand that these are stories, but they should also relate to the real odds of these events synchronizing to the story. What are the real odds that this could actually happen?
It is one things if the genre allows for dispensing reality, but another things when this is not a parody on real life.
My wife, the reader, really likes the TV show Blacklist. I like the start James Spader, and his character, but I think that the script was written by college students during a Frat party.
It is not just one or two impossible sequences of events but most of the ones in the show. It happens episode after episode.
I know that you don't watch much TV, but I am sure this kind of writing is also found in fiction books. I also understand the irony of my question when applied to "Fictions", but fiction shouldn't mean fantasy. It should for the stories that could be real, just change the names and the events to protect the innocent.”
Brad, this is a great question…so great I wrote an entire article about it. I’ll ask you to go read that article and you’ll have my long answer. My short answer is this: yes, you are supposed to ignore reality when reading fiction. By definition, that’s what fiction is….a suspension of reality. The tricky part of it all is telling the difference between fiction and fantasy as defined by the Writer’s Digest.
MARKETING
From Carol: Up to date I have not asked a question for the mailbag. However I just started writing again and starting a series (like You--LOL). As you already know. Any ideas on marketing ebooks besides Facebook. Been out of the marketing arena for a while and would love some ideas. Looking forward ti book 2 with Eli...
Carol, nothing much has changed on the marketing front. Of course there are other social media sites like Pinterest, Twitter, etc., but still, in my opinion, the best marketing approach is up close and personal. Contact local bookstores, book clubs and reading groups. Contact libraries. Set up readings and book signings. I don’t see social media as a viable marketing tool by itself. As a supplement it is wonderful, but you still need to beat the brush and get among your readers.
Where to Publish an Article
From Brian: “Thanks for the excellent answer to my question. So if I were to write an article "100th Birthday of Local Hero", I should submit it to a local periodical, not to HP, because the topic is of short-lived interest and probably of mainly local interest. If an article is on an evergreen topic of broad interest (with personal touches for human interest and uniqueness), then HP might be where to self-publish it, especially since at any time it can be unpublished and submitted elsewhere.”
Brian, thanks for the follow-up. I follow your thinking, and if we lived in a logical world I would say your thinking is right on, but alas, we don’t. I would say go ahead and publish the article in a local publication AND HubPages. I have articles on HP that have been published multiple times in magazines and I have heard from no one about it. You might as well earn from both sites since it seems to be allowed. The worst that can happen is HP will shut down that article, but since it hasn’t happened to me in three years, I don’t think there is much chance of that.
The only exception to this is if you sign an exclusive contract with a magazine, in which case, legally, you probably should leave HP out of the discussion.
Stealing Our Work
From Shyron: “Bill, I love your mail bag. I have two questions in one. first question: Have you had any of you hubs stolen?
Second question, but first I need to tell you why. I Googled my name and this site pops up: http://bwin368.net/search/shyron-e-shenko-on-hubpa... so I clicked on it and there is a list of hubs by a lot of other hubbers but it does not take you to their hubs, and also a chat box that would give access to an agent to the computer. My question: How do we report this to HP/Google to stop this?”
Hi, Shyron, and thanks for the two questions.
First question, yes, I have had hubs stolen. I have done nothing about it. Why? It takes far too long to fill out reports and I don’t choose to do that. Many people do and I respect that. I don’t.
Rather than list all the things you can do if you have stolen hubs, I will invite you to read this fine article by Suzanne. Just follow this link. I’m pretty sure she has thoroughly covered the entire topic and done it much better than I could.
Editing Process
From Audrey: “Great article Bill! And poetry makes even less money than articles do! I would be very interested in an article addressing your editing process in depth--first pass through, second pass through etc--and how to keep perspective as you go through that process.”
Audrey, it’s a great question, so great that I’m going to post an article about it later this week. Stay tuned and I’ll have your answer in a day or two.
MARKETING
From Lizzy: “Okay--here goes, and this may be a complex question!
"Back in the day..." there was a book of markets called, The Writer's Market (or something to that effect). With e-books: self-publishing made easy, and the dearth of viable online writing sites, how and where do you suggest an author seek to promote themselves, since it is probably no easier than it ever was (and probably harder) to find an agent?
(Once you have published that e-book, there is no guarantee of sales, of course, and for those of us who are NOT salespeople....this can be a problem.)”
Lizzy, it is a problem because of your last sentence….you consider yourself not to be a salesperson. I’m afraid the key to any good marketing campaign is for the writer to be seen and heard from, and not just online. I have thousands of people who know me online, but only a hundred or so who will buy a book from me. Once I’ve gone through those one-hundred, where do I go?
If I’m serious I get out in public and market myself. Writing is a business if you are trying to make money. You are the business and your writing is the product. To be successful you must….must….get out there and sell.
Going Through the Motions
From Lawrence: “Actually I've been thinking of a question that might have been asked already but would be good to get your perspective and that is a lot of writers set goals of so many words a day etc. Do you ever get to the point when it's just going through the motions and the quality of the work suffering? What do you do about it?”
Lawrence, thanks for asking a question and a good one at that. I’m not a big believer in setting word goals daily. I am a big believer in writing daily, or thinking about writing daily. There is a big difference between the two. If I give myself a 1,000 word goal daily, there are going to be days when I simply don’t have it in me to meet that goal. Did I fail? There will be days when I can’t think of an intelligent thing to write, so what do I do, just go through the motions like you mentioned?
I think it’s much more important that I come away from each day feeling good about my progress as a writer. If that means just writing one dynamic, holy-damn paragraph, then that’s what I’ll do. Write the paragraph and spend the rest of my time researching, or taking a walk in nature with a notepad.
Having said all that, I no longer write on weekends. I need those two days to relax my brain and give my creative juices a rest period.
I hope that makes sense.
Join me on my writing blog
- William Holland | Helping Writers to Spread Their Wings and Fly
Weekly discussions and tips about writing
And That’s All We Have Time and Space for This Week
My goodness, I’ve rambled on, haven’t I? One question requires a hub of its own, so I’ll have that for you on Wednesday. Until then, have a superb week of writing, and I’ll see you again next Monday with another installment of the Mailbag.
Thank you!
2015 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Comments
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Life is too short, Glimmer. I won't allow myself to get that upset over something I really can't control or stop. Thanks for your thoughts.
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.
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Thank you Deb...I like that, comparing this to a recipe book. Thank you for that.
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.
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It's my pleasure, Lawrence. Thank you again.
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!
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And thank you twice, John. :) Love these repeats.
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John, you never cease to amaze me. I will be there shortly to marvel at your talent.
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I'm glad to hear it, Lawrence. Thank you for the great question.
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
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Thank you justthemessenger. Ghostwriting carries so many meanings these days. Best wishes as you hunt for money-making opportunities.
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.
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I agree, Wiccan. Thanks for your input. Always appreciated.
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.
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I will do that, Frank, and I thank you for enjoying this series and supporting it.
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It's always my pleasure, Dora. Thank you for always being here.
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John, thank you for sharing some of your thoughts. I think it helps all writers to hear they are not alone with their thoughts and there are others out there who have the same problems and solutions.
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PS, any visit from you, any old time, is a treasure. Take care of your family. That is always the priority. Thank you dear friend, and blessings and prayers heading your way.
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They really are, aren't they, Alicia? thank you
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Lea, thank you so much and way too funny about the snail mail and covered wagon. We can only hope the Post Office remembers how to deliver things like actual mail. It will be good practice for them.
blessings my friend....wishing you blue skies and spring flowers soon.
Bill
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Michael my friend, thank you! If you gain anything from these articles then they have value. Sorry about that March snow...perhaps you will see spring in April? We can hope.
blessings and peace be with you
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
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Justthemessenger no, no one has asked about ghost writing. Do you have a question about it?
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Thank you Faith. Oddly I have never heard of that show. Now you have me curious. I'll have to watch an episode to see what you are talking about.
Have a superior week, my friend.
I enjoyed your Monday mailbag hub once again, Bill. The questions that you receive are always interesting!
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Flourish, my wife and I have had this conversation several times lately and I totally agree with you. Thanks for making me feel like I am sane.
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.
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Funny you mention that, Catherine. Two shows we loved did the same thing and we quit watching them immediately. I can only suspend reality so far and then I need a kernel at least. :) Thanks for making me feel like I'm not strange.
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It really is, Bill. It only took me three years to figure that out. LOL
Have a super week yourself.
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Chris, I've seen writers spend days tracking down stolen articles and filling out forms. At my age, I don't have days to waste. Even if I do track down the thief and have them take my article down, another ten are stolen in that time. I give up!
Thanks for stopping by.
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MizB, I have literally given up trying to figure out HP or even care about the site. They follow a beat I will never hear and I'm happy about that. Thanks for sharing your experience in case others have wondered about that.
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Oh, most definitely, Ann. :)
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Mary, odd you should mention that. I'm finding it harder to do. I can hear my muse calling me to write novels and stop the article writing.
Thank you for the kind words, my friend.
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!
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I am too, Ann, so it's good to know I have quality company alongside. :) I hope you had a great weekend. If you were with family I'm sure you did.
Bill
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 :)
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Thank you, Bill, for reinforcing that point. This is crucial for anyone wanting to make money selling books.
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. ;-)
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Oh Jo, if I had that problem I'd be in heaven. Imagine getting paid for doing this....way beyond my comprehension. :) Blessings and thanks heading your way.
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.
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Thank you Melissa and Happy Spring to you. That hub will be posted Wednesday. Have a great week and know how much I appreciate you visiting every Monday.
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Very true, Larry. I start each day with a plan. If I don't fulfill that plan it doesn't mean I failed. It just means adjustments have to be made and new plans implemented. That I can do. :)
Thank you and have a great week of writing.
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Thank you Audrey. I am too. :)
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Thank you Sally. I have found myself to be fresher and more inspired since I started taking weekends off, and I suggest it for any full-time writer.
Have a superb week my friend.
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Marlene, I love your attitude and outlook on life. We have been given a gift. What we do with it, and how we view it, makes all the difference in the world. Carry on my friend and thank 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.
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Thank you Peg. I always appreciate you stopping by and commenting. I hope this finds you well in Dallas.
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.
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Sha, I have been a winner since the first day I joined HP. Thank you and Happy Monday my friend.
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!
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Thanks Pop! I think i will. :)
If you call this rambling, then ramble on! Voted up, useful and awesome.
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Thanks DJ. Now get outta here and get back to your writing.
Lots of good questions and great answers.
"To infinity and beyond......!"
Thanks,
DJ.
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Carol, for no extra expense you can have it printed by CreateSpace....then take a copy to a book reading as a prop. :) Thanks for the question and I hope you have a superb week.
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Aww, thanks Janine. I appreciate you always being here. Happy Monday dear friend. I hope all in your family are feeling well.
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.
I love that you had too many questions to answer and even one that requires a whole article on. Seriously, awesome, but then again so are you. Thanks always and have a great Monday, Bill! ;)
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