"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
and the mome raths outgrabe."
Genius or insanity? I would go for the former myself. It is a stroke of genius to use made up words to convey a scene so vividly. Did Lewis Carroll's editor say, "You can't use those words--they're not in Websters!"?
I use this as an example for the point I wish to discuss. How much criticism is enough and at what point is it too much? Our writing comes from within us--it is hopefully not like anyone else's and that's why the idea of telling an agent, "I write in the style of ", I find so loathsome. And many agents suggest that a writer do just that when submitting a query. I guess it makes it easier for the agent, but otherwise, what is the point? Styles come and go, for instance the 'no tags' and 'active voice'. I understand and agree with the 'show don't tell' idea. But I have also become lost in lengthy dialogue without a tag once and a while. In her book, "Alias Grace", Atwood tags every line and yet somehow the entire dialogue becomes a seamless sort of stream of consciousness. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it.
Possibly because of our sped up society with tweeting, three second sound bites, Facebook and e-mail etc...the attention span of the average reader has diminished somewhat and a lot of lengthy description can stop a reader as well as be boring. When I look at some of the books I've read, Dickens, for instance, I don't know if I would have the patience anymore. Maybe. I picked up "Huckleberry Finn" the other evening to read to my grandchildren and even I couldn't stand it. And when I read to them from, "Through the Looking Glass" they were asleep in ten minutes! I guess the lengthy sentences, archaic use of language had a lulling effect. Good to know for future reference.
Yes, listen to the criticism, yes, edit, edit, edit, and then edit some more but make sure at the end of it the book still belongs to YOU. These days you don't have to force yourself into a box. There are many options open to good writing other than the traditional.
About Me
- nikki broadwell
- working writer wending her way through the labyrinth that is self-publishing
Showing posts with label editor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label editor. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Interview with Louis Farshee, self-published author
1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Are you a full-time writer? Fiction? Non-fiction? Other?
~~I am not a full time writer. For most of my adult working life, I have been a manufacturer's representative of electronic components working with engineers at firms such as Intel, Credence Systems, Tektronix, etc. I have written two journal articles, a number of op-ed pieces published in newspapers and a greater number posted on the internet. All my writings have pertained to historical or political issues. I do not write fiction for the simple fact I do not believe I am sufficiently imaginative. I am a graduate of the University of Memphis with a B.B.A and the University of North Texas where I earned an M.A. in political science. My book is a labor of love that I pursued intermittently for almost three decades. the story of my travels, interviews and research processes might be a more interesting story than the one told in the book.
2. What prompted you to seek an alternative method to publishing your book?
~~A university in Lebanon (the country) wanted to publish the book but after I read their contract I decided against it. Before that event, the first editor (general editor) I engaged told me the story would not have wide appeal and my best course would be to self-publish. The combination of these two events convinced me self-publishing was the best route to take.
3. How difficult/easy has this process been for you?
~~The process was easy and the publisher assigned me to excellent staff people. Each part of the book (cover design, layout, correction, et) was assigned to specialists who were most helpful. I had the text copy edited by a group of retired Ph.Ds in the Tampa, Florida area so that was not part of the book publishing program. My three biggest irritants were, one, a photograph which I was told by Kinkos met the pixel requirements of the publisher but looked terrible in the book. The publisher said the photograph did NOT meet the pixel requirements. All other illustrations and photographs in the book were satisfactory. Second, after each submittal to me by the publisher, my responses back went to the end of the line and I had to work myself forward again. Finally, the index, which was a major problem, took about six (6) weeks to correct to my satisfaction. Nonetheless, other than these three issues the experience was acceptable. From beginning to end, the process required six (6) months.
4. Do you feel satisfied with the results?
~~On a scale of 1 to 10 I would place my level of satisfaction at about 8.5-9. The publisher has my book listed on Amazon.come, Abe Books and several other websites. I do not need to contend with distribution, I only need folks to know that it is available for purchase. I receive a royalty check each calendar quarter.
5. How do you view the publishing industry as a whole?
~~I believe its like everything else. If one is well placed and well represented that can get the most venal trash published. Outsiders, like all outsiders, are fighting an uphill battle.
6. What advice would you give others who are trying to bring their books into the marketplace?
~~This depends on what they have written. In my case, I knew there were sufficient numbers of interested parties who would purchase my boo and permit me to recover my publishing costs. My work is a history of immigrants coming from Lebanon (which was part of Syria at the time). It is different from any other book on immigrants from anyplace that I have been able to locate. A review of it by a Beirut newspaper said it was the way all immigrant books should be written. On the other hand if one is writing fiction or children's books I believe the conventional route might be more practical providing the author wishes to become a professional writer.
Louis Farshee's book, The Way of the Immigrants, can be found on www.amazon.com, www.abebooks.com, and others.
~~I am not a full time writer. For most of my adult working life, I have been a manufacturer's representative of electronic components working with engineers at firms such as Intel, Credence Systems, Tektronix, etc. I have written two journal articles, a number of op-ed pieces published in newspapers and a greater number posted on the internet. All my writings have pertained to historical or political issues. I do not write fiction for the simple fact I do not believe I am sufficiently imaginative. I am a graduate of the University of Memphis with a B.B.A and the University of North Texas where I earned an M.A. in political science. My book is a labor of love that I pursued intermittently for almost three decades. the story of my travels, interviews and research processes might be a more interesting story than the one told in the book.
2. What prompted you to seek an alternative method to publishing your book?
~~A university in Lebanon (the country) wanted to publish the book but after I read their contract I decided against it. Before that event, the first editor (general editor) I engaged told me the story would not have wide appeal and my best course would be to self-publish. The combination of these two events convinced me self-publishing was the best route to take.
3. How difficult/easy has this process been for you?
~~The process was easy and the publisher assigned me to excellent staff people. Each part of the book (cover design, layout, correction, et) was assigned to specialists who were most helpful. I had the text copy edited by a group of retired Ph.Ds in the Tampa, Florida area so that was not part of the book publishing program. My three biggest irritants were, one, a photograph which I was told by Kinkos met the pixel requirements of the publisher but looked terrible in the book. The publisher said the photograph did NOT meet the pixel requirements. All other illustrations and photographs in the book were satisfactory. Second, after each submittal to me by the publisher, my responses back went to the end of the line and I had to work myself forward again. Finally, the index, which was a major problem, took about six (6) weeks to correct to my satisfaction. Nonetheless, other than these three issues the experience was acceptable. From beginning to end, the process required six (6) months.
4. Do you feel satisfied with the results?
~~On a scale of 1 to 10 I would place my level of satisfaction at about 8.5-9. The publisher has my book listed on Amazon.come, Abe Books and several other websites. I do not need to contend with distribution, I only need folks to know that it is available for purchase. I receive a royalty check each calendar quarter.
5. How do you view the publishing industry as a whole?
~~I believe its like everything else. If one is well placed and well represented that can get the most venal trash published. Outsiders, like all outsiders, are fighting an uphill battle.
6. What advice would you give others who are trying to bring their books into the marketplace?
~~This depends on what they have written. In my case, I knew there were sufficient numbers of interested parties who would purchase my boo and permit me to recover my publishing costs. My work is a history of immigrants coming from Lebanon (which was part of Syria at the time). It is different from any other book on immigrants from anyplace that I have been able to locate. A review of it by a Beirut newspaper said it was the way all immigrant books should be written. On the other hand if one is writing fiction or children's books I believe the conventional route might be more practical providing the author wishes to become a professional writer.
Louis Farshee's book, The Way of the Immigrants, can be found on www.amazon.com, www.abebooks.com, and others.
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