Ask Sheila

Question: What are the basic steps to be successful at the beginning of writing your first book and autobiography?  Answer: I often say to writers, “Having an idea for a book is easy, but writing a good book to the finish and marketing it ...

Question: I have received several calls about converting my book to a movie, people claiming to have reviewed it and with connections to producers can advance it to film – for a fee of several thousand dollars.  Are all of these a scam?&nb...

Question: I have nearly finished draft 1 of my novel. I often hear people do multiple drafts. Is there a particular approach that seems to work best in editing each draft?  Answer: The book editing process can differ greatly for every auth...

Question: I seem to have trouble with character description at times. I would like to know how to build strong characters in my novels.  Answer: All great stories include several essential elements including a well-structured plot, an opening h...

Question: Are writing contests a realistic way to get published? How can you tell which ones are legit?  Answer: It’s always nice to have someone acknowledge your hard work, and it’s especially encouraging to be recognized with an a...

Question: Pros and cons of using a pen name. How would you actually do that?  Answer: A pen name is a fictitious author name that is used in place of a writer’s real name. Many writers consider using a pen name (also known as a “pse...

Question: As an author, what are some things you should pay close attention to as you revise your manuscript?  Answer: The manuscript revision process can be long, daunting, and frustrating, but is so important to the overall quality and succes...

Question: If you self-publish a manuscript, can that manuscript later be sold to a publisher and be re-published?  Answer: This question comes up in almost every traditional publishing-related webinar or workshop that I present. It’s...

Question: What are the three most typical mistakes authors make in the publishing process?   Answer: Mistake #1: Not understanding your publishing options There are more choices and opportunities than ever before to get a book into the hands of ...