Home
>
Writing
>
Frequently Asked Questions from Writers

Frequently Asked Questions from Writers

1. What Is A Premise?

A premise is the point you have to prove in your novel. It is not a universal truth; it is true only for the particular situation of this novel. For example: "a love of power leads to disgrace"

"a crime of passion destroys two lives"

"greed leads to loss of a great love" In his "How to Write a Damn Good Novel", James Frey says: "There is no formula for constructing premises, but according to Egri, every good premise should contain an element of CHARACTER which through CONFLICT leads to a CONCLUSION. A coward goes to war and becomes a hero. A brave man goes into battle and becomes a coward. A dramatic story is the transformation of character through crisis; the premise is a succinct statement of that transformation."

2. How Do You Get The Copyright Symbol On Your Computer?

This depends on which word processor you use. In Microsoft Word, you can type a 'c' in brackets like this: (c) and it instantly transform into a copyright symbol.

Another way of doing it is to go to the 'insert' menu at the top of your screen, click on 'symbol', and choose the copyright symbol from the selections that pop up. Click on 'insert' and you're done.

3. How Do I Fasten My Manuscript When I Send It To A Publisher?

This depends on the thickness of the manuscript.

If you have a very short book or a short story, use a paper clip. Make sure your pages are numbered, and that your surname or story title is on each page. (Do this using the 'header' function on your computer. If you're not sure how to do that, click on 'help' and type in 'header'. Follow the instructions.)
If you have a thicker manuscript, use a hardier clip (like a clip with fold-down snaps) OR put a sheet of cardboard at the front and back of your manuscript and secure it with large rubber bands.

DO NOT bind the manuscript in any way. No ring binders, no plastic folders (an editor will surely want to behead you if you send each page enclosed in its own plastic sleeve a display folder) and no holes punched and threaded with ribbon.

4. How Much Will I Earn From My Book?

How long is a piece of string?

Your income will depend upon things like:

your track record as a writer (do you think J. K. Rowling earns more than Ms. New Writer from Nowhere?)
How many people buy your book (usually this is an unknown quantity)
How well your book is promoted (YOU can have an influence on this by your own actions and ingenuity)
What competition you have when your book is released
Your level of talent
The following you have from previous books... if any
The size of the publishing company

...and, for all I know, what the editor had for breakfast that morning. It's a bit of a lottery. Just concentrate on doing the best writing you can, and focus on continually improving your craft. Cream rises to the top.

NOTE: Some editors do tell you in advance what they'll be offering for a certain type of book (this often happens with educational publishers). They'll sometimes offer a FLAT FEE for your work: which means you won't get any further income. Sometimes publishers will tell you what the upfront payment is (that is, the payment against royalties) and the percentage of royalties you can expect.

5. Can I Send My Work To More Than One Publisher At A Time?

The publishing world is changing (and not before time, most authors would say). In the past, the 'rule' was that you should send your precious novel to only one publisher at a time. Too bad if each one took 4-6 months to get back to you, so two years down the track you were only up to Publisher No. 6.

These days, many publishers acknowledge that it is not fair to expect authors to wait for such a long time for a 'yes' or 'no'. (Some still insist on being the solo submission - so leave them until last.) Send your work out to those who are OK with simultaneous submissions, and if you get rejected by all of those first, THEN send it to the one who insists on being the 'only'.

If you send your work to more than one publisher at the same time, let them know that you are doing this, and assure them that you'll let them know if you receive an offer from someone else.

The easiest route is to secure an agent, and let the agent worry about sending it out to all and sundry.

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Inversion Space unveils Arc, a reusable reentry vehicle that can deliver up to 500 pounds of cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour.

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.

UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.

Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.

Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.

A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.

Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.

Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.

Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.

Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.

Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Frequently Asked Questions from Writers

Writing