March 3, 2012
When e-publishing is it better to use American English (spellings, vocabulary and grammar) or UK English? If you're submitting to an e-zine or publisher, they will usually say which they prefer in their guidelines and, if they like your work enough, will correct one or two oversights that might occur if, say, American English isn't your first language. However, if you're self-publishing you have to decide which one to use–or do you?
There's less risk of making mistakes if you stick to UK English if you're from the UK. It's all too easy to get tripped up by using words such as 'lorry' instead of 'truck' or 'centre' instead of 'center', although setting your computer's spell-checker and proof-reader to the target language will help. If most of your readers are in the US then it might be a risk worth taking, but be aware that whichever language you choose there will always be someone ready to tell you that you've put too many 'ls' in 'traveller' or vice versa. Perhaps the answer is to publish two editions as you would have to if you wanted a French (or Spanish, German etc.) version and an English one.
If you do decide to use an English other than your own, and you don't know a friendly native who can check your manuscript for you, using a copy of The Oxford Manual of Style (published by the Oxford University Press) will help to save you blushes.
Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
February 23, 2012
I'm not sure whether I'm more admiring or envious. Since joining Twitter, I aim to tweet something of my own at least every couple of days. Often it's a struggle. I'm constantly amazed at how some people come up with not one or two tweets a day, but more than a hedgeful of sparrows. Where do all the ideas come from? How do they find the time? Do they do anything else? Why do they do it? There are some people (myself included on occasion) who tweet to draw attention to their other work...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Inspiration
February 13, 2012
I recently edited
Discord's Child again (the new version is online now), and for the first time I used the proof-read feature on my computer. It was worth doing. Every time you make changes to a manuscript you run the risk of making new mistakes, and the more familiar you are with the work, the less likely you are to notice them.
The computer proof-reader spotted several instances where I'd removed a word and left an extra space, and drew my attention to a tendency to repeat certain phras...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
January 27, 2012
It's been suggested to me that people might like a little more time to perfect their entries to the contest to design a cover for Discord's Child (
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006KRYYOK), so I've extended the closing date to 30th April 2012. With all that extra time, why not enter twice? After all, it's free! You'll find all the details
here.
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions
January 19, 2012
I know it's a little late but - happy New Year! To start 2012 off with a bang, here at last is news of my contest to find the perfect cover for my new fantasy novel, Discord's Child (
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006KRYYOK). Entrance is free, and you could win £20, plus a copy of the novel and the satisfaction of seeing your work published. All the details can be found on my website at
www.ksdearsley.com. The closing date is 31st March 2012, so get designing. I can't wait to see what you come up...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions
December 13, 2011
The big news is that my fantasy novel, Discord's Child, is now available at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006KRYYOK. The process was far easier than I had imagined. In the event, I wasted a lot of time worrying about converting the manuscript to a Kindle-ready version before deciding to simply upload the .doc file and let Kindle convert it for me (which is free). The preview facility allowed me to check everything was okay before finally clicking 'Save and Publish'. Anyone who is worried that p...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : FantasyFiction
November 13, 2011
Last week I discovered that Drollerie Press, which was due to publish my fantasy novel, Discord's Child, has closed. Ouch! I can't deny it was a blow, but in the best Pollyanna fashion, I'm determined to turn this setback into an opportunity. How? By publishing Discord's Child myself online.
I've already registered at https.kdp.amazon.com, now all I have to do is format everything, get my marketing plan in order and upload it - oh, and find a cover. There are lots of sites recommended for...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions
November 1, 2011
I know it's autumn, but I decided to give my website a spring clean. If anyone has come straight to this blog, take a look at it. I've posted a few pieces of work - poems and fiction, and added links for everything I can find archived.
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
November 1, 2011
Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the private view of artist Pauline Wood's latest exhibition in Northampton. I love her work - it really sparks the imagination. I've found it hard to keep up with all the weird and wonderful ideas it's inspired since.
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Inspiration
November 1, 2011
I've had two pieces of good news in one week. Bridge House Press has accepted my story, 'Heavy Air' for its science fiction anthology due out in March 2012, and my entry in the Brighton Cow competition, The Architecture of Hate' has been short-listed and selected for broadcast on Brighton hospital radio. As good things are supposed to come in threes, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions
