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Is there a section in the forums, either here or in the premiums, for finding an editor?
Thanks!
I have used Jeanne Bannon in the past. She does very good work and for a reasonable fee. If you
want to connect with her send me an email at oldecrow13@aol.com and I'll hook you up with her.
She is also on Facebook.
Lee
I'm BAAACK! Hi to all those here who already know me and warmest greetings to
all the newbies. I've been off TNBW for several months while compiling STORYHOLE
the current anthology. Now I'm back on TNBW and looking to do some quid pro quo reviews
with anyone interested. I'm going to try to commit to at least 3 or 4 visits per week now that
the book is at the publishers.
Lee
Good job, Paul
Maybe it's just me but it seems folks don't want to make many comments or
just leave goofy talk shop since we changed to the new TNBW site.
What are your thoughts JLMo?
Some think POV is critical. I see it as only an issue when you have jumps in and out
of various characters that might confuse the reader. One way I separate a change in
POV is to insert a fleuron (***) break any time I change the POV of one of the characters
or a change in time or scene.
STORYHOLE is at the publisher A/O July 31, 2015. I'm waiting for them to send me the interior
proof copy of the whole book. We already scanned an interior sample for fonts, format and
such. The publisher I'm using for this book is DogEar.
I wanted to start a forum thread where we can talk about Print On Demand and
all Publishers.
I have used CreateSpace for 3 books and have mixed feelings about them. On
one hand they are reasonable in price and have individual support teams to guide
the author through the process. But I have also had problems with them in the
areas of editing services, errors appearing in the MS & proofs and disagreement
over who is at fault for the errors and who pays to fix it.
I like their interior formatting and the options they provide for fonts, style and
trim sizes.
I have not been crazy about their help in covers. This is based solely on my
first novel, Cable Hornman.
I'm exploring several other POD publishing companies and here is a short list:
Fast Pencil
Bookstand
Virtual Bookworm
Booklocker
Dog Ear
Infinity
Anyone out there have anything nice (or derogatory) to add?
I also looked at Xlibris and Authorhouse but found they are involved with'
a lawsuit and scratched them.
My main criteria is:
POD provides Hardcover, softcover and E-book options
POD is reasonably priced for services provided
Provides help in distributing to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ingram
and posting E-book on Amazon KDP
Has author discount
Allows reasonable reduction in final sales pricing & buy back options
Your comments welcome............
I'm currently (April) working with the copy editor and one thing we decided is to do an E-book format
where there will be hyperlinks in the table of contents so a reader can just jump straight to a desired
story.
Lot of reformatting work going on and I think I've finally found an editor worth the money. I'm
excited about Storyhole being a much better anthology than my first two, at least more professional.
My world of Pearl is constantly developing and expanding. Like Luke J's world of Pyre, my world
also has portals to other dimensions and worlds. While Pearl is a generic high fantasy world with
swords, magic and medieval characters, it also has some unexplained phenomena. One of these
are the Tor gates which allow someone in the know to travel vast distances on Pearl in the blink
of an eye, or even crossover to other worlds (like Earth). I used this recently in a story for the
anthology STORYHOLE.
In new developments - I'm dancing on air today because the artist who did the cover for High Maga, Thomas Vandenberg, has agreed to do my third novel, Daughter of Aithne, as well as a new cover for the first novel in the series, Eolyn. It's a great chance to tie them all together, at last. AND I really love his work. Woohoo!!
That sounds great Karin. I went to a lot of trouble searching various covers to do something like that for the Cable Hornman Tales of the Bard series. I hadn't planned to do a new cover for the first novel, but I came across an excellent cover that is much better than the original that Createspace did for the book. I'm waiting to release book II Secret of the Druids and tie in the second edition of Book I with a new cover.
I'm motivated by my kids and grand-kids to leave them some stories
for posterity. I try to write a certain amount each day when I'm in
the writing mode. My problem is that my muse leaves me floundering,
sometimes for weeks, without any idea where I'm going with the story
next. I get out of the writing mode and find it hard to get back to my
committed self. Recently, family illnesses knocked me out of sorts and
drastically cut into both my time and desire to write.
Lee
I started the group as a test group in the beta version before Sol switched us over to the new system.
The issue of free vs points has come up before. I agree that it is very confusing but at the time I clicked on
points based, I wasn't fully aware what the implications would be. I have not seen any option to change
the group to free once points was selected. Even so, I still prefer writing/reviewing on the points system
so that temporary "free" visitors are encouraged to join.
I must admit I'm a bit peeved that the free option was even allowed on the new site.
But I am also not a happy camper here. I tried really really hard to get used to the new site and all
its new functions, screens and menu drop downs, but it still seems to me that you have to go
around your elbow to to get to your hand on this site. I liked the old site much better.
I'm partial to Self Pub Book Covers. They cater to new and indie writers with a myriad of designs you can search by subject or genre. They only cost about $80 and up.
Here's a link: http://www.selfpubbookcovers.com/
That's the point Genevieve, you're exactly right. When it was just me writing stories
about Pearl and Methanasia, I was able to play fast and loose with the details, but as
soon as I started having other writers tell short stories set in that world things were
very different. If I told one person about the Blue Boar Inn, then the details had to
be consistent when describing it to another writer. Thus you have maps, character
descriptions and at least some fictional history that have to be documented.
Thanks GF
Lee
I agree whole-heartedly, Jube. The amount of detail a writer puts into the characters world will depend on how much will actually come out in telling the story. I have a lot of details in the world of Pearl that I created for the character Cable Hornman because I intended for him to be in a series of stories in Tales of the Bard. He is meant to do a lot of traveling around a certain area during his adventures. Plus I already had a great deal of the world documented from playing games with my kids when they were young.
In other tales, mostly short stories, I follow the same approach as Stephen King and let the world come out on its own as the characters pass through it. You can skip the details sometimes and just let the reader fill in what they imagine based on the character's interaction with their environment.
One thing I've noticed, however is when some writers make technical errors by not paying attention to the characters world. One story I reviewed had the characters heading west at dawn. Then one complained about the blinding sun rising in front of them in a following paragraph. I don't know if that is a function of world building, but it deserves attention to the details to avoid a knee-jerk reaction by the reader. 
Lee
PS: I also did a lot of documenting the world because I got other writers to set their short stories in the world for a couple anthologies I compiled.
Can't wait to see what you've got Ernie.
And Amy, my suggestion is to just carry on...nobody releases a perfect first book. The more you do, the more you learn and the better it gets... at least that's the theory.
This is a place to talk with others about your fictional world, whether it is in science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal or some other type story. World building (or conworlding) is defined in wikipedia at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldbuilding
Here is another link to an article by Charlie Jane Anders on the 7 Deadly Sins of Worldbuilding
http://io9.com/7-deadly-sins-of-worldbuilding-998817537
You may have to scroll down a bit to see his article, but it's worth the read.
My personal thoughts on this subject are:
Make it believable, but know the broad overview of your world. How does
it work? What technology (if any) is available? What is weird that works...
like magic, voodoo, faster than light travel or possession?
Keep the Environment Simple (I know Avatar was cool in the movie, but ... )
Don't be afraid to let your characters react with the world around them and...
let them create subplots based on interaction with others and the fictional
environment. Remember, it's only fictional to you, to your character it
is real.
Borrowed thoughts: Your world may have differing classes and races, but even
within those groups there should be some that rebel against the norm or
are willing to see another groups POV.
My main forte in world building is an attention to detail and making every
effort to document things...to wit, I have extensive lists and files on just
about everything in my fantasy world. Here are just a few examples:
Etymology List of character and place names, hidden meanings, used
names in bold with annotation as to what novel or story they're in.
Maps, both of continent and regional realms with annotations of all
population centers, special areas (like a valley full of monsters) and
connecting trade routes, roads or trails through wilderness areas.
Brief historical documents on places or characters. I think this is very
important for characters so you know what might be motivating them
or why they react certain ways. This also gives you fodder for dialogue
when they are killing time with other characters.
I've been told by several people over the past few years that I have
a very well developed fantasy world. I'll be glad to share any thoughts
or help anyone in this area.
Anxious to hear from others.
The lineup for this book project:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROLOGUE: A Wizard and a Bard by C. Lee Brown
STORIES TOLD AT THE INN:
No. Title Page
I ~ Where the Tunnel Ends by C. Lee Brown
II ~ In Flight by Michael Drakich
III ~ Barnaby's Folly by Zephyrus White
IV ~ Doorway by Maggie Banks
V ~ Karl’s Story by Amy Sonoda
VI ~ Crash Site by Charles Brass
VII ~ Pengrit, Academy’s Child by M. A. Terribile
VIII ~ The Witch and the Fox by JL Mo
IX ~ What A Woman Wants by Bonnie Milani
X ~ Jon23 by Tirzah Goodwin
XI ~ A Final Telling by R. M. Gayler
XII ~ Simple Cup of Tea by C. N. Howard
XIII ~ Death Day by Douglas J. Moore
XIV ~ Midnight Snack by Jeanne Bannon
XV ~ Creative Juices by Charles Brass
XVI The Intrepid Explorer by Michael Drakich
XVII A Haunted Trailer by JL Mo
XVIII Princess by Amy Sonoda
***
Hey ernie, what she said...plus how's Hawaii treating you?
Lee
Hi all. Amy that castle looks a lot like the one on the hill above Sandahl in Methanasia on Pearl. I hope
Lord Dirdon doesn't get upset. LOL
Great forum here. I was delayed getting on the new site. My i-net service provider decided
to just arbitrarily slow down my speed and data volume for the past three weeks. It's
back now (tonight at least) so I've been up all night catching up on email, Facebook and
the new tNBW. I also was able to reset the Fantasy World Builders Group and I'm inviting
everyone interested to join.
Lee
A place to continue discussions about the Storyhole book project.
I tried to access old site and couldn't. Must be doing something wrong. Will try later today
I tried today and also couldn't. I got a message that the site would be down
for about ten hours, but it was dated for the 12th.
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