Questions tagged [book]
Questions to do with fiction or nonfiction tomes, print or digital, either professionally or self-published.
169
questions
3
votes
2answers
231 views
Is 7000 words too long for a chapter? [duplicate]
I've been working on a story for the last 4 years. It's just a personal project now and I've gone really in depth to clean up any plot holes I can readily see (thanks Cinemasins). I think I love this ...
0
votes
0answers
86 views
How is “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck still relevant to readers of today? [closed]
I guess isolation and social exclusion of different groups is something of relevance. e.g.
-Crooks: racism
-Curley's Wife: misogynism
-Candy: ageism
-Lennie: ableism
But i still can't think of any ...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
Why is it that when I get to the end of writing my book, I get discombobulated and want to give up? [duplicate]
I've noticed this about most of the books I write, except for my short stories/novellas. When I get close to writing the end, my thoughts become a chaotic mess, and I don't know how to properly ...
6
votes
2answers
218 views
How should I present a resort brochure in my general fiction?
In my story the protagonist goes to live in a health resort. The receptionist presents her with a brochure of activities. At the moment I have written like this in a word document;
After patiently ...
3
votes
2answers
49 views
Am I allowed to use art (album covers) in my book?
Am I allowed to use art (album covers) in my book?
If not what sort of permission would I have to obtain?
The album covers are not in the public domain.
2
votes
1answer
66 views
+100
Different header numbering formats in a document
I am writing a document with several chapters. Each chapter title uses heading 1 and the chapters have the numbers 1 to 8.
All chapters are using header 1 so that I can build a table of contents.
At ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
Writing a book review
I just came across a question that related to the topic of book reviews.
I wish to know, how can I start as a reviewer and where can I find sample reviews of some non-technical books or novels?
In ...
5
votes
5answers
280 views
Should I release my novel now… or miss a golden opportunity?
I just finished writing the first draft of my novel. (BTW, this is my first)
As luck would have it, something just popped up in the news which is directly related to my story. The topic has been ...
4
votes
2answers
34 views
How can I generate paperback book from iBooks Author?
I'm starting to write a book and I am considering to use the iBooks Author app since I tend to like Apple products. Through my research, I learned I can publish it into iBooks, export it for iBooks or ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Do publishers care if submitted work has already been copyrighted?
I'm getting ready to start submitting a book I've written. I copyrighted an earlier draft of it a few years ago (as in submitted it for official registered copyright). The final draft has not ...
2
votes
2answers
71 views
How do I make a contract with multiple authors
Someone suggested that I should make a question on this. I am making a book with multiple authors and we're all under 18 and I'm wondering how to make contracts with them. Just to say I'm trying to ...
8
votes
2answers
620 views
Quoting Yourself
I am editing a book for a writer who has quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The first chapter has a quote of her own. It's weird, but it's what she wants. Do I just treat it like the other ...
6
votes
3answers
236 views
Is it true that a great cover is enough to sell many copies of your book
I've come across podcasts and internet articles about self-publishing in which they basically say that books with fantastic covers and interesting blurbs tend to sell lots of copies even if the actual ...
2
votes
5answers
219 views
Is my book too weird to be published?
This question may have already been answered, but I'm just making sure.
So, I'm just making a silly book for fun. It's short (compared to other books) but I'd say it's decent. However, let's say I ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Is there a way to get historical sale details (specifically geographical areas) on a book?
I ask for legal reasons concerning trademarks, where it's necessary to know where books were sold and when.
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Chapters of a Book and Story Structure of McKee
Considering the "story structure" proposed by Robert McKee; like:
A story is a large structure composed by acts which are composed by sequences which are composed by scenes, which are composed by (...
6
votes
2answers
72 views
Problems with picture alignment in Microsoft Word - which other DTP software can I use?
I have been struggling to write a book on my 14 years research. I have used Microsoft Word exclusively, but I have a problem that the book uses lots of pictures, sometimes six per page and this is ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Question about the basic elements of Mckee's view of writting
Well, in the first pages of chapter 2 from [MCKEE.R. Story. itbooks. New York, 1997.] Mckee present to us some basic elements of which a story should be costituted of. Of course that this is him view ...
6
votes
3answers
308 views
Should I write a companion book/blog?
As a spinoff to this question: Incorporating research and background: How much is too much?
I'm writing a middle-grade fantasy novel with a historical fiction component based in Ancient Egypt. I'm ...
0
votes
3answers
81 views
Using words from another book
So, I thankfully own a video-game history book which I anticipate using to write, rather, a Christian, family-friendly account of this subject. To be clear, I'm not going to be rephrasing from the ...
6
votes
1answer
71 views
Materials to promote my book in person
Say I have a book...or a comic series...or a podcast...or another published work.
Marketing written or scripted works is perfectly on topic here, and most of the promotional materials are also ...
6
votes
2answers
235 views
Does every story really represent a life-story, as McKee advises?
In Robert McKee's book STORY, he says that a whole life story of a character must become a story well-told.
So, it seems that the concept of "story told" is a representation of a "life story" that ...
3
votes
1answer
333 views
Standard Margins for 6x9 Size Book
I'm editing/formatting a book for a client and I've run into a bit of a technical issue--I've never formatted a book for print before and I can't seem to find the answer to the following question:
...
1
vote
0answers
67 views
Hooking the Reader. Feedback Needed [closed]
I am writing a new adult urban fantasy novel. The following is the beginning of my current book:
My hand gripped her fragile, human arm. Her warm energy waited just beneath her skin. I stared down ...
3
votes
2answers
157 views
What are the legal concern if our story turns out to a duplicate of an existing copyrighted story? [duplicate]
I am a part semi-professional writer. I usually write articles/column for newspapers, stories for magazines and blog posts on websites. I have also written and published a fictional novel that I ...
1
vote
2answers
109 views
How to sell your book?
Writing a book is only half the job. Selling it is the other half. So I was curious, what are good practices to sell your book? To sell all your copies. To make a demand higher than supply.
Many ...
3
votes
3answers
131 views
How should I calculate the rate for a book I am writing as a co-author?
I work full time as a writer and a friend and long time collaborator of mine has asked whether I can help co author their book.
This job would entail two or three evenings a week on top of my job. I ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
How to insert music lyrics on an book
i'm writing a book where the protagonist is a musician, it's a novel, and in those books I think of drawing a scene where his passion is listening to him. What's the best way to insert a scene like ...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Is it okay to publish a book at the age of 11? [duplicate]
I already wrote a novel called "An Affair". The genre of it is drama and I really want to publish it when I finish writing it but the only problem is I'm 11. I don't know if I can publish a book at ...
2
votes
3answers
101 views
Software for writing a book similar to Resnick-Halliday
Which is the best software to write a book which is similar to Fundamentals of Physics by Resnick and Halliday?
I want to self-publish a book (on physics) on Createspace but have no idea regarding ...
6
votes
1answer
98 views
Mentioning famous person in autobiography
I've been writing an autobiography about sexual abuse that happened to me throughout my childhood. The abuser was the dad of a famous singer. Once I was old enough (18) to leave home and file charges (...
3
votes
2answers
75 views
Can I include a short biography of the person to whom my book is dedicated?
I am writing a non-fiction, somewhat historic, book and I want to dedicate it to a person who did pioneer work on Education in Science in Brazil. She has
passed away recently and was professionally ...
-1
votes
3answers
407 views
How do I write implied rape in my book? [closed]
I'm writing a book and I want to write a chapter where the antagonist beats the protagonist and, well, I want to imply that he rapes her without really writing details about him raping her or writing ...
10
votes
5answers
4k views
Is my book too similar to Harry Potter? [closed]
The story takes place in a fictional country I created.
There are 6 main characters, 3 girls and 3 boys.
They are all "gifted" which are people with special abilities.
There are 3 types of gifted, ...
2
votes
2answers
340 views
How many book pages would 891 words be?
I'm writing something and the font is Alegreya in 13 font size. So far I have 891 words and 4 pages. How many pages would that be in a book?
8
votes
2answers
147 views
What is the correct way to use semicolons vs. commas vs. em dashes?
In Sabriel by Garth Nix, near the beginning of Chapter Two, there is the following sentence:
Anything powerful enough to cross the Wall usually retained enough magic to assume the shape of a soldier; ...
4
votes
1answer
45 views
CREDIT: Doctoral student helping his mentor/professor write a book
Excited for an opportunity to help a mentor and professor complete the writing of his non-fiction poli-sci themed book by providing some 'conceptual editing and framing'. Over half of it is written ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
good Wordpress theme for blogged book? [closed]
Leaving aside whether I ought to blog my book or not, I am doing just that. Each blog post will be a section, multiple sections will be a chapter, etc.
Currently I'm looking for a good wordpress ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Info for use of Wikipedia articles
Can I use Wikipedia articles (under creative commons) to write a book and sell it? I read the rules for using Wikipedia articles but I am still not sure I properly understand it. I want to write a ...
6
votes
4answers
287 views
Is it okay to publish a fan-fiction book from a TV series?
I'm 13 years old and I'm writing a story called 'Destiny'. This book is a fanfiction of the TV-Show "Merlin" (the TV series 2008) and I've added a character into it. There currently is no book of ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Printing a book in word - double sided, multiple pages on one sheet
I want to print a mini book, of about 8 pages, one one sheet. It should be something along the lines of this, which I have tried. But this is not double sided, so when you are done, you see blank ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
Should I be leary of “How To” books?
Have any of the successfully published writers here found the various best selling "How To" books dangerous, in that they guide aspiring writers into producing cookie cutter works?
I'm currently ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
Thinking about a good beginning [closed]
I want to start writing a fantasy reincarnation novel and I want a good beginning but I can't decide. By now I have:
Being killed by a friend (doesn't matter the location)
Being killed by a friend (...
3
votes
2answers
68 views
Writing an image Utopia book
Planning on writing a picture sci-fi book about Utopia.
The book will not have a plot (story), sequence or any conclusion. It will have approximately 30 illustrations generally depicting a search for ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
How do I finish my projects?
I just want to make sure everyone knows, English is not my native language, so if there are any spelling errors or similar, that's the reason.
I'm a 20 year old student who writes novels during my ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
Book writing principles [closed]
I wanted to write a book/novel. And I don't how to start.
Every profession has its own principles. I am sure writing has as well. and
I wanted to know what are they?
Edit:
This question is not ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
How do you get the legal disclaimer notice before you publish your fiction/non-fiction book?
Many of us have written/ are interested in writing a book. However, I've seen that all books, whether digital or printed, contain a legal disclaimer and some kind of copyright notice. Something like "...
0
votes
2answers
135 views
Why would one write something in 2017? [closed]
I know this is not the right question to ask, but I am collecting some statistics about the reasons of writing in a modern world. There are all those gadgets, 5D virtual reality games and movies, you ...
1
vote
5answers
1k views
Is there a YouTube for writers? Basically a way to share manuscripts on social media
The title explains it.
I'm looking for a place to post my writing and easily share it onto Facebook or Twitter. I know there are A LOT of websites, but it seems like there are too many.
I'm looking ...
4
votes
1answer
112 views
What paper stock should I use for the soft cover of my book?
I do soft cover books and laminate the top side, and therein lies the problem. The cover keeps curling up too much. I have tried Ningbo 350gsm which works perfect except that now it's too stiff and ...
