Category: Writing Resources

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Caridad Pineiro shares articles and tips on writing.

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Digital Publishing and Your Writer’s Rights

Contract ObligationsI blogged a little last week about the RWA National Conference and the workshop on digital publishing (click here for that post). Since then I’ve been thinking about some of the issues that were discussed in that wonderful workshop and I thought I would elaborate a little more on them for today’s Tuesday Tip.

Of course, let me preface this with that this is not intended to be legal advice and you should always consult with legal counsel before entering into any legally binding agreement. With that said, here goes!

Digital publishing is expanding at an incredible rate and with that expansion, there are more things that writers need to think about when entering into a contract. Here are some of the major things to consider:

  • Grant of Digital Rights: If you are a traditionally published author, namely an author of books that are in print, do you intend to grant to your publisher the rights to publish your books electronically? Some major authors have opted to retain those rights until certain issues related to digital publishing are resolved, such as the 9.99 pricing for Kindle editions. There has been a lot of discussion on how this pricing may cannibalize print book costs. One publisher, Sourcebooks, is holding back digital editions to counteract this possible affect. For more on this, you can go to this link: http://www.blackplasticglasses.com/2009/07/20/demand-pricing-for-ebooks/
  • Option Clause: What can I say about this except LIMIT, LIMIT, LIMIT. If you’re selling a 60,000 erotic paranormal to a publisher/e-publisher, try to limit the option for your next book to a 60,000 erotic paranormal.
  • Royalties: Royalties on digitally published books can range anywhere from 4% or 6% if you are with a traditional publisher to 35% to 40% for an e-publisher. Talk is that traditional publishers should pay higher percentages to authors on digital editions of print books and I’m sure that will happen as digital publishing becomes more established for traditional publishers. But regardless of the manner in which you are first published – print or digitally – make sure that you know how the percentage is calculated. For example, is the royalty calculated based on the cover price, catalogue price or the net price. What’s the net price? The amount the publisher gets after deducting costs of distribution, etc.
  • Territory: Make sure of the territory for which you are granting either digital or print rights. Although you may grant print rights to only North America, the Net is global and it may not be possible to limit digital rights to a particular territory. This may limit your ability to sell digital rights in a particular territory to another publisher.
  • Reversion of Rights/Out-of-Print: This is probably the most important of all the things to consider in any contract, namely, when do you get your rights back. With the advent of digital publishing, it’s possible that a book will never go out of print. Therefore, it’s important that you set a standard for when a print book that goes digital will go out of print. For example, if less than $100 a year is earned in royalties, the book is considered out of print or if less than 100 copies, whether print or digital, are sold a year.

I hope you found this morning’s Tuesday Tip helpful!

Copyright 2009 Caridad Pineiro Scordato

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Networking

Since I’m headed off to the RWA National conference like many other writers, I thought I’d offer up some tips on networking!

Conferences are one of the best ways of not only improving your craft skills, but also provide wonderful opportunities for meeting new people and expanding your contacts. That kind of networking is invaluable in today’s publishing climate.

So what are some things you can do to accomplish that kind of networking?

  • 1. Get out of your room and down into the common areas. Mingle and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with someone who is sitting beside you or standing alone in the lobby if they seem open to communication.
  • 2. Know when not to approach. If two people are standing there talking, heads close together or directly facing one another, they probably don’t want to be interrupted. Also, don’t hover by expectantly. Step away and approach only when they are ready to invite another into the discussion. How do you know that? Look at their body posture. People standing side-by-side or not directly facing one another have not closed themselves off to others.
  • 3. Make sure you have business cards. If you’re a published author, have one card for business contacts and another for fans and readers. The first should have detailed contact information and the latter should have info on your books as well as your website.
  • 4. If you’re published, have bookmarks available to hand to fans and readers, but not to publishing people. They don’t need your goodies, but do need your business card.
  • 5. If you want to submit to someone, see if they are attending and wait for a good time to approach them. In the few minutes before their workshop is not a good time! Also, remember they are people as well. They likely will appreciate some general talk and getting to know you first. Let the conversation segue naturally into talk about what you do and your submission.
  • 6. Be positive! Negative talk is a total turn off so always try to look on the bright side of things and always offer a smile and a thanks. Positive vibes are always welcome.
  • 7. Last, but most importantly, have a good time! Meet new people and reinforce old friendships.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Tuesday Tips. We’ll be traveling tomorrow, so look for some photos and updates on Thursday.

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Show, Don’t Tell

Click here for more on the Liberty States Fiction WritersBesides attending the monthly meetings of the Liberty States Fiction Writers, I have a smaller group that meets once a month at a local bookstore.

Last night we were discussing an oft-used phrase: Show, Don’t Tell.

One of my friends asked, “How do you know you are doing telling and not showing?”

My friend Anne Walradt is an expert on the subject and does a wonderful workshop on the concept. I can only offer some very basic advice and examples.

First, if you read it aloud and it sounds like a laundry list — You’re telling. An example of telling:

The alley was dark. It smelled of old garbage. There was movement at the end of the alley. It was a large man. He looked like a criminal. Fear gripped her. She ran away.

Was that interesting at all? Did you get involved in what was happening? Did you impart any of your knowledge to the scene, thereby becoming involved in the story?

If you answered “No”, then you understand what’s bad about telling rather than showing. So how you do write the above scene by showing? Here’s a shot at it:

Darkness swallowed her up as she entered the alley. Days old garbage filled a dumpster, making the air rank with the smell of decay. Shadows shifted at the end of the alley. A man stepped forward into the muted pool of light cast by a security lamp. Blue-black prison tattoos covered his arms and his face had the look of a boxer who had lost one too many fights. Her stomach clenched and a cold sweat erupted across her flesh a second before she whirled away.

A little better? Do you impart your own experience to what decay smells like? Did you wonder what the shadow was? Did the description of the man show you he was a criminal and/or trouble without telling you? How about the fear aspect? Didn’t use the word fear, but her reaction demonstrated it and you as the reader, recognized it.

That’s the biggest difference. When you show, the reader becomes involved in the story by interpreting what you are writing. With a laundry list, there’s no involvement on the part of the reader because it’s plan and simple. Of course, that does not mean that you should so confuse your reader with how you show something that they are lost.

So, that’s a very quick rundown on the concept of Show, Don’t Tell. I hope this Tuesday Tip was of help!

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Writer’s Block

wallIt’s not often that I get Writer’s Block, but it does happen on occasion. Often times it’s because I’m wrestling with which way the story should go and not happy with any of the directions which are coming to me.

When I hit that wall, I do wish there was this big red door that I could open to break through, but sometimes the best way is to not keep butting your head up against the wall. Sometimes the best way is to take a step back and take another look at the wall so you not only see the door, but now who to open it.

How do you do that?

1. Pick up a good book to read. I would recommend that it even be something different from what you are trying to write. Reading other genres, and interacting with writers from other genres, is a good way to see the same problem in a different light.

2. Watch a good movie. Again, preferably one that’s different from what you’re writing. Same idea only it takes less time if you’re as impatient as I am. Also, some people need more visual stimuli to see the big red door.

3. Listen to music. I’ve been inspired more than once by a song lyric that’s allowed me to tackle the story with a different perspective or a revitalized concept of the conflicts.

4. Try writing something new. Sometimes you get just too involved in a story or you’ve looked at it one too many times. Refreshen yourself by trying out a new story line or concept.

5. Take a nice long hot shower and while you’re at it, consider the problem in your story that’s creating the boondoggle. Something about putting showers and thinking together always seems to yield good results.

6. Take a walk or do some exercise. Again, think about your story and see if getting out into the fresh air or taxing those muscles produces some new ideas.

I hope those little tips help you find the way through the wall created by your writer’s block!

Also, remember that you have until midnight EST March 25 to visit my friend Kaye Monro for a chance to win a SINS OF THE FLESH T-shirt and a copy of SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD!

Just click here or visit this link: http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/

Look for two more opportunities soon to win some prizes in my HONOR CALLS/FURY CALLS b’day bash continuation!

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Guest Blogs and more contests!

danceI know I’ve posted about this before, but I truly believe that guest blogs are one of the best ways of meeting people and getting the word out about your book. Plus, you guys seems to love them and the fun prizes at each stop.

So – the fun continues this week and up until midnight EST on March 20th! Visit any of these blogs and leave a message and you could win a copy of SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD, an autographed ARC of SINS OF THE FLESH and a CALLING T-shirt. Also drop by Fresh Fiction on March 20th because they are featuring FURY CALLS as their Fresh Pick! (So excited about this!)

Share some coffee and chat with me at Over Coffee:
http://siamckye.blogspot.com/2009/03/balancing-work-and-passion.html

Single Titles Interview:
http://singletitles.com/?p=1607

Loves Romances and More:
http://loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-caridad-pineiros-guest-blog.html

For those of you who participated in last week’s b’day bash, here are the lucky blog winners:

Beyond Her Book blog:

  • Beth C – A copy of HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE, DESIRE CALLS and FURY CALLS as well as a CALLING t-shirt

    • Long and Short Reviews Blog:

  • Vickie C – a copy of SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD
  • Gail H – SINS OF THE FLESH t-shirt
  • Rachel G – a copy of MOON FEVER

    • Liberty States Fiction Writers Blog:

  • Pat C – SINS OF THE FLESH T-shirt and a copy of DESIRE CALLS

    • Fresh Fiction Blog:

  • Rachael G – Copy of SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD and CALLING T-shirt

    • Five Scribes Blog:

  • Fannie W – SINS OF THE FLESH T-shirt and a copy of DESIRE CALLS

    • Drum Roll please – the winner of the $25 Godiva Gift Card is Julie Robinson!

    If you’re one of the lucky winners, please send your postal address to cpsromance@att.net.

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    The Dreaded Info Dump

    dumpI was rewriting a chapter yesterday and when I read it to my critique group, I didn’t need them to tell me what I was doing wrong.

    I knew I was doing the Dreaded Info Dump.

    What’s that? you might ask.

    Well, if you’re a reader it’s something you hopefully will not see in a book. It goes something like this:

    Mary realized that it was Dr. Smith. He had treated her for bunions three years ago. Then again two years later for a heel spur. Now she was there to see him for an ingrown nail, but suspected it was much more than that. For two weeks her toe had been hurting. It had first been a slightly pink color. Then a few days later a little brighter red. Then after a week it had started getting really nasty. Finally a day ago she realized it was time to go see her favorite foot doctor.

    Yes, I know we wouldn’t be interested in a story about her feet, but imagine that the story was a romantic suspense and all that information was about what had happened to the heroine in the last three months – an info dump.

    Much like the person in the photo I posted, info dumps inundate a reader with too much info at one shot and in general, are boring. It’s like reading an encyclopedia entry for your hero or heroine.

    If you need to provide the reader some backstory, it should be layered throughout the chapter and provide subtle hints and information about what’s put the protagonists in their current situation. In fact, the less you say and make the reader intuit, the more they will be drawn into the story you are writing because the reader is participating in the story.

    Of course, don’t make it so confusing or obtuse that the reader will say, “I just don’t get it,” and disengage from the story.

    The hints should be clear and lead the reader toward an understanding of what’s happening. They should be like the breadcrumbs that Hansel and Gretel leave behind, enough so they can be followed to a particular point where you, the writer, are leading them.

    How do you know you are doing the dreaded info dump as a writer? Look for long paragraphs filled with too much information. Dense paragraphs like that are a clear sign that something is up that you should revisit.

    I hope you found this Tuesday Tip helpful.

    Also, don’t forget this week’s b’day bash. Just visit any of the blogs listed below this week and leave a comment and you’ll be eligible to win a prize from me! At Barbara Vey’s blog, there are tons of other prizes as well!

    I’ll be visiting all of these blogs and if you’ve left a comment at any of them, you’ll also be eligible to win a $25 Godiva gift card! The more times I see your name at the different blogs, the more your chances improve to win the gift card. So take a moment and stop by one or all to improve your chances of winning a prize.

    The contest ends on Friday, March 13th at midnight EST, so be sure to get your comments in there on time!

    Barbara Vey’s Beyond Her Book Blog for lots of fun and giveaways!
    http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/post/1240041524.html

    Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=1602

    Harlequin Paranormal Romance blog: http://paranormalromanceblog.wordpress.com/

    Liberty States Fiction Writers (leave a comment on any of the blog posts): http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/blog-read-around-the-world/

    Long and Short Reviews: http://longandshortarchives.blogspot.com/search/label/Caridad%20Pineiro

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    To Tweet or not to Tweet . . .

    Tweet Tweet!To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question. Some of you may be wondering just what a tweet is. A tweet is a post using Twitter.

    So now some of you may wondering, What’s Twitter? Wikipedia defines Twitter as “a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. Updates are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. ”

    Lots of people are sending tweets. Some believe it is a useful way to promote yourself (see this discussion at Bubblecow) and others do not (see West Pier Words).

    I’m undecided, although I’m leaning toward the not. Like Dot at West Pier Words, I’ve gone through the Shelfari, Gather, etc. thing only to find they take up too much time. I do have Myspace and Facebook pages. I’ve found them to be good for letting people know about the books and also, connecting with friends from all over. Same goes for this website and blog. It’s nice to hear from you and it does truly make a difference to me!

    As for adding yet another thing to my life – my already crowded and busy life – I think I’ll forego the tweets for right now.

    How about you? Do you Twitter? Do you find it for keeping up with friends? For those of you who are published authors, do you like it?

    Also, a big thanks to my fellow author Chris Redding for the links to the Twitter discussion. You rock, Chris. You also tweet! LOL!

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