The Zebra Communications Blog

Writers Network News

My newsletter distributor went out of business without notifying its clients. It absconded with my subscriber list. I've decided to take its action as a sign…

Ask the Book Doctor About Capital Letters

by Bobbie Christmas Q: When I refer to a specific chapter in my book proposal or in my book, do I capitalize it? For example, when…

Ask the Book Doctor: About Artificial Intelligence

By Bobbie Christmas (and AI) Q: What are your feelings about using artificial intelligence to write a novel? A: I’m intrigued with all the discussions about…

How to Handle Numbers

Ask the Book Doctor: How to Handle Numbers By Bobbie Christmas Q: When am I supposed to write out numbers or use the numeral? Do I…

Rejection

Let’s talk about rejection. Serious writers like us face rejection often, and we must remember it’s not personal—it’s not about us. It’s about our manuscript. Way…

Closemouthed or Activist?

Because of the stigma involved, I’ve withheld personal information from most people. The other day, though, I researched how others handle my situation. I learned that…

Hard-copy Editing: Why Request It?

In this digital age hard-copy editing has almost disappeared. What is hard-copy editing? It refers to editing a printed manuscript rather than a digital file. The…

Resolution Dissolution

February is the month by which most people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions. By that time of year the folks who intended to…

A Day From Hell

After a week of being almost bedridden with a cold that started out mild and then raged into a nightmare of coughing, wheezing, snorting, sniffling, and…

Battling Being Boring

I wonder if all my fellow writers and editors run into the same issue I have had for quite some time. I spend so much of…

'Sell Out' or Sell?

I just finished writing a travelogue article for the magazine I also edit. I spend most of my time editing, these days, so it was a…

The Curse of Being an Editor

I recently downsized and moved into an active-living facility that offers all sorts of amenities, including an indoor pool, a high-quality restaurant, entertainment, and activities and…

To Split or Not to Split?

“What’s your opinion of split infinitives,” a close friend and fellow writer recently asked me. She knows I am a book editor, of course. She added,…

A Circular Story

In getting dressed to go bowling recently, I reached into my jewelry box for a pair of earrings and spotted a gold ring I hadn’t worn…

Why Do You Write?

Many writers contact me regarding something they wrote—a poem, short story, memoir, novel, self-help book, family history, or something else. Some of those folks ask me,…

At What Point Can You Call Yourself a Writer?

Someone recently wrote the following email to me: "A question came up during a guild meeting recently regarding published writings, such as letters to the editor…

Hard-Copy Editing Versus Electronic Editing

What is Hard-Copy Editing? What is Electronic Editing? People have asked me what I mean by hard-copy editing or electronic editing, so clear explanations are in…

How to handle cultural issues in creative writing

by Bobbie Christmas Q: In light of racial and LGBTQ issues, various terminology is changing to more sensitive language, avoiding words and phrases such as master,…

Find Your Fresh Voice

©2020 Bobbie Christmas Agents and publishers say they want manuscripts with a fresh voice. What the heck is a fresh voice, and how can you find…

On My Editing High Horse

I’m not a grammarian, a teacher of grammar. I’m merely an editor who has to deal with grammar issues daily. As such I feel that it…

Birth of a Baby

Completing a book has often been described as giving birth, and as one who has given birth to babies and books, I fully understand the correlation.…

Reading for Fun

One of the possible drawbacks to being a book editor is that I read manuscripts as a necessary part of my business, which leaves almost no…

Starting Over

I spent all day recently rewriting from memory a children's story I had written years ago, because I could not find it on any of my…

The Case of the Missing Towel

When I stepped out of the shower recently, I reached for my bath towel, which usually hangs on a hook by my shower. The hook was…

LIFE AS MATERIAL

LIFE AS MATERIAL   My sister and I recently drove to Altamonte Springs, Florida, where I gave several workshops and many interviews at the Florida Writers…

HUMOR FOR GRAMMARIANS

A few weeks ago I saw a funny list of items related to writing. I’d seen it before, but this time I decided to share it…

No More Me and . . .

As an editor you can probably find grammar errors in anything you read, yet are errors in grammar coming out of your mouth when you speak?…

Percentages, Thoughts, and Single and Double Quotation Marks

Writers asked; I answered. Q: In this sentence (for a nonfiction book), which version would be correct? (Or should it be something else?) Most lenders expect…

My Take on (some of) the Oscars

I watched a foreign film last night titled The Square . It is up for an Oscar for best foreign film, and although lately the foreign…

Circle of Life

About a month ago I noticed a Krispy Kreme store being built only three miles from my house. Yay! It wasn’t opened yet, though. Boo! Although…

Pharmaceutical Fiasco

Writers write. What do we write about? With nonfiction writers like me, every bump in the road, every event in our lives, feels as though it happens…

Early Inspiration

Those of us who write have been either blatantly or subtly influenced by someone, whether a writer, a teacher, a relative, or a friend. I certainly…

The Story of Bruce Bird

The story of Bruce Bird must now be told. I see him aging and having difficulty moving around his cage. He has stopped eating the spinach…

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

I’m always impressed with fiction writers. Not only must their word choice and word order be correct, but they must also conjure up stories with conflict…

Ask the Book Doctor about Radio Promotions

Questions from real writers, just like you; answers from Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas   Q: I haven’t a clue about how to promote my book on…

About Writing in Venacular versus Dialect

What is the difference between dialect and vernacular? Mostly it is readability, but also the decision to write in dialect versus vernacular can reflect poorly on…

'Twas the Day after Christmas

After I moved to metro Atlanta in 1992, I started a new tradition in my family: Christmas Day at the Christmas House. For days in advance…

Loglines are Essential to Novelists

“Logline” was a term thrown around a great deal at the Florida Writers Association conference this past October. I’ve been editing books for decades, yet I’d…

Conference Recap

Last week, October 15 through October 18, 2015, I attended and presented at the annual Florida Writers Association conference. As usual it was one of the…

Peace versus Conflict

Today I saw the following lines excerpted from John Lennon's song, "Imagine," a song I deeply love: "Imagine there's no countries, / It isn't hard to…

My Most Memorable Childhood Book

Earlier this month I reported on the book that changed my life, Wayne Dyer’s first book, Your Erroneous Zones . Today I will tell of the…

A Truly Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday (September 18). My father used to say, “When you’re past fifty and nothing new hurts when you wake up, it’s a good…

The Book That Changed My Life: A Tribute to Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer, the world needed you. I needed you. I am sorry you left this earth this week, but you left a legacy that will never…

I Am a Writer, Damn it!

Today a friend told me how she woke up with an idea buzzing around in her head, and she simply had to write it out as…

Sleep Deprivation, Jet Lag, and Writing

On the good side, I recently took a lengthy vacation and flew across the pond to Greece for the first time. On the bad side, the…

Falling Prey to a Commercial

I fell prey to a commercial that made my mouth water, and I have learned my lesson. Little Caesar's bacon-encrusted deep dish pizza spoke to me…

Words and Music

I feel moved by Truman Capote's quote, "To me the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the music the words make." I…

A New Year, a New Plan

Many folks make resolutions for the new year, and for a few weeks they may even try to fulfill those resolutions. I see the results at…

The Horror of the Blank Page, Blank Mind

Have you ever stared at a blank page and wondered what the heck you were going to write? That's what I faced today when I realized…

Giving Thanks for Open Minds and Happiness

As I write this, I am still swooning with love for my family and thankful for all my blessings. After a huge family wedding a few…

Query Letters: Do's and Don'ts

While clearing out old papers, I ran across a few items I collected many years ago. For a time, I helped a literary agent sort through…

Today's Conundrum

One of my wonderful clients just sent me a copy of her memoir, Wife of the Deceased . Last month, a client gave me two of…

What's an Editor to Do?

As I write this, I just finished reading a blog posted by someone who claims to be an editor. While her blog information makes sense, I…

Lifelong Learning

Once I became a senior, I discovered endless opportunities to travel, take seminars, attend lectures, and join in mini-adventures. Woodstock has two senior centers that offer…

The Mighty Pen -- and an addendum

I wrote the following as my letter from the editor in the latest issue of The Writers Network News , but even if you read it…

A Vague Nod to Astrology, and How it Affects Writers

Over the years I have had a few friends who studied, swore by, and lived by astrology. Mostly I found their comments to be a waste…

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

Today I ended a two-week trial using hearing aids. I'm relieved, so far, to have those things out of my ears, but the trial was more…

The Meaning (pun intended) behind Name-calling

Something pressed on my mind this morning until I had to sit down to write my thoughts. The other day I had a conversation with a…

Ask the Book Doctor about Sentences that Deserve Restructuring

Q: I'm writing a short story, and I need help with a sentence. Are any of the following versions I wrote okay? 1. That resulted in…

Caveat Emptor!

Caveat emptor! Buyer beware! Oh, I know, writers are sellers, not buyers, but we also do buy services to help us get published or to help…

Astrology: Can It Affect Writing?

One of my clients sent his manuscript last month and insisted that I return the edited version before Mercury went retrograde February 23. Thankfully for him,…

Latest Newsletter Issue Coming Up

The Writers Network News , February 2013 edition, is set to be sent Thursday, January 30. If you haven't yet subscribed, it's not too late to…

The Errant Writer

Holy cow! I can't believe I haven't posted a word on my blog since May. Truth is, I went through an unusual phase of life, recuperating…

Idioms versus Cliches

In the Freelance Editing Network on LinkedIn, I’ve been following an interesting discussion on idioms and clichés. A Freelance Editing Network member who teaches English as…

The Decline and Fall of the English Language

Editors and grammarians have bemoaned the decay of the English language for decades, if not centuries, so my lament is nothing new. Our language is dynamic,…

What Stops You?

Yesterday I held one of my sporadic local meetings of The Writers Network. Having been on the board of the Georgia Writers Association for some ten…

Tribute to a Neighbor

Camellias bloom in her yard. I saw them today, and all my memories of her returned. My neighbor always waved when I walked my various dogs…

How is a Person Supposed to Get Help?

Today's posting is a vent, rather than advice. Today I responded to a voicemail message from a prospect who said she wants to write a book.…

Ask the Book Doctor about Copyrights, Mentors, and Simultaneous Submissions

Real questions writers have asked; real answers, from a real book doctor Q: After a book is written, how do I go about protecting my work with…

Proper Punctuation Makes a Big Difference

Words and Word People

I love words, so it's no surprise that I love other people who love words. In last month's issue of The Writers Network News , I…

Where to Start?

A friend called the other day. She’s had a book in her head for ages, and she’s finally ready to write it, except for one tiny…

Writers Need Community

I just returned from the first Turner Cassity Literary Festival in Douglasville, Georgia. The event honored Cassity, a curmudgeon of a southern poet, playwright, and short-story…

State Your Passion!

Hocus-Pocus, Mental Focus, and Research

My task of late has been to research publishers who may be interested in buying the second rights to Write In Sty le. The book is…

The Pain of Submission

We writers love to write, but oh, the pain of preparing our babies for submission to agents and publishers! We have to stop being writers and…

How to Get Started

Whenever I speak at a conference I tell attendees they have the lifetime privilege (I remind them that it's my lifetime, not theirs, so hurry!) of e-mailing…

Rejection Is Part of the Job

I’m still trying to find a publisher for my first book of memoirs, a series of personal experience essays about my dating experiences. I had high…

Stop Procrastinating

In mid July, I said, “If not now, when?” I felt determined to stop procrastinating and start work on a few major projects. My first task…

Giving Birth to a Book

Yesterday a client came to my office to discuss her pain over writing her book. Like many writers before her, she described her experience to be…

Who Has Your Backup?

We’ve all heard nightmares about lost manuscripts. In the days of paper and typewriters, writers worried about fire. We bought fireproof safes or rented safe deposit…

Writers Conference Makes Waves

I just returned from tropical St. Simons Island, Georgia, where I spoke at the Scribbler’s Writers’ Retreat. I could not ask for a more inspirational setting.…

Who needs technology? Oh, I do.

My old cell phone grew erratic. It shut itself off, even when the battery was fully charged. Sometimes it refused to shut off. At time it…

Holiday Blues? Think Green!

Adults usually find themselves overwhelmed by the season’s added obligations, events, and duties, on top of our already overcrowded schedules. When can a serious writer find…

Culling Clutter

Thank you for the outpouring of response regarding my flooded office. Although papers, books, notebooks, and other objects that await a new location or new home…

The rest of the story

Here are more photos from the artist's play date mentioned in the previous blog: The lush green runway of what I've jokingly named The Woodstock International…

The Artist's Play Date

Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way, portrays many ways of staying in touch with your creativity. One of my favorite of her suggestions involves making a…

The Long Arm of the Writer

As a businessperson and author it’s important to keep up with where your name appears and who is publishing your work with or without your permission.…

This is Reality?

On a recent reality show a mother and a nanny help a young person with her homework. The child reads the sentence that says something like…

Don’t Write the Cart First

A close friend started writing a book this past month and has completed the opening pages. She took a moment to think of how she would…

Publishing Missteps

RedRoom.com asked members to write of their publishing missteps, so I wrote the following and decided to share it with my other readers as well. We…

Great Seminar Past; More Planned in Future

My seminar for Write Well University went even better than expected. The organizer said we had more people signed up for the event than any other…

Yes, You Can Make a Living with Words!

AuthorSmart and WriteWellUniversity present a teleseminar that could change your life. When you make a living doing what you love, you never feel that you're working.…

The Writers Network News, July issue, is out!

If you aren't a subscriber, go to www.zebraeditor.com and sign up today. It's free, and it's for anyone who writes. You'll get news, tips, answers, markets,…

It's not post mortem yet

Today the UPS truck pulled up to my office and offloaded the final seven cartons of my book, Write In Style . The rights have reverted…

Open Your Heart to Possibilities

One year ago on Memorial Day a neighbor who lives across the street knocked on my door and pleaded with me for the third time to…

New Port Richey Do It! Write! Conference

I've been back from the New Port Richey, Florida, conference since April 20, and I would have written about it sooner, but I had to hit…

The Writers Network News, May issue, is out!

For news, markets, tips, and information for writers, see the latest issue of The Writers Network News at http://live.ezezine.com/feeds/Bobbie_Christmas.rss.

Mid-List Woes

Yesterday I got a letter from my publisher, the only correspondence more dreaded than a rejection. It was a notice that Union Square Publishing, an imprint…

Lunch with a friend

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, I had lunch with a different friend. The experience gave me an opportunity not only to connect with friends, but also to…

Scorching Summer Down Under

Many of my readers know my sister, also a writer, lives in Australia, thirteen time zones away, where their seasons are the opposite of ours. With…

Concrete descriptions cement your writing future

The Arctic chill that settled over Georgia finally cleared a little, and temperatures rose well above freezing. I was able to take a stroll in a…

I Have a Dream

I find it fitting that today's celebration of Martin Luther King Day is being followed by the monumental day that our first black president will be…

Sight Unseen

Dear Readers, What a eye-opening experience I had last week! Literally! I went to an exhibition called Dialog in the Dark in midtown Atlanta, and although…

Odd Gifts

With the holidays pressing on me, I was knocked off my feet by a stomach virus that would not go away. Day after day I endured…

Waiting for Inspiration

I kept waiting for inspiration before writing this message, until it eventually occurred to me that I was going against my own advice to other writers:…

Writers Helping Writers

I returned from Orlando, Florida, a few days ago, and I’m still glowing. The balmy weather and Florida sun warmed me for sure, but more than…

What Do You Want?

"Start with the end in mind." -- Aristotle "If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else." --Yogi Berra I love motivational quotations,…

Coping with Rejection

The agent that handled Write In Style , my award-winning book on creative writing, sent me a rejection e-mail last night for a proposal I sent…

The Power of Knowledge, the Privilege to Learn

One of the things I love about writing is that writers never stop learning. We learn about crafting a great sentence, paragraph, chapter, article, novel, or…

The Power of a Deadline

When I speak at conferences and to writers groups I often mention the power of planning and setting deadlines, yet many people complain. They say they…

Don’t Try; Do

Robert Frost said, “Talking is a hydrant in the yard, and writing is a faucet upstairs in the house. Opening the first takes all the pressure…