PaperBox Books

I had this conversation with one of our authors yesterday.

What makes a good proofreader?

They’d had people read their book before submitting and got rave reviews, yet we picked out several issues that made their novel unpublishable as submitted.

So how come we saw what their highly educated, beta-readers missed?

Our author hit the nail on the head when she stated that the ‘eyes of experience’ are different from the ‘eyes looking for casual entertainment’.

Their story, like many we’ve reviewed, is great. It’s fast paced, suspenseful and makes you want to keep turning the pages until the end.

BUT, also like many we’ve reviewed it’s like the writer is so busy ‘writing’ they’ve forgotten the story they’re trying to tell.

I do this too, luckily I have my proofreaders there to keep me in line.

Who makes a good proofreader?

Proofreaders (also can be called beta readers) are people that you trust to tell you the problems with your story. They have to understand you are asking them to find errors not gloss over them.

I have two sets of proofreaders. All of them are writers.

I’ve chosen writers because they have a better handle on the craft of writing that the average reader. Fellow writers also seem to have a better understanding (in general) that I’m not asking for their approval.

I need them to find my errors so the editors, publishers, and readers don’t.

They expect the same from me, it’s not a one sided relationship

Added bonus:

As we critique each others work, we become better writers ourselves. There are common mistakes we all seem to make and it’s so much easier to see them in someone else’s writing.

What do proofreaders actually do?

My first set of proofreaders and I go through each chapter line by line looking for story inconsistencies, bad/passive wording, fact and logic flaws. These guys are out for blood. Their job is to look for anything close to a mistake. They’re brutal.

After I’ve gone through and made the adjustments from my first set of proofreaders. I send my complete manuscript out to a different set of readers. These are folks who have no idea what my story is about. They read it from start to finish, just like someone who has purchased my book. They are also brutal.

The last thing any writer wants is to be told, “I love your book, I wouldn’t change a thing” by their proofreaders. It means they haven’t done their job.

Good luck in your editing.

Sue

No Comments | In: Submissions, Writing Help | | #

Just a little note to explain the difference between proofreaders and editors.

Proofreaders, are an your first step after you’ve polished your manuscript to the best of your ability. They see what you’ve actually written instead of what you intended to write.

A good proofreader with tell you where your story goes off track, slows down, goes too fast, skips important bits and get stuff wrong.

We highly recommend finding other authors to work with and proofreader each other’s stories. It might take some time to find authors who are a good fit but it’s worth the time and effort because their input is invaluable. There are also some really good paid critique services as well if you can’t find other authors to work with.

When your proofreader gives you their feedback, go back and fix the problems. Then re-polish your manuscript.

When you send your manuscript through to a publishing company, you’re dealing with editors.

No matter what size the publishing company, if an editor is going to reject your manuscript, they’ll do it within the first few pages.

Editors are part of the publishing business. They don’t have time to invest in correcting problematic writing. If they’re not captured by your story, or see basic errors that should have been caught by you or your proofreader, they’ll toss your manuscript without a 2nd thought.

Smaller companies like ourselves, try to help new authors, by giving some direction on how to improve their writing.

This doesn’t make us proofreaders.

At PBB, we offer a few general comments about the biggest issues we see and provide a few examples for clarity. If there were only those specific mistakes in your manuscript, you would be offered a contract.

There is an expectation that you, the author, take those examples and see how they apply to your entire novel.

If you’re having difficulty identifying trouble spots, get your proofreader to help. because after all, they see what you’ve actually written, not what you meant to write.

Good luck with your writing!

Sue

No Comments | In: Writing Help | | #

Are you excited yet?

What is NaNo?

NaNo is a month of pure writing insanity.

The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. While it might sound intimidating, it’s actually very doable. Especially since this is the first draft. No one is expecting a literary masterpiece (you still need to edit the crap out of it – and I mean that literally).

So what’s the point if you don’t have a publishable piece at the end of November?

Well, for most of us, it means we’ve got one more first draft. Or, in some cases it means we finally have a first draft. I mean, how many people do you hear say, “I’d love to write a book one day but I never seem to have the time.”

NaNo is a short, one month commitment to see what they can do.

Added Bonus:

Writing is usually a solitary venture, NaNoWriMo fosters community.

Most cities have social events during the month of November to help writers get to know each other and offer support. There is nothing more energizing than to sit in a room full of writers and hearing nothing but the clickety-click of keys hammering out stories with occasional exclamations of “I have another thousand”

Having an audience when you hit 50,000 words is particularly fun.

If you live in a more remote area, there are global forum boards for writers to talk and share trials, solutions and just cheer each other on.

NaNoWriMo is expandable – I’m in Vancouver, BC, since a lot of us write all year long we’ve extended the social and write-in events to happen all year long.

How cool is that?

You’ll probably see me post more about NaNo in the weeks to come. After all PaperBox Books is aimed at helping first time authors get published. Here is a chance for more wannabe authors to dip their feet in the pool to see if they can do it.

Cheers

Sue

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | | #

I’ve become a real fan of Jennifer Crusie lately. It may be what’s going on in my life right now, but I’m reading more romantic comedy than usual. It gives me a place to relax the brain and enjoy some happy emotions. One of the things about reading on my iTouch is I can jump from book to book as the mood (and battery life) lets me. So what does this have to do with this review? I was reading 4 books until I started Maybe this Time. Suddenly I was reading one book and finding more time to read.

It’s a retelling of The Turn of the Screw – don’t let that put you off, it’s funny and dark and romantic.

Jennifer Crusie has created a cast of great characters. Andie, our hero, North Archer – our love interest (I kept thinking his name was Archer North but no). Her mother, his mother, old loves, brothers, evil newscasters and housekeepers, and two slightly crazy but fabulous kids.

10 page turns out of 10

Maybe This Time

Some other books by Jennifer Crusie

Trust Me On This

The Cinderella Deal

Happy Writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | | #

Here are a few links for you – mostly picked from the variety of blogs I follow.

The Swivet – why your hook is important.

Allison Winn Scotch – when to put away the manuscript.

Janet Reid – query letters

Write to Done – Adverbs

Happy writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | tags: Writing Tips. | #

I have read Pillars of the Earth twice and loved it both times. It’s rich and deep and historical and romance and betrayal and about politics and religion and building cathedrals. Who could want for more?

I finished watching the recent miniseries made from the books and I kept saying to myself, I don’t remember that, that’s not right etc. Of course, I hadn’t remembered all of the book, and for some of it, I was right, they had made some changes to shorten it for TV and give it more action.

The story is – well as I said above there’s more than one story here.

The story about building the cathedral is filled with conflict between the local prior and the evil bishop.

The story about the English succession is – well tied into the story with the evil bishop.

The story of faith meets conflict on practicality.

If you are looking for an example of finely crafted complexity this is the best one I know.

10 page turns.

Perry

No Comments | In: Book Review | tags: Book Review. | #

I was on my Goodreads group this morning and I found all kinds of posts asking for help. One post was specific to one sentence the author was trying to revise. She got responses right away and three great ones (okay one was mine but it was great, really).

I guess the point is, look for help everywhere. You never know where you’ll find that gem of advice that takes you to the next level.

Happy writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links, Writing Tips | tags: revision, writing advice, Writing Tips. | #

I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon of book reviewers. Why? ‘Cause I read.

I read a lot of different genres and since starting PaperBox Books with Sue, I’ve broadened my reading habits even more. One thing I’ve always returned to for entertainment that doesn’t challenge me too much, is the contemporary romance.

Jennifer Cruisie is always reliable for a light yet satisfying read. Her heroines are likable even when they are in the throes of their flaws. In Bet Me, Min is just such a heroine, she’s a chubby daughter of a skinny family and her mother thinks that the best way to support her is to keep her off carbs.

Along comes our hero, Cal, the typical gorgeous hunk – who is really a good guy, right? He takes a bet from Min’s ex boyfriend. What Min hears and what Cal says are two different bets.

I don’t think I gave too much away but now I’ll stop with the plot and let you enjoy it.

Overall, it kept me reading, I liked all the characters, even the evil ones. Cruisie kept the story moving and the characters developing believably.

I give it 10 page turns out of 10

Enjoy a good read.

Perry

No Comments | In: Book Review | tags: reviews. | #

Hi, here are a few links that you might find useful.

For writers who need to know all about forensic science.

Links within links from Charlotte Dillon about character development.

World Builder Projects, all about world building links.

Happy Writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | tags: Writing Tips. | #

I’ve been reading a few great blogs the last couple of days. Here are three that I think will help most writers.

There are no rules a good article about querying (just because PaperBox Books isn’t the only channel to your reader).

From Ask the Publishing Guru about using strong verbs.

And, finally,

How to kill your imaginary friends – this one may not be useful for everyone, but it’s got great information on exsanguination.

Happy writing.

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | | #