Chattanooga Writers Guild

Ask The Book Doctor

“Problems,” Distributors, Legal answers, and More

Q: I sent my nonfiction book to a publisher, but the acquisitions person said the book has "problems." I am not sure what that means. Any ideas?

A: What a shame the note wasn't more specific. "Problems" can mean anything, from punctuation to content. It's too vague a comment to be of help. As a pro who makes her living editing books, I’m inclined to tell you to pay an editor such as me to identify and repair the problems, but never ask a barber if you need a haircut, because you know the answer. Perhaps you can get feedback from a critique circle or a peer, though, at no charge. You can't fix problems until you know what they are, and I can’t identify the problems without seeing the full manuscript.

Q: Hello, Book Doctor: I queried you several weeks ago about charging for writing a book, and you gave me some good, logical feedback. In the same vein, I want to ask you about co-authoring a book. I will be doing most of the writing, but drawing from the materials and experience of another person, to whom I will give co-author status. This person wants to contract with me to write the book, and we are working on the terms of the contract now. How should my contribution translate into a share of the profit from the book? This co-author is paying me to write the book and assuming all risk with respect to getting the book published and promoted. Do I still have a right to a share of the profits? My name will be on the book as the author, along with this other person. As always your sage advice is greatly appreciated. –C.S.

A. Hmm. You want my sage advice? Sage is a spice best used on chicken, and I’m chicken about advising you on legal matters. I’m not an attorney. That said, I can tell you what I have done in the past and why. My contracts have mostly been work-for-hire, with no participation in the proceeds. Why? Because I would have no control over what the other person did with the book, anyway, and would have no way of knowing the actual proceeds. I would have had to rely on him or her for honest accounting, and after expenses, I doubt little would be left for me, anyway. I’ve found that if I get paid to do the work and then relinquish the product to the client, I can let go without fretting about what happens afterward. I don’t worry whether the author or the publisher will put the right amount of effort into marketing it or distributing it, and I never have to worry that I did not get money due me from the proceeds. Work-for-hire arrangements ensure I get paid for my work, and then I can go on to the next project with a clear mind and happy heart.

Q: I had a problem converting some of the present-tense sections of my novel to past tense. It's hard to explain, but in a first-person narrative in the mystery genre, there are precedents. Occasionally authors talk directly to the reader, and that's done in present tense, because it's supposed to be true, even as the reader reads. I thought about it and picked up Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye. I saw several places where he used present tense for some comment like this:

”There are blondes and blondes and it is almost a joke word nowadays. All blondes have their points, except perhaps the metallic ones who are as blond as a Zulu under the bleach and as to disposition as soft as a sidewalk...."

If this kind of writing won't pass the editing process, I'm stumped. Not that I'm claiming any kinship with Chandler. But it seems to me that writer in first person can get away with an occasional comment like the ones I showed. For example, I began Chapter 3 with this paragraph:
”Mt. Soledad is only several hundred feet in elevation, but it does an effective job of sealing off La Jolla from the rest of San Diego. It also provides an opportunity for homebuilders to create a multitude of multimillion-dollar estates with ocean views.”

Changing it to something like "Mt. Soledad was only several hundred feet in elevation, but it did an effective job of sealing off La Jolla from the rest of San Diego…." doesn't seem necessary, except to conform. Kind of like changing Chandler's paragraph to "There were blondes and blondes and it was almost a joke word in those days. All blondes had their points...."

If that's what it takes to pass the editing test, please let me know.

A: 1. Believe in your style and stick with it. You have the right to use any style you want.
2. Let me remind you that narrative that talks to the reader is no longer in fashion. It's not considered contemporary fiction.

Do my statements conflict? Yes. That's why you should create your own style and stick with it, until you've gotten more than one opinion against it. I always fear that I will step on someone's unique style and ruin a potentially great writer, which is never my intent. I talk from the standpoint of technicalities and marketability; only you can decide which comments to take to heart and apply to your book.

Q: Can I legally use real live celebrities as characters in my novel without their permission? What if I printed my manuscript and distributed it only to my family and friends for no profit? –B.B.

A: I am an editor, not an attorney. I cannot give legal advice or guess what others might choose to sue you for. Sorry I can't be of help directly, but the answer might be found with an entertainment attorney. In Georgia we have an organization for entertainment attorneys called Georgia Lawyers for the Arts. Call them at 404/873-3911. If you live in another state, perhaps your city or state has a similar group willing to answer a brief question for free.

Q: We are considering a move to get a distributor for books already published. How do I locate a good book distributor who will get our books into bookstores?

A: I don't deal with distributors myself, but as I understand it, there are only a few out there: Baker & Taylor, Ingram, and a few others. Here's a reference book you can buy that might help, although I'm not familiar with it, but it sounds like it would answer your questions. See http://www.marketability.com/getinbookstores.html

Do you have questions for Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas? Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or see her Web site at www.zebraeditor.com. Watch your local bookstore for her upcoming book, Write In Style, to be released in June by Union Square Publishing.

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Last modified: 03/27/04