Writer's Digest Questions and Quandaries

Subjunctive vs. Indicative Mood ("If I Was" or "If I Were"?)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:45:26 GMT

Q: Could you explain the difference between the indicative mood and the subjunctive mood, and when to use the subjunctive mood? It’s so seldom used correctly that it leaves me scratching my head. When in doubt, should I err with “If I was” or “If I were”?
—Lori McRae

A: Statements of fact require the indicative mood. The indicative verb form follows the usual grammar rules: singular noun, singular verb; plural noun, plural verb. He was president. She owns garden gnomes.

The subjunctive mood is used to express any hypothetical wish, suggestion, situation or condition instead of stating a fact. If I were president—which I’m not—I’d give garden gnomes the right to vote.

As you can see, the verb form changes for subjunctive sentences. Typically, a singular noun or pronoun, such as “I,” “he” or “she,” would require a singular verb like “was,” but the subjunctive mood has atypical verb forms (which are vestiges of Old English). The present tense of the subjunctive uses only the base form of the verb—I demanded that I be switched to a class with less rigorous standards. The past tense of the subjunctive has the same forms as the indicative except for the verb “to be,” which uses “were” regardless of the number of the subject. I wish I were able to climb down chimneys like Santa. But if Santa were here, he’d envy my 32-inch waist.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

How Do I Track Book Sales?

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:34:48 GMT

Q: Is there a way to find out the current sales for a given book that may (or may not) be in print? —Tony P.

A: The short answer to this is no. Due to the volume of distribution channels, there is no outlet where you can find an accurate and reliable sales figure for any book. The only one who has access to total sales numbers are a book's publisher, and that publisher typically won't share specific sales information—unless, of course, the number is so high it can be used as a promotional tool (e.g., "More than 5 million copies sold!").

Jane Friedman, editorial director and publisher of Writer's Digest and Writer's Digest Books, says it's worth noting that most publishers subscribe to the Nielsen Bookscan service, which tracks book sales through chain bookstores, independent bookstores and a handful of other retail outlets. But it is not a complete picture of book sales (as it doesn't include books sold at conferences, direct-to-consumer sales, etc.), and the service is available only to publishers and industry professionals and is extremely expensive (think five figures). In other words, it's not available to the public.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Bi-annual vs. Biennial

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:46:48 GMT

Q: What's the difference between bi-annual and biennial?—Anonymous

A: I see these words treated as if they were interchangeable—most often by marketing departments—but they aren't. And marketing departments should be extra cautious, as misusing these two words could cost them quite a bit of money.

"Bi-annual" means twice a year, or two times within a 365-day period. So if you hire a heating company to do a bi-annual cleaning of your furnace, they will send someone out once in the summer and once in the winter—of the same year.

"Biennial," on the other hand, means once every two years. Therefore, if you contract the heating company on a biennial basis, they will come out to your house every other year to clean your furnace. For example, I have my gutters cleaned on a biennial basis. The gentleman who does it came out in May 2009, which means I won't see his smiling face again until May 2011.

Be sure to get these words straight. If you say "biannual" when you mean "biennial," you'll be doubling the number of times you'll have to do something in a given year. A mistake like that could really come back to bite you.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Where Can Authors Find Contract Forms?

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:34:43 GMT

Q: My co-author and I have been asked to provide a collaboration agreement to our agent.‑ Where can‑we find a template for creating this document?—Michele

A: Templates for author contracts can be found in Tad Crawford’s Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers (Allworth Press). It’s a great resource for finding all the legal forms an author could need, including a co-authoring contract. The book comes with a CD for your computer that has all the forms on it. Plus, by reading over the other contracts available, you’ll have a better sense of all the rights/topics you and your writing partner need to discuss.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Who vs. Whom

Tue, 26 May 2009 18:12:06 GMT

Q: No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to use “who” and “whom” properly. Can you set the record straight on when to use each?—Anonymous

A: The confusion between “who” and “whom” is one of the most common problems writers face. It can be tricky to find the correct use, and sometimes you may feel like locating the person who invented both words and smacking him upside his head. But there is a difference.

“Who” is used as the subject of a verb or complement of a linking verb. It’s a nominative pronoun. It was Carl who broke all the pencils in the house. When writing a sentence, first find the verb(s)—“was” and “broke.” Then, find the subject for each verb: “Carl” and “who.” Since “who” is a subject, it’s correct. Who needs a crayon to write this down?

“Whom” is used as the object of the verb or the object of a preposition. It’s an objective pronoun. You asked whom to the dance? In this case, the subject and verb are “You asked.” The pronoun following the verb is the object of the verb, therefore “whom” is correct. He’s already going the prom with whom? This pronoun is the object of the preposition “with,” so “whom” is the right pick. Be careful, though. Make sure the prepositional pronoun in question isn’t also a subject—if it is, then you use “who.” For example, I cheered for who played hardest. While the pronoun follows a preposition (for), it’s also the subject of the second verb (played). When placed as a subject, always use “who.”

One way to remember is to check to see which pronoun can replace the questionable word. It’s a little trick I learned back in elementary school: If it can be replaced with “he,” you use “who”; if “him” fits better, use “whom.” Sometimes you may need to split the sentence to see it. For example, It was Carl—he broke all the pencils in the house. “Who” should be used here. You asked him to the dance? “Whom” is the correct choice. This doesn’t work all the time, but when applicable, it can save you a few puzzling minutes.

And when in doubt, recast the sentence to avoid the issue altogether.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

What Should You Include in Your Bio for Agents?

Tue, 12 May 2009 17:57:16 GMT

Q: I’ve recently finished my first novel and have begun searching for an agent to represent me. Some of the agents ask for a writer’s bio. Could you please tell me exactly what information I should include in this bio? What should be left out?—Terrie Smith

A: Writers are often advised to write bios that read like jacket copy, but catching the eye of an agent is about convincing her that you’re just as marketable as your book is. You also need to clearly show why you’re qualified to write your proposed book. In any bio, you want to focus on your job qualifications.

“Your bio should highlight any features that will hook readers’ interest,” says Katharine Sands, an agent for the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. “The rule of thumb is to convey in one paragraph that you can be successfully published. Of course, you want an agent to fall in love with your writing but, to an agent, your query letter is actually your interview for the job of book author.”

According to Sands, there are four pressing questions you need to ask yourself before writing your bio:

1. How have you and your work been noticed up until now?

2. What professional achievements or personal interests serve to make you, along with your project, an intriguing package?

3. Does your background show special insider knowledge that would enable you to transport your readers to an interesting world, such as backstage in Hollywood, behind the scenes with Washington power brokers or a behind-the-headlines look at your subject?

4. How is your work informed by personal experience, such as meticulous research, surviving a catastrophic event, cherished family lore or travels to exotic lands?

“As an author, you must be an impassioned ambassador for your book,” Sands says. You should also consider including ways you can promote your book to readers (e.g., do you have access to mailing lists? Can you set up seminars or workshops to promote yourself?).

If you have blurbs from published writers, literary awards and/or reviews, include them. List your participation in readings, events and book festivals to show you’re not publicity shy.

While this sounds like a lot, most first-time novelists are lucky to have a few of these to include. If your bio is running a little thin, it’s best to leave it that way. You don’t want to include unrelated personal information, negative setbacks or rejections you’ve logged in your writing life.

“I don’t need to know that your aunt knew Elvis or you love cats or you make great lasagna,” Sands says. “Agents tend to short-circuit if too much information diffuses the message that this one work could work.”

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Dos and Don'ts

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:24:48 GMT

Q: When writing about a list of "dos and don'ts" do you punctuate it like I just did, or does "do's" need an apostrophe. I know it's plural, but it looks odd to spell it "dos." --Heidi Thomas

A: Funny you ask, as this recently came up during an editorial meeting with our managing editor, Zachary "Dr. Awesome" Petit, asking the same question. At the onset this seems pretty tricky, but the answer is fairly simple.

"Dos and don'ts" is plural, so there are no additional apostrophes needed. It's the same as pluralizing "cats" or "dogs" or "hairy-nosed wombats." Apostrophes are only needed for contractions (don't, can't, won't, etc.) and possessives (Heidi's question, Brian's big head, etc.).

Even though it may look weird to leave out the apostrophes, it's grammatically incorrect to put them in. So keep them out.

And those are the dos and don'ts of "do and don't."

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Can You Use Your Spouse as a Source?

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:59:31 GMT

Q: I have a feature idea that includes interviewing an interesting, successful TV/film art director for an architecture or home design magazine. My problem is, he’s my husband. Ethically, does this prevent me from writing and submitting this story?—Corrie A.

A: While this feels Dear Abby-esque, it’s legitimate to question your ethics when writing a story about a family member or close friend (or long-time enemy, for that matter). Ethics deal with your own values, so whether this breaks your own ethical code is up to you. But here are a few things to consider before making your decision.

Biases can come into play when writing about a loved one, which can compromise the credibility of the article. If you were writing a story about your husband for Redbook, you can be more emotional because that fits the magazine’s writing style. But if you’re interviewing him for an article in a home design magazine, treat him like anyone else you’d interview for that magazine. Get all the facts—don’t misinform folks.

Also, be honest with editors when submitting your query letter. When you tell them about the article, make it clear that the interview subject is your husband. Then, explain why he’s an important fit to the article. When in doubt, let the editor make the decision.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

Don't Use "Exact Same"

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:12:57 GMT

Q: Is the term “exact same” correct? As in: “The sisters were raised in the exact same environment?”—Judy R.

A: No, the term “exact same” isn’t correct. Why? For the same reason “end result,” “unexpected surprise” and “basic fundamentals” are wrong—they’re redundant. While all these expressions have sneaked into daily conversations around the water cooler, none of them represents good grammar.

If my pair of pants is exactly like your pair of pants, then—aside from us both having a keen sense of style—we’re wearing the same pants. If you’re comparing items that aren’t exact or the same, then they’re similar—so combining the words to form the phrase “exact same” adds no extra meaning.

If you ever become concerned that a phrase may be redundant, think about it logically and write it out. Just think: A result is always what you get at the end—if you got it in the middle, why continue forward? If your surprise isn’t unexpected, it’s not much of a surprise. And if you study the fundamentals of writing, you’ll avoid such basic mistakes as using redundant phrases.

Brian A. Klems is the online managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Have a question for me? Feel free to post it in the comments section below or e-mail me at WritersDig@fwpubs.com with “Q&Q” in the subject line. Come back each Tuesday as I try to give you more insight into the writing life.

My Girls

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:41:40 GMT

Hey All,

No Q this week due to the wonderful birth of my second daughter over the weekend. Mom and baby are doing great, and my oldest daughter couldn't be more excited to have a sister (mainly because we're letting her watch more Dora than usual). I'm a little sleep deprived, so I'm afraid any advice I give may be a little flaky right now. Instead I thought I'd share a photo of my daughters, Ella Jane (the big sister) and Anna Jo (the little sister).

Hope you are all having just as amazing of a week as I am.
Brian