Newsletter of United Support for Amputees of the Midlands
Newsletter of the Functional Amputee Support Team
Annual Picnic Photos, October 2009
Sunday Bulletin Cover for Montpelier Lutheran Church, Montpelier, North Dakota
Are you an amateur author? Maybe I can help. So, you want to write & publish your own book?
For a professional publisher, iUniverse, see below. Maybe the following will be of help to you.
Here are some general ideas,
paraphrased from an article by Bradley S. Klein in Golf Week Magazine for
April 2, 2005:
Why write and publish your own book? Here are four quick reasons:
(1) to tell a good story; (2) to preserve historic memories before they're all
forgotten; (3) to see in print those poems and verses you've worked so hard to write. Some books are
better than others, and some are a whole lot worse. Its easy to dismiss your effort
as amateurish, but that's only if you're trying to do it in a word processor
Some writers make odd choices about what they want to see in print. The key is to focus
on the story or verse itself and to structure the text, layout and any photography
accordingly.
A decent sized book, 150 to 200 pages, with full color photos throughout, may
cost $30 to $40 a copy to produce in hard-bound copies. You could then
sell the finished books at the direct cost, or mark them up to average real prices,
say, $25 per copy. A first printing and binding of your book (paperback recommended)
of 500 copies would be a reasonable expectation. If possible, the finished books
should be shrink-wrapped in plastic, both to protect them while in storage, as
well as presenting a professional product to the buyers. The books will make
good sales among your relatives and friends, and nice birthday and holiday gifts.
You should try to find a friend or relative to oversee the overall
project, but not to write or research the book. Relatives tend to be
protective of certain stories and events and likely will want to make
decisions regarding the inclusion or exclusion. This
well-meaning effort can clutter up your writer's mind, as well as harm the narrative.
It better to hire an experienced researcher/writer if you need help, as well as
a photographer, and a book designer, someone with a resume that includes published books,
and who can bring a fresh perspective to the project. You may also need an assitant for fact checking and
proof reading. From beginning to end, including printing and shipping, it will take nearly two years
to do a proper volume.
Randy Alcorn's Insights on Writing Inspirational Fiction
From "Eternal Perspectives" for Spring, 2010 - www.epm.org
1) Don't buy the myth that writing is easy. Its not. I heard one author say, "Writing is like giving birth to barbed wire." Others say writing is 5% inspiration, and 95% perspiration. Books that were easy to write are invariably hard to read. Some writers seem so natural, so effortless. Don't be fooled, it takes a lot of effort to appear effortless. With everything else competing for your reader's attention, you must work to earn it. Many people say they want to write a book, but what they really want is to have written a book. Big Difference!
2) Always give readers a compelling reason to keep turning the pages. They have a thousand alternatives - why should they read your book? Give them uncertainty and create anticipation. "What's next?" keeps them turning the pages, but predictability is fatal. Figure out the parts readers will skip over; then cut them out.
3) Never compromise on research. It's the reservoir from which you draw your story, so make sure the reservoir is full! And be sure you get the facts right - don't put a safety on a revolver or the wrong size engine in a 1972 Chevy Impala. Don't believe the myth "It's fiction so you can just make up the details." Every factual error loses readers - why should they trust you? Always run it by the experts. In writng my three murder mysteries (Deadline; Dominion; & Deception), I consulted a homicide detective and other cops. When writing a novel set in China (Safety Helmet), I bounced it off people who have lived in China, who know the language and the culture. Your book needs to ring true to have the weight of credibility.
4) Don't just construct characters; create them. As we are created by God as whole and unique human beings, a character is a living whole, not just a collection of traits. Our characters must be more than the sum of their parts. Characters are real - they have back stories, histories, childhoods, and events that have shaped them. The writer must know all the details even though he won't pass them all on. If our characters are not real to the author, they'll never be real to the reader. Try to create memorable "tags" for your characters. Fred Holevas, former vice president of the high school I attended was described in the Oregonian as "Dirty Harry with the heart of Mother Teresa." Perfect.
5) Write to bring the reader to an "aha" experience, where some new and important perspective or value emerges. People are reading for escape and entertainment, sure, but also for enlightenment, to fill some inner voids, to come back better prepared to face the real world. A test of depth and substance is where a book lends itself to rereading. C.S.Lewis said that the best book is one that you want to read again and again. Try to write a story that doesn't yield up all its treasures in the first reading.
AFTERTHOUGHT: Why write fiction? Fiction affords an opportunity to deal with serious themes, but in a manner most people can more easily relate to. I call it the "Trojan Horse" effect. Readers will allow something that they do not totally understand to come inside the gates of their mind, and when their defenses are down, I can reach them with eternal truths in ways that are impossible with nonfiction. When you connect with a character on an emotional level, it can really make a difference. Jesus' parables are the perfect example of the power of storytelling. I love the story of the prodigal son - we could write forever trying to define grace, but that story is grace demonstrated.
For professional publishing, take a look at these web sites:
Lulu Publishers: Books, eBooks, Calendas, CDs, DVDs
Lulu is a place where people can buy or sell many kinds of content. They feature novels, technical manuals, poetry, articles, photographs, animations and content that defies easy catorgories. In other words, they help people distribute information and art that span a wide range of subject matter, providing a safe, friendly and serious site for people of all ages and backgrounds.
iUniverse Publishers
CreateSpace: Self-Publishing + An Amazon.com Company
Remember to keep your focus on the book, the finished product. In the process of producing your book,
you might discover something new about yourself, things which you had
not known before.
If you would like me to help you with
the pre-press portion of your book, write me at: Michael F. Chamness, 618 - 2nd Street, Montpelier, ND 58472, or phone: (701)
489-3638. I typeset in SCRIBUS, and can scan your photos into
a format for printing.
Here are some other places that might be of interest to you:
Get the free Adobe Acrobat PDF reader:
Get the iUniverse free publishing guide
TOLERANCE IN RELIGION
ArcaMax Books
Listen to Book Talk Radio
Welcome to the Gospelpicker Web Site!
This is the website for Orain Maurice Chamness, The Gospelpicker!
from beautiful Hanover, Ohio River Country, Indiana
Maurice, a distant cousin of my father, passed away on March 15, 2010, from complications of C.O.P.D. I had built this website for him about four years ago, to celebrate the beautiful part of Indiana he called home, and to emphasize his musical talent, and he also wanted to share his deep faith. Maurice was a retired electrician, born the same year as me, 1939, and was a member of the Lexington Christian Church, in Lexington, Indiana. He played banjo and guitar in the Blue River Band. He is survived by his wife, Connie, and two adult sons, David and John. Maurice also is survived by his two stepsons, Rick and Anthony, and two stepdaughters, Sherry and Sue, and he enjoyed sixteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Maurice was a member of the English Masonic Lodge #622 F&AM.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever
believes on Him, shall not perish, but shall have life, everlasting!"
Here are some interesting links: