Posts Tagged: Book

My Agent Loved My Proposal. Why Is He Making Me Redo It?

Posted by Christi McGuire

Congrats! You’ve jumped through the major hurdles of querying agents, submitting your book proposal, and fielding offers. You are now represented by Mr. Awesome Agent. If your book idea, your platform, and your proposal were so rockin’, why is your agent asking you to redo it?

book proposals

Don’t worry. This is often a standard practice. Your book proposal did catch the eye of an agent. But most every agency has their own format, their own proposal template. This way, when Mr. Agent shops your proposal to the publishers, the publishers realize, “Oh! I can tell this is from Mr. Awesome Agent! We always likes the book and the authors he brings us. Let’s definitely take a look at this!”

Every agent’s (or agency’s) book template is like their trademark. It is easily recognizable to the publishers they regularly sends clients’ proposals to. They’ve built their reputation around their work and their ability to bring stellar authors to the publishers.

Every proposal has the same info: overview, author’s bio, comparative analysis, marketing plans, future books, chapter outline, and sample chapters. But each agent/agency may have their own style or format for the headings. One major literary agency likes to insert the “Biblical Foundation,” meaning the one Scripture that is the basis of the book. Another major agent deems this as unnecessary. “You’re a Christian author writing a Christian book. I can assume you’ve based your book on Scripture, or I wouldn’t be considering you,” he says.

So although all proposal are very similar in content and format, each agent or agency may have their own style. Although it may be a little more work for you, the writer, it’s worth it. You are now attached to Mr. Awesome Agent and his worthy reputation. In the end, it’ll likely get you noticed and bring you a contract!

If you are a writer needing help with your book proposal, check out my Services page or Contact me. If you are an editor wanting to learn how to format and edit authors’ proposals, I have an online class for you! Check it out here.

Does Your Novel Have the Same Elements as Looney Tunes?

Posted by Christi McGuire

looney tunes

My family is kind of odd.

Different, perhaps, than what mainstream society is like.

Maybe your family is like mine . . .

We actually like each other. And we like to be together!

That’s why last Friday night, we were cuddled on the couch—me, my husband, and my two kids—watching old reruns of Looney Tunes!

That’s right folks!

Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Road Runner, and Wile E. Coyote.

You know ‘em, you love ‘em.

My daughters laughed until their bellies hurt. My husband and I shared “remember when” stories of watching these cartoons as kids.

We know Wile E. never gets the Road Runner.

We know Bugs always outsmarts Elmer.

And we know that sweet singing bird is forever out of reach of that mean puddy tat.

So why do we watch them over and over and share them with our kids decades later?

Because they bring back fond memories, good feelings. They make us laugh together as a family. They help us connect, reminisce, and make new special memories.

It’s all the same elements of a good novel.

It’s all the same reasons we stay up way too late until the Kindle battery dies, because we just want to read one more chapter.

There are lots (and LOTS) of novels available in all the genres. What makes you choose one off the shelf? Why do you “add to your cart” on Amazon? How good does it have to be to pass onto your friends?

Most likely, your answers include the same reasons my family likes to watch the old-school Looney Tunes. It makes us feel good. It helps us escape from current troubles. It gives us that euphoric feeling of childhood.

If you’re a novel writer, you’ve got to evoke these feelings in your readers.

If you’re a novel reader, you want to feel these things when you read.

So share with me, what other reasons keep you turning page after page in a book? What current novels are you reading now?

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©2011- 2014 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

 

Helping People Shine

Posted by Christi McGuire
Be Shiny
I love commas.

And conjunctions.

And semicolons.

I am a grammar nerd.

As an editor, I “fix” other people’s work. I add, delete, insert, cut, strike out, and transition paragraphs, sentences, and words. I format, proofread, rewrite, reorganize, and edit, edit, edit. I know the correct usage of punctuation, what subjunctive mood is, how to detect passive voice, and when to use a comma, semicolon, or colon.

But as much as I love grammar, formatting, and writing … I love people more.

Writers, specifically.

I love encouraging writers on their publishing journey. Helping them putting together the best, most well-written manuscript and proposal.

I love helping them SHINE.

To be honest, it’s not always easy or comfortable or time efficient. Most of the time, writers have to bare their soul—to me and on the typed page. They have to become vulnerable to get at the real story. Transparent. Authentic. They have to fight me for every beloved word that I, as an editor, want to strike from their manuscript. They have to be pushed by me to write more, be more, shine more.

The writer-editor relationship is difficult. It’s a love-hate partnership. But it’s also wonderful, because in the end, after the tears and crumbled typed pages, the writers SHINE.

My good friend and talented writer Adelle Gabrielson is writing about being SHINY this month on her blog. What does SHINE even mean?

To illuminate. To lighten, or brighten. To add light, shine, glow.

Adelle says, “Being shiny isn’t about being happy and perfect all the time. It’s about telling the truth, and when we tell the truth, we light the path for someone else.”

I help light the path—through grammar and formatting query letters, manuscripts, and book proposals—for writers to SHINE.

How do you SHINE? How do you light the path for someone else? Who needs your glow today?

I encourage you to join Adelle for “31 Days to Shine.”

Go … be SHINY!

 

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©2011- 2013 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

Types of Book Publishers

Posted by Christi McGuire

 Publishing

In today’s world, we have choices. Lots of choices.

Just walk down the cereal aisle of any grocery store, and you’ll see my point. For example, how many different types of Cheerios do you think there are?

Any guesses?

Thirteen.

There used to be two: Regular and Honey Nut. Now there are THIRTEEN! Do we really need Cinnamon, Dulce de Leche, and Yogurt Burst Cheerios?

Everywhere we turn, we have many choices. Even in publishing. Writers have more options in publishing their books than ever before. Let’s look at the major types of publishers.

Types of Book Publishers
1. Traditional Trade Publishers

Traditional trade publishers (also known as Commercial Publishers) work with literary agents and authors to acquire manuscripts. The publisher offers a contract to the author for an advance against royalties (typically). Then the publisher edits, produces, publishes, and distributes the book. Most trade publishers publish different genres in a variety of formats (hardcover, paperback, eBooks, audio books).

Top* Traditional Publishers:

  • Random House
  • HarperCollins
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Penguin

Top Christian Traditional Publishers:

  • Thomas Nelson
  • Zondervan
  • Tyndale House
  • B&H
  • Harvest House
  • Moody
  • Multnomah

 

2. Mass Market Publishers

Similar to trade publishers, mass market publishers acquire manuscripts and produce them inexpensively in paperback with cheap paper and glued bindings. These low-cost paperbacks are distributed mostly to discount retailers.

Top Mass Market Publishers

  • Harlequin
  • Dell
  • Avon

 

3. Educational Publishers

Educational publishers publish curriculum-related material used in schools and colleges. Marketing of textbooks is through sales representatives who present the curriculum to educators.

Top Educational Publishers

  • McGraw Hill
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Pearson

 

4. Imprint/Specialty Publishers

An “imprint” publisher is affiliated with a larger (traditional) publishing house. Basically, the publisher is divided into departments called imprints, and the imprints only publish books that are specific to their mission. They specialize in a particular genre and format of book. Examples of imprints are:

  • Viking (imprint of The Penguin Group)
  • Little Brown and Company (imprint of Hachette Book Group)
  • Aladdin (imprint of Simon & Schuster)
  • Bantam (imprint of Random House)
  • Howard (Christian imprint of Simon & Schuster)

 

5. Subsidy Publishers

Subsidy publishers (also known as “Vanity Publishers”) publish and distribute books for which authors pay the cost. The author receives royalties (a very small percentage of the sales), but the publisher owns the copyright and does not pay for promotional expenses, book media, advertising, etc.

 

6. Self-Publishers

Self-publishing is on the rise as authors take complete control of the publishing process. Authors who self-publish are responsible for the full cost of producing and printing the book, as well as distributing and marketing.

Writers have many choices when it comes to publishing their books—not quite as many choices as types of cereal, but several choices nonetheless.

As writer, what type of publisher are you most interested in?

 

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©2011- 2013 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

*The term “top” indicates well-known publishers and does not insinuate author’s personal opinion or top ranking in sales or income.

Your Writing Voice: Personality on the Printed Page

Posted by Christi McGuire
Whatcha Saying
I have a confession to make.

A guilty pleasure, really.

I like Donny Osmond. Actually, his voice. I love his voice. I think it’s the best male singing voice of all time.

I know, I know. It’s a stiff competition—Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Michael Bublè. So why would I love Donny above all of them?

I don’t know! I just do. Maybe because I love Broadway tunes, and he has a perfect voice for that. Perhaps because I saw him in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” musical as a teenager and he was pretty cute in his loin cloth.

Whatever the reason, I like his voice. It’s distinct. When you hear it, you know it’s him.

The same is true for any singer you like. As soon as you hear the first note, that person’s voice is unique and you know it’s him or her.

The same is also true for writers.

Your voice as a writer should be distinct. Unique. It should be you. When people read the first line of your novel, your aura should be in every syllable. When readers pick up one of your works, they should think, “Oh, I love this author—I can’t wait to read this!” Having a distinctive voice in writing allows readers to get to know you. To fall in love with you and your words.

Think of your favorite author. What is his or her “voice” like? Are they encouraging? Mystifying? Informative? Does she make you feel good? Does he have a way with words like no other author you’ve ever read? How does her personality come across on the printed page?

One of my clients and dear friends is the talented and successful “Hands Free Mama.” She has a very unique voice in her writing. I can distinguish her writing from all others by one sentence. She writes beautiful lyrical sentences, almost like poetry. Her words flow with emotion and encouragement.

With Beth Vogt’s first novel, To Catch a Falling Star, I was captivated by her voice. Her upbeat dialogue, quirky sentences, and humorous lines had me laughing out loud as I read. Although I’ve read many contemporary romances, her voice distinguishes her from other novelists.

Adelle Gabrielson, a boy mom who writes about motherhood and the need for great shoes, also has a unique voice. Snarky and fun. Authentic and honest. I love to read her writing, because it not only encourages me, but it relaxes me, soothes my soul, and helps me realize “we’re all this parenting thing together.”

Think about your favorite bloggers, authors, novelists, magazine writers. Why do you love them? What is unique about their writing that when you turn the page, you know the words are theirs?

Find that distinctness and uniqueness in your writing. Write down adjectives that you think describe your writing or that you’d like your writing to be. Allow a group of readers to help you define your voice so that can be consistent in your tone, your message, and your voice in your writing.

Your voice is your personality on the printed page.
Find your personality and let it shine!

 

Do you need a professional editor? Click to see the editing and consulting services that I offer. Visit me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

  ©2011- 2013 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

A Sneaky Writing Tip to Trick Your Brain

Posted by Christi McGuire

If you’re a writer, most likely you’ve been working on a manuscript of some sort. Fiction, non-fiction, short story, or a magazine article—your ideas have been percolating in your brain and swirling around on paper for a while.

Sometimes a looong while.

You are sick of opening that document with the same title. The same unpublished title of the same unfinished, unpublished book.

The solution? Trick your brain! This tip sounds corny (well, it is!) but it helps to trick your brain and put a smile on your face each time you open that document to work on your manuscript … again.

One of my clients and good friends taught me this trick: rename your document with something goofy, silly, funny—anything but the real title of your manuscript.

For example, my above-mentioned client and friend has worked on a manuscript for many years. She got sick and tired (and tired and sick) of seeing the same title. So she changed it to “Scooby Doo.” Every time she saw the document in her folder, she smiled. Even giggled. It was enough to get her brain rejuvenated and inspire more creativity.

Seeing the title of your book in the document name yet again can be discouraging and set off your writing time with negative thoughts. Instead, bring humor to it. My client’s document soon became Scooby Doo 1, Scooby Doo 2, and so on.

Silly? Maybe. Easy? Definitely!

Bring a smile to your face each time you open that document!

I renamed my book manuscript “Tinkerbell” because it reminds me my youngest daughter flitting around with her wings, wand, and slippers. Always brings a smile to my face!

What are some crazy title names you can create for your manuscript?

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©2011- 2012 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

 You Might Need an Editor If …

Posted by Christi McGuire

Trying to get published without the help of experts in the publishing industry is like trying to sell your house without a realtor. Can it be done? Sure. But will you face more obstacles along the way without guidance of someone who knows the market? Yes. Are there tips and tricks and industry pointers that experts know that you don’t? You betcha. Is the paperwork more daunting? Yep. Would you be taken more seriously and find better success if you hired a professional?

Definitely.

The same is true in the world of publishing. Professional editors and consultants know what the “biz” is all about—and they can help you navigate your way to success.

If you are seeking publication, you might want to consult an editor if …

    • You don’t understand what the term “industry standard” is. You didn’t realize publishing was an industry, nor do you know what its standards are.
    • You believe having your mom proofread your manuscript is good enough.
    • You think Chicago Manual of Style refers to the local fashion talk show.
    • You write “This book is going to be the next Harry Potter!” in your query letter or try to convince the literary agent that you will be the next J.K. Rowling.
    • You do not research or request writer guidelines before submitting a query letter.
    • You don’t know what writer guidelines, query letter, or proposal mean.
    • You tell the literary agent that you were “born to write” or that you are positive that “God wants you to tell this story.”
    • You pitch your ideas (not a specific manuscript) to a literary agent.
    • You pitch many book manuscripts to a literary agent (not just one).
    • Your query is addressed to “Dear Agent” or “Dear Ma’am or Sir” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
    • You write the word “very” 587 times in the first 50 pages of your manuscript.
    • You blind copy your email query to several agents.
    • You have written a first draft and have not rewritten, edited, rewritten, edited, deleted, started over, written, rewritten, edited … you get the drift, right?
    • You query an agent with a genre he/she doesn’t represent.
    • You don’t know how to format your manuscript according to industry-standard format (there’s that term again!).
    • Your only publishing credit is having your poem in 5th grade published in Mrs. Smith’s monthly newsletter.
    • You are not sure about the difference between single spacing and double spacing.
    • You love to use italics, all caps, and bold font—ALL THE TIME!
    • You write in your query that Kate Hudson or Ryan Reynolds could star in your novel-based movie script.
    • You capitalize a, an, the in your book title (and they are not the first words).
    • You lowercase the word Internet.
    • You’ve never heard of an em dash or en dash but think they might be Olympic sports.
    • You don’t know what a word count is or how to do it—but you are hoping every word does indeed count.
    • Your proposal is in Comic Sans font because it’s your favorite font—it is cute, after all!

If you are passionate enough to put your heart and soul into a manuscript to submit for publication, then take the time to consult a professional to help you along the way. The publishing industry is competitive! The Christian publishing industry is rapidly growing and becoming just as competitive as the secular industry. Agents and publishers want to know why your manuscript is different from others, how you can assure success as an author, and how you can guarantee sales.

Bottom line: the publishing industry is a business. A business’ goal is to make money. If your manuscript looks unprofessional, is filled with grammar mistakes, and has not been submitted according to industry standard, you will not stand out among the thousands of others wanting to get published, too.

Seek professional expertise—an editor is worth the investment in your publishing career!

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©2011- 2012 Christi McGuire. All Rights Reserved.

Capitalization Tips

Posted by Christi McGuire

As I was working on a manusript this weekend, I had look up a few words to see whether or not they should be capitalized. I discovered that “Founding Fathers” is always capitalized. Here are a few other capitalization tips.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Family Titles

Capitalize family titles when they can stand alone or are followed by a personal name. Do not capitalize family titles when they are preceded by a possessive.

Examples:
I’ll ask my mom if I can go.

I’ll ask Mom if I can go.

I’ll ask my aunt if I can go.

I’ll ask Aunt Anna if I can go.

But I really want to go, Mom!

ANY CHARACTER HERE

 Capitalization and Numbers

Capitalize a noun followed by a number or a letter that indicates sequence. However, there are exceptions. Do not capitalize: line, note, page, paragraph, size, step, or verse.

Examples:
Account 100
Act 2
Appendix B
Book IIV
Chapter VII
page 10
line 10
Room 100
verse 10

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Items in a Bulleted List

Capitalize each item in a list or an outline.

Example:
Here are the items I need:
• Paper.
• Pen.
• Books.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

States

Capitalize the word “state” only when it follows the name of the state or is part of the nickname.

Examples:

Florida State is also called the Sunshine State.

The state of Florida is a peninsula.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Compass Points

Capitalize compass points (and any derivative words) when they designate a definite region of the world or a proper noun. Do not capitalize compass points when they merely indicate direction or general location.

 Examples:

Many people have relocated from the East Coast to the Midwest. (regions)

Go west on Route 66 and turn south at the stoplight. (direction)

The west coast of the U.S. is on the Pacific. (not a region)

Amy lives on the West Coast. (region)

I have just visited the Far East. (region)

How far east do you go to get to the shore? (not a region)

Santa Claus lives at the North Pole (proper noun)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Poetry

Capitalize each line in a poem. However, if you’re quoting a poem, then follow its style.

Example:
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Common Nouns

Some expressions were created from proper nouns but are now common nouns and are not capitalized. (Note: Microsoft Word will most likely try to automatically correct these!)

Examples:
charley horse
plaster of paris
manila envelope
bone china
napoleon (the dessert)
boycott
diesel
macadam
ampere
watt
joule
kelvin
texas leaguer
arabic numbers
roman numbers

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Proper Names

Capitalize nicknames that designate specific persons, places, or things.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Examples:
the Founding Fathers
the First Lady
the White House
the Oval Office
the Stars and Stripes
the Gopher State (Minnesota)
Mother Nature
a Good Samaritan
Big Mac
Down Under
a Green Beret
the Little Dipper
the Top 40
Bloody Mary
the Third World

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Question Within a Sentence

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Capitalize an independent question within a sentence.

Example: The question is, How far are you willing to go?

ANY CHARACTER HERE

 These are only a few tips in capitalization. What words do you wonder whether or not they are capitalized?

ANY CHARACTER HERE

One Space or Two?

Posted by Christi McGuire

As I edit, whether it’s college English papers or marketing copy for business owners, there is one common blunder in most copy: two spaces between sentences.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Years ago, we were all hounded by our English teachers to put TWO spaces between sentences. Two spaces. Two spaces. Two spaces. But what were we using years and years ago before everybody had a personal computer (or two or three)? Yep, you guessed it—typewriters.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

I learned to type in high school in Keyboarding class on a typewriter. Seems like it must have been the Stone Age, doesn’t it? Typewriters only had one font: monospaced font. If you open Microsoft Word and use “Courier” font, you can visibly reminiscence about the days of the typewriter. Monospaced font was not proportional, meaning that each letter and character occupied the same amount of space. The typewriter, God bless its ancient soul, moved the same distance forward after each letter was typed. Because of that, typists inserted two spaces between sentences so that the page didn’t look all smashed together and very difficult to read.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Today’s word-processing programs have hundreds, if not thousands, of fonts that are proportional, where each letter or character has its own width. This allows for better readability and a more professional-looking page. Therefore, two spaces are no longer needed—at all. Nada. Nope. Never. Ever. (Ever!)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Breaking the habit of adding two spaces between sentences can be hard. But no worries! You can easily change an entire document in mere seconds with the “find/replace” function.

  • Press “Control” and “F” and the “Find and Replace” box will pop up.
  • Click on the “Replace” tab.
  • In the “Find What” row, press the space bar twice.
  • Then in the “Replace With” row, press the space bar once.
  • Now click “Replace All.”

Every single page will be adjusted immediately, and it will tell you how many replacements were made. You may want to do this several times until the program says “0” replacements. I’ve worked with some professionals (who will remain nameless) who put more than two spaces between sentences, so I’ve had to “find and replace” over and over again to make sure only one space is between each sentence.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

No matter what you write—whether emails or blogs, college papers or professional copy—stop typing two spaces between sentences, as if in the Dark Age of typewriters. Join the technologically-advanced age of ONE space between sentences! Editors will thank you!

Positive Proofreading

Posted by Christi McGuire

What was one of the things your teacher always told you in school? Do your best. Keep your hands to yourself. Practice makes perfect. Raise your hand before speaking. Yes, these are all valid. But the particular one I am thinking about is: Double check your work.

As an editor, that’s pretty much what I do all day long: Double check other people’s work! Was it only applicable in seventh grade? Nope! Anybody who writes a letter, word, or sentence needs to double check—triple check—his or her work. Whether or not you are a grammar goddess or spelling bee queen, you need to proofread everything you write.

Proofread, proofread, proofread!

You may never be congratulated for using proper grammar, but you sure may be ridiculed if someone finds a mistake in your marketing copy, your resume, a business email, or even a restaurant menu. Incorrect copy, misspelled words, and improper sentences can cost you a sale, a job, or even your reputation.

The cure? Proofread! No matter who you are or what you do, anything you write needs to be double checked for correctness. So how can you proofread accurately to catch mistakes?

1. Take a break for at least 24 hours.
Write your copy, and then leave it alone for at least full day. Writing is like having blinders on—your brain knows what it wants to see, and it can’t always see the mistakes. Not looking at it for a while will give you fresh eyes when you pick it back up again.

2. Block out noise.
Proofreading = precision. It’s hard to work precisely with noisy distractions. I can often write with music on, the TV blaring, and the kids playing. But I absolutely cannot edit when it is noisy around me. I need a quiet place to focus and concentrate on each word.

3. Read out loud.
OK, I know, this seems silly. But it does work! (Although you might want to do this when nobody is around!) Read your work out loud, and you will catch the mistakes and the parts that don’t flow well, seem awkward, and not what you originally wanted to say.

4. Print a hard copy.
I always edit on paper. Maybe I’m old school, but it really does help me edit better. Reading on a screen, my eyes become tired and glance over mistakes. When I print out a manuscript, article, or any other copy, it is easier and more effective to edit properly.

5. Read it backward.
It may sound like Jabberwocky, but reading backward will help you catch misspelled words.

6. Use color.
When you print out a copy to proof, use colored ink to make your corrections. It’ll help you as you enter in the corrections.

7. Take a break.
Proofreading and editing takes focused, concentrated effort, so take a break every 10 minutes or so, just to give your eyes and brain a quick rest.

8. Let someone else read it.
After you’ve done the previous seven tips, the last (and best) thing to do is ask a friend to read your copy. Ask them, “Does it make sense? Do you see any mistakes? Do you understand the point I am trying to make?” Someone reading a document for the first time will more likely be able to catch mistakes and give you feedback (whether positive or negative) better than you, especially when you have read the same sentence twenty-five times.

Please proofread! Make your seventh-grade teacher happy, don’t forfeit the job interview, secure the sale, and, most of all, look like an intelligent, competent person with correct copy by proofreading, proofreading, proofreading!