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Editor’s Notes: Another Country Heard From
BY FARIDA MIRZA
Summer holidays during my childhood were exciting. In the dark of the night, snuggled under comforters, my cousins and I would huddle around an old aunt and listen to scary stories about witches, ghosts, spirits and fantasies. This was in Hyderabad, India, where I grew up. Fascination for fantasy and paranormal seems to span cultures, continents, and time.
I got my high school certificate from the overseas program of the University of Cambridge, UK in India. I traveled to the UK to continue my studies at Manchester University, earning a degree in English, Sociology, and Psychology.
A few years later, interest in the English language and technology led me to obtain a Technical Writer Diploma from Algonquin College of Applied Arts & Technology, Ottawa, Canada.
‘Interest in English Language’ takes me down memory lane to St. George’s Grammar School in Hyderabad where my English teacher taught us that there was no right or wrong pronunciation for proper nouns. This seemed logical because, how would anyone be expected to know the pronunciation of names originating in an unfamiliar language without study or research? Anyone who mispronounces my name is forgiven in advance.
Just for the sake of interest, though, my name, Farida, sounds similar to ‘fajita’, with a stress on the second syllable (Fa-REE-da). However, the ‘j’ sound in ‘fajita’ is replaced by an ‘r’ sound and the ‘t’ by a ‘d’ sound.
I have taught English in the Subcontinent, the Middle East and the US. I have worked as a technical writer in Canada, and as an editor at Yahoo! Inc., California.
Stories, we all know, have a powerful influence on people of all ages. The stories I write for children and grown-ups are motivated by a desire to provide fun and support. I try to entertain and empower.
The main character in a series of three children’s stories I have published titled, Suraj, the Tiger Cub, uses his rational thinking to find solutions to his and his friends’ problems. Irrespective of age, people sometimes find themselves facing stressful situations on their own. Stories can become the tools for finding solutions.
Recently, I started working in the Editorial Department of Xchyler Publishing, a first imprint of Hamilton Springs Press, and have read more fantasy, paranormal, and Steampunk than in my entire life! Having been a teacher, a technical writer, and editor, I have read and edited a wide range of writings, but this promises to be a new experience that I look forward to greatly.
I am a member of the Society for Childrens’ Writers and Illustrators (SCWI), Los Angeles region. I am married, with four children, and live in California. I see myself as a member of a global community. A poem, “Where Do I Belong” is posted on my website here.
We here at The X are delighted to welcome Farida to our editorial team, and have put her straight to work. In addition to sitting on the judging panel of our fantasy anthology, she has taken on several other projects, including Darkness Rising, by Elizabeth Lunyou, a young adult fantasy slated for release in the spring/summer of 2014.
Editor’s Notes: Editing by Ear
BY JESSICA SHEN
I have a confession to make: I suck at grammar. No, really—I couldn’t tell you a predicate from a preposition, or a split infinitive from a dangling participle. I never did very well on those grammar worksheets in high school where you have to identify the parts of a sentence, and to be honest, anything I did learn back then has trickled its way out of my brain by now.
But wait—before you clutch your manuscripts to your chest and vow to never submit to Hamilton Springs Press, hear me out.
I am a reader, and no, not the psychic kind. I read voraciously—mostly sci-fi, but standard fiction, and non-fiction as well. I’ve loved to read since I was a child, and I prefer immersing myself in a great book to turning on the TV.
So what, you say? Well, let me tell you. There’s nothing like spending a significant part of your waking hours reading to hone your ear to when a sentence just plain sounds wrong. While I may not recognize a split infinitive as a split infinitive, I know that when I read it, it won’t ring true.
My point is, while formal training is important in its own right, there’s no teacher like real-world experience. Point of fact, this is true for many other fields as well—I know many employers who, to a certain extent, prefer experience to education.
Reading regularly is not just good for improving your grammar—it’s great for improving your vocabulary as well, and I don’t mean just in the sense that you will recognize a lot of words. I often come across words that I may not be able to recite the definition for, but through context, will be able to figure out what they mean. I’ve also developed the ability to extrapolate meaning based on the way the word is constructed.
Now, I’m not trying to brag about what a genius I am being able to glean this information just by reading—I fully believe that anyone can do it. If you find that you have trouble distinguishing between they’re, there, and their, have a knack for writing incomplete sentences, or find yourself reaching for a dictionary more often than you’d like, try picking up a book instead. It will do wonders for your sense of grammar, improve your vocabulary, and strengthen your writing—and if you’ve chosen wisely, you’ll get a great story out of it, to boot.
Between work, classes, and editing, Jessica catches the zzzs when she can at her home in northern California. Her latest project, A Dash of Madness: a Thriller Anthology, was released in July 2013. Her next project, Mr. Gunn and Dr. Bohemia, a steampunk adventure penned by author Pete Ford, will be released in October, 2013.
Editor’s Notes: Diagram This!
BY TERRI WAGNER
It’s grammar time at the X, and we were challenged to write about the issues that plague us the most—probably hoping we would learn ourselves and be able to pass that along to others. So here goes.
Basic sentence structure gets creamed in today’s writing. And if you follow the rules we all understand them, you will end up with very simple sentences. So what’s that basic structure? A noun and a verb. Or as they say, subject and predicate. That is news to me, how about you?
I guess they use subject instead of noun because a pronoun can also be a subject but is closely related to a noun. Okay, my head is aching already. Can anything else be a subject? Why yes . . . you can have invisible subjects. For example, “Call the plumber, please.” The implied, invisible subject is—tada!—“you.” And we are just on the subject of a sentence. Yikes.
The predicate (or verb) expresses the subject’s action state of being. It can be action as in “He ran away,” or state of being as in “You are here.” Got that? Good, let’s move on.
Subjects can be modified by adjectives, be plural with the “and,” or as we have already discussed invisible. They can be clauses that “contain” the subject. And they can be independent clauses joined by a conjunctive words. I’m already confused how about you?
Predicates can be modified by other verbs but not by adjectives. Yes, there can be plural verbs, and they can also be contained in a clause. They do not have to follow the subject thus rendering them oddly placed in a sentence. Got that?
Finally, there is the truest way to figure out sentence composition: the diagram. It’s something they are coming back to doing in school these days. I took English 101 in college like every good Freshman does. My final was to diagram the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. I aced it. Couldn’t fathom how to do it today. For kicks, here’s a place you can find the diagram:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams2/preamble.htm
A simple sentence composition is an art with some scientific rules thrown in for good measure. I suspect we can use a brush up on something we may think we know very well.
Good luck. I may stick with “He ran. It was a sight to see.” At least I would know I was grammatically correct!
Terri tears her hair out diagraming sentences from her home in Alabama. She currently spearheads two projects: Mr. Gunn and Dr. Bohemia, a Steampunk adventure by Pete Ford, and Shades and Shadows: A Paranormal Anthology, both slated for release in October, 2013.
Publisher’s Desk: The Final Battle
BY PENNY FREEMAN
This blog post is the culmination of my Citadel series, explaining who and what we are at Hamilton Springs Press/Xchyler Publishing, and our philosophy regarding the publishing industry. Specifically, I hope over the course of the previous four articles that I have answered one young author’s question of “Why should I choose Xchyler?”
To sum up.
Although Xchyler belongs to that new breed of publishing house, the micro-publisher, which have sprung up like mushrooms around the mighty oak that is Amazon and their print-on-demand capabilities, we differ in significant ways.
Alternative perspective.
Unlike so many publishers and other media types who fill the airwaves with their grousing about Big Bad Amazon, we see their business model as a boon to writers everywhere. I heard one Intelligencia publisher cant about how dangerous it was to put a universal price of $9.99 on ideas, and I thought, what a bunch of bunk!
If an author’s ideas are so important, don’t you want them at a price accessible to the broadest scope of readers? Or, do “they” suppose that the great unwashed masses are incapable of grasping complex concepts or philosophies, and thus such books must be priced out of their range to protect the sanctity of the thought? What is this, the Dark Ages?
Yes, a single idea can change the world, but to do that, people have to hear/see/read it. We at The X mean to avail ourselves of every opportunity to make wonderful things happen.
The long haul.
We do not demand up-front payments to get an author’s work on either virtual or RL book shelves. Because we operate solely on a royalty basis, everyone, from the Front Office to Editorial to Graphics to Marketing, is thoroughly invested in the success of the properties we accept. We work hard to make the most efficient creative tools available to our authors.
We do not cut writers loose to fend for themselves as soon as we receive their checks for editorial, marketing, and graphics services, after demanding they purchase a minimum number of copies, of course.
That’s not how we roll. At The X, everybody benefits from success, so everybody takes the risk, makes the investment.
Quality.
Many “publishing” companies are simply proofreading and graphics services. For a fee, they will correct your spelling and punctuation (if you’re lucky), allow you to choose from a catalog of generic, previously designed book “covers”, slap your title on the front, and then dump your manuscript into the murky swill that is e-book Purgatory. If that is what you’re looking for, you have come to the wrong place.
Yes, we are small. Yes, we publish e-books and use print-on-demand, but that is where the similarity ends. When we accept a manuscript, or more commonly, sign a developmental contract with an author, we provide full editorial services. We will not put our name on the spine until we’re proud to be affiliated—even defined—by what is inside. Getting to that point can become a painful process for author and editors alike, but, ultimately, well worth the effort.
So, unless writers are willing to approach the production process in this manner, we’re not the publisher they’re looking for. This may seem presumptuous or even condescending on our part, but, frankly, authors who come to us recognize that their efforts to that point haven’t produced the results they had hoped for and that professional help can improve their work. We may be their second (or third or fourth choice), but that’s exactly what we provide.
What draws authors to us will change over time, as our reputation for quality grows, and we prove the advantages of independent “boutique” publishers. However, our service and our philosophy will remain unchanged. Each author’s success is our own, their improvement and professional growth our goal. Each title represents a personal investment from the whole team.
When push comes to shove.
Authors must understand that we will not publish, let alone acquire, works we don’t believe in. We’re willing to put in the work if they are.
However, in the short history of The X, there have been two or three occasions where either the author failed to see the need for the work recommended by their editors, or felt incapable of meeting expectations. In those instances, although we regretted the author’s decision to abandon the project, we released them from their contract, with our best wishes for their success.
As I said, we are thoroughly invested in the manuscripts and authors we sign, but we require that same commitment from them. Although other publishers may simply shelve the project, denying the author the rights to their own work, for The X, continuing nonproductive relationships serves no purpose.
The long and the short of it.
Producing four anthologies a year is work. A lot of work. From advance promotion to post-release marketing, each anthology represents a significant investment of time and energy from the lion’s share of our staff. So, why do we do it? Quite simply, because we don’t have to go looking (or dredge the slush pile) for promising authors. They come to us.
Through the judging and publication process, because of its rapid production schedule, our rigorous editorial approach, and the nature of short stories themselves, we get to know the authors in a very short period of time, and they get to know us. We all learn if we can work together; if the writer embraces our philosophy, if they and the editors “click”. Sometimes, we even inspire one another.
And, when all the stars align, this speed dating of the publishing world results in beautiful relationships with promising futures—even literary marriage. Currently, we have no fewer than five of our anthology authors signed to developmental contracts. They are a known commodity and, for us, an excellent risk, as we are for them.
Queuing up.
In case I haven’t been clear, at Hamilton Springs Press/Xchyler Publishing, we’re all about the relationships. We work best with writers whom we know, and who know us, who can work within our guidelines, and who see constructive criticism as a challenge to improve their craft, rather than a personal insult.
However, we accept open submissions for short stories during the contests for our Steampunk, fantasy, mystery/thriller, and paranormal anthologies. This is the best (and proven) way for serious writers to get our attention. We also accept unsolicited manuscripts during three months of the year, October 1st through December 31st.
We prefer original manuscripts but have accepted previously self-published titles. In such cases, the author removes their previous edition from the market upon receipt of their contract, and regards that version as the rough draft of their work. We then treat it to the same editorial scrutiny and revision as we would any other project. We evaluate these on a case-by-case basis.
Breaking out of the box.
Hamilton Springs Press came into existence to assimilate Xchyler Publishing, and made that brand its first imprint. However, fantasy, Steampunk, and paranormal are by no means the only genres of interest for either the owners or editors. HSP plans to expand its catalog into science fiction and historical fiction in the coming months, and other areas as appropriate manuscripts present themselves.
If you’re still hanging around after reading this entire blog post, give one of our short story contests a try. We just might be what you’re looking for: the key to the back door of the Publishing Citadel. And, you’ll join a growing community of fun, intelligent, and imaginative authors, our own X Team, and share in their success.
As co-owner and managing editor of Hamilton Springs Press/Xchyler Publishing, Penny Freeman screens all submissions and sits on the judging panel of all short story competitions from her home in Spring, Texas. She has also been known to edit from time to time. Her latest project, Shadow of the Last Men by J. M. Salyards, will be released September 13, 2013.
Follow Penny on GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, About.Me, and PennyFreeman.com.
Editor’s Notes: Succumb or Overcome
BY MCKENNA GARDNER
I have decided that in order to make a character interesting, they must fully commit to their arc of change. And it works both ways – for heroes or villains. Either they overcome their trials, see the light, and lead a fulfilling life, or they succumb to their struggles, serve their baser self, and sink to the bottom.
But what is interesting is the path that gets them there. It’s filled with single choices along the way that push them toward their final end. It’s not as if one choice will commit them to one side or the other.
I have seen many antagonists change their ways and become the hero of their own story, and I have seen many heroes fall from their glorious perches, simply by the tiny steps they take along the road of choices.
So, what will your character do? And not just your major characters; what kind of arc will your minor character follow? Do they remain stagnant? Do their choices pretty much occur for your own convenience of furthering the plot along, or do they make choices that screw everything up and really make your other characters struggle?
If everyone has motivations that are at odds with one another, you create a very solid platform upon which to build your story. If you find that your scenes are just one answer after another, it may be time to throw a wrench into the works.
I read a book a few years ago where the main character was required to go on a journey to survive/escape the villain. Although I love survival stories—especially in the wilderness—and stories where it seems like the characters are never truly safe, this book had one huge problem. The plot had tons of conflict in it, but it did nothing for the character’s internal arc. The character never changed, at least not recognizably; they ended up where they had begun.
There was threat after threat, problem after problem. But nothing really happened inside the character’s heart. I lost interest and found that the story was draining instead of invigorating.
It is not enough to simply throw obstacles in your character’s path. It is vital to throw the right obstacles to challenge the way they think, see, act, and believe, thus providing them with the opportunity to change. Will they make a negative choice, driving them to succumb to their weakness? Or will they find the hero within and overcome their hardship with honor?
Either path is acceptable. Both paths are interesting. They embrace what is human, and that is ultimately what we want our characters to feel like. Unless they are vampires, mermaids, or ghosts. Then you come up with your own rules.
As senior editor, McKenna Gardner makes everyone tow the line from Arizona, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Find McKenna on Facebook and Twitter.
Find McKenna on Facebook and Twitter.
As M. Irish Gardner, her short story, “Reformation” appeared in A Dash of Madness: a Thriller Anthology, published in July, 2013.
Her last project, Shadow of the Last Men by J. M. Salyards, will be released in September 2013.