HOT OFF THE PRESS! We love to share our information with writers, and we’re happy to pass some of our INSIDER’S SECRETS along to you. Feel free to print these posts to use as a reference. Pass the links along to your writer friends. It’s packed with great information this month. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included at no charge!

In This Issue:

* * Are you tense about past perfect? Take a quiz in PAST PERFECTION.

* * Use our teaser to get you writing with THIS ISSUE’S WRITING PROMPT.

* * We'll clear up two pairs of COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS AND PHRASES.

* * We’re giving away a FREE REPORT that outlines industry-standard Manuscript FORMAT Guidelines when you order our E-book entitled REJOICE IN REJECTION.

* * Do you have a writer's sense of humor? We will share a WRITER'S JOKE with you.

LOTS OF HELP for CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHORS—100 CONTACTS and Everything You Need To Know To Submit Your Children’s Book.

* * We've been getting lots of requests for help in this area. We've covered all the basics in THE ART OF THE NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL.

* * The majority of Writer's Relief clients have their work accepted for publication. Whether you've already had your work accepted for publication or are waiting for your first acceptance, brag to your friends by purchasing our Writers T-shirts.

* * You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming ANTHOLOGIES, SPECIAL-THEMED JOURNALS, and CONTESTS. Visit: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx.

The past tense of verbs is fairly easy to comprehend. When we talk to our friends, we use past, present, and future tenses with ease, but as writers we use other verb tenses to enhance our work and help explain the sequence of events to our readers.

One of these is the past perfect tense, which is, in essence, a little more past than past. What’s the difference between past tense and past perfect tense?

When used correctly, past perfect tense tells the reader that we’re going back in time, even beyond the usual past tense that is employed in most fiction. Technically speaking, it is used to refer to a noncontinuous action in the past that was already completed by the time another action in the past took place.

Using fantastic verbs is important in creative writing, and the past perfect can be especially useful in fiction writing because you can go back to a previous event without confusing your reader. For that reason, past perfect is often the preferred verb of flashbacks. Here’s an example of past perfect in action in a paragraph:

She had worried about her sister’s drug problem when their mother died and had taken steps to find a suitable rehab program. But her sister continued to push her away over the years, and eventually, Joann decided to step back from the problem and stay available should her sister need her. She knew how stubborn and independent Julie could be.

The past perfect tense can also be annoying if overdone. Once you’ve established that you’re going back in time, you can revert back to the simple past tense. In the above example, we reverted back to the past tense after "rehab program." The flashback had already been established, and there was no need to continue with the past perfect.

The past tense becomes the past perfect with the addition of the verb "to have."

Past: I wrote that poem.

Past perfect: I had written that poem.

The past perfect tense implies that I wrote that poem before something else happened, as in "I had written that poem before I experienced a broken heart." Another example:

Past: I wanted to learn more about Italy, so I called my friend Stephanie, who lived in Florence.

Stephanie was probably still in Florence at the time of the call.

Past perfect: I wanted to learn more about Italy, so I called my friend Stephanie, who had lived in Florence for several years.

Stephanie no longer lives in Florence.

If you’d like to test your verb tense skills, take a crack at our little verb tense quiz.

Thomas Edison invented/had invented the lightbulb.

They never owned/had never owned a dog before Samson padded into their lives.

By the time Mr. Johnson got home, his family ate/had already eaten dinner.

As soon as he spotted the guard, he ran/had run off.

When the music started, the teenagers started/had started to dance.

Andrew couldn’t open the door because he forgot/had forgotten his key.

Bobby has never been/had never been to a baseball game before that night.

If I knew/had known, I would have come by yesterday.

The women fell ill a short while after they ate/had eaten the crab salad.

My son already read/had already read that book before the movie came out.

Answers:

invented

had never owned

had already eaten

ran

started

had forgotten

had never been

had known

had eaten

had already read

The proofreaders at Writer’s Relief could (and do!) talk about verb tenses all day long. If you would like Writer’s Relief to proofread your poems, books, short stories, or essays for verb tense issues (and other things) let us know!

Prompt For Creative Writers: Write about an adventure that you want to embark on, but haven’t yet. Has it been because of time and/or money? Or you haven’t been brave enough? Whatever the reason, write it all down; examine every emotion that you have toward that activity, and why you haven’t done it yet. Don’t be afraid to go beyond your comfort level. Once it’s written, you might find that you can do that wonderful thing sooner than you realized.

Are you just sitting on work that you'd like to see published? Don't know where to start? Writer's Relief's submission services can help. 

Should I use “advent” or “in the event”? “Uppermost” or “uttermost”? What’s the difference between them? A recurring mistake with many writers is the improper use of seemingly interchangeable words or phrases. Be careful that you’re describing exactly what you mean to say to your readers.

Advent vs. In The Event

Advent: coming into being or use, as in "the advent of winter" or "the advent of electricity"

In the event: if, as in "In the event that Grandma shows up, we should have some coffee available."

Uppermost vs. Uttermost

Uppermost: adverb or adjective meaning in or into the highest or most prominent position, as in "the uppermost layer" or "her illness was uppermost in their minds"

Uttermost (or Utmost): adjective meaning situated at the farthest or most distant point, as in "the utmost peak of the mountain" or of the highest degree, quantity, number, or amount, as in "a matter of utmost concern."

Still mixing up “advent” and “in the event”? “Uppermost” or “uttermost”? Writer’s Relief proofreaders can help.

A joke for writers: A hungry lion was roaming through the jungle looking for something to eat. He came across two men. One was sitting under a tree reading a book; the other was typing away on his typewriter. The lion quickly pounced on the man reading the book and devoured him. Even the king of the jungle knows that readers digest and writers cramp!

At Writer's Relief, we love writers who have a witty, comic style, as well as writers who are more serious and somber. We welcome strong writers (by invitation only) to join our list of successful writer clients. Learn more about how Writer's Relief can help you get published. 

Unlike fiction books, nonfiction books, such as self-help and how-to books, do not have to be completed prior to submission to literary agents and editors; nonfiction is sold to editors via a book proposal. It’s important to know what to include in a nonfiction book proposal.

In general, the nonfiction book proposal is designed to give editors a well-organized, detailed sales pitch describing what your proposed book is about and how it will make money for the publishing company.

An additional bonus is that writing a book proposal forces the author to organize and focus the project. The book itself may go through many changes depending on editorial input, but the proposal should follow a generally accepted format.

Note: Memoir Proposals. Even though a memoir is a nonfiction book, you don’t need to write a proposal for your true story. Literary agents do not want to read a proposal for memoir. Generally, a memoir is handled the same way as a novel: the book must be complete and the writer must submit sample chapters.

Here’s how to write a book proposal for a nonfiction book to submit to a literary agent or editor so that you can get your book published!

COMPONENTS:

Title Page

In your nonfiction proposal, you should first include your name and contact information with an approximate word count and the proposed title of your work. Make sure your main title describes the subject matter of the book to aid in keyword searches, and don’t rely on subtitles to convey vital information—subtitles are often dropped in computerized listings and library databases. Note: the title you choose is your working title, as publishers may elect to change it.

**Optional: Summary (also known as the Overview, Synopsis, or Executive Summary) - 1 page maximum

Begin with a very short description of your book’s basic premise. Whatever makes your book stand out should be highlighted in the first few sentences. This is the "hook," so make it interesting and unique; powerful yet concise.

Capture the editor’s attention right off the bat, and make it clear what you’re selling. If the editor or literary agent has to hunt around for the point of your book, he/she is likely to toss the proposal aside and review the next proposal in the towering pile.

Chapter by Chapter Outline - 1 to 4 paragraphs per chapter

Create a dynamic outline by highlighting each chapter’s major points. Each chapter synopsis should be no longer than one paragraph or two—you don’t want to give too much information but you don’t want to give too little either.

Emphasize each chapter’s unique and/or important function in relation to the rest of the book. By the time the editor has read this outline, he or she should have a clear idea of the overall book.

The Market For Your Nonfiction Book 

This section should include information about the book’s intended audience and why the book addresses the needs of that particular audience. Make sure that your market is broad (as in "women ages 30-60" or "people who buy cars"), and provide as many demographics of your targeted audience as possible. Include observations about current trends that favor your book and highlight what makes your book unique.

Also include information about the competition. If there are other books out there on the same subject, yours had best offer a new or original take. Identify current books that are similar, and explain how yours fills a specific niche. If there are complementary books out there, show how your book can be positioned to the publisher’s advantage.

Give the editor or literary agency enough ammunition to sell your work!

Author Information In A Nonfiction Book Proposal 

This is where you list your education, writing credentials, contacts, experience—anything that makes you uniquely qualified to write this book. If you don’t have a journalism degree or a list of publishing credits, highlight other things that show you have what it takes to tackle the subject.

For instance, you may be a parent of a special-needs child, and, although you have never been published, your experience qualifies you to offer a unique perspective—assuming that your writing is up to par. If you have an author website, consider mentioning it here.

Your background (including your publishing credits, your experience and expertise, your media coverage, and the following of readers that you’ve built up) is often referred to as your platform. The stronger your platform, the better! Writer’s Relief can help you build your publication credits!

You will also need to outline your own promotional ideas and resources to help market the book. Include information about affiliations, contacts, or endorsements you may have lined up. Do you have a prominent person willing to write the foreword? Media contacts? Web sites, bookstore appearances, newsletters, and possible sequels or spin-off information should be included in this section. To use the example above, you may be a member of the Autism Society of America, and with the contacts you have made within that organization you can offer greater promotional opportunities.

Specifications Of Your Unfinished Book 

This is where you outline an approximate word count, the number of chapters, and an estimated completion time frame. If your book will contain a number of charts, photographs, or illustrations, say so. You may also describe the general format you envision. However, be prepared to be flexible when it comes to length and format—the publisher will have the final say.

Note: A full-length nonfiction book usually contains 9 to 15 chapters of average length. Don’t submit an outline for a book that contains less than 9 chapters. Make sure you have enough material (and time) to fulfill this obligation before you propose it.

Table Of Contents

Quite simply, this is a list of chapter titles to give the agent or editor an idea of what will be included in your book.

Sample Chapters

If you have already begun the writing process, send one or two completed chapters (Chapters 1 and 2 are preferable). Do not send chapters from the middle of the book.

OTHER TIPS

Your book proposal should be similar in style to your proposed book. In other words, if your book is meant to be humorous and lighthearted, make sure your proposal is written in the same style.

Make sure the proposal is edited and proofread within an inch of its life. Literary agents and editors admit to passing over potentially great ideas if they have to wade through a sea of errors and typos and coffee stains.

Always include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for responses. Your material will be recycled. Or know the etiquette for submitting online.

When formatting, we recommend using a 12-point, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman or Arial, with one-inch margins all around, and left justification.

We love educating writers about ever-changing industry standards. Let us know if we can help you with any or all elements of putting together a stellar book proposal.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests.