Love of Dictionaries

I must admit I am an avowed "dictionariaholic." It is not a word you will find in the dictionary -- I made it up for my condition -- I collect large, oversized, multiple volume dictionaries. I find endless pleasure opening up to a random page to find a new word.

I know writers who don't have dictionaries and rely on "Spellcheck." What they don't realise is: if the word is not spelled incorrectly, Spellcheck won't flag it. And, if you use the improper word, you are the one who looks idiotic.

So, here is a little writer's helper for those of you who may be writing fiction with a medical theme.

Diagnosis: the act of deciding, on the basis of analyzing symptoms, what disease is affecting the patient. It comes, like most medical language, from Greek, specifically from dia (between) and gignoskein (to know).

Prognosis: the prediction made by a physician of the course and probable termination of the disease. It has the same root as diagnosis, of course, and the prefix pro means "before." Thus a prognosis is a "knowing before" -- or prediction.

The next time you are out at a flea market or yard sale, look for a lovely old dictionary -- you just might get hooked.

Return to Blogging

After a bit of an absence, I will be blogging again. I have had some personal, as well as professional, issues to deal with. My first novel, The Wrath of Amun, is available on Amazon (in print) and on Smashwords for download. And, I am pleased to report that I have two more novels in my Egyptian mystery series completed: The Talisman of Tehuti and The Savagery of Set. I shall keep you posted as to possible publication dates on them.

I am currently at work on the fourth novel in the series, The Magistrates of Ma'at; a large cast with multiple suspects, so the going is slow. And, I am trying my hand at a contemporary novel, tentatively titled, Second Chances. Since this is a whole new genre for me, I'm keeping the project close to the vest for the present. I need to see if I can actually do this before I post any clips.

I will post clips from my completed novels, and the one in progress for your feedback. You will also see some interesting postings on my blog. I want to share more writing reference material, like word origins and foreign words which can be sprinkled, like fine spices, in a manuscript.

Finally, in honour of George Orwell, who was born this day in 1903, I leave you with this quote:

       "No doubt alcohol, tobacco, and so forth, are things that a saint must avoid, but sainthood is also a thing that human beings must avoid."

Publication of First Novel

I am thrilled to report my first novel, The Wrath of Amun, has been published by Pendraig Publishing and is available on Amazon. Writing fiction has been an amazing test of willpower - plotting, characterization, and sustaining the story for 200 pages has been a joy.

Working with the staff on the book was a wonderful experience. The people at Pendraig love what they do and it shows in the work they produce. I'm currently hard at work on book three in the series. Book two, The Talisman of Tehuti, has been complete for some time. Book three, The Savagery of Set, has been a difficult one to write. There have been some very gut-wrenching scenes, which has slowed my progress.

Now, that I'm back on the writing track, close to 10,000 words in the past week, I shall be back to blogging as well. I apologise for the hiatus in posts, but will make sure to rectify that. And, I shall keep you up to date on my writing. I've come up with several new ideas and maybe a new genre or two to write in. I love to stretch my wings as an author -- try new things, new ideas, new styles.

Writing is an art form and writing is a talent. I feel privileged to have these abilities and want to experiment with those that spark my ideas. So, for all the other writers and fledgling writers, never limit yourself. Who knows, the one genre you may feel you have no ability for is the one that you shall own some day.

Final Novel Stages

I have been busily working with my editor and the layout person for my novel. After receiving the marked up copy of the manuscript, I carefully went through each area which needed work, made changes where appropriate, and then did a complete read of the manuscript.

Even after I had proofed it and the editor had, I still found a couple of words that were wrong. My editor has been amazing, making the book better, and even letting me know he should have caught the words, but grateful that I had. The manuscript was sent back to him, with my corrections, then it went off to layout. She has been a joy to work with, as well. Both of them have commented on how much they enjoyed the manuscript, and both asked if I had planned to continue the story, in a series.

And, as I have noted here, this novel, The Wrath of Amun, is the first in a series of historical mysteries set in ancient Egypt. Having two people read the novel and comment favourably on it is so gratifying and humbling. As writers, we want to have our work recognised for its voice, its characters, its story. Getting the feedback I did on this first novel has only made me more confident in my writing.

Now, I wait for publication. The end of a wonderful journey, but the beginning of the next. My characters are anxious to continue their stories, and I, as their voice, must bring it forth.

The Joys of Writing

As writers, our greatest joys are our accomplishments. To have a work recognised for its merit by publishing is what we all strive for. And, to that end, I wish to share my news with you.

I received the edited manuscript of my first novel, The Wrath of Amun, from my publisher. The editor enjoyed the work, sent me a list of suggestions to tighten it up, expand on some areas, and add a little colour here and there. But, overall, no major changes or rewrites.

As this is my first work of fiction, I can not describe how this makes me feel. Non-fiction has been my genre for the past nine years; non-fiction, to me, is much easier than fiction. Whatever possessed me to think I could write fiction - well, it must have been a weak moment.

But, to have my fiction accepted for publication, now in the editing stage, and with publication pending, my world has opened up to far more possibilities. Writing is what I love, but I have more avenues to persue, by writing in multiple genres.

So, don't limit yourself and think of yourself as just a one-genre writer. Experiment, test the waters, even if it is just a short story. Though I shall continue to write non-fiction, fiction gives me the chance to fantasize, to create, to soar. Stay true to what you love and never give up.

Are You Kidding, Again??

When did we become so desperate that, as writers, we would take a job for no pay? To further rant on my perusal of craigslist postings, are people really that clueless to believe a professional writer or editor would take a job with the promise of pay from possible royalties?

These postings only illustrate how little people understand about the business of publishing. If traditional publishing is the route these people intend to go, less than 5 percent of manuscripts submitted ever get published. And, of those that do, many never realise royalties, and only receive an advance and nothing more.

So many of these postings are for ghost writers to write their memoirs or autobiographies. Unless you already have an established platform, are a celebrity, or somehow well-known, what "hook" do you think will interest a publisher in your story? And, if I'm going to devote weeks or months to writing a manuscript, I want to know my time and effort is worth more than a promise of "possible" payment. The last I checked, my mortgage company does not accept "promises to pay" while I submit a manuscript for publication.

Now, if your goal is self-publishing, some will charge you for the privilege to see your name in print. Does the ghost writer get in line, waiting for payment that may never come? We have all heard stories of "overnight" success, where an unknown writer is "discovered" by his first self-published work and signed to an outrageously funded contract by Big Name Publisher. But, they too are few and far between.

The computer age and the advent of electronical publishing has been a blessing and a curse. The blessings are many: books no longer have to be printed in large print runs, books can be distributed electronically, less printing costs should translate to higher profits and higher advances to the authors. The curse: everyone with a computer and a story thinks they can be the next Truman Capote, Stephen King, or Stephanie Meyer.

Writing a book, or making it a career, is hard work, thus the reason professional writers freelance. Helping a fledgling author to realise their dream is fulfilling and satsifying. But, as a professional, my time is worth something. Why do I want to use my valuable time ghost writing your book for no money, when I can be writing my own? If I don't attract a publisher with my own work, I can move on and write something else, but it is my time and my work. And it is what I love to do, knowing that it can, and has, paid off for me.

So, please, do not insult us. We write for the love of it, but we also write for the monetary remuneration. If we want to be rich, we would be in another line of work, but we do want our work appreciated -- you certainly wouldn't hire a plumber or advertising agency and expect them to "hope" to get paid. Expect to pay for writing services, just as you would any other service.

Are You Kidding?

As a freelance writer, I believe in presenting my work in the best possible light, and often edit the heck out of my work. And, I am also willing to assist others, to make their work sing. Copyediting and proofreading are skills which not all possess, and as such, I am more than happy to offer my services. But, have we really sunk so low that we will take jobs which undermine our integrity.

Two recent Craigslist postings, "Help Me Cheat on My Spanish Test," and "Will Pay for Classes," illustrate what is wrong with our society. The first one I refused to open, but the second one was quite interesting. The person who posted does not "have time" to attend his/her online classes and is willing to pay someone $100 per class, to attend instead.

Numerous posting ask for professional freelancers to research and write thesis papers, do their homework, and now, attend classes for people who apparently don't understand the concept of education. If I'm going to do your work for you, regardless of what you pay me, that diploma or degree better have my name on it, not yours.

What makes me even more sad, is there are writers out there perfectly willing to take on these jobs. Is it really worth it, to sell yourself out, for the amount someone is willing to pay to steal an education. Because that is what it is -- theft. I often wonder if the colleges and universities know, or even care, that their students are paying for their grades, rather than earning them on their own merits.

I am struggling financially, as are many people in this economy, but I will not compromise my ethics and take such a job. And, I would love to know why a professional writer would. I may sound naive, but if you have no intention of doing the course assignments, and apparently can afford to pay someone to do them for you, why bother going to college in the first place? Your education amounts to just a piece of paper, that someone else earned, and should be rightfully theirs.