Apex Call Question Submission Apex Zoom Meeting Question Submissions Apex Zoom Meeting Question Submissions Select Writing a Book Subtopic Brainstorming Characterization Composition of a Book—Descriptive Creating an Outline Plotting World Creation Writing, Dialog, Narration Writing for a Critical Audience—Contests, Awards, etc. Writing for a Wide Audience Question Information Name * Date Select Topic Area * Creating Your List Motivation Releasing a Novel Traditional Publishing Writing a Book General Topics Question for Guest Speaker Select Creating Your List Subtopic Blogging to Readers Building Your Reader List Creating Your Website Select Motivation Subtopic How to Stay Motivated Select Releasing a Novel Subtopic Creating a viral “Book Bomb” How to Get Interviews on the Radio How to Get Interviews on Television Setting a Release Date Setting up Pre-sales on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, etc. Other Platforms to Advertise fromUsing Facebook to Advertise Using Goodreads Using Instagram Using Twitch Using Twitter to Advertise Using Press Releases Using Signings (to become a bestseller) Select Traditional Publishing Subtopic Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent Long-term Strategies of Working with a Publisher The Pitch Package Query letter Synopsis Working with Editors Writing Sample Select General Topics Subtopic Branding Yourself as a Writer Decorum as a Writer Handling Fame How do Bestseller Lists Work? How can I Win Awards? Investing Financially in Your Future Pseudonyms Speaker’s Gigs at Schools, Conventions Taxes for Writers Writing for Film Writing for the Gaming Industry Writing Nonfiction Writing to a Short Story Market Question * Full Question Data Pending Questions by Subject (click to view) Pending Question List General Topics ---- On 07/11/2020 Jan Nerenberg asks "A number of us are trying to get into the current Apex meeting following Forrest's and cannot get in using either the posted link or the regular Saturday link. Help." Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/25/2020 Fulvio Gatti asks "Is it possible that nonhuman characters trigger our empathy better? I think of animal protagonists in fantasy, or Pixar movie. In case, any idea why?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 Brian Kenison asks "Dean, about what percentage of your time do you spend outlining, writing, and revising on any given project?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 Brian Kenison asks "Is there a basic outline or story structure that you tend to use to write a story?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 Wulf Moon asks "Can you explain what advantage there is to launching a book through Kickstarter instead of directly on Amazon? Aside from getting immediate cash to print your book and fulfill orders, don't you burn up the algorithm power of your friends that would have preordered through Amazon and given you verified purchases? If all your friends support your Kickstarter, you won't have anyone left to bump sales numbers on Amazon when it's released there. So what's the right way to go?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 Wulf Moon asks "I know a bestselling writer published by 47North that has never had an agent and has obviously done well. I know other bestselling writers that say an agent is worth their 15% just in obtaining foreign rights alone. What's the right call? And if you forgo an agent, where can you find a good literary attorney so you don't get entrapped by the legalese in publishing contracts?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/10/2020 monica z asks "hi Wulf Because i know you have been involved with critters.org ...I would like your take on the Critters writer's workshops and the critique.org system .... Is it worth while ? Are the crit's supportive and constructive? Are the work shops worth the effort. (i'm looking for more intermediate or advanced stuff.)" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/11/2020 Peter Schonefeld asks "Hi Moon, On your SUPER SECRETS thread you recently mentioned your success writing novelettes (congratulations for the new sale! 🙂 . Do you have any tips for writing and publishing the novelette format? Is it something for a new writer to consider for their next project?Thanks,Pete" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/14/2020 Cherise Papa asks "If you're marketing a book release on a budget, what are the most important things to prioritize your budget on?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/18/2020 Robert asks "Question: Dictation - Why would a writer want to do it? Is there any benefit in using dictation software such as Word as a Dictation?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/19/2020 B.K. Forsyth asks "What topics should a writer avoid on social media? Many writers use there personal FB instead of creating a superstructure one per pen name." Traditional Publishing ---- On 07/22/2020 Dunn asks "I regret that white writers are being rejected due to their color. If we go back 40 years we may not find a lot of black writers getting rejected with such overt racism. A lot of the racism during the 1980's was that only certain kinds of stories could be told, mostly white stories. Many were rejected for wanting to tell black stories. Black Panther probably would not have been green-lighted back then. If we are to talk about people being rejected due to race....or only being accepted in regard to some "stereotypical" story or role. Example: as good as the screen writing of "Vikings" is, it is 100% white. All minorities are purposefully rejected and ignored. There is, however, evidence that the real vikings were not insulated from other races. Even though some characters in the series are intimately familiar with their Roman heritage, and Rome was biracial, even to some of the popes and emperors. Another example is Game of Thrones. The only time you see a dark face, it is a slave, an ex-slave, a criminal, undesirable...I watched every episode. Prove me wrong. Morgan Freeman said of Hollywood: All Hollywood does is simple, it make movies that it believes will make enough money to make other movies. How can rejecting white writers be in the economic advantageous with market being so white-oriented." Writing a Book Plotting ---- On 07/29/2020 Lazarus Chernik asks "Hi Dean. How much do you outline? How do manage symbolism and foreshadowing in a single pass?" Pending Questions by Date (click to view) Pending Question List On 07/22/2020 ---- Traditional Publishing ---- Dunn asks "I regret that white writers are being rejected due to their color. If we go back 40 years we may not find a lot of black writers getting rejected with such overt racism. A lot of the racism during the 1980's was that only certain kinds of stories could be told, mostly white stories. Many were rejected for wanting to tell black stories. Black Panther probably would not have been green-lighted back then. If we are to talk about people being rejected due to race....or only being accepted in regard to some "stereotypical" story or role. Example: as good as the screen writing of "Vikings" is, it is 100% white. All minorities are purposefully rejected and ignored. There is, however, evidence that the real vikings were not insulated from other races. Even though some characters in the series are intimately familiar with their Roman heritage, and Rome was biracial, even to some of the popes and emperors. Another example is Game of Thrones. The only time you see a dark face, it is a slave, an ex-slave, a criminal, undesirable...I watched every episode. Prove me wrong. Morgan Freeman said of Hollywood: All Hollywood does is simple, it make movies that it believes will make enough money to make other movies. How can rejecting white writers be in the economic advantageous with market being so white-oriented." On 07/25/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Fulvio Gatti asks "Is it possible that nonhuman characters trigger our empathy better? I think of animal protagonists in fantasy, or Pixar movie. In case, any idea why?" On 07/28/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Brian Kenison asks "Dean, about what percentage of your time do you spend outlining, writing, and revising on any given project?" On 07/28/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Brian Kenison asks "Is there a basic outline or story structure that you tend to use to write a story?" On 07/28/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Wulf Moon asks "Can you explain what advantage there is to launching a book through Kickstarter instead of directly on Amazon? Aside from getting immediate cash to print your book and fulfill orders, don't you burn up the algorithm power of your friends that would have preordered through Amazon and given you verified purchases? If all your friends support your Kickstarter, you won't have anyone left to bump sales numbers on Amazon when it's released there. So what's the right way to go?" On 07/28/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Wulf Moon asks "I know a bestselling writer published by 47North that has never had an agent and has obviously done well. I know other bestselling writers that say an agent is worth their 15% just in obtaining foreign rights alone. What's the right call? And if you forgo an agent, where can you find a good literary attorney so you don't get entrapped by the legalese in publishing contracts?" On 07/29/2020 ---- Writing a Book Plotting ---- Lazarus Chernik asks "Hi Dean. How much do you outline? How do manage symbolism and foreshadowing in a single pass?" On 08/10/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- monica z asks "hi Wulf Because i know you have been involved with critters.org ...I would like your take on the Critters writer's workshops and the critique.org system .... Is it worth while ? Are the crit's supportive and constructive? Are the work shops worth the effort. (i'm looking for more intermediate or advanced stuff.)" On 08/11/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Peter Schonefeld asks "Hi Moon, On your SUPER SECRETS thread you recently mentioned your success writing novelettes (congratulations for the new sale! 🙂 . Do you have any tips for writing and publishing the novelette format? Is it something for a new writer to consider for their next project? Thanks, Pete" On 08/14/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Cherise Papa asks "If you're marketing a book release on a budget, what are the most important things to prioritize your budget on?" On 08/18/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- Robert asks "Question: Dictation - Why would a writer want to do it? Is there any benefit in using dictation software such as Word as a Dictation?" On 08/19/2020 ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- B.K. Forsyth asks "What topics should a writer avoid on social media? Many writers use there personal FB instead of creating a superstructure one per pen name." Pending Questions by Person (click to view) Pending Question List B.K. Forsyth ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/19/2020 asks "What topics should a writer avoid on social media? Many writers use there personal FB instead of creating a superstructure one per pen name." Brian Kenison ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 asks "Dean, about what percentage of your time do you spend outlining, writing, and revising on any given project?" Brian Kenison ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 asks "Is there a basic outline or story structure that you tend to use to write a story?" Cherise Papa ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/14/2020 asks "If you're marketing a book release on a budget, what are the most important things to prioritize your budget on?" Dunn ---- Traditional Publishing ---- On 07/22/2020 asks "I regret that white writers are being rejected due to their color. If we go back 40 years we may not find a lot of black writers getting rejected with such overt racism. A lot of the racism during the 1980's was that only certain kinds of stories could be told, mostly white stories. Many were rejected for wanting to tell black stories. Black Panther probably would not have been green-lighted back then. If we are to talk about people being rejected due to race....or only being accepted in regard to some "stereotypical" story or role. Example: as good as the screen writing of "Vikings" is, it is 100% white. All minorities are purposefully rejected and ignored. There is, however, evidence that the real vikings were not insulated from other races. Even though some characters in the series are intimately familiar with their Roman heritage, and Rome was biracial, even to some of the popes and emperors. Another example is Game of Thrones. The only time you see a dark face, it is a slave, an ex-slave, a criminal, undesirable...I watched every episode. Prove me wrong. Morgan Freeman said of Hollywood: All Hollywood does is simple, it make movies that it believes will make enough money to make other movies. How can rejecting white writers be in the economic advantageous with market being so white-oriented." Fulvio Gatti ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/25/2020 asks "Is it possible that nonhuman characters trigger our empathy better? I think of animal protagonists in fantasy, or Pixar movie. In case, any idea why?" Jan Nerenberg ---- General Topics ---- On 07/11/2020 asks "A number of us are trying to get into the current Apex meeting following Forrest's and cannot get in using either the posted link or the regular Saturday link. Help." Lazarus Chernik ---- Writing a Book Plotting ---- On 07/29/2020 asks "Hi Dean. How much do you outline? How do manage symbolism and foreshadowing in a single pass?" monica z ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/10/2020 asks "hi Wulf Because i know you have been involved with critters.org ...I would like your take on the Critters writer's workshops and the critique.org system .... Is it worth while ? Are the crit's supportive and constructive? Are the work shops worth the effort. (i'm looking for more intermediate or advanced stuff.)" Peter Schonefeld ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/11/2020 asks "Hi Moon, On your SUPER SECRETS thread you recently mentioned your success writing novelettes (congratulations for the new sale! 🙂 . Do you have any tips for writing and publishing the novelette format? Is it something for a new writer to consider for their next project? Thanks, Pete" Robert ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 08/18/2020 asks "Question: Dictation - Why would a writer want to do it? Is there any benefit in using dictation software such as Word as a Dictation?" Wulf Moon ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 asks "Can you explain what advantage there is to launching a book through Kickstarter instead of directly on Amazon? Aside from getting immediate cash to print your book and fulfill orders, don't you burn up the algorithm power of your friends that would have preordered through Amazon and given you verified purchases? If all your friends support your Kickstarter, you won't have anyone left to bump sales numbers on Amazon when it's released there. So what's the right way to go?" Wulf Moon ---- Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 07/28/2020 asks "I know a bestselling writer published by 47North that has never had an agent and has obviously done well. I know other bestselling writers that say an agent is worth their 15% just in obtaining foreign rights alone. What's the right call? And if you forgo an agent, where can you find a good literary attorney so you don't get entrapped by the legalese in publishing contracts?" Previously Answered Questions (click to view) Answered Question List General Topics ---- On 03/07/2020 Sarah Peterson asks "On the Courses, there is some confusion as to whether we can send you are assignment or not. We have heard conflicting reports. Some say we do not have permission - since we have not paid for the Story Doctor. Others say we do. Can you clarify for us what you want us to do about the assignments during the courses?" Writing a Book Plotting ---- On 03/07/2020 Peter James West asks "Is it okay to kill children and animals in your stories to add to the suffering of the protagonist?Will readers throw down the book?What are the red lines not to cross when adding suffering to a story? What will lose readers for genres like epic fantasy?I once started reading an epic fantasy book where a young girl was kidnapped and tortured in the opening chapter. It wasn't graphic but it was emotionally powerful in terms of adding suffering. It was too disturbing for me. I stopped reading and never went back to that book." General Topics ---- On 03/07/2020 Brenda Carre asks "David, one topic that came up in a blog I read recently was about building fantasy, science fiction or historical epic worlds by building the social network of the world. What are some ways to infuse a believable social network into our stories?" General Topics Branding Yourself as a Writer ---- On 03/07/2020 Shawn Spjut asks "Dave, what is the possibility, future thinking of course, if Apex becoming its own author/owned/operated, book seller?" General Topics Decorum as a Writer ---- On 03/10/2020 Jim Bellmore asks "While, the goal of an Apex Writer is success on a large scale (bestseller lists, movie deals, etc.), the odds are that is not going to happen with a new author's first release, nor their second, nor even their fifth (although, one would hope to be gaining traction by this point).That being said, can you map out a path to the indie equivalent of solid midlist sales, especially from the perspective an unpublished author?i.e. let's say you have a handful of short stories and are working on your first larger work (novel/novella), beyond the obvious "finish the book, edit it, publish it, and start the next", what precisely would you do as a new writer, with a limited budget, to increase your chances of success?" Releasing a Novel Other Platforms to Advertise fromUsing Facebook to Advertise ---- On 03/10/2020 Martin L. Shoemaker asks "I just learned that my publisher is going to list my next book on NetGalley, which allows reviewers and others to read a galley proof in advance (by invitation). This sounds like it could be an effective part of a release strategy, though it’s not cheap: 50 for a six-month listing for an Indie title. Is it worth that?" Traditional Publishing Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent ---- On 03/10/2020 Ben asks "How do I know if a novel is good enough? Its really hard to get feedback from agents and editors. What makes you decided that that something is good enough to self-publish even if you didn't get traction traditionally." Traditional Publishing Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent ---- On 03/10/2020 Hugo Torres asks "Hybrid publishing: How to work with an agent and still self-publish other books or series? Would this be acceptable by agents, in particular for Thrillers?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/10/2020 Hugo Torres asks "Is now (i mean, in approximately 6 months) a good moment for writing and releasing a book about an epidemic?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/10/2020 Lazarus Chernik asks "You said something one or two calls ago about someone wanting a more adult version of your novels.How is today's market for sci-fi/fan with adult themes and scenes (e.g., sex and violence)?Fantasy seemed to have a YA connotation for a long time. Recently Game of Throne made a huge impact.Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi never used to be shy of sex and violence - but I've seen fewer and fewer titles that include it. Is that a poor observation?YA seems all over the place, with some titles pushing boundaries (or breaking them) while others so safe they're saccharine.And short story submission guidelines often seem to have restrictions on those topics, making it seem unsalable (some published guidelines are actually quite rude about it).Are publisher's looking for more mature fantasy/sci-fi than before now - or is there a backlash or glut?" Writing a Book Characterization ---- On 03/04/2020 Brady Hunsaker asks "I know we can hypothetically do "anything," but is it not recommended to have two protagonists in a fantasy novel? (I switch POV between them every chapter)." Writing a Book Plotting ---- On 03/07/2020 Peter James West asks "Is it okay to kill children and animals in your stories to add to the suffering of the protagonist?Will readers throw down the book?What are the red lines not to cross when adding suffering to a story? What will lose readers for genres like epic fantasy?I once started reading an epic fantasy book where a young girl was kidnapped and tortured in the opening chapter. It wasn't graphic but it was emotionally powerful in terms of adding suffering. It was too disturbing for me. I stopped reading and never went back to that book." Writing a Book Writing, Dialog, Narration ---- On 03/08/2020 monica asks "I have a friend that is a grammar guru. She is a wonder at ensuring my sentences are gramaticaly correct. I have learned a lot from her, But I wonder/worry about author voice and or character voice. People don't always talk 'gramatically'. They often have Imperfect speach patterns and dialects ect. And (I think) our characters should also. Is there a place/space for incorrect grammar? (I am thinking dialouge) Is she editing out the uniqueness of my characters when she corrects the grammar of what my character says?" General Topics Handling Fame ---- On 03/11/2020 AJ Benson asks "What pitfalls have you encountered because you’ve been successful?" Traditional Publishing Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent ---- On 03/11/2020 Brady asks "I'm a male author and I want to publish a YA novel. I have a male and female protagonist. Are editors or agents really going to care about MY gender? Do I present myself as B.S. Hunsaker or something so they don't know my gender?" Traditional Publishing Long-term Strategies of Working with a Publisher ---- On 03/13/2020 Fulvio Gatti asks "From a professional standpoint and considering it'll take a while to become a full time writer, do you think it's better to get paid gigs in the creative writing field (i.e. screenwriting, comics) or in the general writing business (journalist, translator, event organizer)? To make the question more specific, after selling an article to "Locus", I'm considering looking for more gigs as an essayist-journalist-reviewer. But, since that's already my day job here in Italy, I'm afraid I would a) make my brand slightly off focus while I could be "A writer" and b) use or misuse more of my time writing something else than my stories." Writing a Book ---- On 03/14/2020 Peter James West asks "Is it okay to use the term shadowspawn? Is that Robert Jordan’s phrase only or was it in common usage before his time?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/14/2020 Peter James West asks "What are good examples of using chapter names as hooks?What makes a good chapter name? What makes a bad one?Some books only have chapter numbers. Is that a bad idea, to miss out on the chance to use more hooks?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/14/2020 Peter James West asks "Where do you draw the line between detailed plotting and settings, and eternal research syndrome?" Creating Your List Building Your Reader List ---- On 03/14/2020 Brady asks "So I've got my brand. I'm working on my book. What are some things I can do to build my list? Do I have to blog? Do I write a free online book and post a chapter a week? Do post videos? How do I create "followers" that are actually going to be interested in my genre of writing?" General Topics ---- On 03/14/2020 John Lemonds asks "What are your recommendations about using dead celebrities? I'm writing a high-concept time travel trilogy, and one of the major characters is Jim Morrison from the band The Doors. But he's actually an emulation, or a digital replica, of Morrison. His personality has been altered and he says he is no longer the same person, e.g. he changed his name to Eleanor and likes knitting. Is this enough to protect me from liability?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/14/2020 Sarah Peterson asks "Is it common for writers to work together to create a story? Would that be a way for a new writer to get started and learning the structure?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/14/2020 Jason North asks "As an aspiring author, is there a good way to speed up the process of figuring out how you write? I struggle with getting the word count I want each writing session due to not really knowing ahead of time how much plotting/brainstorming I need before I write. I'm learning I'm not as much of a pantser as I thought, and if there is a way to figure out more about myself as an author--or what works for me as an author--sooner, that would be great." Creating Your List Building Your Reader List ---- On 03/14/2020 Lyn Goodpaster asks "Where do you post the information you want to offer to get it out to the widest audience? Facebook? Twitter? Blogging?" General Topics Investing Financially in Your Future ---- On 03/14/2020 Frank Morin asks "Do you have any tips for working with publicists?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/14/2020 NJ Kharme asks "How do you deal with your characters wanting to move faster than your plot? For example, I have two separate protag POVs and MC #2 wants to jump into converging storylines with MC#1 before I've established all the backstory I had planned for him. Should I go with it and see if it works or work on having discipline and following the *very* loose story outline I have? I have a mild concern that his backstory might be going a little too far on the dark side so I figure this writers block for this section I have is might be my brain putting up stop signs for a reason --- or me being highly lazy. And how can you tell the difference?" Motivation ---- On 03/14/2020 Shifting schedule asks "Starts on ways to prevent dynamic situations in a shift in schedules because from disrupting writing habits?Thoughts on ways to present their name exaggerations and the shifting schedule because from disrupting writing habits?" General Topics Branding Yourself as a Writer ---- On 03/17/2020 Jan Nerenberg asks "Is it appropriate to post on your website a scene, first chapter, quotes from your novel before it is published?" Motivation ---- On 03/14/2020 Shifting schedule asks "Starts on ways to prevent dynamic situations in a shift in schedules because from disrupting writing habits?Thoughts on ways to present their name exaggerations and the shifting schedule because from disrupting writing habits?" Motivation How to Stay Motivated ---- On 03/18/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "How do you stave off burnout? I'm staring it right in the face between working from home and trying to write with the COVID-19 outbreak." Releasing a Novel ---- On 03/17/2020 Michael Darling asks "My latest book was released today (March 17th) and I've done some advance marketing, blogging, pre-ordering, social media posting, and sending to my list. Is there anything we as authors should do on the day of release to maximize release day success? Or is it too late? What are the most important things we should do on release day?" Releasing a Novel Setting up Pre-sales on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, etc. ---- On 03/17/2020 Amy asks "Your book is complete and edited and you're sending it out to reviewers. At this point, is the paperback out so that people can review on Amazon? How do you manage that part of it?" Traditional Publishing Query letter ---- On 03/17/2020 Cathy Barrett asks "When writing novel proposals, how do you recommend handling multiple point-of-view characters with converging stories in the short "hook" and "book" sections?" General Topics ---- On 03/18/2020 Sarah Peterson asks "I like having a check/punch list that I can see the order of thing, know when and where to do what steps from writing to publishing to movie deals. You mentioned that you might have something like that?" General Topics ---- On 03/18/2020 Udy Kumra asks "Question: I’m going to finish my first novel in the next month or two, and it is such a mess that it would be nearly impossible to edit without rewriting vast sections of the book, which I don’t much want to do. Is it worth it for my writing skill to practice editing this book, even though it will take an enormous amount of time, or is it more worth it to go into writing my second book and immediately start applying the many, many, many things that I’ve learned?" Creating Your List Building Your Reader List ---- On 03/18/2020 Brennan Harvey asks "Hi Dave, Everytime the "List" question comes up, there is a long, complicated task to do. It's hard to figure out where to start. Can you give us one homework assignment per meeting (or per week) to help us tackle one thing at a time? Thanks." Writing a Book ---- On 03/18/2020 NJ asks "can we send you a page outline for feedback on our story too? * I get it if you say no*" Creating Your List Creating Your Website ---- On 03/18/2020 Sarah Peterson asks "I have a blog that I have been doing since 2016 but it's not my Name but its covers about me and my writing. Can I still use that?" Traditional Publishing ---- On 03/23/2020 Udy Kumra asks "What are ways to find and learn about specific individual editors that will take direct submissions, besides going to the acknowledgements sections of books I enjoy reading? For example, if I'm interested in working with Tor, where can I go to learn about all the different Tor editors, because I'm not able to find them listed anywhere online." Traditional Publishing The Pitch Package ---- On 03/21/2020 Lynette Nyberg asks "When sending a proposal for a children's book, do you send the manuscript and the illustrations or just the story? Do publishers have their own illustrator or do I need to have them done before submitting? My manuscript is complete, my illustrator is awaiting my go ahead to begin work on the illustrations. I just wanted to make sure I am going about it in the right way." Writing a Book World Creation ---- On 03/24/2020 Udy Kumra asks "Does magic generally need to include a sense of wonder? Can it have other emotional effects? For example, in a thriller-style fantasy book that moves at a breakneck speed, pausing to be awed by magical abilities might not fit the tone of the novel. But I'm wondering if this takes away from the appeal of fantasy to a lot of readers." Writing a Book Writing, Dialog, Narration ---- On 03/23/2020 Udy Kumra asks "What are tricks to writing banter without it feeling cringey or boring or very long but instead being fun and leaving the reader wanting more? I've read some books where this is done extremely well and others where it's not. On another note, what are tricks to writing action scenes that feel gripping and exciting and not just a boring blow-by-blow? I find these are the two types of scenes that I struggle with most and I'd like to work on them in revision." General Topics Writing to a Short Story Market ---- On 03/25/2020 NJ Kharme asks "I'm writing my first short story ever. I recently got feedback that it feels like there are no stakes so the trauma and 'torture' that Im putting my MC through seems moot (for this reader but I got a different reaction from another) - they personally don't know how to feel/care about my MC or where I could go. Now - the whole purpose of this story is to feel unhinged, confused, and have no definite ending (I haven't finished it yet but I gave a PSA that there would be no definitive ending.) I'm wondering if writing a story to just kind of work through my own uncertainty and confusion in life is a bad idea? Is writing a story just as a catharsis something that no one else would understand? Or do I need to just accept that this won't be a the story for general population/or maybe not a something of even an indie level success? Also - if you're going against the grain of the usual story structure, any advice to keep the reader along with you even when you purposely pull the floor out from under them?" Motivation ---- On 03/25/2020 Aisley Milner asks "How do you mitigate writing burnout? Working from home and writing at home has me burning the candle at both ends." Writing a Book ---- On 03/25/2020 Brady Hunsaker asks "How do I get YA beta readers? I don't want to be a creepy guy by any means, but do I just go to the high school and ask teachers about it or something? (I could also do some stuff through social media, but I'm wanting to be able to have a collected group that I can hand a physical copy of the book to)." Writing a Book World Creation ---- On 03/25/2020 Dave Reed asks "Do you draw a distinction on “wonder” between epic, heroic, dark, and grimdark?" General Topics ---- On 03/25/2020 Erin Cram asks "What is the difference between an editor, an alpha reader, and a beta reader? What are their different responsibilities, functions, and roles?" Writing a Book Plotting ---- On 03/25/2020 Udy Kumra asks "How can you predict during the plotting stage how long a book will be? I know much of this probably comes from practice, but can you tell just from content/plot alone how long the book will likely be? And can you do sort of the inverse, where if you think your book is not long enough, how can you add content that doesn't feel like filler to make it longer?" General Topics ---- On 03/25/2020 Brennan Harvey asks "I had an independent editor (not from a publishing house) remove every single one of my double-spaces with Track Changes turned on. Instead of 1,571 revisions, I now have 7,750. How can I convince the editor not to do that anymore?" Writing a Book Characterization ---- On 03/25/2020 Udy Kumra asks "What is the effect of putting a character with an unusual role into a new role that they aren't typically in? For example, in Kung Fu Panda the Chosen One is the least likely "person" to become the Dragon Warrior. Or in Ghost Station by Dan Wells, the main character of this spy thriller is not an action hero (and this book has several characters who are candidates for that), but instead the cryptographer who deciphers codes and gets himself into a dangerous situation. How can you create a character with an unusual role that is cast into an archetypal role like Chosen One or Spy Hero in a way that enhances tension rather than reduces it? Like putting a cryptographer into Jaws wouldn't help at all, probably." Releasing a Novel Setting a Release Date ---- On 03/31/2020 Tim Frankovich asks "I had planned to release my second novel in late May/early June. Because of the extra time I now have, I could easily get it out much sooner. Considering the current market with Corona, would it be more beneficial to release early or hold off?" Traditional Publishing Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent ---- On 03/28/2020 Sussu asks "I am an American citizen. Now, I moved to the UK (I am also a French citizen so part of the EU). As I am getting ready to query, I am torn between sending queries to Americans or to UK agents. Or both. I imagine that my style of writing is a mix between both cultures so I am not sure where my stories would be placed better. What should I do? Thank :)" Traditional Publishing Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent ---- On 03/31/2020 Lynette Nyberg asks "In a previous call you said that once we get an editor we can find an agent after that. This is a bit confusing to me. Could you clarify the query letter . . . who it is sent to and when and who is the proposal submitted to? Also, what is the key to writing a great hook (one liner)?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/28/2020 Peter James West asks "How do you utilise effective character thinking to create intellectual appeals without having readers complain about characters navel gazing or 'doing nothing' for pages on end." Writing a Book ---- On 03/28/2020 Peter James West asks "How do you give your characters powerful flaws. e.g. Thomas Covenant was a leper and it shaped everything about him, the way he shaved and lived his life." General Topics ---- On 04/01/2020 Jan Nerenberg asks "Question: QUESTION: How do you put your books up for awards???" General Topics Investing Financially in Your Future ---- On 04/01/2020 JL Curtis asks "Best use of time between writing, editing, and cover art. I use Alpha and Beta readers and pay and editor, I also pay a professional graphic artist for covers, which makes the most financial sense to me. I also write those off as expenses against the publication of the novel. Other options?" General Topics Writing to a Short Story Market ---- On 04/01/2020 NJ asks "QUICK! Last minute advice on submitting to WOTF? Formatting or otherwise? I just finished my story a few hours ago and I'm going to read it one last time after class before sending it off. My first finished story ever and my first submission! EEEEKKK *pulls hair out*" Releasing a Novel ---- On 04/01/2020 Ben Green asks "Question: Could you comment on getting author testimonials for the back of your book? (Best way to do this in self-publishing and traditional-publishing.)" Writing a Book Writing, Dialog, Narration ---- On 04/04/2020 Len Berry asks "With so many releases, what helps you produce a high output of books?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/04/2020 Sarah Peterson asks "When writing characters do you find that certain types sell better? I've seen in certain cultures or age groups that we tend to like a "type", and is there such a thing as taking that to far?" QUESTION: Is it more successful to write romances as a series with the same hero/heroine (as in the Outlander series) or new characters for each book? QUESTION: Are the steps Amy discussed in her presentation found in the Linda Howard book? Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/08/2020 monica asks "HI. and thanks for being here. 🙂 My question: what is the time frame for Baen to move a new book/ author through the process from acceptance to the shelf?AND with regard to the marketing and advertising, how much does Baen do and how much does the author have to do ? Thanks :)" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/08/2020 Amanda McCarter asks "If you are writing a novel that you know you are going to write a sequel to, is it acceptable to leave it with a cliff hanger?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/07/2020 Steve Pantazis asks "This is for Toni Weisskopf. It's a long one, so thank you for your patience.Toni, I had submitted a manuscript for my near-future thriller in 2015. At the end of 2017, your slushmaster general, Gray, emailed me, saying my novel was one of only a small percentage of submissions worthy of significant editorial attention, but his team came to a consensus that it wasn't the right fit in its current form. However, he provided a list of suggested fixes, along with an invitation to resubmit. When I asked if the second go-around would be faster than the first, he said the submission process was the same, although he would try to speed things up. My first submission took 2 1/2 years. I applied the fixes, so the manuscript is ready to go. Based on the information I provided, how long do you think it would take this go-around? 2+ years is an awfully long time, but I know your team has a lot in the queue." Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/07/2020 Len Berry asks "With the current state of social distancing, what are some best practices for writers who are looking to advance themselves within the industry?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/07/2020 Brian Kenison asks "Question for Toni: I've seen that some other publishers have laid off editors due to the COVID-19 crisis. How is this going to affect the publishing industry short- and long-term? How will it affect acquisitions at Baen?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/07/2020 Brian Kenison asks "Baen's submission guidelines ask for a plot outline. How detailed should the outline be? How long?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/08/2020 Cathy Barrett asks "For Toni Weisskopf: I've read that Lois McMaster Bujold helped design the cover for Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen. Is it common for you to take author ideas into consideration, or is this something she's earned at this point in her career?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/08/2020 DawnRay Ammon asks "What was the last book that surprised you while you were reading it?" Releasing a Novel Other Platforms to Advertise fromUsing Facebook to Advertise ---- On 04/01/2020 John Lemonds asks "I think I heard the previous guest say one must sell wide (not just Amazon) in order to get on the NYT bestseller list. Is that correct?" Question from kjulicher --- How many new books do you publish a year? Question from Ben --- Question: Do you prefer some one approach with or without an agent? Question from FulvioGatti --- Same old question, hoping not to be too boring :p What do you expect from a foreign writer writing in English? Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/08/2020 DawnRay Ammon asks "I have friend that is getting 7 interior illustrations in their next book. Do you think we will be seeing more illustration in books?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/08/2020 Heather Dyer asks "Do you see a change in types of genres readers want right now - in light of what is going on in the world? Specifically in young adult?" General Topics ---- On 04/08/2020 NJ asks "QUESTION: What are the cliches that you’re tired of seeing that you don’t think authors have received the memo about yet?" Question from Michael Darling --- QUESTION: Are SF titles outselling Fantasy? Vice versa? Question from Jim Mathis --- QUESTION: Any tips for the fantasy contest this month? Question from Pat Hauldren --- Q: what does Toni read for fun? Question from Brenda --- What about books involving people of colour is there interest from Baen in these and does the author have to be a person of colour? Question from Jan Nerenberg --- QUESTION: Where are your ebooks mostly sold? Stores? Amazon? B&N? Question from Terrance "Dunn" Dunnavant --- why don't you send ebook sales totals to the Times? Question from DawnRay --- Do you ever turn down a book that might be good but doesn't fit the market that Baen sells to? General Topics How can I Win Awards? ---- On 04/11/2020 Kess Little asks "Two short story contests are coming due at the same time. The criteria states that the story needs to be unpublished to be considered for submission. Hypothetically, if the story was the best story for both competitions, what's the etiquette if you wanted to submit the same story to both?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/28/2020 Peter James West asks "I'm struggling to come up with a powerful theme for my epic fantasy series that doesn't feel like something that was artificially bolted on afterwards.Do you have any advice on how to come up with powerful themes?Can you give any examples in epic fantasy?I also have difficulty coming up with tag lines. How to condense a five book series into 'What's it about?'Any guidance would be great." Writing a Book ---- On 03/28/2020 Peter James West asks "What is a good method to make scenes do more than one thing. I often have one scene per key event in one story line. I struggle to combine these well." Writing a Book ---- On 04/01/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "I am editing a story for the KAV cycle and I have several instances where I start out K-A-V, but then it flips between two senses, generally K-A-K-A, before the cycle reverses into V-A-K for a while. Is this okay? Will this mess up my narrative? At what point do I just trust my intuition and break the cycle?" Writing a Book ---- On 03/28/2020 Peter James West asks "What is the best way to use punctuation beats like branches cracking, birds taking to the air, a fist slamming down on a table?" Traditional Publishing ---- On 04/11/2020 Scott T Barnes asks "Are there collections of successful query letters, synopsis, outlines out there that we can buy as examples?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/11/2020 Jason North asks "If your antagonist is the Evil Overlord sort of villain, how do you balance making him a competent tyrant while still making him someone the protagonist can beat?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/11/2020 JL Curtis asks "Most action scenes seem to drag on forever. In actual combat or fights, most of the action is over in 30 seconds or less. Why do people tend to write minute details that none of the combatants would have actually seen due to tunnel vision? Why not write about the pinpoint focus from the POV of the main actor?" Traditional Publishing Long-term Strategies of Working with a Publisher ---- On 04/11/2020 Fulvio Gatti asks "I've completed 2 novels by now. Should I rather find a publisher for one of them, at whatever conditions I can get - to start existing on the market - or it's better to seek an agent and work at a whole career strategy?" Releasing a Novel ---- On 04/15/2020 Michael Darling asks "I have a short story collection prepared for ARC reviews. I'd like to use Bookfunnel or another service, however, if I want to use KDP for Amazon, I might run afoul of their policies. Is it all right to distribute the ARC in its complete form for a month or two and keep it OFF Amazon? Then end the ARC period and upload to Amazon after? Or should I just create an ARC that is 10% of the full collection and do Bookfunnel and Amazon simultaneously. Amazon seems to be okay with ARCs that are only 10% of the full title. Best practices anybody?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/14/2020 Kizer Nix asks "When working on your first few drafts, how much detail do you put in settings, and character descriptions? Is this something I should focus on more as I move to later drafts?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/15/2020 monica asks "Could you talk a bit about structure. I use the three act structure, with a scene and sequel format for my obstacle / disaster.There are other structures, but which do you think works best for epic fantasy?" Writing a Book Creating an Outline ---- On 04/14/2020 Udy Kumra asks "I have started outlining a book and one thing I am struggling with is sequencing my events. My protagonist is involved in three separate plots/subplots, with one of these being more important than the others, and I am wondering how to weave these together. Like if I have five events from each of the three plots, how do I decide what order to put them in? Some of them click into place naturally, while others I feel I could put in front or behind other events and it wouldn't make a difference." Writing a Book World Creation ---- On 04/14/2020 Udy Kumra asks "Do you have any tips on designing costumes for characters? I find that while I generally know how my characters look, and I have some idea of what they are wearing, I can never get specific enough because I can never imagine a good outfit for my characters—particularly when thinking about how they would dress as opposed to other characters. In a 21st century Earth setting, this is less difficult—though still a challenge—but in a secondary world setting it can sometimes feel almost impossible." Writing a Book World Creation ---- On 04/14/2020 Udy Kumra asks "Do you have tips for designing linguistic sounds for a fictional culture without building an entire language?" Writing a Book Writing, Dialog, Narration ---- On 04/15/2020 Udy Kumra asks "How do you know when you have too much dialogue and not enough narration and reflection, or vice versa?" General Topics ---- On 04/21/2020 monica z asks "hi again Robert If there is time, could you discuss the differences, if any, of writing for tv vs publication?thanks" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/22/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "What advice would you have for someone who is looking to "level up" their writing game to place in Writer's of the Future?" Question from Lazarus Chernik ---- How have your stories evolved as you’ve gained life experience? What did you write once that you wouldn’t write today? And Why? Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 04/22/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "What is the best writing advice you have ever recieved?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/21/2020 monica z asks "For our guest . Hi Robert. Looking forward to seeing you at WWC in Aug. My question is based on the idea that we all continue to grow in our writing. I would be interested in hearing how you see your growth as a writer. For example: if you could go back to before your first publication would you still publish it? Are you able to identify any specific concepts or writing skills you …"discovered" … along the way that created major changes/improvements in your writing? And what do you think was your most resent shift /improvement. and last, if there was only one book on writing craft you could buy .. what book would that be?Thank you :)" General Topics ---- On 04/21/2020 Anonymous asks "Writers of the Future has 6 levels of awards:- Thanks for entering- Honorable Mention- Silver Honorable Mention- Semi-finalist- Finalist- WinnerCan you briefly explain what elevates a story to the higher categories?Thanks" General Topics Branding Yourself as a Writer ---- On 04/23/2020 Amy asks "How do you brand yourself when you have no special interests, awards, or *literally anything* exciting about you? Also, how do you choose a persona to lean into (funny vs serious, altruistic vs sarcastic, whimsical vs matter of fact) when you aren't sure which one 'fits' you best?Signed, The Blandest Person In The World" Releasing a Novel ---- On 04/15/2020 Udy Kumra asks "Can you offer your advance back to your publishing company to be used as a publicity/marketing budget?" Traditional Publishing ---- On 04/15/2020 Medusa -- B.K.Forsyth asks "I send out a query or the requested three chapters and never hear back. I have even visited with an agent to asked me to resubmit and never heard back. In view of this non-communicative response, can I resonsonallby query multiple agents or submit to multiple agents/editors without violating a code of ethics. How do I handle this without getting myself blackballed? What wording should I use?" Traditional Publishing ---- On 04/28/2020 Brian Kenison asks "Can you talk a little bit about the pros and cons of publishing with one of the Amazon imprints (e.g., 47 North)? Are they set up to better weather the issues that are facing the Big 5 in traditional publishing?" Traditional Publishing ---- On 04/28/2020 Brian Kenison asks "Given what is happening with traditional publishing now, if you were starting your career today, do you think you still try to be published traditionally, or would you skip it altogether and self publish?" Traditional Publishing ---- On 04/28/2020 Brian Kenison asks "We've read about the turmoil traditional publishing is going through due to COVID-19. How do you think independent publishers like Baen will hold up over the next few years?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/15/2020 DawnRay Ammon asks "Why are publisher not marketing books more? It seem like they don't understand that you have to tell people about the product..." Writing a Book Plotting ---- On 04/15/2020 Udy Kumra asks "You recently advised me to rewrite my book with one protagonist instead of four. Would you say that having that many protagonists is something that writers grow to as opposed to something they can effectively start with?" Writing a Book ---- On 04/15/2020 Medusa -- B.K.Forsyth asks "I always attend the Tuesday night Zoom session so would you save this question for next Tuesday not Saturday night?I have a detective interviewing a woman for her story. It comes across as a long dialog scene. I need to somehow make it read less like dialog and more like narrative. Where the interviewee flavors the narrative occasionally instead of a straight telling. How do you handle third person stories told to the main character? Any recommended techniques or readings." Writing a Book ---- On 04/15/2020 Medusa -- B.K.Forsyth asks "I just asked you the editor/agent multiple submission question. I always watch on Tuesday nights. Would you answer the questions from me on Tuesday night. Thank you." Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/02/2020 Catherine Barrett asks "For Jeff Wheeler: do you have any tips for balancing family life and writing when young children are around? (I'm inspired that you managed to write the first Muirwood books while juggling so much.)" Writing a Book ---- On 04/29/2020 Brennan Harvey asks "My editor suggested a sensitivity read for my latest novel. The setting is a parallel world and the theme is slavery. How do I go about finding a sensitivity reader? Can you recommend somebody?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/02/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "What strategies do you use to break through writing and motivation blocks?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/02/2020 Kary English asks "I've had agents and publishers tell me that traditional fantasy, the kind set in a medieval European milieu, is dead, but you've had excellent success with it. Now, with The Grave Kingdom, you've moved away from it, too. Any thoughts?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/02/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "How do you build your "street team?" How do you know who to add into that group?" Traditional Publishing Getting an Agent/Working With an Agent ---- On 05/02/2020 Glenn asks "My editors/friends love my manuscript. The genre is hot. Query letter is solid. But agents aren't biting. How do I get agents to love it?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/02/2020 Jan Nerenberg asks "QUESTION: You say to write every day - 2500 words to 20+pages. When do you plan your next book so you can consistently write even after finishing a a book?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/05/2020 Robert asks "At these times, ebooks seem to be a new norm. I'm interested in, how did you get your Henry Wood Detective Agency translated to Spanish? Did an agent help you?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/06/2020 DawnRay Ammon asks "What is you ROI on Paid ads and what event effect that?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/06/2020 Mike Wyant asks "I’ve never seen the word cloud referenced. Whereabouts is that? Amazon? Facebook?" Releasing a Novel Other Platforms to Advertise fromUsing Facebook to Advertise ---- On 05/06/2020 Ben Green asks "Question: could you comment on targeting for fantasy. Is there an easy way to find people interested in these books?" There are some who call me Tim asked Why does he say ebooks should be $4.99 when his own is $9.99? 🙂 Mike Wyant asked And does this all apply to shorter fiction. From Brennan Harvey to Everyone: 08:23 AM -- QUESTION: How much does an audiobook cost to produce? Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/09/2020 Jan asks "What specifically do you use for give aways? How much do you spend?" From Brennan Harvey to Everyone: 08:23 AM -- QUESTION: How much does an audiobook cost to produce? Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/02/2020 Wulf Moon asks "QUESTION: You were in the right place at the right time because you were experimenting and working hard and taking risks. Where would you direct new novelists to focus their efforts today to get the best initial launch for their works and careers?" From Jason J. Willis to Everyone: 08:22 AM -- Do you have any insight on how you do settings and places of power? The tree/forge/etc. Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/09/2020 KW King asks "How do you attract a broad spectrum of readers?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/19/2020 Mike Wyant asks "Dave has mentioned you have experience working on graphic novels. What is the best process for going for traditional publishing in that area and, if it’s a bad idea, what would you recommend?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/19/2020 Wulf Moon asks "As editor for Weird Tales Magazine, can you tell us your idea of "weird"? I've got a story Dave gave a Silver HM to at Writers of the Future, and I've gotten several "great story, not right for us" personals from the prozines. So how weird is weird at your magazine? Can you define something so nebulous?" Releasing a Novel ---- On 05/19/2020 Martin L. Shoemaker asks "47North is releasing book 2 in my series in October. I have a number of NetGalley eARC codes to distribute. How do I use these most effectively? You once mentioned sending eARCs to reviewers who liked earlier books in the series, but book 1 had only ONE professional review (and I'll certainly send a code to that reviewer). Thanks!" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/16/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "How do you write an emotionally impactful death scene? What details do you use for maximum potency?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/16/2020 Brenda Carr asks "Question for Jonathan Mayberry: I'm really excited about learning more about scenes of compressed action such as fight scenes and chase scenes. How do you encapsulate the sensory elements and tension of such scenes without too much description? How do you choose just the right action to fit character motivation and turning point?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/20/2020 Stephannie Tallent asks "Hi! I'm really wanting to take one of your Writing Fight Scenes classes, but can't attend the upcoming one (I'll be at work). Is it recorded as well? thanks!" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/20/2020 Aisley Oliphant asks "What do you know about self-publishing comic books?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/20/2020 Mike Wyant asks "What is the secret handshake someone needs to know to get hired at Marvel?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/20/2020 Udy Kumra asks "One of the tricks for thriller writing that I've been taught is to have shorter chapters, most of which end with cliffhangers so that the reader feels like they can't put the book down and feel like they are tearing through the story really quickly. What are other technical writing tips that are specific to thriller writing?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/20/2020 Brennan Harvey asks "Where do I start reading the author Jonathan Maberry?" Motivation ---- On 05/13/2020 NJ asks "I feel like the four walls of being in quarantine have been transposed into being four walls in my mind. My attention span has gone down and If I'm not watching a movie, chatting online, and going through social media ALL AT THE SAME TIME then I'm bored. I'm an avid reader but haven't read in I don't even know how long...since all this started. Needless to say, trying to get into my own mind long enough to put words on a page is. not. happening. My weekly writers group check ins feel like massive failures. I don't know what to do or how to get past this while the world continues to be shut down. Any advice?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/30/2020 Brennan Harvey asks "Is having a traditional publisher preferable to being and Indie?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/30/2020 John Smith Family asks "Who did your cover? or did you do it/" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/30/2020 Jan asks "Is it a good idea to work with someone like Stewart Bosch so you control the cover before you try to go traditional? Will the publisher throw out your cover?" Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/30/2020 Nick asks "Dave, if I remember correctly, you said that Harry Potter had gone through a "soft release" in England when you found and started promoting it to Scholastic. Question for Guest Speaker ---- On 05/30/2020 Roland asks "Audiobook? Strategies or thoughts or comments on this topic?" Delete Only Delete Submit
