I accepted an offer that paid me $400 a month for a 288-page manuscript. Soft porn. It was easy as long as you intermittently tossed in some sex. Sex is a major part of almost all novels today. I developed my style, got paid on time, and learned the fundamentals of characterization and plotting. Nothing could have been easier.

Now, before you get all excited, your future readers will not be interested in, nor should they be, how you learned and improved your craft.

Times have changed. Today, nobody cares who your characters sleep with. They want stories that will be page-turners. In other words, they can’t wait to see what’s on the next page, in the next chapter, and a gratifying coda.

There are certainly other ways to hone the work, but a beginner will not be judged on his or her writing education. Later on, when you become a successful novelist or biographer, your readers will be interested in your work, not how you learned. You might enjoy writing porn, and believe me, there is a big market for it, and it pays well. Good porn writers are earning six figures annually.

I’m reminded of what my son often reminds me: “Dad, times have changed. Society today is a lot more liberal.”

I am always available on Gmail to answer any questions you might have. So don’t hesitate to give me a hoot and a holler if you need help. Just sayin’.

rustystrait@gmail.com

The post One way to learn how to write professionally appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

That depends on what you use, how much, and whether or not it has a tight copyright that requires special permission. It is a slippery slope, and all too often new writers do not know that they may be plagiarizing a copyrighted work. Even well-established writers make the same mistake without realizing it, so it always pays to check who owns the copyright. If the person holding the copyright is available, it is easy to check with them, and they will almost always give you permission to quote them, provided you ask. It doesn’t get you anything but trouble to assume.

When you are writing a bio of yourself or a member of your family, be especially careful. It is all too easy to say, “That’s part of my family. I know that for a fact.” Knowing something to be factual doesn’t mean you have carte blanche to do private conversations as though you owned them.

Writing about celebrities is a shade different. People in the spotlight do not have the same guarantees of privacy as a private person does. Politicians are always fair game, but when it comes to other types of celebrities, writers beware!

Now that I’m back riding the range for writers, I will be reporting weekly. I look forward to answering your questions as I always have. So sail on, oh ship of literature, sail on. Just sayin’.

rustystrait@gmail.com

The post Quoting or plagiarizing? appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.