Tag: The BG Blog

5 Simple Reasons to Volunteer for Distributed Proofreaders

Posted on by Kim

Offering my time as a volunteer for Distributed Proofreaders (DP) for the last three years has been very rewarding for me. There are many reasons why I do it and today, I’d like to share them with you.

Many DP volunteers found the site by downloading books from Project Gutenberg; however, it was during my training to become a qualified copy editor and proofreader that my introduction occurred. My tutor recommended DP as a suitable place to practice my skills. Thank you, Shauna Meade. But, what are the other reasons why I volunteer for Distributed Proofreaders?

A Chance To Give Back

Volunteering your services to a not-for-profit organisation is your chance to give something back to the world. Working for DP is my chance to give something back to the world of literature. I wrote an article about why Project Gutenberg (PG) is such a treasured resource and love being part of the process.

No Minimum Time Commitments

DP doesn’t ask its volunteers to commit to a minimum work schedule. You can do as much or as little as you want: the tasks are variable and numerous. You are free to pop in sporadically, work for a few minutes a day, or whatever pattern you want. This means that my work in this volunteering position doesn’t interfere with my schedule.

In this wonderful world of out-of-print books, you can discover a forgotten treasure. Yes, many may seem old-fashioned or have ideas and themes that our modern-day sensibilities frown upon. But I love this peek into the past that proofreading these books gives me.

Keeps My Eyes On The Ball

As Shauna suggested, volunteering for DP allows me to keep my eyes trained during those times when I have few proofreading contracts. However, working through the pages available doesn’t feel like working. It is, for me, a relaxing process that gives me a chance to step through the evolution of language and literature while still being a productive way to spend some free time.

Reveals A New (Old) World Of Literary Material

DP is a sensational idea where you can experience the history of the written word: one day you’re checking a famous classic, the next maybe a few pages from a cookbook or a Gothic thriller. As a proofreader volunteer, I’ve discovered some books that I would otherwise never have come across. I’ve also rediscovered my passion for local history, a hobby that has been dormant for the past decade.

Keeps My Proofreading Skills Fresh

As a proofreading professional, I don’t proofread against copy often—I usually do blind (or cold) proofreading—and it’s fun to do something else for a change while not departing from my job too much.

Proofing at DP couldn’t be easier.

Working on so many different projects is like looking through a new window with every page that you do. Every project has a Mentor who is always on hand to help with any issues and give feedback on your work. There’s also the opportunity to help during the latter stages of the process.

DP is a great team to be a part of.

So far, Project Gutenburg now have 42,549 titles available in its library – preserved for the world! This progress has been made because everyone at DP works as part of a team. We contribute mutually, and so any individual weaknesses are covered by others’ combined strengths. The interaction between volunteers during this process makes it hard not to make friends, and so DP is a very friendly place to become attached to.

While the DP website has thousands of registered volunteers from all over the world, only about 3% are active in a single month.

The braver and more daring volunteers eventually progress to Post Processing. This is where the projects are formatted into their final form before they are posted to Project Gutenberg (PG). The tasks include image manipulation, especially old photographs, and coloured bookplates. I’ve been assured by fellow DPers that the basics can be easily learnt and it’s something I’d like to add to my skill-set. There are also important administrative jobs at DP held by Project Facilitators and “Squirrels” (the technical team that maintains the site and coding at DP, among other chores).

Experienced volunteers who enjoy guiding new members can become Mentors and Post Processing Verifiers. The Smooth Reading stage, as its name implies, simply involves reading the eBook. Ensuring that the book reads correctly and that there aren’t any startling oversights before it goes to PG.

Interested in online volunteering and have a passion for books?

Become a proofreading volunteer.

If you love reading or are a new proofreading professional, I encourage you to volunteer for Distributed Proofreaders. I’m incredibly happy that I found the site. Not only do I feel useful, but the idea and the opportunity of making these books freely available at PG is a wonderful and altruistic way to spend my free time. Please feel free to join us. I assure you that you’ll be made most welcome.

All you need to do is register on the website as a volunteer. After becoming familiar with DP’s proofreading guidelines, pick the projects you prefer from those available and start proofreading. How much time you dedicate to this online volunteering position is up to you, but any time you contribute matters!

Pinterest Pin - The BG Blog - Project Gutenberg - 5 Simple Reasons to Volunteer for Distributed Proofreaders (1)

Everything you need to know about Beta Readers: What, Who, Where, and Why?

Posted on by Kim

Did you know that good beta readers are one of a writer’s most valuable external resources? Not only can the right beta reader help you improve your manuscript in a way that you never could on your own, but they’ll also keep your editorial costs down.

Fantastic! But … what are beta readers, where can I find them, and how do they help me?

What the heck is a beta reader?

Beta readers are people who evaluate completed or work-in-progress (WIP) manuscripts. Sometimes they’re fellow writers and offer a reciprocal evaluation. Many are avid readers themselves and offer their feedback either in exchange for a set fee or a word-of-mouth testimonial. These helpful people will give you their opinion on what works and what doesn’t in your story.

Good beta readers are worth their weight in royalties so treat them well. Make sure that:

  • Your manuscript is the best version that you can produce without outside help.
  • It’s in the format which they are comfortable with, i.e. .docx, .pdf, .mobi (or comes with clear instructions on how they can convert it).
  • You’re clear about what you want from them. Let them know if you are aware of specific problem areas that you want them to pay particular attention to.
  • The turnaround time that you are asking for is reasonable.

Great! I like the sound of these beta readers. They seem like wonderful people. Where can I find one?

Beta reader wish list.

When looking for your ideal manuscript evaluator there are several characteristics that you should look for. First of all, let’s talk about who they aren’t. Beta readers are not:

  • Your best friend or mate since school.
  • Any member of your family member. No, not your mum, dad, brother, sister, cousin, auntie, uncle, granny…
  • Your husband, wife, or romantic partner of any description.
  • The person who has been reading your manuscript as you’ve written it.

These lovely people are all either too close to you or too invested in your story. They’ll want to help but they’re not objective enough to give you the candid, constructive criticism that you need. The people who love you or who have shared in the agonising, creative process so far won’t want to hurt your feelings or cause you any pain. Yes, the process will leave you more open to criticism, and it will probably be painful. However, the pain is necessary. You know that. Well, OK … deep down, you know that.

This is what good beta readers are:

  • Honest and dependable. They need to live up to their promise of help and do it within the agreed timeframe.
  • Avid readers and/or writers themselves. Both of these groups have a good understanding of what makes a great story. You’ll get useful insights from both sides of the process if your betas are a mix of readers and fellow writers.
  • The target audience of your book. If your book is aimed at young adults (those in their teens or early twenties), you want your beta readers to be within that age range too. If you’re writing within the mystery genre, you’ll want people who regularly read or write mysteries.
  • Able to offer a constructive critique. Strong opinions are good but any criticisms must able to be communicated without crushing your confidence. Balance is the key; they should highlight the strengths in your manuscript as well as the weaknesses and faults.
  • Aware of the importance of a writer’s “voice”. They’ll know enough of the publishing world to understand the fluidity with the rules of language.
  • Understanding of what’s needed at the beta reading stage. They’ll know that their job is assessing the big picture not nit-picking about any typos or spelling.
  • Experienced or knowledgeable about any specialist content in your book. e.g., foreign locations or language, astrophysics, law enforcement, deep-sea diving.

A single beta reader may not have all of these characteristics. Therefore, many writers gather a team of betas to cover all the necessary aspects for what their manuscript needs. Having a small team ensures you are well on your way to some excellent feedback.

Oh, yes! I’d trust my manuscript to people like that. But where can I find them?

Where do beta readers hang out?

If you have the money or time is of the essence, you can pay for a manuscript critique. You can find many professional beta readers advertising their services through social media, or freelance websites such as fivver. However, if you’re working to a tight budget, you may end up spending money that should have been used as part of the editing process. To help with this very issue, I offer my beta reading clients significant discounts off later editing needs.

If financial constraints mean that you’re unable to pay for a beta reader, take the time to choose wisely. Honestly, my best advice is to simply go where writers go (Twitter, Facebook, writing blogs, and writing forums) and start making connections. It’s important to find beta readers that are the right fit for your book.

The best time to begin your search is, at least, a year before you think you’ll need them. Yes, that long. Taking this time means that you get to know more about lots of different people, building productive relationships and contacts. This leads to longer-lasting professional friendships which you’ll benefit from throughout your writing life.

Some key pointers for making and supporting connections with your potential beta readers:

  • Be genuine. Don’t pretend to be interested in someone’s life or writing just to get them as a beta reader. The relationship with your beta reader needs to be one based on honesty.
  • Be generous. Offer up your time and feedback willingly. Volunteer to critique other manuscripts before asking for yours be assessed. Fellow writers will soon reciprocate because they want to help you.
  • Be gentle. Take your time; it takes patience to nurture the sort of relationships that both parties can trust and rely on. You want to be sure that your manuscript will be safe in their hands.

Yes, yes, but WHERE can I start making these connections?

Post Featured Image - Everything you need to know about beta readers - A portfolio of beta readers

As I mentioned before, you can find beta readers through a variety of places:

Face-to-face.

  • Writers’ seminars and workshops. The first contact will be face-to-face. But then you can keep in touch via whatever method both party agree to, usually social media.
  • Local writers’ groups and critique groups. Find out what’s going on in your area by visiting your library or try meetup.com.

I know that the pandemic has had an impact on in-person connections. However, most face-to-face events have become virtual ones instead with the help of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.

Online.

Social media. Interact with other writers on Twitter, join Facebook groups for writers, Goodreads has a Beta Reader Group, LinkedIn has various discussion groups for writers covering a variety of genres.

Writers’ forums. Sign up to writers’ forums that have critique dedicated areas. You’ll most likely have to do some beta reading yourself before you can offer up your own work for assessing, but it’s all part of the relationship-building process. Joining other writers’ forums that don’t have areas dedicated to critiques will help you meet like-minded authors. In time, they might be interested in beta reading the kind of books you write.

Book discussion forums. Some book websites focus on specific genres and have community forums where people discuss the books they love from that genre while other sites allow discussions about any and every genre. Frequently, you can also find sections dedicated to authors and writing where critiques can be exchanged. OnlineBookClub.org is a great site with active forums and resources available for writers and authors as well as readers. They have separate forums for different genres as well as boards specifically for authors and the art of writing.

Writing blogs. Search for blogs related to writing. Which ones are well-written and have content that engages you? Interact with the author by commenting on posts and sharing what they have to say across your social media accounts; they may even begin to reciprocate. Over time, you’ll be able to tell if there’s potential for a mutually beneficial beta reading partnership.

Remember the fundamental rules of relationship building: Be genuine, be generous, be gentle.

Excellent! I know who I’m looking for and where to find them. But why should I go to all this effort?

Why do I need a group of beta readers at all?

Post Featured Image - Everything you need to know about beta readers - Rewarding benefits

It takes hard work and dedication to build up a portfolio of beta readers who you can call on when needed. What makes it worth your while?

Working with beta readers will:

  • Improve your writing skills. You’ll become increasingly aware of your weaknesses and develop a more professional style that’s more conducive to success in the publishing world.
  • Improve your manuscript. Problems and areas that you grappled with will be resolved, missed plot holes will be highlighted and solutions suggested, weak characters will be strengthened … The list could go on and on.
  • Create your very own support network. Authors are solitary creatures and don’t usually have a team behind them. However, your portfolio of betas will be people who are dedicated to the written word, who get you. They’ll understand the challenges and recognise the triumphs. Even if only a few of the connections you make join your beta team, you’ll have built up an invaluable network that’ll prove its value time and again.
  • Save you money. A large enough team of beta readers means that you can garner their thoughts at key junctures of your manuscript’s development. Done properly, you may be able to skip the developmental and substantive editing stage at the beginning of the process. This will dramatically reduce your costs and mean that the line/copy-editing stage may come in cheaper too. The ‘cleaner’ your manuscript is, the lower your overall editing costs will be.

As you can see, just one of these benefits makes the time and effort spent finding good beta readers worthwhile.

I hope that you’ve found this article beneficial. Before you go, don’t forget to find out more about the services I offer.

World Mental Health Day: Let’s talk about wellbeing for mind, body, and soul.

Posted on by Kim

The World Health Organisation (WHO) promotes World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. It’s a day to put mental health centre stage and in the spotlight. A chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you’re struggling.

Our world has been turned upside down these last couple of years. While scientists have been fighting to protect us all from the COVID19 virus, the pandemic has changed the way we live our lives. Perhaps forever.

As freelancers, authors and writers, we spend most of our time working alone. In April 2020, the Office for National Statstics (ONS) stated that almost half of people in employment in the UK did some work at home. But it’s not just more of us working from home, virtual meetings have replaced in-person contact, and socialising with family and friends has been put on hold. We’ve had to adjust.

I always try to focus on the positives in life. However, the lockdowns, restrictions and shortages have taken their toll on my mental health. But I’m not alone.

World Mental Health Day MHF_WMHDay2021_Twitter_1200x675

From the beginning of the outbreak, The Mental Health Foundation in the UK and others around the globe have been tracking the pandemic’s impact on people’s mental health. The resulting research shows that we’ve all been affected to one degree or another.

What can you do to improve your mental health?

The NHS have many great suggestions on their site. From visiting our local parks or tending our own plants indoors, to making sure we get enough good quality sleep. I must admit that sleep is always one of the first things to be affected when I’m stressed. However, I’ve found reading a paperback or listening to an audiobook helps me to drop off and take my mind off my worries. I wake up in the morning having slept straight through, rather than waking up every few hours.

Featured Image - World Mental Health Day - Reading a Book

Sitting outside for just 15 minutes helps reduce feelings of stress and seems to improve my mental health.

Spending quality time with nature has also been proven to have a positive effect on our mood. I’m very lucky to have a back garden – it’s green and full of life. In fact, I’m typing this post on my laptop sat in my garden right now! The sound of traffic can’t dim the serenade of bird songs I can hear.

Over the past year, many of my friends have told me that they’re taking daily walks or spending time in our local parks and green spaces to cope with the pandemic. With winter fast approaching, this solution may not be practical. We need to have a collection of strategies at hand. Some activities that we can do outside, such as walking, while others we can do at home away from any adverse weather, such as reading or mindfulness colouring. A friend of mine has taken up knitting. She was originally taught as a child by her granny but picked up her knitting needles again during the first lockdown. I’ve been promised a lovely new scarf for my birthday in December.

Featured Image - World Mental Health Day - Mental Health Awareness

Mental health awareness will continue to be important tomorrow, a week from now and a year from now.

To be a healthy, happy, and productive member of society we all need to play our part. Look after your wellbeing and be aware of others. I’ll be looking at my work/life balance. Reminding myself that I don’t have to do everything, all the time, right now! I will ask for help before I feel overwhelmed. Most importantly, I’m going to make sure that I have time for myself.

What steps are you taking to ensure your mental wellbeing?

Grammar: 10+ of the Most Common Mix-Ups that Spellcheck Could Miss

Posted on by Kim

There are lots of programs available to help us when it comes to writing. However, English is a confusing language to master and even when we use programs like MS Spell Check mix-ups can still occur.

English is a living language that’s spoken around the world and continues to evolve. Many of the spelling and grammar “rules” I learnt at school no longer apply and those that do, have more exceptions than inclusions! Even after my many years in education, there are some aspects of my language that cause me to pause and reach for my reference books.

Words and phrases can sound fine in your head but look like gibberish when written down — that is, if you even realize you made a mistake in the first place! It’s all too simple for little mix-ups to slip by, especially when you’re self-editing.

But how do I stop making these mix-ups if I’m not even aware I’m doing it?

There’s no easy fix. One of the points that was continually emphasised during my proofreading and editing training was check every single word, even if it looks right. It’s okay — we’re all guilty of at least one mix-up. Jot down the things that repeatedly catch you out, as I suggested in my post about spelling mistakes.

Common Grammar Mix-ups

Here are some of the most common mistakes I come across time and time again while reading blog posts, newsletters and self-edited eBooks.

  1. They’re or Their or There
  2. Your or You’re
  3. Its or It’s
  4. Affect or Effect
  5. To or Too
  6. Peek or Peak or Pique
  7. Whose or Who’s
  8. Alot or A lot or Allot
  9. Lose or Loose
  10. Assure or Insure or Ensure
  11. Compliment or Complement

Which of these mix-ups have you been caught out by? Don’t worry, they’re common grammar mistakes for a reason – lots of people get muddled.

Let’s look at these mix-ups in more detail.

Once you can recognise which ones trip you up regularly, you’ll be more aware of potential mistakes and keep your eyes out for them when you self-edit your writing.

1. They’re or Their or There

One’s a contraction for “they are” (they’re), one refers to something owned (their), and one refers to a place (there). You know the difference among the three — just make sure you triple check that you’re using the right ones in the right places at the right times.

I find it’s helpful to search through my posts (try control + F on PC or command + F on Mac) for those words and check that they’re being used in the right context. Here’s the correct usage of “they’re,” “there,” and “their”:

They’re going to love going there — I heard their food is the best!

2. Your or You’re

The difference between these two is owning something versus actually being something:

You made it around the track in under a minute — you’re fast!

How’s your fast going? Are you getting hungry?

See the difference? “Your” is possessive and “you’re” is a contraction of “you are.”

Again, if you’re having trouble keeping them straight, try doing another grammar check before you hit publish.

3. Its or It’s

This one tends to confuse even the best of writers. “Its” is possessive and “it’s” is a contraction of “it is.” Lots of people get tripped up because “it’s” has an ‘s after it, which normally means something is possessive. But in this case, it’s actually a contraction.

Do a control + F to find this mistake in your writing. It’s really hard to catch on your own, but it’s a mistake everyone can make.

4. Affect or Effect

This one is another one of my pet peeves. Most people confuse them when they’re talking about something changing another thing.

That movie effected me greatly.

Effect, with an “e,” isn’t used as a verb the way “affect” is, so the sentence above is incorrect. When you’re talking about the change itself — the noun — you’ll use “effect.”

That book had a great effect on me.

When you’re talking about the act of changing — the verb — you’ll use “affect.”

That book affected me greatly.

6. To or Too

We’ve all accidentally left the second “o” off of “too” when texting in a hurry. But in case the mistake goes beyond that, let’s review some usage rules.

“To” is typically used before a noun or verb, and describes a destination, recipient, or action. Take these examples:

My friend drove me to my doctor’s appointment. (Destination)

I sent the files to my boss. (Recipient)

I’m going to get a cup of coffee. (Action)

“Too,” on the other hand, is a word that’s used as an alternative to “also” or “as well.” It’s also used to describe an adjective in extremes. Have a look:

Fiction editor, Sophie Payle, is a member of CIEP, too.

She, too, writes a blog.

We both think it’s too cold outside.

You might have noticed that there’s some interesting comma usage where the word “too” is involved. When you’re using the word “too” to replace “also” or “as well,” the general rule is to use a comma both before and after. The only exception occurs when “too” is the last word in the sentence — then, follow it with a period.

7. Peek or Peak or Pique

This mistake is another one I often see people make, even if they know what they mean.

  • Peek is taking a quick look at something — like a sneak peek of a new film.
  • Peak is a sharp point — like the peak of a mountain.
  • And pique means to provoke or instigate — you know, like your interest.

If you’re going to use one in your writing, stop and think for a second — is that the right “peek” you should be using?

8. Whose or Who’s

“Whose” is used to assign ownership to someone. See if you can spot the error in this question:

Who’s bag is that?

Because the bag belongs to someone, it should actually be written this way:

Whose bag is that?

“Who’s,” on the other hand, is used to identify a living being. It’s a contraction for “who is” — here’s an example of how we might use it in a sentence here in Salisbury:

Who’s going to Stonehenge for the festival tonight?

See the difference? “Whose” is used to work out who something belongs to, whereas “who’s” is used to identify someone who’s doing something.

9. “Alot” or A lot or Allot

I hate to break it to all of you “alot” fans out there, but “alot” is not a word. OK, yet. If you’re trying to say that someone has a vast number of things, you’d say they have “a lot” of things. And if you’re trying to say that you want to set aside a certain amount of money to buy something, you’d say you’ll “allot” £50 to spend on dinner

If you’re trying to remember to stay away from “alot,” check out this fabulously funny post by Hyperbole and a Half featuring the alot.

10. Lose or Loose

When people mix up “lose” and “loose,” it’s usually just because they’re spelled so similarly. They know their definitions are completely different.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “loose” means “not fixed in place or tied up” (a loose tooth), while “lose” means “no longer have” or “become unable to find” (try not to lose your keys again).

“Loose” is an adjective that means “not firmly or tightly fixed, fastened, attached, or held,” like loose clothing or a loose tooth.

A trick for remembering the difference is to think of the term “loosey-goosey” — both of those words are spelled with two o’s.

11. Assure or Insure or Ensure

All of these words have to do with “making an outcome sure,” which is why they’re so often mixed up. However, they are not interchangeable.

  • “To assure” means to promise or say with confidence. For example, “I assure you that she’s good at her job.”
  • “To ensure” means to make certain. For example, “Ensure you’re free when I visit next week.”
  • Finally, “to insure” means to protect against risk by regularly paying an insurance company. For example, “I insure my car because the law requires it.”

12. Compliment or Complement

These two words are pronounced exactly the same, making them easy to muddle up. But they’re actually quite different.

If something “complements” something else, that means it completes it, enhances it, or makes it perfect. For example, a wine selection can complement a meal, and two colours can complement each other.

The word “compliment” though, refers to an expression of praise (as a noun), or to praise or express admiration for someone (as a verb). You can compliment your friend’s new haircut, or pay someone a compliment on his or her haircut.

My final bit of advice about these mix-ups

English, like many other languages, has its own set of tricky rules and intricacies. We may not like it, but we know this. However, don’t give up. With a little bit of practice and help from guides like this one, you can become a grammar master. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation was a constant companion while I was training to be an editor and I still use it when I come across those tricky language mix-ups.

I hope you found this post about some of the most common grammar mix-ups helpful. Did I miss any that you struggle with? Drop me a comment below so that I can feature the solution in my next grammar post.

Until next time,

Kim

The Agatha Award 2021 Winners!

Posted on by Kim

As a lover of the cosy genre, I couldn’t let the Agatha Award 2021 pass without mentioning the winners on the blog!

Hello. Today on the blog I’m sharing the Agatha Award 2021 winners. This prestigious literary award is run by Malice Domestic. The award was created in honour of the queen of cosy mysteries, British crime writer Agatha Christie to celebrate the authors publishing works in the cosy genre.

Here’s what Malice say about it on their website:

“Established in 1989, Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention that takes place each year in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Malice celebrates the Traditional Mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore or violence.“

The six categories in the Agatha Award are:

  • Novel
  • First Mystery
  • Historical Novel
  • Short Story
  • Non-Fiction
  • Children’s/Young Adult Mystery.

Additionally, in some years the Poirot Award is presented to honour other individuals who are not writers themselves, but who have made outstanding contributions to the mystery genre.

The nominees are suggested by everyone who has registered for or became a Friend of Malice Domestic by the end of the previous years. The five finalists in the six categories are chosen, then the attendees vote for the winners. In case you were wondering, here’s a link to the list of nominees.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Agatha Awards were once again announced at the More Than Malice online event.

So, who were the Agatha Award 2021 Winners in the different categories?

Contemporary Novel

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Perry (Minotaur)

Historical Novel

The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen (Berkeley)

First Novel

 Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Kensington)

Short Story

 “Dear Emily Etiquette” by Garb Goffman (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Sep/Oct)

Non-Fiction

Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Lady Behind Hitchcock by Christina Lane (Chicago Review Press)

Children’s / Young Adult 

Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco by Richard Narvaez (Pinata Books)

Have you already read any of these winning titles? I’ll certainly be adding a couple of those fiction books to my shelf. 😉

Are you in the progress of writing your own cosy mystery story? Would you like someone to give you some honest, supportive feedback? I can do that. Have a look at my Manuscript Critique service to find out how.

Pinterest Pin - The BG Blog - Agatha Award 2021 Winners (3)

Help Your Favourite Author – Write a Book Review

Posted on by Kim

Good book reviews are an author’s bread and butter.

The publishing world is full of great books. Publishers spend huge amounts of money marketing their authors’ books. However, many authors choose to self-publish their novels so they don’t get the financial backing or a marketing or PR department showcasing their book. Help your favourite self-published author by leaving a review on the retailers website.

Hello fellow book lovers. It’s lovely to be back on The BG Blog. My last post about Kindle Unlimited was so well received that Kim asked me to write another post. This time I decided to share a “How-to” post. Today, it’s how to write book reviews.

I’ve been writing and publishing my book reviews for over four years now but before that I was an avid reader.

I know that other readers will be interested in my opinions about the books I read because before I buy a book, I always check out its ratings and reviews. C’mon, I’m not alone, you do too, don’t you? Whether you’ve loved the book or not, I think that if you give your honest thoughts and reasons why, then you will be helping people to find new books that are right for them.

Of course, at first I didn’t know how to start or what to write so I went online and read loads of how-to articles and blog posts. My best advice? Imagine that you’re talking to someone who’s asking you whether they should read the book. Don’t copy anyone else’s style – be yourself!

These are the 6 aspects that all of my reviews have in common and a few tips on what to think about as you start writing.

 1. Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about

What genre is it? What world is it set in? As a general rule, to avoid giving any spoilers or revealing plot twists, don’t mention anything that happens from about the middle of the book onwards; I usually include the book’s blurb in my opening which covers that. If the book is part of a series, it can be useful to mention this and whether you think you’d need to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one.

2. Discuss what you particularly liked about the book

Try to focus on your thoughts and feelings about the story and the way it was told. You could try answering a couple of the following questions:

  • Who was your favourite character, and why?
  • Did the characters feel real to you?
  • Did the story keep you guessing?
  • What was your favourite part of the book, and why?
  • Were certain types of scene written particularly well – for example sad scenes, tense scenes, mysterious ones…?
  • Did the book make you laugh or cry?
  • Did the story grip you and keep you turning the pages?

3. Mention anything you disliked about the book

Talk about why you think it didn’t work for you. Be a critic not a nasty bitch. For example:

  • Did you wish the ending hadn’t been a cliffhanger because you found it frustrating?
  • Did you find it difficult to care about a main character, and could you work out why?
  • Was the story too scary for your liking, or did it focus on a theme you didn’t find interesting?

4. Round up your review

And lastly you should summarise some of your thoughts on the book by suggesting the type of reader you’d recommend the book to. For example: younger readers, older readers, fans of relationship drama/mystery stories/comedy. Are there any books or series you would compare it to? Are there any triggers or content that could offend?

5. You can give the book a rating, for example a mark out of five or even ten, if you like!

I use the Goodreads rating system to keep it simple, although I’ve started adding mini ratings for the book’s plot, the general flow and pace of the tale, character development throughout the book and the world building.

6. Include the links back to the author and any purchase links for the book

I’m writing reviews to help fellow readers find their next can’t put it down book so I don’t want to leave them without saying where they can buy it from! I also add a link back to the author’s website and where they can be found on social media – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

So, that’s it!

If you haven’t written a review before I hope that this has de-mystified the process a bit for you. Feel free to check out the reviews I’ve posted on my blog (Flora’s Musings). Or alternatively, leave me a comment below.

Authors need book reviews, especially those self-publishing their own books. They rely on word of mouth recommendations and every review counts, even if it’s only a couple of sentences. Remember, your opinions matter.

Bye for now, I’m off to read a book!

Flora x

Project Gutenberg: Fantastic Endeavour and Resource for all!

Posted on by Kim

Hello, today I want to talk about Project Gutenberg. I don’t think it’s as well know here in the UK as it is across the pond in the USA.

Project what?

I’m a member of the National Trust and champion those who preserve our history for future generations as well as those who search out our past. However, I was unaware of Project Gutenberg until 2020.

Project Gutenberg is an online library of free eBooks. Accessible for all. Wow!

  • PG Twitter Logo 225x225
  • Gutenberg Logo 144x144

A Quick History Lesson

Project Gutenberg was founded by Michael Hart. Hart has been credited by some with creating the first eBook when he typed the Declaration of Independence into a computer on 4th July 1971. Wanting to share the Declaration, he posted a notice that the text could be downloaded by anyone who wanted it, and the foundations for Project Gutenberg were laid.

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Its goal, formulated by Hart, was “to encourage the creation and distribution of e-books” and, by making books available to computer users at no cost, “to help break down the bars of ignorance and illiteracy.” As someone who has spent many years in the education sector, Hart’s ideal resonates with my own.

Over the next decade, working alone, Hart typed the US Bill of Rights, the Constitution, the King James Bible and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland into the project database. The 80s were the beginning of the electronic age, a world of eBooks, hand-held electronic devices like the Nook and Kindle, and unprecedented individual access to texts on a vast array of Internet archives.

  • book cover for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
  • image of the US Bill Of Rights
  • image of the US Constitution
  • image for The King James Bible

Today, relying on the work of volunteers like myself who scan, proofread and format without pay, the project adds to its list at the rate of hundreds of books each month.

Want to find out more?

Here are some useful links to get you started:

Do you volunteer as a project proofreader? What do you think about what Hart is trying to achieve? I’d love to chat. Drop me a comment below.

Before you go, find out about the other clients I’ve worked with and check out The BG Portfolio.

Bye for now,

Kim

Top Tips for Writing an Amazing Book Synopsis

Posted on by Kim

In the publishing world, a book’s blurb is NOT the same as its synopsis. Yes, we are a world unto ourselves. Both are important to the success of your novel. However, each needs its own skillset and be written for a different audience. In this post, I’m sharing my tips on how to write an amazing synopsis for your novel.

Do you know the difference between a blurb and a synopsis?

A blurb, or cover copy, is the text you typically see on the back cover of a book.

Blurbs give an idea of what the story is about, but don’t tell you the whole plot. They’re written to entice and intrigue the reader, and the language used reflects this. They’re evocative, intriguing yet spoiler-free. For example, ‘Alyssa is plunged into an exciting world of sorcerers and spies.’ ‘Lily will discover a secret that changes everything.’ Or perhaps, ‘Will Graeme manage to overcome his demons and save the world?’

A synopsis has a different function.

The synopsis isn’t meant to tantalise the reader or show off your writing style (your manuscript itself should do that!). Rather it serves to inform the agent, publisher or whoever is reading it what happens in the story. A synopsis is clear and straightforward. You need to layout what Lily’s secret is, and whether Graeme does manage to save the world. You don’t need to use the rhetorical devices you would see in a blurb; plain and simple English is just fine and will allow your plot to speak for itself.

Writing a clear, concise synopsis or book proposal tells an agent, editor or publisher that you are a capable writer, and can help you stand out from the slushpile and secure a book contract.

Writers Online

My tips for writing your synopsis

A literary agent or publisher will ask you to submit a synopsis along with your sample chapters. A well-written synopsis will help the agent decide whether or not to request the full manuscript. Therefore, it’s important to get this part of the submission package right.

Tell the whole story

A synopsis should cover the plot from start to finish. As mentioned above, don’t leave the ending hanging on an unfinished thread – we need to know what happens! Also, don’t assume that the agent has already read any sample chapters you’ve sent, and therefore it’s OK to start where those left off.

Include your sub-plot(s), but you don’t need to include every detail. The synopsis should focus on the main plot, and how those subplots feed into it. If you’ve written a fantasy novel, try not to get bogged down in explaining your world-building or how the system of magic you’ve invented works. Give only the details that are needed for understanding the story. These should (hopefully) be enough to give a flavour of the unique and interesting elements you have created.

If the book is part of a planned series with an ongoing story, it may be helpful to include very brief synopses of these (a couple of lines, maximum). Just to show that you have plans for where the story is going next.

Write in the third person, present tense

Imagine that you are sat in front of your potential agent or publisher and telling them about your story. For example, ‘On her fortieth birthday, Flora meets an old man who tells her that she will die on the same day that she meets her soul mate.’

Instead of ‘On her fortieth birthday, Flora met an old man who told her she would die on the same day she meets her soul mate.’

How long should it be?

Some agents/publishers will be very specific on their submissions page about the length they require (e.g. ‘no more than 300 words’). Therefore, it’s always worth doing your research. Adapt your submission package to fit the guidelines.

Generally, though, the consensus seems to be ‘no more than one side of A4’. Of course, it depends on what kind of book you’ve written. The storyline for a children’s book such as Winnie-the-Pooh could be easily summarised in a paragraph or two. Whereas an epic fantasy such as A Game of Thrones would understandably fill a whole page (two pages may be acceptable in this case).

Finally … does it make sense?

This seems obvious. However, as the author of your novel, you are intimately aware of the plot. You may be too close to it to know whether the synopsis would make sense to those who haven’t already read the book. The best way to test this is on people who know nothing about the book and ask them to be honest.

For further details and help, I recommend checking out How to write a Synopsis by Sophie @ Liminal Pages where she also includes some databases when you’re ready to contact an agent.

As you can imagine, writing your synopsis can also highlight potential problems in your plot. If you’re struggling to write a concise, logically connected summary of the events of your novel, you might find it isn’t ready to be submitted to agents just yet. If you’d like professional feedback on your draft, consider hiring me to carry out a manuscript critique.

Pinterest Pin - 4 Tips for Writing an Outstanding Book Synopsis (2)

Kindle Unlimited: Value for Money?

Posted on by Flora

Hello, fellow book lovers. Thank you, Kim, for inviting me to the BG Blog. Today, I’d like to share a discussion post I wrote for my personal blog in November 2020. It was discussing my experiences with Amazon’s book borrowing service, Kindle Unlimited.

I’ll share my thoughts and experiences about the scheme, explain what you get as part of the subscription and whether I feel the monthly fee is value for money.

This isn’t a sponsored post or anything but I’ve seen a lot of reviews about Kindle Unlimited coming up in my feeds. I want to add my thoughts to the blogosphere.

Just in case you didn’t know, here’s a bit of information on what it is.

Kindle Unlimited Subscription

Kindle Unlimited is a paid monthly subscription that gives you access to Amazon’s Kindle lending library. You can enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Amazon’s catalogue is extensive (over 1 million eBooks) and has titles in every category and genre including those with audible narrations. There’s a rotating selection of popular magazines that you can borrow too.

For £7.99 a month, you can borrow up to 10 Kindle Unlimited books at a time. Once you have 10 out and are looking to borrow another one, Amazon lets you choose which book or multiple books to return.

Sign up for a 30-day free trial. You have the option to cancel your subscription any time. What are you waiting for?

Here are the links:

Kindle Unlimited UK ¦ Kindle Unlimited US

📌 Save this post for later 📌

Pinterest Pin - Flora's Musings - Kindle Unlimited - Value for money

I’ve had my subscription since 14th May 2019 and have borrowed lots of books. But is it worth it?

The eBooks

To a book hoarder worm like me, my biggest issue at the beginning was that I didn’t actually own any of the books I download. I like owning books. However, if I’m honest with myself, there are certain books I re-read, but the majority of the books I own I read once and haven’t picked up since. Since starting Kindle Unlimited eighteen months ago, I’ve borrowed 26 books which is about 3 books borrowed every couple of months.

The Audiobooks

book cover for Warrior Chronicles book 1 - Chosen by K.F. Breene

I bought an Audible subscription way back on 8th July 2018. It’s the same price per month as Kindle Unlimited. I’ve always used my free monthly credit as soon as it pops onto my account. Therefore, I’m frequently taking advantage of the discounted price for the audiobooks to Kindle Unlimited members. There are over 50,000 audiobooks available through the scheme, all have whispersync so you can swap between the eBook and narration easily.

My first experience of whispersync was with Chosen by K.F. Breene.

The story was an epic fantasy. I’d steered clear of that genre in the past due to the usually tricky pronunciations. Listening to the story while I was reading it seemed like the perfect solution. It was! In fact, listening to the narration while reading on my Kindle quickly became my favourite way to immersing myself into a story.

The Magazines

To be honest, I’m not a big magazine reader. Therefore, I can’t comment on this aspect of the membership. I know that there are lots of magazines to choose from across many genres. If you’re a KU subscriber and have borrowed magazines with your membership, drop me a comment. I’d love to know your thoughts about the selection, rotation and quantity of magazines available.

My Conclusion: Is a subscription for Kindle Unlimited worth the money?

I think for me, it is worth the £7.99 a month I’m currently paying. As a supporter of indie authors, many of them put their books in Kindle Unlimited either permanently or temporarily after release. Plus, I’ve taken advantage of the huge discount on audiobooks by borrowing the eBooks from the catalogue.

book cover for Glimmer Lake 2 - Semi-Psychic Life by Elizabeth Hunter

For example, I borrowed Semi-Psychic Life by Elizabeth Hunter with my Kindle Unlimited membership and added the narration for £3.49! The audiobook costs non-members £16.00. Damn good saving, right?

In conclusion, Kindle Unlimited hasn’t saved me megabucks as I’m not a super-fast reader. However, I still think my bank account is in a healthier state because of it. I mean, I’d still be buying books, right?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about Kindle Unlimited. Are you thinking of buying a subscription? Do you have KU already? Drop me a comment below.

Before you go, don’t forget to check out my post about my growing love of eBooks and audiobooks over on my personal blog, Flora’s Musings.

Bye for now,

Flora x

SPaG: Spelling The English Language ~ Variations across the Atlantic

Posted on by Kim

Hello and welcome to the blog. It’s undeniable that the English language is tricky to master. I’ve already talked about the pitfalls when it comes to spelling. Today, I’m talking about the English language: variations found on both sides of the Atlantic.

The majority of my clients are British, however, I’ve worked with Canadians and Americans too. One of the first questions I ask a client before starting work on their manuscript is where they’ll be marketing their book? In other words, who is their target audience?

wood art dirty broken
Photo by Lara Jameson on Pexels.com

This decision will impact which version of English the novel should be written in. Today, I’m just going to look at the difference between English spellings in Britain and America.

BRITISH or AMERICAN ENGLISH

Please note that I use British English throughout this website. But what are the differences? Try these.

BRITISHAMERICAN
center
litre
humour
labor
neighbour
analyze
traveling
fueling
leukaemia
maneuver
pediatric
defence
offense
catalogue

How did you do? A couple of these have me reaching for my trusty Oxford English dictionary embarrassingly frequently.

You may be wondering why we live next door to neighbours, while our friends across the pond have neighbors. Or why our sky is grey, while theirs is gray.

The simple answer is:

Here are a few other differences to take notice of:

  • Words that end in a vowel and an “l”: in American English, “travel” becomes “traveled” or “traveling”, but, in British English, it becomes “travelled” or “travelling”.
  • The vowel combinations of “ae” or “oe”: in American English, they’d write “maneuver”, but on this side of the pond it’s “manoeuvre”.
  • Words that end in “-ize” or “ization”: using a “z” rather than an “s” is sometimes acceptable in British English.
  • Universally Americanised words: in British English, you program your computer but you still watch a TV programme.

How do these variations affect me?

I’m a self-confessed bookworm. While I’m reading, the differences between American spelling and English spelling jump out of the page. However, if the story is written by an American author my brain takes those variations in its stride as being part of the world-building and setting.

Therefore, when writing your own novel, consider your target audience. Are you looking to break into the American marketplace or here in the UK?

Once you’ve decided where your target audience live, you can make sure the spelling in your novel is consistent. We all use spell check programs. But remember to check what English variation your computer’s program is set to. Is it UK English or American English? While you shouldn’t rely solely on an automated program to find errors if whatever you use isn’t set to the English you are working with, the suggestions and corrections you see won’t be appropriate.

miniature toy robot on top of laptop s keyboard
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com

I hope this post has helped. Which variations catch you out the most? (It’s okay — we’re all guilty of at least one.) Make a mental note to avoid those slips in the future, or just bookmark this page to remind yourself of them over and over (and over) again.

English, like many other languages, has its own set of tricky rules and intricacies. But with a little bit of practice and help from guides like this one, you can become a grammar master. I found a couple of fun (tongue-in-cheek) quizzes to try. They certainly put a smile on my face!

Buzz Feeds – American Vs British Words Quiz

Macmillan – British and American English Quiz

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read The English Language: Variations across the Atlantic. If you have any tips or tricks to help you remember which spelling variant to use, drop me a comment below.

Until next time,

Kim

Pinterest Pin - The English Language