The Writer's Mailbag: Installment Sixty-Six

As always great advice, especially to new writers, because you are the source that I would recommend any and all writers, including new ones to listen to. Happy Monday Bill and here is to a great week ahead now!! :)

Do you ever get sick of hearing how wonderful this series is? Each question, even if it is similar to one before, gives new perspective. The conversations here, for they aren't just questions and answers, are ones we can treasure as little gems to use in the future and points to guide us along our way.

Excellent, bill! We do ask advice because you do not know it all! At least, you know a great deal and you're always honest when you're not sure.

It does take it out of you when you write something heart-rending or deeply serious or controversial. I try to steer away from the controversial because I can't take the stress, apart from the occasional one if I'm really passionate about it; even then, it takes its toll so I know what you mean.

A question: Do you get so immersed in your writing that you have no idea how long you've been sitting there at the keyboard?

Ann :)

All very good advice and information.

Question: Would it be feasible and cost-effective to self-publish a novel in parts in imitation of Charles Dickens?

Google on:

Dickens serial fiction OR novels OR publication

The Project Boz website says, "Most of Dickens’s novels were published in twenty stand-alone monthly parts. Each number or installment (after the first two installments of his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, when Dickens and his publishers were still experimenting with the form) contained exactly 32 pages of text, along with two engraved illustrations; each installment also contained 16 or more pages of advertising. These serial parts cost only a shilling. The final installment cost two shillings, and was a double one, including a more generous amount of text, four illustrations (including an engraved title page and frontispiece), and front matter--preface, dedication, table of contents, a list of illustrations, and so forth."

So why not publish a novel as a series of short ebooks of a few chapters each? I'm not sure about advertising or about illustrations or about subscriptions. As a customer, I would want it to be easy, simple, inexpensive, and convenient to obtain and pay for each part and to have the option of canceling my subscription at any time before getting the last part.

I always learn something new when I read the mailbag. What you said about living life rang loudly to me. Living life to the fullest allows you to bring true emotions to the story. This is something you do quite well.

Happy Monday! Always glad to see a new mailbag waiting for me. Great questions and answers, as usual.

Hope you have a great and productive week!

As always interesting reading Bill my friend. Thanks for the writing tips, whonu.

Another wonderful mailbag Bill. You are very knowledgeable about the art of writing that is for certain but the best thing (I'm sure you'd agree) about this series is that you actually have to research some of the answers, so even you are learning from it...not jut us readers, Great job.

Hi Bill, Long time No Communicate. I have returned to Hub Pages and You in particular, to try and get any answers to my dilema.

My dilema, as it appears to me... as if "me" is in anyway the slightest best indicator of reality...is that I can't make myself believe that my tiny contribution of words to the World would...Make any difference to Anybody???

For me to even contemplate writing as a possible new life experience, I think I have to get beyond the extreme mental block of not believing my almost infintestibly small contribution would be of any real positive contribution to anything.

Thanks for Any and All Feedback!!

I like these questions! I was most surprised by the one about trade journals. I hadn't even considered that. I may have to look into it, now. Thank you for teaching us all new things, each week!

Did you? Sorry! Don't answer again, it's not worth your time. I'll think of a better question for next time!!

Enjoy your evening, bill!

Ann

A fun part of the mail bag is that often two or more questions (and answers) work well together. Today, the 'how to get started writing' and 'trade journal article' can go well together. What are you good at? What do you know well? There are many trade journals in that area (the number of them is staggering - have you perused a 'Writer's Market?' Back in the 80s, I did, and published over 80 paid articles on 'business acumen' - amazing, fun, fair pay, and fantastic experience working with editors! ;-)

The Kindle Scout does seem like a good idea. Thanks for explaining that and everything else.

Great information this week, Bill. A quick word on cathartic writing: it's therapy for me. Sometimes my head gets so full of stuff it stops me from doing anything. I find once I write it down whether in a story or in a journal, it seldom troubles me anymore and I can move on. I agree it does take its toll but it better than lugging all those emotions and negativity around. Take care.

Bill, the rule I was taught in feature writing and magazine writing classes was to spell out any whole number under 10 and to use numerals for 10 and above. I’ve never taken a class in writing novels, so I don’t know what they use, but I’ve seen most professional writers use the magazine rule. Is it “Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall” or “99 bottles of beer on the wall”? My professor would say that it depends upon whether you are beginning the sentence with the phrase or putting it in the middle of the sentence. I do know the hard and fast rule is that you never begin a sentence with a numeral.

Hearing about that bus wreck brought back some bad memories. I’ve mentioned before that a bus wreck is the reason I’m in the condition my condition’s in. It is terrifying to do a somersault through a bus and break a seat with your back. I didn’t hear details of that wreck, but I can imagine what the survivors lived through. I’ll say a prayer for them. Have a great week, my friend.

Great info and encouragement for another week of doing what we love - writing! Thanks, Bill!

Perhaps it's me, Bro, but this one is past brilliant, and so much education enclosed. Yes, much pranams to those who pose questions also.

I believe you know my friend Doris Dancy. I actually introduced her to you. She does a lot of book signings. I won't push her as she is incredibly busy, but perhaps she can also give a quick input here.

I have done the hard work of visiting stores, not for book-signing though. Again, things may vary in London, UK, but they take from 33 - 50 % with one coming at the higher end of the scale for being new to the market.

About not promoting oneself, many Publishers out there are now quite slick at this and will help us, but at a price, let's say from 1400 - 1800 dollars.

That's it, Bro. Truly excellent questions and great and loving responses. So many have asked how you do it? Well, I suppose you know. Peace, Bro.

As always you inspire me.

I'm tickled pink that you still have life in your ' old bones ' your advice is much appreciated by many. Thank you..

Another great mailbag. Thank you. I always learn something new and get encouraged to keep learning the craft.

Hi Bill. More great questions and answers this week. Keep it going, a lot of people are looking to you for answers and advice and I can't think of anyone more qualified than you.

I just heard that the author of the book "The Martian," soon to be released as a movie, started out by publishing chapters on his website. Then he self published an ebook. It did really well and he got the book and movie deal at the same time. So as you say, writers should not hesitate to self publish. It can lead to bigger and better things. Great stuff as always!

I like Eric's description of the Writer - sounds a lot like me, except that I gave up smoking a pipe years ago. Another bunch of great answers, Bill - what a guy!

I've just scrapped my 2nd attempt at writing the first chapter of my book. I'm going to try again today and hope it's 3rd time lucky. Does that happen to you? Do you carry on beating what may be a dead horse or do you just walk away and say 'Screw it.' How do you know when it's time to give up and move on?

That "advice" for new writers really struck a chord. Many a times I try to find new things to do, JUST so I have something to write. This might seem odd, but the upside is writing has encourage me to explore, so I guess it is a good thing. Great hub, my friend!!

Every 'Mailbag' hub you write, Bill, contains nuggets of tested advice for writers, new and old. HP is more than lucky to have you aboard. But I think I've already told you that . . . more than once.

Hello Bill. Just taking a 10 minute break with your Q & A and of course the comments. You are fielding some tough questions.

I'm suppose to have a tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows? haha

Happy belated Monday, Bill : )

I am intrigued about the Trade Journals and learned something new.

Your advice to Eric is great and I think he should go for it! Those are exactly the kind of books that are being published because they sell.

Yes, there is nothing like the truth of the human experience.

What do you think is necessary to reach that oh-so-satisfying conclusion in a novel? Many times, I know for me it happens when a writer builds up the series of scenes that show how the hero is applying what he’s learned.

I hope the rest of your week is peaceful.

Blessings and hugs

Great info Bill as usual. I will have to read and re-read this over and over.

Blessings as always.

Billybuc, another bag of sound suggestions.. since you don't care too much for the word advice..:) The suggestions you give for new writers is dead on, and still can be true to old writers.. or I should say season writers.. keep the bags coming..hmmm, mailbags coming... :) Frank

Bill

In S Ca, the local news is really a body count, and I choose not to view it, well along with all the other TV "News?".

As for the numbers, 1, 2,3 etc versus One, Two, and Three, my opinion is that it should depend more on the significance of the number, as to what part is it playing in the story.

If we have learned anything from the 21st , or Twenty First, Century, it is that rules are being broken all the time. And writing is the epitome of that rule breaking. Yes, epitome, and not pinnacle.

I think that numerals stand out, as if they were bold, and they can highlight the number. It is classier to use words rather than numerals, but numerals are easier to spot.

I turned the corner of the street, and I saw the flash of six (6) shots down the street. The sounds that followed the flash were like the string of firecrackers that we set off when we were kids.

My point is that if there is a difference between five 5, or seven 7 shots that critical to the story, then I prefer to see, 6 and not six. The question is what is the significance of the number of shots to the story.

I liked the question, while many people might not like my answer.

I would say that, I spent decades writing and reading technical documents, while hardly any fiction. So, for me , the value of a statement is critical to the understanding of the writing.

Bill I hope you do not mind but; There will be a strange little man coming by your house tomorrow. I asked him to bottle up some essence of Bill so I can douse myself with it and "be like Bill". You just can't buy the great stuff you are giving away for free here. thank you. And reading through the comments is like synergism on writer's steroids - just great!

Now I got this buddy who has fired me up to compile my Sunday Sermons into a book. There are a million things to be done -- see my problem? My experience in life tells me that I need a plan. You have done this so I ask you. Should I make up a plan that looks like a Pro Football pre-game plan (game plan) or should I make up a plan that looks like an initial public offering (IPO or Business Plan)? And of course the sister question; should it be chronological or more fluid? If you tell me to do what works best for me, I will cry because how the hell should I know.

Bill, as for your amusing question, I think that predates Kenny Rogers. I remember a C&W song about "the condition my condition's in" when I was a kid, but I don't remember the artist. I tried to look it up, but Kenny Rogers is the only one given credit. I think it may have originated in an old Hank Williams' song.

I apologize for being so late to the party. I had to work Saturday AND Sunday. I'm so far behind in my reading I don't know if I'll ever catch up!

Really interesting mailbag this week. I was trying to remember the link Linda Formichelli recommends for trade pub listings. She swears by trade pubs for getting your name out there. She also says they're easier to get into and the editors aren't as persnickety as the glossies or newsstand mags. They pay well, too, from what she says.

Here's a link I found that provides listings of trade mags by industry: https://www.webwire.com/IndustryList.asp

This should be a good starting point for Marie.

Also, I recommend following Linda Formichelli's Renegade Writer blog. She's full of information and is quite awesome. I've emailed her a few times and she always responds. She and Carol Tice also put on some pretty informative webinars and offer classes on pitching, writing, setting up websites, querying and tons more for writers who are interested in writing for magazines rather than businesses. Of course, they cover that too, but both of them are six-figure writers who make their living from magazines and coaching.

I'm behind with my reading, too, but I always get to your mailbag hubs sooner or later. I enjoy reading your advice and ideas very much!

Hi Bill - I like the Eric Clapton quote. We are all always learning! That's wonderful and makes life so interesting. I also like your chair. I have the same one (actually 2) but on mine, the painted part is dark green.

I always love reading your post Billy. Great advice as always!

Bill

I thought this information might be of interest to you on self publishing.

The Martian is a 2011 science fiction novel and the first published novel[a] by American author Andy Weir.

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It was originally self-published in 2011 after which Crown Publishing purchased the rights and re-released it in 2014.

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Described as an Apollo 13 meets Cast Away,[1] the story follows an American astronaut, Mark Watney, as he becomes stranded alone on Mars and must improvise in order to survive.[2][3][4] The Martian, a film adaptation directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain, was released in October 2015.[5]

Always informative.

As always, great material. You know what's funny? I stopped at the local computer store, and several people asked me if I was the writer of the Sunday column. I sheepishly grinned and said that I was. One lady even asked the clerk to take a photo of us together. Book signings and speaking engagements do the same thing if you're around long enough. Leave no stone unturned for publicity!

Most of us experienced Hubbers probably have books we've already written but we don't know it. It's the realizing it that's the tough part.

Bill

There's a lot to digest here. I like the idea of Eric combining his sermons, they would make a very good inspirational book.

I kind of thought about that with some of the hubs but thought the 'intending' to write on one subject might be pushing things a bit.

Lawrence

Regardless of the number of questions you receive each week, Bill, your answers are always honest, straightforward and realistic. We all thank you for your knowledge and willingness to share it with the rest of us.

I totally agree with you drbj, Bill has the patience of that dude in the Bible, And therein lies the problem with this Ole Boy!! I can't get the jets fired up every single day!!!

You got the "Beautiful" right this t7ime of year Bill ! Funny how in the realm of nature, that leaves are about the Only thing that we classify as "Beautiful" as they are Dying??

As always, thanks for your Help!!!