The Writer's Mailbag: Installment Seventy-Seven

Ugh - I'm not happy to see the ebook drop. I was actually thinking about possibly writing something. My husband was telling me I should too. He's always amazed at what he sees when he's looking for ebooks and says I ought to give it a try. Now to find the time and inspiration.....

Eric has really hit the nail on the head with his query. Life on one side vying for your attention, writing on the other side nagging at your for neglecting her. And the poor writer caught in the middle trying to appease them both. Why do we insist on doing this to ourselves?

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours Bill and may the New Year bring you both much love and delight.

As always much needed and good advice. The holidays snuck up on me this year and I don't even know where last week flew. Not ready for the holidays this year at all.

Great questions on excellent topics. Thanks for the reminder on the spark!

Billybuc, your advice and opinions are always relevant, profound and very inspiring. Thanks a lot!

here we go again... The length of an E-book, I like them at 30K is that unusual? Thanks for the ongoing answers my friend :)

Hey Bill - another great bunch of questions and excellent billybuc answers. Re: Georgina's question about marketing, I think it's vital to start establishing a 'platform' for your writing from the moment you decide to be a writer. Building an audience is probably going to take years, so the sooner you start, the better. After all, there's no point finishing a great first novel and then thinking about how to market it - also, you have to get people interested in you as a person (who you are and what you have to say), not just the books you're trying to sell. Just sayin'.

I always find interesting things to think about in your Monday hubs, Bill. Thank you for your generosity in sharing them.

Great suggestions. The Createaspace and Kindle are what works for me just a tiny bit. I see the sales of the ebooks and figure no one is getting rich other than those with platforms and established writers. The print books are there for those who want them, but sales are slim to none on those.

a good one

So if, after I trim the fat, I have a novella of under 40,000 words, what might I do with it if an ebook needs to be at least twice as long? Are not ebooks a profitable to the author market for novellas, assuming mastery of the form? Would I do better to submit a novella to an online literary magazine, in terms of either income or number of readers?

Be careful, Bill. If you plan on visiting Billy the Kid,, be sure to wear your bullet-proof vest with the built in armored hoodie. Just suggestin'.

Bill, I loved these! Like you, as I'm sure many others, life has made it difficult to finish writing, lately, and that is so frustrating! We're right there with you!

I like your view of life. I have to work on the "keep my mouth shut" goal!

Well done again Bill. The question about marketing and your "cart before the horse" comment. I have seen a lot of people calling themselves freelance writers and editors, with their own Online businesses, and even in the website promo and personal profile there are glaring grammar and spelling mistakes. You would wonder how they get any business or writing assignments.

The length of books is so subjective. To this day, I just write things until they're done, and that's the length they're supposed to be.

Personally I feel like ove 50,000 words is appropriate for a longer work, whether you want to call it a novel or novella or whatever. Just make sure it's good:-)

Another informative mailbag, Bill. Thanks.

It's a pity that ebooks sale has gone down but I think it is because there are so many ebooks out there that should not have been published in the first place. The good ones will always get sold as people who have read them will often give the books good reviews. I still am working on improving articles I have lazily published in the past. Always grateful for insights from you Bill.

Hi Bill. You know it just dawned on me after reading the questions about e-books that I have never read one. I am still a traditional hard copy reader. Perhaps some of this technology is passing me by? I still enjoy browsing in book stores and actually holding them. Great job, have a great week.

I'm with Shauna, give me a book to hold in my hand. I've bought E Books on line and never got back to read them. Merry Christmas!

Thanks, bill - 'time' is a good idea! I'll add it to the long list but it will move up to the top!

Ann :)

Wow that numbers breakdown on the length of novels is cool. Who would have thought there was a science to this art? Well that just sets up my question. I know in being a house painter that the prep and setup are 80% of the job. Give me a numerical breakdown as to how much time you spend on the structure of a writing compared to that time spent creating, please. I kind of need a guiding breakdown of what good writers do.

My pleasure Bill Sir. Thanks. Happy Christmas. Take care.

Our little tree is up, so that much of balance is working. Wife was wrapping presents, so I got some writing done. Even a little ahead, for the holidays, I hope. Balance is critical, in all aspects of life, from this point of view! Thanks for another great mailbag! ;-)

I have a little tabletop tree made out of green and red ribbons that I've put up for the last few years. My son is no longer a little boy and we have three cats, so the tabletop works just fine for us. I decorate the interior and Christopher hangs the lights on the house. He was away this weekend, so I was able to do his shopping and wrapping unbeknownst to him. Next weekend will be set aside for baking. Some traditions don't change with the times (or lack of time).

Merry Christmas to you and Bev, Bill!

Hi Bill Sir, every time I return, return with mixed feelings of joy and embrassment. Joy coz of the pleasure of going through your guiding hubs, feelings of embrassment coz of missing a lot and not going through them in time. Pray for me that I remain glued here all the time.

This hub is a good one, the question about the length of eBook has been dealt intelligently, your personal suggestions adds more meaning to it. I think we need your guidance about trimming and editing the contents. As a writer, every word appears precious, deleting the words need a heavy heart to bear there loss. So how to over come the fear of losing words is an important aspect that need to be addressed. Thanks for sharing valuable questions and there answers.

I can't wait to see what Billy the Kid is up to!

I actually started a hub a few weeks back and have set it aside while I get Christmas together before it sneaks by me. Hopefully, I'll get back to it soon.

I also received my copy of Shadows Kill. I look forward to getting into it when the holidays are over. I'll take a hold-in-my-hands book over an eBook any day!

Chucle ..chuckle. Nice and sweet this week. Wonderful in its simplicity. Carry on Bro. Nice!

You give so much of yourself in your answers and it's so admirable. Seems you're doing quite well on balancing your acts. I learn from your answers as always. Thanks.

Good Morning Bill

It seems like from the weather maps that you are having some FOWL weather up there lately.

Back to the mailbag

Are you really opposed to the use of color text in novels?

Let us say, a dusting of color, rather than a full immersion, or submersion.

Maybe, it would be more appropriate in e publishing?

Again, not being a reader of fiction, I don't know how important is the internal imagination of the reader interpreting the written word.

BTW, there is a condition where some people see text in colors, it has something to do with the brain wiring. Not sure if it is a bonus, or a bummer.

Keep that keyboard and mouse dry. :)

Hi Bill,

Your mailbag is always full of great information. I was surprised to read about the e-book sales dropping.

I have a question/thought about seasons in relation to writing. Do you feel that some seasons allow one to be more productive? I ask this because where I live in Brazil, our weather is a constant. 87 degrees every day year round. It doesn't instill a sense of urgency to do anything.

Have a great week up there.

Happy Monday Bill! As always, I found your questions/answers very interesting. I'm still working on actually finishing a novel that I start...but I do often wonder if it will be the right length! The usual advice I hear is to not worry about it and just finish...actually, for me, that should be the answer to ALL my questions. Just finish it! Worry about all the other stuff later. Have a great rest of the week!

Bill - As I read your thoughts on ebook sales going down, I wondered (feared) that perhaps READING is going down because, as a society we are just getting dumber and more lazy. I certainly hope that isn't the case. I appreciate all of your thoughts on writing. I might give it a try someday ;-) .

In the meantime, I am looking forward to another installment of Billy the Kid (there you go teasing us again).

I didn't know ebook sales are going down. It makes me happy to hear, because I like traditional books over ebooks. Though, ebooks have their place and are useful time to time, it is the traditional book in my hands, the smell of the pages, the feel of the binding that tickles my senses when the words are absorbed.

That was a great mailbag again, billybuc! You're a very busy man just before the holidays. Wish you a great Monday.

Great hub Billy...I especially connected with the 'cart before the horse' writers. That was me...emphasis on 'was'.

More great stuff, Bill. I always have something to take away from the mailbag. Thanks for the much time and effort you put into this.

It's so hard to find balance, especially when you're on a roll.

It's always about time, isn't it? Life is what we make it and sometimes we need more time for this, then more time for that. I think we go with the flow and make the best of both jobs. Easy to say!

I'm glowing from seeing my fantastic little granddaughter appear in a nativity play at infant school - so refreshing and inspiring!

I'll come up with a few questions shortly, bill!

Have a marvellously merry Monday!

Ann :)