some questions

[pittbull]

has any1 published a book from trafford company?? do you really get 60% royalty of every book sold?? if im really good, can i become a best seller??i want to earn a living from writing and im quiet sure i can do it... cud you recomend me any other publishing companies??.. im goin to ask more question during the debate :P.. thanks

P.S. is any1 from england in here??

[ProfessorAlan]

search "trafford" here on CW at the top right of the page and you'll find a whole thread discussing them.

{I can't figure out how to put the exact link in myself}

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Not with that spelling you won't.

Don't write for the money (very few actually make money to live on), write for the love of writing, because you have a story/poem etc that has to be released or you will explode. That's my tip.

[whitehawke]

I posted two links to threads that talked about that publisher today on your other thread.
http://christianwriters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8959

[Keith Wallis]

England, MY England ! There are a few of us in amongst all these colonials.

[dulcigal]

Colonials, bah! The more sophisticated term is "Yank." haha

Pitbull, you asked if you could become a bestseller. My question is, what are you reading? About writing, I mean? Because the more you learn about the craft, the more your chances at that bestseller. Although I agree with Warrior completely and add that if the only reason you write is to make it to the top, chances are, you never will. Those that get there are in most cases the writers very passionate about their work, who even if they didn't sell a big novel again, they'd still write.

But don't get discouraged either, because good writing can be learned!

[Tommie Lyn]

Colonials, bah! The more sophisticated term is "Yank." haha
Actually, that term only applies to those who are from the territory north of the Mason-Dixon line, LOL!

[dulcigal]

LOL, well...ok. I'll take that. :) But you can't call someone in California a Colonial either.

[gregholmes]

pitbull, I've never heard of trafford but 60% doesn't sound like a traditional publisher...

And for the record, I'm the lonely Canadian on site.

[saz]

Actually, there are other Canadians on site:)

[Merry]

pitbull, good to have you! On the other thread I'm sure you've seen Trafford is a Vanity press and let's face it, an Englishman can do better than that. (Even though I'm British by way of Los Angeles. My parents are English but I was born in LA when my dad worked for Lockheed.)

Hope to be seeing what you write!

[Tommie Lyn]

LOL, well...ok. I'll take that. But you can't call someone in California a Colonial either.
True. I guess you could call them Westerners, but it would probably be better to let someone from California define the term they'd prefer. :)

[gregholmes]

Actually, there are other Canadians on site:)
I created a thread a few weeks back looking for other Canadians and only got one response...

[oscarin63]

Pit Bull
You might want to try www.lulu.com. It's a self-publishing website that does not charge you to self-publish if you publish in the United States. They do however, have a global package that encompases markets in the US, England, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. I believe that deal is under $99.00. They put the your book on various websites including Amazon and Barnes and Noble in the US. They recieve a small royalty for publishing the e-book but you can also publish it in the regular book form. You recieve I believe 80% of the royalties. They also have a marketing plan that you can purchase. Check it out.

Oscar Quinones, Jr

[pittbull]

Oscarin thanks a lot, that site is very helpful.

JUst one question.. when i show the manuscript to any of those publishing companies, r they goin to correct my mistakes?? coz my english is not the best and im only 20 :P. do they charge extra money to correct my mistakes??

[Keith Wallis]

Pittbull you really need to produce a flawless manuscript.
If you leave it up to the company they'll either NOT correct it at all or do a less than perfect job FOR A FEE.

[kriswrite]

Pittbull~

No legit publishing house will even consider offering you a contract if your manuscript if full of flaws (and that includes typos, misspellings, and incorrect grammer). At 20, you ought to be able to provide a reasonably clean manuscript. If not, time to take some evening college courses!

Kristina

[Tommie Lyn]

Sometimes, problems with spelling and grammar are a matter of habit. Widespread usage of internet "short-hand," like using the letter "r" instead of typing the word "are," is a big problem. Although these abbreviations served a purpose during a time when computer memory was limited and transmissions were not sophisticated, the need for them has gone (except, maybe, for text messaging on cell phones). Still, the habit persists (I still use LOL myself). You might want to try leaving that habit behind -- it would be a big help to you in your writing.

[Gravity]

Not to be a snot, but why in heaven's name do so many would-be writers treat the King's English in such a shoddy manner? Sites like these are permanent, folks. One day, God willing, when our works are found in every discerning home, someone will Google our names. Is "R U a writter like I am cuz its 2 cool!" what we really want them to find?

Okay rant over. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress.

[dulcigal]

Rant understood, Gravity. The internet shorthand is a big problem--I can't even read the half of it. Yeah, I use LOL on occasion, but then again, that's not sctricly speaking gramatical as much as shorthand for one of those laughing smileys! But I avoid "r" and "cuz" (no offense, cuz) and stuff of the sort. To me as a writer where words come alive one page...those words come alive sounding like baby talk.

Pitbull, there's a really good inexpensive self-course for Grammar/Spelling that you can get on Amazon called "English Essentials" (get the correction manual too) It would at least give you a kick-start. You just can't rely on spell-checker on MSWord--it only does it's job half of the time, especially if your writing style is fragmented or if you're writing scifi/fantasy. And I doubt even friendly critiquers will spend much time reading a manuscript littered with errors. Pollish up!

[dulcigal]

Oh, by the way, I think I should mention that I'm 20 too. My grammar may not be perfect, but it is around the same as what's expected from every other writer. It can be taught! (And don't think you can slack because of age!!!) Neither let anyone look down on you or except less of you because of your age.

[saz]

You could always look for a copy editor. That's my line of work. It would cost but if it means an accepted manuscript verses rejection letters, it is worth it :)

Greg, it was my response you received.

[oscarin63]

I know that you have to make the corrections on the final product. There are also professional editors who can look at your work for you for a fee. But, I don't know if the website provides that service for you. I think that you are ultimately responsible for what goes in your work.