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TPW Magazine

Editor

E. P. Ned Burke

Contributing Editors

Carrillee Collins Burke

Madonna Dries Christensen

Marshall J. Cook

Martin Kich

The Perspiring Writer

TPW Magazine is published quarterly by E. P. Burke Publishing, 2532 Clubhouse Cir. #104, Sarasota, FL 34232. Copyright © 2010 TPW Magazine. All rights reserved. 

SUBMISSIONS: 

All editorial contributions are welcome.  See Submissions above. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of unsolicited materials but all reasonable care will be taken with such material. 

Our TPW Staff

E. P. Ned Burke

EPBLibraryPhotoHEAD

E. P. Ned Burke has over 30 years of experience in the publishing field and is the author of seven novels and many short stories and articles. He is the president of E. P. Burke Publishing and the editor of 2 online magazines, Yesterday’s Magazette and The Perspiring Writer. In addition, he is owner of My Personal Golf Buddy, My Personal Copywriter, My Personal Resume Writer, The eBay Book Nook Depot,  Ebooks On Writing, and Ebooks For Marketeers.  

Madonna Dries Christensen

TPW:Madonna

Madonna Dries Christensen lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband, Gary. Three times nominated for the Pushcart Prize, her short stories and articles have appeared in more than one hundred publications. She's editor of Doorways Memoirs and the author of two books: Swinging Sisters and Masquerade: The Swindler Who Conned J. Edgar Hoover. You  can visit her at:

www.madonnadrieschristensen.com

Marshall J. Cook

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Marshall J. "Coach" Cook has published dozens of short stories in literary magazines and glossies (the ones that pay money) and 27 books, most recently Walking Wounded: A Wartime Love Story and the first four novels in the Monona Quinn Mystery Series from Bleak House Books. He also edits Creativity Connection, a newsletter for writers and teaches writing through the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, including lots of writing courses online. Folks can contact him at 608-262-4911 or by e-mail at mcook@dcs.wisc.edu or visit:

 www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/writing

Martin Kich

Prof. Martin Kich

Martin Kich is a Professor of English at Wright State University--Lake Campus, where he has taught since 1990. In 2000, he was named the 17th recipient of the university's Trustees' Award, recognizing sustained excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship. The author of one book on western American novelists, he has contributed to almost forty other books, as well as to several dozen professional journals and periodicals. He has also published several hundred poems in literary magazines.

Contact: martinkich@aol.com

Carrillee Collins Burke

CCBurkeCountryGirl copy

Carrillee Collins Burke has won numerous writing contests and her byline has appeared in many magazines. Her short story, Country Girl, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and later became the basis for her collection of prose and poetry in a book by the same name. Another one of her stories has been accepted and will soon appear in the Cup of Comfort Book Series. Carrillee is also the author of the romantic novel Highland Fling and has sold several cartoons and artwork. You can visit  http://www.authorsden.com/carrilleecburke

Guest Editorial:
Skim Factor: A Novel Idea
By Jerry Hobbs

Gullible me. When I saw “JOHN DOE’S SUPER STORY” (name, title altered) splashed across the upper half of a book cover, the novel seemed a perfect gift for a friend. It wasn’t until later at home that I noticed small letters printed at the bottom of the cover: “Written by Joe Unknown” (name altered).

Like most people, I was upset about deceptive advertising that bordered on outright fraud. Other than his name plastered across the front and back covers, the famous author had absolutely nothing to do with the book. I was too embarrassed to let my friend know I’d been so naïve and kept it to read myself, which actually took longer than if it had been written by the famous author. Also more interesting. Why? Keep reading.

The dictionary defines the word ‘NOVEL’ as something new and different, as opposed to formerly used. Using that definition, in my opinion, most "famous" authors write only one true novel – their first. The plethora of subsequent "bestsellers" are nothing more than short stories interspersed throughout hundreds of pages otherwise filled with the same pattern, and sometimes even the same characters, as that first "novel" novel. It’s as if they use the exact outline for every book.

Years ago, like most readers, whenever I found authors I liked, it was natural to look for more of their work. At least until I noticed it took less and less time to read each of those later novels. Why? Because that’s also when I noticed a lot of the material was simply repeated. Fortunately, my brain had developed a process to ignore duplication by using what I call a "skim factor."

The more of any particular author’s books I read, the greater the skim factor helped to bypass those "same old"  thousands of words that can only be described as predictable, skimable fluff. What remained was nothing more than a short story. Interesting, but short just the same. Realizing that also led to the explanation of how a lot of famous authors can crank out books at a seemingly impossible rate.

Having written both short stories and novels myself, I’m painfully aware of the time necessary for rewrites and proofing before a manuscript is publisher ready. Even for those who can afford professional proof readers, the material still has to be brought up to an acceptable level before those experts can even begin. So how do "bestselling" authors turn out books so quickly?

Thinking about it, I realized when someone is paid to correct grammar and misspelled words, they might agree to a little extra to keep the material consistent, the plot intact and even add details here and there. Santa’s little helper, as it were.

Technically it’s not illegal, so everyone’s a winner. Authors meet frequent deadlines, publishers print books galore, readers purchase same while unknowingly relying on their skim factors to strip everything but the good stuff. Hey, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck–or a famous author–then everyone’s happy. Face it, publishing’s a business and successful publishers know how to turn a profit, otherwise they wouldn’t be successful. So who’s to complain?

And speaking of publishers’ profits, let’s get back to the target of this article, which is novels with covers designed to intentionally mislead and "suggest" they were written by a famous author rather than a relatively unknown one. Could that be an additional reward for those little elves who make it possible for famous authors to turn out manuscripts so quickly? And why not? If someone is that good with words, perhaps he deserves a chance to see his own efforts in print rather than just helping someone else look good.

The upside? Publishers make more money by selling even more books, plus they don’t have to pay the newer author as much money as the famous one. The new author doesn’t mind, however, since she/he has finally discovered a way past those countless rejection slips. Hurrah.

A possible upside to consumers is it takes longer to read, and enjoy, a totally new book like this rather than rely on our skim factors to hop around and pick out those short stories in disguise. Maybe that why I try so hard to avoid repetition in everything I write. Plus why I tend to search for lesser known authors to read. It can be a truly novel experience.

 

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Comments From Readers


In regards to your free "119 Witty Quotes" e-book: The quotes are absolutely witty, intelligent, and so absorbing. Since I shamelessly only steal from the best, some will be at the top of my monthly family letters, or shared with our local writers. These are wonderful.


Peg Russell


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Looking forward to reading more of TPW Magazine, Ned.

Rob Parnell

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Thank you for selecting my work. I am honored to have my article appear in your online magazine. Looking forward to reading the next issue of TPW Magazine.

Bonnie S. Davis

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Thanks for providing the markets, thanks for the editing, thanks for the publication.

Bill Canavan

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I just purchased your book and received my bonuses. Thank you! I'm living by your philosophy to "be kind to one another." Take care.

Nada Faris

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I'd like to comment on ...

Persuasive Writing by Robert Bly

This excellent article was a workshop or conference presentation all by itself.

Giving the appealing elements of advertising, and then discussing and giving specific examples of each and discussing appropriate use of each was carefully and clearly written. 

Besides being a writing pro, Bly is an effective teacher.

Markets Page

These markets were presented in a concise format which was very easy to read. I found three for which I may have submissions. This was an ideal number of markets for me to read about, since too many market listings numb my brain. I appreciate the discerning selection of the markets this month.

Peg Russell

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Ned, what a thrilling issue! So much to read and ponder. I enjoyed the profile of Marshall Cook in your summer issue. I took an e-mail course with him and found him to be an inspiring coach. Keep up the good work!

Natalie Rotunda

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Looks like you are keeping busy. This is great stuff. I enjoyed reading the articles. And thank you again for putting my poem and pix in your online magazine.

Cindy Maciejunes

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Thanks.  I appreciate your using my piece and also your prompt reply. 

Jerry Hobbs

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I don't see how you find time to play golf in addition to your writing, editing, and publishing two online magazines as well as all your other sites. Pretty impressive.

Dorothy Conlon

"At Home in the World"

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Four short pieces of advice from conference speakers have stayed with me:

It is OK to write in church on the bulletin. It is a sin to be boring and a sin to be bored. Just because the preacher sins doesn't mean you have to.

Sometimes the difference between a published writer and an unpublished writer is the price of a stamp.

It is OK to write about real people. Pigs don't recognize each other in the sausage.

Multiple submissions? I put that right up there with spreading venereal disease.


Peg Russell



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