All questions are anonymous. If you know who is asking the question and wish to leave a comment, please respect their rights to remain anonymous.
Q: SD, I keep
rewriting my story. Is this good or bad?
A: It’s terrible and the worst thing you can possibly
do!!!!!!! Of course that is a lie and only you can tell if your story needs
retooling. However, if you are fearful with how it will be received, then that
is an entirely different story. It is understandable that you wish to write the
best story you can, but there is a point where you aren’t helping but harming
your work. Not only that. There comes a point when the time spent has become
wasted time. Only you can make that final choice, but there are things you can
do to remove at least some of your fears. One is getting other people involved.
Asked family and friends if they wouldn’t mind reading over a few chapters and
tell you what they think good or bad. Please stress on the bad part and tell
them that constructive criticism is much better than public ridicule. Another
way is to hire someone to review, grammar check, and or edit your work. People
you hire will have an objective view of your work and help you come to terms,
if more work is needed or it is time to let your manuscript stretch it’s wings
and leave the next. I hope this helps. SD
Q: SD, I had finally
finished my first novel, but the person who I had hired to edit my manuscript
tells me it’s too long. Should I cut it or keep it as is?
A: First let me
congratulate you on your accomplishment. Secondly, try not to get too defensive
with the suggestion from your editor. This is part of their job and a perfect
opportunity for you to gain some valuable insight. Unlike family and friends,
those you hire to assist you in making your manuscript the best it can be aren’t
clouded by emotional blockers. In other words they will tell you the truth
where family and friends provides encouragement and don’t wish to hurt your
feelings (although there are some who are looking forward to and will take
great joy in hurting your feeling for reasons of their own). My suggestion to
you is to replace your defensive wall with a key and give it to your editor.
Get into a discussion about why they believe it is too long and what they
suggest should be cut. If length is the cause and not unnecessary fluff and
useless word play, then asked where it would be possible to split the book into
two and what storyline they consider needs further explanation, description, or
character development. You may be happily surprised by their answers. But, no
matter which direction the conversation will go, it will provide you with
insight to use in your next manuscript. I hope this helps. SD
Q: SD, A friend of mine had a great idea for a book.
Would I be wrong to use it?
A: It would seem you have a conscious and I applaud you.
What you are talking about is a subject near and dear to my heart and that’s intellectual
property. By definition (according to law.cornell.edu/wex/intellectual_property)
Intellectual property (IP) can be seen as analogous to the law of tangible
property in that both consist of a bundle of rights conferred upon the property
owner. However, the law of intellectual
property is separate and distinct from the law of tangible property. Where the right of exclusive possession is at
the core of the bundle of rights protecting real and personal property, land
and chattels, the same cannot be said of intellectual property. In other words
IP truly becomes exclusive and tangible property when it is recognized through written
patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets by the governing body of a
country. The bottom line is something that can and should be between you and
your friend. Some compensation should be in order (special thanks) and sadly in
writing. People (even good people) see things differently over time, money, and
recognition. I hope this helps. SD
SD Tracy Harper Contact Form
0 comments:
Post a Comment