Counter Assertion

More and more good authors are turning to the Internet to self publish. There are several reasons for that. All of them are probably well known to every writer by now, so we’ll not go into them here. What we’ll talk about here is a new way to self publish.

Everyone has, by now, heard of ebooks. This is a wonderful way to publish on the net, but it requires special programs to empliment it. And there are web sites that will do all that for you for a fee. But what if you simply can’t afford it or you don’t want to pay anyone?

This idea I’ve come up with may be out there in left field, but out in left field is where you usually find some great ideas. Here is what I found.

Create a credit card account somewhere first. Pick any company you are comfortable with and doesn’t cost a great deal. After that is all set, put your novel on your web site, create its own page, and use the ariel font. Use size 10 for the main text. Your title and chapter headings can be larger.

Write an intro page for your novel and create a separate page for it. Here is where you’ll put any illustrations you may have. So people will have an example of your writing, copy and paste the first chapter of your novel and put it here, too. Also on this page will be the link to your credit card payment company.

The next step is to set up your credit card account to connect with the novel page after your customers have paid for it and then they can simply print out the novel or copy and paste it to their Word or Works program that is already on their computers.

This is a simple and yet effective way to self publish and it does not cost you anything, either. Out in left field, I know, but hey. Anything to survive, huh?

About the author:

Anna Kathryn Bir is a published author of many sci fi short stories. One of them was a Star Trek story. You can find her sci fi novels on her web site http://e-sac.com email address is info@e-sac.com

It doesn’t matter whether you’re writing your first
screenplay… or you’re a Hollywood veteran.

ALL screenwriters constantly need to remind themselves of what
kind of writing works in a film and what doesn’t.

These rules are tried and tested. Give them pride of place on
your wall. And refer to them whenever you’re working on your
screenplay.

1. Don’t tell the audience something you’re going to show them.

2. Don’t repeat the same piece of information for information’s
sake. It should be clear to the audience the first time around,
explained in a memorable fashion.

3. ALWAYS STAY FOCUSSED on the core of the script (e.g. the main
character, situation or theme).

4. Even when the hero’s not in a scene, we can be learning
something about him from other characters, or be reminded of him
by them.

5. Never use two scenes to move things forward when one will do.
Amalgamate scenes whenever possible.

6. The same goes for characters - they must all be distinctive.
Two similar characters should be amalgamated into one.

7. Contrast the characters so that they have different reactions
to the same event. One might cry after a tragic event, another
might be stoic. If everyone’s crying, the impact is lost and the
characters are less distinctive.

8. Once you build up a momentum, don’t let it falter…

9. …But don’t go so fast that the audience can’t follow
events. Help them get their bearings.

10. Balance dialogue with other sounds and visual elements. Even
somebody who can’t speak English should be able to follow the
basic plot - without subtitles!

There’s a new sort of ghost stalking the digital landscape.

They let several people pay them for the right to put their names as authors to some articles and, maybe, other types of written work that they write. This differs from the traditional way that ghost writers work. Instead of writing pieces to order or supplying pre-written pieces for a fee to one client who buys the right to replace the ghost’s name with their own as author, the new arrangements involve the ghost being paid by several people for naming rights to the same article or other written piece. The ghost, in every occurence that I’m aware of, disclosed to all their potential clients exactly what they are doing - though, naturally, they may not tell each client exactly who else has the same rights to the pieces) that they are paying for.

Usually 20 or more people can buy the rights to any one article or package. My concern is for the effect of more than one person using the article with their own name on it as the sole author. Imagine that 3 “authors” circulate one of these articles through their mailing lists, remembering that many people who promote their services and products through their own web sites may have lists with several thousand subscribers, and one or more people subscribe to more than one of these lists.

The impression on anyone who gets 2 or more copies of the same article with different people claiming to be the author will, inevitably, be very negative. They make be concerned enough to contact one or more authors to ensure that the piece is not being plaigarised. I can’t see the authors then having any choice but to all admit that they bought the right to put their own name on someone else’s work. I don’t think that would be an enjoyable experience for any of those concerned. That would not happen in the traditional model of buying, signing and distributing an article that was ghost-written.

There are plenty of opportunities to approach individual authors directly or through sites like eLance.com to get a well written piece that you can put your own name to in the traditionally accepted manner.

My other suggestion is to try to write an article yourself. It’s not hard and you might find that you like writing when you actually give it a go. I know that methods of doing business are constantly evolving and new paths are being pushed through the electronic landscape. I just think that this path will not lead to a happy outcome for anyone.

John Williams writes and sells electronic books. He had 8 published when this article was written, with 2 more near completion. Anyone that wants to find out how easy it is to write and publish their own ebook or article for on-line distribution should visit John’s web site