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. This FREE e-mail newsletter may help improve your writing and your acceptance rate! Feel free to print these articles to use as a reference. This issue is packed with great information. DEADLINE-DATED lists of anthologies, theme issues, and contests are included!

* * ASK RONNIE: Is There More Money in Self-Publishing Or Traditional Publishing?

* * GENRE FICTION RULES: Find Out If Your Novel Meets Publishers’ And Literary Agents’ Criteria For Publication

* * Here is your opportunity to INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF ACCEPTANCE (AND GET A FREE CONSULTATION WITH ONE OF OUR SUBMISSION STRATEGISTS)

* * ODDS ’N’ ENDS: Entitled Versus Titled And Other Dilemmas

* * If you need help with your hook, read HOW TO WRITE A GOOD FIRST LINE

* * We offer help in PREPARING YOUR NOVEL OR POETRY MANUSCRIPT

* * FREE VERSE: THE HIDDEN RULES OF FREE VERSE POETRY  

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

↓ Scroll Down to Read These Exciting and Useful Articles!! ↓

Dear Writers,

We get a lot of questions from writers all across the country (and from faraway countries as well) here at Writer’s Relief, and we’re always doing our best to help writers in all stages of their careers. More and more we’ve been inundated with questions about self-publishing.

The subject of self-publishing comes up a lot these days, which is why we wrote this article: Is Self-Publishing The Easiest Way To Get Published? Decoding The Hype And The Facts. Every week we receive questions from writers who have self-published their books. Though there are many happily self-published writers out there, the writers who continually seek out our advice are those who are disappointed with the results of their self-publishing efforts and who want to know what to do next. They feel saddened that their books didn’t hit it big, that their publishers didn’t come through, that they accidentally got stuck in bad contracts with distributors, etc. They also feel concerned about how their self-publishing efforts will be received by literary agents and editors. We love that writers turn to us for answers; we do our best to develop a plan with them so they can get their submissions circulating again.

Self-publishing can be a great way to get your book in print, provided you have business know-how and your expectations are realistic. We hope our articles will help you make informed decisions about when to self-publish and when to keep trying to find a home at a major publishing house.

For this Ask Ronnie post, we wanted to tackle a question that was asked of us recently:

Q. Which makes more money: self-publishing or traditional publishing?

A. Self-publishing and traditional publishing offer very different methods of dealing with finances. The cost of self-publishing is generally absorbed by the author in one form or another; the cost of traditional publishing is absorbed by the publishing house.

With traditional publishing, authors make most of their profit up front (an advance), then, if they are able to “sell through” (sell all their copies), they’ll start making royalties. With self-publishing, there is more variety in how an author is paid, if the author is paid at all. Each self-publishing company will have its own standards. Generally, royalties on self-published books and E-books tend to be higher than royalties on traditionally published books—in part because a self-publishing company has a lot less at stake and puts less effort (and dollars) into a given project than a traditional publisher. Though self-publishing royalties are significantly higher, sales volume tends to be significantly lower in most cases. In the end, how much money you make depends on 1) how good your book is, 2) how well you market it, and 3) how widely your book is distributed.

We hope you enjoy our Newsflash. Send your questions to me at info@wrelief.com. And, as always, keep writing!

Ronnie Smith
Writer's Relief, Inc.
http://www.WritersRelief.com/

P.S. If you want to chat with me in real time, why not come hang out with me on Twitter? www.twitter.com/writersrelief.

If you have written a book or novel, you’ll want to be sure that your book meets the basic criteria of book publishers and literary agents. If your book follows the “rules” of your genre (whether romance, Western, thrillers, or horror), you will be more likely to be published.

The Rules Of Genre Fiction
Genre fiction refers to books that are published widely for popular appeal. Publishers tend to place high value on genre fiction books, especially when a writer shows a palpable enthusiasm for his or her particular genre. Usually, genre books are published in the smaller, mass-market book size.

Genre writing is all about crafting great stories that appeal to a distinct audience who have particular preferences. Do your research and learn what is expected from your genre. Read widely in your genre. Join a creative writers’ group. Research recommended book lengths and what publishers are buying—and not buying. Again, you don’t have to be a slave to the standards, but—just like with grammar and punctuation—a professional writer must know the rules in order to effectively break them.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that the below is an overview of generalized genre guidelines: always research information about your specific project for the best results.

The Rules Of Romance Genre Novels
A romance novel ends with a happily ever after. It starts with the introduction of characters and the conflict, and at some point the relationship is consummated in some way. The story usually emphasizes the heroine’s experience, and the reader should be drawn into caring about the characters and cheering on the eventual romance.

How long is a romance novel? A single title (or stand-alone) romance novel runs between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A category romance novel (like those published by Harlequin) is generally shorter, and each “line” or “imprint” will have its own strict specifications. Save yourself a lot of trouble: Research before you write!

Subgenres of romance include: paranormal, Regency, historical, contemporary, women’s fiction, Christian, time travel, erotica, fantasy/science fiction, and more.

The Rules Of Fantasy Genre Novels
Create the rules of your fantasy world in advance and stick to them. Design the environment (geography, weather), the characters (race, creatures), and other rules, such as magic, the history of your environment (wars, etc.), and limitations of powers. Avoid clichés in your characterization (no The Lord of the Rings impersonators), and let your theme (good vs. evil?) be consistent yet subtle. Pay attention to publisher guidelines: One publisher specifically states caveats such as “no time machines, please.”

Fantasy novels can be a little longer than traditionally published novels, and they are sometimes serialized as trilogies. Fantasy novels can be between 80,000 and 150,000 words (approximately).

Subgenres of fantasy include: alternate history, urban, dark, high, historical, steampunk, wuxia, fantasy of manners, and more. Be sure you’re familiar with the subgenres before you attempt to position yourself as an expert author in your field!

The Rules Of Western Genre Novels
Westerns should be set in the Old West (west of the Mississippi River and before the year 1900). Historical details should be accurate, but the story is what really counts: Focus on three-dimensional characters and strong plots, with the hero facing some sort of conflict. While Westerns are very specialized, take care to be sure that you’re not relying on clichés!

How long is a Western book? Westerns tend to be on the shorter side of fiction books, anywhere from 45,000 words to 75,000 (loosely).

The Rules Of Historical Fiction Genre Novels
The details are important in this genre. Set the stage carefully and accurately so that your 18th-century character doesn’t wear clothing and/or use products that weren’t around at the time. Pay attention to social customs, holidays, transportation, and food, and make sure they are relevant to the period. And don’t judge your characters by modern standards—a person’s behavior should be dictated by the customs and society of your time frame. Careful research is especially important for this genre.

How long is a historical novel? Generally, a stand-alone historical may be 85,000 to 100,000 words. For first-time writers, submitting a book longer than 100,000 words is especially difficult, but historical novels have been known to be longer than 100,000 words.

The Rules Of Mystery Genre Novels
Pay special attention to plot in this genre. Introduce the murder or the crime early in the story, and research the methods by which the crime was committed (is it really possible for a five-foot woman to decapitate a large man?) and how the investigation proceeds. Research forensics, criminal justice, and detective procedures to lend credibility. Avoid supernatural or unbelievable methods of solving the case, and create a solvable puzzle for your readers—mystery novels are supposed to be fun to read and fun to solve, and if the reader isn’t provided with plausible clues to follow, they’ll lose interest.

How long is a mystery novel? Mysteries vary in length depending on subgenre. Single-title mysteries may be between 75,000 and 100,000 words. Cozy mysteries, like those in a mystery series, may be on the shorter side of the genre.

Subgenres of mystery include: hardboiled, supernatural, crime, true crime, amateur sleuth, police procedural, cozy, and more. Be certain of whether or not you are writing a mystery or a thriller.

The Rules Of Thriller Genre Novels
Thrillers are designed to do one thing: thrill. Strong characters, tight plots, and an emphasis on action over flowery prose drive this genre to daring storylines. Thrillers often feature determined protagonists and clear antagonists, and they can be set in nearly any location imaginable. Thrillers can be graphic (gritty) or somewhat more subtle, but focus is always on suspense.

How long is a thriller novel? Thriller novels hit the genre-standard sweet spot of 90,000 to 100,000 words for new writers (loosely). Thrillers tend to go a little longer as well, but new writers will tend to see better results with shorter books.

Subgenres of thrillers include: action, conspiracy, disaster, crime, eco, political, erotica, legal, and more. 

The Rules Of Horror Genre Novels
Horror novels capitalize on emotion (fears, phobias) more than plot. Create a feeling of dread for your reader, and sustain the suspense throughout until you reach a climactic conclusion. Avoid clichés, like the monster that seems dead but really isn’t.

Horror novels vary in length, but generally, a stand-alone novel will be between 80,000 and 100,000 words.

Subgenres of horror include: psychological, ghost, weird menace, erotic, body horror, occult detective, and more.

The Rules Of Young Adult (YA) Genre Novels

Young adult (YA) fiction targets boys and girls between the ages of 12-18. The tone, style, and content of YA novels changes significantly, depending on the specific age a writer is targeting. YA writers write for a specific audience without "talking down." The genre can tackle G-rated issues or it can be very edgy. In all cases YA provides a safe place for young readers to explore the challenging situations that they may face in real life.

Young adult novels vary in length depending on demographic, but generally run between 40,000 and 75,000 words.

Subgenres of YA include most of the same subgenres of adult fiction. "Edgy" YA tackles especially controversial or difficult issues.

CLICK HERE FOR PART TWO: How Do You Know If Your Novel Is Literary Or Mainstream Fiction? How Long Is A General Fiction Book?

Enroll in our A La Carte Service in July or August and receive a FREE CONSULTATION WITH ONE OF OUR SUBMISSION STRATEGISTS. Did you know that you can increase your acceptance rate by submitting at this time of year? Because fewer writers are submitting, you can increase your acceptance rate. If you are confused about what your next step should be, here is a great opportunity to take a giant leap forward in your writing career. We’re offering to share what we’ve learned about publishing in the creative writing industry. Take a look at the two A La Carte Services we list below, and call us to discuss whether you and your writing are ready.

$100: A La Carte Service—Get started right away! This is a more do-it-yourself service, with Writer’s Relief targeting markets and guiding you through the process. You’ll get 25+ submissions out into the world within three days. This service is simple, quick, and affordable. We provide the best market research available to creative writers. Info about our A La Carte Service may be found at http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx.

$200 - $250: A La Carte PLUS Service—Everything that’s fast and affordable about our regular A La Carte Service, with the time-saving bonus of Full Service cover and/or query letter preparation. We will target the best markets for your work, prepare mailing labels, and create 25+ personalized, professional cover and/or query letters. More information may be found at http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Want-Us-To-Create-Your-CoverQuery-Letters.aspx.

Titled vs. Entitled

“Titled” means that something has received a title, as in The movie was titled, Grammar Gurus Gone Wild.

“Entitled” means that someone has rights to something, as in She felt entitled to special treatment ever since she won an Oscar for Grammar Gurus Gone Wild.

What Are We Supposed to Do?

Don’t use “suppose to” or “use to” when you mean “supposed to” or “used to.”

I Wonder How to Punctuate That

Incorrect: I wondered how he knew that?
Correct: I wondered how he knew that.

Incorrect: I asked her if she knew that?
Correct: I asked her if she knew that.
 
Don’t Use Quotes Indiscriminately

We’ve all seen signs like these:

Today only, “free” samples!
See these “classic” cars!
Employees must “wash their hands” before exiting the restroom.

Or phrases…
It’s not really my “cup of tea.”
If you’re not careful, you could end up with the “swine flu.”

The moral of this story: Don’t use quotation marks unnecessarily or for special emphasis.

And Finally…What Is an Aphorism?

An aphorism is a short, to-the-point sentence that sums up a clever observation or general truth:

The trouble with bucket seats is that not everyone has the same size bucket.

Writers are great. They taste like chicken.

With great power comes great responsibility. With mediocre power comes a 1964 Datsun pickup truck and a power suit from Sears.

When life gives you lemons, try making a lemon chiffon cake with extra lemon.

And finally, from Mark Twain:

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.

Guest write Cindy LaPenna is a writer and librarian from Pennsylvania. She is the author of Around Bangor, a pictorial history about the town where she grew up. Her articles and poetry were published in several newspapers and various Web sites.

Good writing always starts with a sentence or paragraph that hooks the reader and makes him or her want to read more. Listed below are several examples of how writers can begin works of both fiction and nonfiction.

With A Declarative Sentence
Cultivating a winter garden is an easy, natural way to lift your spirits.

Ask A Question (Note: Some literary agents feel this method is overused.)
Have you ever looked out the window on a winter day and wished you were basking in the sun on a Caribbean island?

Summarize
Beauty, relaxation, and stress-relief are some of the many benefits you'll experience from winter gardens.

Quotation
O, Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
—Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Ode to the West Wind”

Fragmentation
Short days. Long nights. Snow. Ice. Cold. It was a season John dreaded.

We used the winter theme for a reason, and that is to show that several techniques can work not only for different writings, but also for one particular story. One specific technique, fragmentation, for example, might add more interest or inject more sincerity into a story than asking a question or stating a fact.

Read each opening aloud, along with a paragraph or two of your story, to see which one sounds the best. The gist and content of a particular piece will help you determine which technique is best.

Some other commonly used openers are:

Shock ’Em
Danny had it all—charisma, power, and fame. No one knew that at the end of the day, he made his way home to sleep, alone, in the car he called home.

Descriptive
The tiny orange kitten sat on the sidewalk, crying for its mother, its fur wet and matted.

Factual
The childhood toys known as teddy bears are named after Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States.

Hypothetical
If you could change your life today, in any way you can imagine, what would it be like?

Use these techniques as guidelines, but add your own creativity, personality, and writing style. Keep the writing fresh and original and avoid clichéd language to keep your readers reading to the end.

Have you finished a novel? Are you submitting your poetry manuscript to competitions? If so, your manuscript better be prepared to industry standards AND free of typos.

Writer’s Relief offers a book manuscript proofreading and formatting service (novels, nonfiction, and poetry manuscripts included). This service is designed to help writers prepare their manuscripts for ultimate publication for submissions to agents and publishers, as well as contests and competitions. Send us a hard copy and electronic copy of your book manuscript. Include your contact information: mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. You may also e-mail the manuscript as an attachment to Proof@wrelief.com. We’ll evaluate the manuscript and quote a price to prepare it for you.

You will not receive a good read unless you prepare your book to the standards required in the creative writing industry. You’ve done the work, now make sure that your pages are ready to pass muster with the agent or editor who receives them. We will format the manuscript to industry standards, and we can assist with special formatting for writers’ contests and/or competitions. Remember, presentation is everything! Call us today between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET for details.

Guest writer Ruth Gilbo writes in Tennessee and is the administrator of Poets Contest Corner (http://poetscontestcorner.blogspot.com), a weblog dedicated to the encouragement of poets and their craft.

Free verse is not poetry without form or rules. It is not written as an essay and then broken into lines. The final form is not what makes it a poem; it is the simultaneous collaboration of vocabulary, punctuation, and line break. Proper use of the tools of poetry helps to mold a piece to its final state. Simply brainstorming, then adding line breaks does not constitute a poem.

Free verse is a challenging form that utilizes the natural cadences of common speech to create rhythm in lieu of the strict usage of meter found in classic forms. Free verse is the breaking of some old rules and the utilization of new tools, not the elimination of any and all rules.

Free verse often uses the natural cadence of speech to determine the length of each line in order to bring each new thought to its natural end or pause. The tools used to do this are the line stop (established by punctuation) or enjambment (inserting a strategic line break). Enjambment must have purpose and is not to be arbitrarily employed. It should be used to pull the reader through a short line to the next, where the thought can end on a weighty word capable of making the reader pause to absorb what has just been said. Or it will cause the line to end on an article (so on the following line be sure to use a word with some weight that is capable of carrying the reader through to the natural stop). When used skillfully, enjambment will not only carry the reader’s attention through the poem, but will create tension in the piece that complements the connotations, imagery, or metaphors intended by the author.

The authors of 20th-century free verse supervened the use of end-of-line rhyming schemes, but employed the internally natural rhyming methods of repetitive sound, such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, and internal rhyme. If used skillfully, these tools not only give the reader the sense of the poem's music, but they have a practical purpose as well. To slow the reader down, try using S-L combinations: Sally slipped through flattened sheets. To make the writer pause and digest, try hard consonant sounds: He became Canadian bound.

One more note: Articles and conjunctions, like it and and, should always be used in proportion to their use in common speech. When read aloud a poem with too many ands sounds like a 1970s Valley Girl spewing “like” as she talks. It’s not natural; it takes away from the meat of the poem; it sounds like a “filler” for use in maintaining cadence; it feels forced; and, well, it’s just plain annoying.

Read more about poetry:

Poetics: Free vs. Formal Verse

How To Publish A Poetry Book, Chapbook, Or Collection Of Poems

Jokes About Poetry

How To Get Your Poetry Published

Spotlight on Poetry

The Seduction of Poetry Contest Scams

Fostering Originality In Poetry

Poetry: Finding Your Inspiration

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. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx