Road Hazard or Litter?

Hi Ang,

I’m on assignment in Orlando tomorrow, riding with the Road Rangers (helping people on the highway). I read – with some relief on your behalf – your editorial today, and the bit Starr sent in about tire recaps or bits on the road.

I want to include that information in my article for Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine, and if I can, might try to include or quote from Starr’s letter.

Hugs for you and to Starr, too!

James Robert Daniels
https://www.writers.net/writers/Jim

All Editors Should Pay Immediately On Acceptance!

Dear Angela,

Thanks so much for your recent payment for my success story – I believe I had the check within three days of the acceptance letter – and that’s certainly a record!

I really wish all of the editors I work with would follow your example.

Best wishes,
Vivian O. Collins

When Snobby Authors Pretend to Be Traditionally Published

Dear Angela,

I read the July 23, 2008, WritersWeekly, “When Snobby Authors Pretend to Be Traditionally Published”. I felt like I knew those same persons. Different place, same snobbery. The only difference is that the traditionally published person wanted others to buy her books, but would not reciprocate by purchasing the others’ work, because it was, “self-published”.

Traditionally published? Hmmm, let’s take a short tour on the history of books, novels, early writings, and printing presses.

Sit back, relax, and think back to the early books. The earliest book ever published: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is considered the world’s first full length novel, written in the early 11th century. It is a 54 chapter novel written by a Japanese noblewoman. With that in mind, where did paper first originate? China. Printing press? Started by the Chinese and developed further by Gutenburg, I do believe. Original writings in China were on “slat books” made from bamboo. Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord has a fascinating website. She researches book making from other countries and presents it for those who would like to use it. A fascinating site. All these historical tidbits point out that these novels, books, etc. were – now, some people who are “traditionally published” may get annoyed – self-published. How else did it happen?

In theory, when the printing press was mastered; it created a new form of entertainment. The first publishing house established was probably done by a person, who had a great idea/story and decided to take that talent, use it to provide entertainment and made money. In my books, it really points back to being self-published. Someone had connections to self-publishing and to getting those novels out into the public’s hands.

I have read lousy books that were published traditionally, and I wondered how it happened; I’ve read self-published novels and they were fantastic. Some of the novels that were self-published that gave self-publishing a bad name are those that needed a good editing.

Authors, do not fall in love with your words! Get your work edited or learn how to do it; it’s one of the important messages I teach students in school regarding their written work. I also teach students about the early beginnings of story writing – they give me a rough draft, we edit, and when they give me the good copy they are self-publishing.

I do wish that those fine lines of self-published and traditionally published would fade and face up to the fact that the early publishing houses and first books originated as self-publishing. I’ve read many websites that talk about their publishing house being a family-based business.

Thank goodness we have self-publishing. Otherwise, we might not be reading any novels.

Thanks for the honest writings, Angela.

Sincerely,
Sharon C. McGonigal, B.Ed. SCWriter
Writer~Editor~Storyteller~Teacher
Writing Workshops~Write Off The Wall
scwriter – at – telus.net