By Christine Thackeray
The writing process is an interesting one. It begins with an idea. Sometimes it's an experience from my childhood or a great piece of gossip. Sometimes it's a strange character that makes me laugh or something I've read the I don't agree with and want to change. With any luck that idea then expands into a story arc.
Once the concept of the story is solidified, I begin writing. The dishes pile up, the laundry barely gets done and I write. Necessities are still taken care of, children are hugged and fed but everything else must wait while the story emerges.
When the last word is written, there is a huge feeling of success. That happened this morning for me. I finished my manuscript "An Angel In the Family." I did my happy dance and emailed out the draft to six of my closest friends and now, I've just begun.
The truth is, I have finished very little. I've only begun the editting process. Then I have to try to sell it to a publisher, and it goes through another edit, and then I try to breath life into the market by begging for reviews, blogging about it and telling everyone that will listen what a great book it is.
But for today, I will pretend I've actually finished something. After all I wrote the words "The End"- Wa-Hoo!
Showing posts with label on writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label on writing. Show all posts
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Word on Copyright
By Christine Thackeray
Recently, I co-authored a book entitled "C.S. Lewis: Latter Day Truths in Narnia." It was a lot of work to create the project, but the most challenging part was getting copyright for the many Lewis quotes and church quotes it contained. I really got an education and would like to share some of what I learned.
First, the concept of "Fair Use" is a legal myth. Fair Use is not determined by word count but by the publisher. If you go to Eerdmans Website and click on contact us and then under Rights and Policies, they have their fair use guidelines posted, which are very generous. You can use up to 300 consecutive words with a total of up to 5000 without permission.
On the other hand, if you go to Harcourt, they clearly state that "Harcourt, Inc. requires written permission for all reproduction and/or adaptation of our published works." They not only don't have fair use guidelines, but I found they charge considerably more for even the smallest quote. The key is you need to check with the publisher to see what their guidelines are or paraphrase and footnote so copyright is not an issue.
As to the LDS church, they have very clear rules set forth on their website but the bottomline is you have to ask permission for anything more recent than 95 years before 1976 which is 1881. Which makes the scriptures public domain, as far as I understand.
The government has a very good publication on the subject here, if you want to brush up on the details.
Now the reality is that unless your book makes a ton of money or is extremely controversial, you may not be sued for your violation, but it is probably best to play it safe. The most important reason for this is that most publishers have clauses in their contracts that hold the author soley responsible for copyright violation.
So use the quotes you love freely, just remember to ask permission. Once you begin asking you will see that many publishers will allow you to quote for free and are happy that you cited them.
Recently, I co-authored a book entitled "C.S. Lewis: Latter Day Truths in Narnia." It was a lot of work to create the project, but the most challenging part was getting copyright for the many Lewis quotes and church quotes it contained. I really got an education and would like to share some of what I learned.
First, the concept of "Fair Use" is a legal myth. Fair Use is not determined by word count but by the publisher. If you go to Eerdmans Website and click on contact us and then under Rights and Policies, they have their fair use guidelines posted, which are very generous. You can use up to 300 consecutive words with a total of up to 5000 without permission.
On the other hand, if you go to Harcourt, they clearly state that "Harcourt, Inc. requires written permission for all reproduction and/or adaptation of our published works." They not only don't have fair use guidelines, but I found they charge considerably more for even the smallest quote. The key is you need to check with the publisher to see what their guidelines are or paraphrase and footnote so copyright is not an issue.
As to the LDS church, they have very clear rules set forth on their website but the bottomline is you have to ask permission for anything more recent than 95 years before 1976 which is 1881. Which makes the scriptures public domain, as far as I understand.
The government has a very good publication on the subject here, if you want to brush up on the details.
Now the reality is that unless your book makes a ton of money or is extremely controversial, you may not be sued for your violation, but it is probably best to play it safe. The most important reason for this is that most publishers have clauses in their contracts that hold the author soley responsible for copyright violation.
So use the quotes you love freely, just remember to ask permission. Once you begin asking you will see that many publishers will allow you to quote for free and are happy that you cited them.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Self-management and Writers
For those who attended Cedar Fort’s writing conference, you know that the main speaker, Eliose Owens, talked about the importance of self-management when it comes to be a successful writer.
If you want to read about a writer who exemplifies the kind of self-management Owens was talking about, then read the essay “The Running Novelist” in the June 9 & 16 issue of The New Yorker. This essay is a must read for anyone who wants to know what kind of self management it takes to be a successful writer. Sadly this essay is not available online. So run out and find the aforementioned issue of The New Yorker at your local library or bookstore and read it.
You can also read brief excerpts and my commentary on the self-management facet of his essay here.
If you want to read about a writer who exemplifies the kind of self-management Owens was talking about, then read the essay “The Running Novelist” in the June 9 & 16 issue of The New Yorker. This essay is a must read for anyone who wants to know what kind of self management it takes to be a successful writer. Sadly this essay is not available online. So run out and find the aforementioned issue of The New Yorker at your local library or bookstore and read it.
You can also read brief excerpts and my commentary on the self-management facet of his essay here.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
On characters
(Hey, Doug and CFI: You put on a great writing conference today!)
Had an interesting experience with a book that shall remain nameless, because of being a bit raunchy. I thought it was historical fiction, as in fictional characters in a realistic setting (American history). This was partly my fault, for never having heard of the main characters (I got minor characters Abraham Lincoln and William McClellan okay, though). It was partly the author’s fault for having NO historical notes.
Anyway, I ended up reading a historical novel about real people, all the while believing they were fictional. It made for a weird read. Kept wondering why everyone’s names were spelled weird, and why so many names started with J. On a larger level, the storytelling seemed “flawed,” since it seemed to proceed episodically, with no real structure. The author didn’t seem to have a clear read on the main character’s motivations, and the story ended with him fading off and just dying.
Kind of a lot like most people’s real lives.
I talked to myself about the book for a week or more. Since it was a historical novel, did it fail for not reading like a novel? I decided it was more respectful to tell a real life like a real life, without trying to pigeonhole a complex and interesting character with just a few adjectives, like “proud and ruthless” (though the author should have included those notes!)
It also made me wonder if I should be expecting more from fiction—what I read and what I write. Although I’m not likely to start enjoying or writing stories that fade off and just die, everyone—fictional and real—requires and deserves more than just a few adjectives!
Had an interesting experience with a book that shall remain nameless, because of being a bit raunchy. I thought it was historical fiction, as in fictional characters in a realistic setting (American history). This was partly my fault, for never having heard of the main characters (I got minor characters Abraham Lincoln and William McClellan okay, though). It was partly the author’s fault for having NO historical notes.
Anyway, I ended up reading a historical novel about real people, all the while believing they were fictional. It made for a weird read. Kept wondering why everyone’s names were spelled weird, and why so many names started with J. On a larger level, the storytelling seemed “flawed,” since it seemed to proceed episodically, with no real structure. The author didn’t seem to have a clear read on the main character’s motivations, and the story ended with him fading off and just dying.
Kind of a lot like most people’s real lives.
I talked to myself about the book for a week or more. Since it was a historical novel, did it fail for not reading like a novel? I decided it was more respectful to tell a real life like a real life, without trying to pigeonhole a complex and interesting character with just a few adjectives, like “proud and ruthless” (though the author should have included those notes!)
It also made me wonder if I should be expecting more from fiction—what I read and what I write. Although I’m not likely to start enjoying or writing stories that fade off and just die, everyone—fictional and real—requires and deserves more than just a few adjectives!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A Blessing
by Lee Ann Setzer
This isn’t a book review, because I can’t remember the name of the book. Or what it was about. Chances are the genre was fantasy or science fiction…but maybe not. It wasn’t life-changing or profound. But it was a wonderful read—engaging, uplifting, and fun.
I went around all evening with that just-read-a-good-book feeling, and when I said my prayers, here’s what popped out: “Thank You so much for the wonderful feeling of having read a really good book!”
A skeptical corner of my mind hadn’t ever bought into fiction-writing as a legitimate job/hobby, but this experience helped put the skeptic to rest. The just-read-a-good-book feeling is a real blessing, and it’s a gift authors are blessed to share.
This isn’t a book review, because I can’t remember the name of the book. Or what it was about. Chances are the genre was fantasy or science fiction…but maybe not. It wasn’t life-changing or profound. But it was a wonderful read—engaging, uplifting, and fun.
I went around all evening with that just-read-a-good-book feeling, and when I said my prayers, here’s what popped out: “Thank You so much for the wonderful feeling of having read a really good book!”
A skeptical corner of my mind hadn’t ever bought into fiction-writing as a legitimate job/hobby, but this experience helped put the skeptic to rest. The just-read-a-good-book feeling is a real blessing, and it’s a gift authors are blessed to share.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Kill Your Darlings
Kill Your Darlings
By Kimberly Jensen
"Kill Your Darlings" is a piece of writing advice given by horror writer Stephen King in his book "On Writing-a memoir of the craft." I devoured this book and found it as entertaining as I did useful. I have read many books "on writing" that give sound advice on sentence structure, adjectives, character development and such, but none have the "in your face truth" that Stephen King gives on the craft. He says he has never once written a word with the intention of making money. That's easy for a guy to say who recieved over $600,000 for his first novel. But he does give good and entertaining advice, morbid as it may sound. By "Killing Your Darlings" he means you may love your work, be passionate about your story, but it really is a sticker, if you look close enough at it and from an objective point of view. You can still love your "darling" (story) but it's time to kill it and move on. Do you have any darlings?
By Kimberly Jensen
"Kill Your Darlings" is a piece of writing advice given by horror writer Stephen King in his book "On Writing-a memoir of the craft." I devoured this book and found it as entertaining as I did useful. I have read many books "on writing" that give sound advice on sentence structure, adjectives, character development and such, but none have the "in your face truth" that Stephen King gives on the craft. He says he has never once written a word with the intention of making money. That's easy for a guy to say who recieved over $600,000 for his first novel. But he does give good and entertaining advice, morbid as it may sound. By "Killing Your Darlings" he means you may love your work, be passionate about your story, but it really is a sticker, if you look close enough at it and from an objective point of view. You can still love your "darling" (story) but it's time to kill it and move on. Do you have any darlings?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Wallpaper Way of Writing
by Lee Ann Setzer
This is not exactly a writing tip. If it's a character quirk, it's a new one.
I seem to be wallpapering with my latest story. A friend and I are writing together, and we're generating copious amounts of random notes: sketches, lists of synonyms, timelines, webs, writing in all directions on the paper. A new paper always starts out as a tidy little task: "Timeline," or "Outline." Then it turns into yet another square in the crazy quilt on the wall. One piece of paper says "Map." It's blank. Whenever we need the map, we get it down off the wall and draw on it with our fingers.
Each brainstorming session generates a couple more pieces of paper, and at the end, I feel happy when I tape them all to the wall. I'm on the second wall now, and we're not half done yet.
Possibly, this only means that my lead eye for decorating has hit a new low: Early American Crazy Lady. I hope it's a sign that the inner Creative Chick is feeling more free to experiment without worrying what the neighbors think. In my dreams, the Wallpaper Way of Writing is the key to unlocking vast reservoirs of potential, the secret the world's been waiting for.
I'll keep you posted.
This is not exactly a writing tip. If it's a character quirk, it's a new one.
I seem to be wallpapering with my latest story. A friend and I are writing together, and we're generating copious amounts of random notes: sketches, lists of synonyms, timelines, webs, writing in all directions on the paper. A new paper always starts out as a tidy little task: "Timeline," or "Outline." Then it turns into yet another square in the crazy quilt on the wall. One piece of paper says "Map." It's blank. Whenever we need the map, we get it down off the wall and draw on it with our fingers.
Each brainstorming session generates a couple more pieces of paper, and at the end, I feel happy when I tape them all to the wall. I'm on the second wall now, and we're not half done yet.
Possibly, this only means that my lead eye for decorating has hit a new low: Early American Crazy Lady. I hope it's a sign that the inner Creative Chick is feeling more free to experiment without worrying what the neighbors think. In my dreams, the Wallpaper Way of Writing is the key to unlocking vast reservoirs of potential, the secret the world's been waiting for.
I'll keep you posted.
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