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Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1991
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 10:25 am: | 
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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9620861
Walter Mosley, author of 25 books, gives tips, tricks and practical advice for stalled writers in his new book, This Year You Write Your Novel.
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Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1992
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 10:26 am: |
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(Radio story and excerpts from the book available from the url above.) |
Troy
Veteran Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 607
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 01:15 pm: |
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I actually started this book a few eeeks ago. An average reader can finish it in one sitting.
The primary purpose, or so it seems, would be to motivate someone, completely unfamiliar with the process of writing a novel, to give it a shot.
Though given some of the books I've come across, I would reccomend it to some published authors.
A side note:
You know what was interesting; I found a error in the book (the wrong word was used). I believe I had a finished book, not a galley.
I wonder how many errors in a book are acceptable before before one can say it was "poorly editted"?
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Sisg
Regular Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 277
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 03:56 pm: |
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Hello Troy,
It really wasn't until i began writing that i noticed errors in books. I can remember reading volumes and volumes but never quite scoured a book the way i do now. I read for enjoyment first, and craft, especially if it's a by a talented writer, like Mr. Mosely. Oftentimes the author's themselves, especially at Mr. Mosely's level have little or nothing to do with the editing process. So it goes to show, even when you are large and in charge, you can too fall victim to a poorly edited book, although i wouldn't consider 1-5 errors, poorly edited but, fair. I had 53 errors in my book, at 90,355 words, my error rate was .05% of my word count....deduction, poorly edited book. |
Emanuel
Regular Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 295
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 04:55 pm: |
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Walter Mosley's interview reminds me of what so many well-known authors suggest:
*Write daily, 1500-2000 words.
*Bang out that first draft first, and then go back and edit.
*Outline if you think it's necessary.
A lot of this advice and more can be found in one of my favorite magazines "The Writer." http://www.writermag.com/wrt/
While I don't have the discipline to write daily, I do adhere to the other advice. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 423
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 06:15 pm: |
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There is no such thing as an error-free book.
Let me repeat that, there is no such thing as an error-free book. Not from Random House, not from a self-published author. Of course it's possible to produce a flawless perfect book, but don't count on it because it's not probable.
The goal of editing is not to produce a perfect book, but to publish a book as free of error as humanly possible. However, even with the stringent and thorough checks and balances in the editing, copyediting, and proofing processes found at major houses and better small and midsize presses, there is no such thing as an error-free book.
A tenth of a tenth percent of errors is considered acceptable in publication. So, as Sisg did above, take the total word count, total errors and divide errors into word count. Any percentage greater than .001 is careless, sloppy, shoddy editing.
Also note: Many publishers pay their readers for calling errors to their attention with a complimentary copy of a book. You can pull the publisher's addy off the book's copyright page. Write a brief note indicating title of book, author, ISBN, page #, and paragraph of error. If there's a subsequent printing of the book, the error will be corrected, and, as stated, the publisher may send the author a complimentary copy of one of their titles as thanks. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8434
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 07:19 pm: |
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I heard an anecdote about best-selling horror writer Dean Koontz, wherein he challenged his editors and proof-readers to ever find an error in any of his manuscripts. They supposedly never did. Maybe ol Dean got some help from supernatural forces. |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 799
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 07:12 pm: |
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LOL. Mosley is coming to Columbus this weekend and I plan to get a ggood seat
LiLi |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4258
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 12:36 pm: |
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There is no such thing as an error-free book.
Let me repeat that, there is no such thing as an error-free book. Not from Random House, not from a self-published author. Of course it's possible to produce a flawless perfect book, but don't count on it because it's not probable.
(This is not only true, in fact book collectors look for books with certain erratum! |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4259
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 12:36 pm: |
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I heard Moseley talking about this on the radio.
Go see him. He's a good lecturer. |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 805
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 01:02 pm: |
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Will do
LiLi |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 807
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 11:13 am: |
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This was excellent. Were you there A Woman
LiLi |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4283
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 11:20 am: |
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Tell us about it |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 809
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 01:48 pm: |
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What I got out of his lecture: in order to write your first novel, as that was his main point, you have to write. Write every day no matter what for 90 mins.
LiLi |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1545
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 04:59 pm: |
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no, unfortunately I was told that you could register the day of and pay the $60 dollar fee, couldn't call the offices the day of to verify this, as the offices were closed on Friday, so I didn't go. Tell me please Lili, how do you find out about all of these events in our area in advance? (I missed Pearl Cleage also) Is there some type of mailing list or something? Also my internet keeps going down so I might not be able to check your answer right away... |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 811
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 09:07 pm: |
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Well..I know somebody..who knows somebody..who..you get the picture. My local book club brought Ms Cleage here..
LiLi |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1546
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 11:45 am: |
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Would you mind if I attend a meeting with your book club? Also, I would really be indebted to you if you would advise me of when someone like Pearl Cleage or Walter Mosley will be in the area.
Still having connection issues with my internet, it pops up when it feels like it... |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 816
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 08:54 pm: |
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Sure to both. To see when we meet next, go to
womanistreaders.org
LiLi |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 02:41 pm: |
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Thanks LiLi! |
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