The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Writing Skills

The Ins and Outs of Book Layout

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Book layout options in MS Word

Have you finished writing your book but are now wondering how to do the book layout?

With self- and indie-publishing many more people are entering the world of book publishing. And many writers may find writing their book the easiest part of getting their book to the virtual bookshelf.

Today, I’d like to take a look at book layout. It’s not complicated, but can seem that way if you don’t know the process involved. Three parts compose the physical design of your book: the book cover, the book interior, the digital conversion.

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How to get your book from your head to the virtual bookshelf

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architect with tools of the trade

(Updated from a previous post)

Are you writing your first book?

Do you plan to indie-publish or seek an agent and traditional publisher?

Have you started building your author platform? Maybe you’re not sure what an author platform is.

I’ve heard many first-time writers say they want to finish their book first before they think about anything else. But if you do that, you are already behind in getting your book launched.

And often once the book is done, they don’t know what comes next.

If you’re planning on publishing a book, keep reading to discover what it takes to get that book from your head to the virtual bookshelf.

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To Capitalize or not to capitalize

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To Capitalize or not to capitalize

When should I capitalize the word mom? What about sir or ma’am?

Today, I want to address some of the most common capitalization errors I see in the manuscripts I edit. When you know the basic rule, capitalization becomes much easier.

When to Capitalize Mom and Dad

We all know that proper names are capitalized. No one ever wonders whether to capitalize their name. But what about mom and dad? When do I capitalize them and when don’t I?

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How Do Plot and Scene Work Together, Part 3: Moving from Scene to Sequel

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Moving from scene to sequel is easier than trying to jump a ditch.

Updated October 12, 2020

Last time we looked at scenes and how to build them.

Most writers don’t have trouble writing scenes, and moving from scene to scene can be accomplished with as simple a statement as “Later that day…” However, there are times when you want to provide your reader with more. The sequel is your answer.

Moving from scene to sequel is much easier than jumping that ditch above. But first let’s define what a sequel is because I’m not talking about book 2 of a series.

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How Do Plot and Scene Work Together, Part 2

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Updated September 14, 2020.

Working with scenes, defeat in the boxing ring

In my last post we looked at plot. Today we’ll look at working with scenes.

What goes into a scene? All the same things that go into plot.

Think of a scene like a mini plot. The character(s) has a goal, which represents a small step in achieving the story goal. In each scene the character meets with conflict and setbacks.

The key to remember about scenes is that they occur now. It’s moment-by-moment action playing out on the page.

Example:


“Here’s today’s mail, Miss Clark.”
Startled by the voice, I jerked in my chair. “Joey, one of these days I’m going to end up with coffee in my lap.” I turned from the computer and reached for the letters. “Do you sneak in here on purpose?”
“No, ma’am, I’d never intentionally try to scare you.”

This example shows the action playing out moment by moment.

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How do Plot and Scene Work Together? Part 1

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Updated August 2020

Many fiction writers struggle with what plot is and how to develop it, including me. We envision the end product and wonder how we’re going to get there.

Some writers develop their plot through first writing outlines (called plotters); some write by the seat of their pants (called pantsers). But much like a chef, our work has basic elements. The chef has meat, veggies, fruit, dairy, and spices. He combines these to create a delectable, unforgettable dish.

The writer has characters, goals, conflict, and setbacks, and blends them to create a riveting (best-selling, we hope) novel.

At its very basic, plot is characters attempting to reach goals, but who meet with conflict and setbacks along the way. Whether you are a writer who works with or without an outline, if these elements are missing from your manuscript, you do not have a story. So let’s look at how these elements fit together to build a plot.

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How to Understand Print Book Specifications

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In my last post, I discussed bulk sales and how using printers outside of the KDP print-on-demand process can save you dollars (sometimes big dollars) with bulk sales.

Essential to the bulk sales scenario is knowing about book specifications and understanding how a book is printed. While working at Focus on the Family I went to Michigan for print training. I learned the book specifications lingo during this training, but they made a lot more sense when I started publishing my own books.

Geek that I am, I love touring a printing facility. I witnessed magazine pages being printed, assembled, and ad cards being blown-in (literally), all at an amazing speed of thousands per minute!

If you have a local printing facility, call and find out if they will give you a tour.

Whether you ever decide to bulk print or not, knowing these terms and basics about book production will help you make decisions about your print-on-demand book.

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PENCON Editors Conference

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As writers, we know it is important to attend conferences. It’s where we make connection with other writers, literary agents, and acquisitions editors.

Several years back (2016, I think), I decided to attend an editors conference. I wanted and needed to connect with other editors. I don’t remember how I even heard about PENCON Editors Conference, but they were meeting in Colorado Springs that year. An ideal place for me because my son and granddaughter live there. I used to, so it would be like going home.

I met a lot of people there, and two have become key people in my work as a writer and editor.

If you are thinking about becoming a freelance editor to supplement your work as a writer, or you already are an editor, consider attending this conference. It’s virtual this year! So you’ll save on travel expenses.

“PENCON is the only annual conference for Christian editors. This year’s interactive virtual conference will be held July 8–10. Our seasoned faculty will help you brush up on your editing skills and learn new skills. Our broad range of workshops will cover coaching clients, contract essentials, developing an editorial voice, growing your business, and more. In other sessions, you’ll get specific tips on editing Christian nonfiction, fiction, and children’s books. Check out all the workshops at penconeditors.com. Conference fee of $169. Use code NONMEM when you register. For more information, please contact admin@penconedtiors.com.”