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This week: Dedicated to the one I ... Edited by: Fyn  
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"The only tyrant I accept in this world is the 'still small voice' within me."~~Mahatma Gandhi
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This newsletter is dedicated to April for her feedback, ideas and support.
According to www.thesaurus.com, synonyms for dedication include the following: adherence, allegiance, commitment, devotedness, devotion, single-mindedness, and wholeheartedness. These are not only the attributes we employ in our writing; they are also the qualities we appreciate in the ones who support our writing. Writing a dedication at the beginning of our book which is finally going to be published is one small way to say thank you to those who have displayed these same qualities to us when we were in the manic stages of getting the words on the page when the wordly stew boiled over, in the throes of revision, or suffering the pangs if 'is-it-good-enough-itus.'
A dedication is something that the author does to show appreciation to the ones closely involved in supporting, mentoring, and living through the writing process. It is the author's prerogative to choose those that they feel helped them along the way. Will or can they thank everyone who ever helped them? Of course not--the list would be quite possibly longer than the book and manage to take away from those who really had an impact on the writer.
Thank the ones who went above and beyond in your dedication, thank the rest in person or write them (not in email or on FB) a short note.
Dedications are often difficult to write because (now that the book is finished) it is incredibly important to the writer to express these sentiments perfectly. The included thankees are not randomly chosen; it is an emotional decision backed by sincere and heartfelt feelings.
On the other hand, dedications are not about 'he thanked me so I have to thank him' or 'a matter of being owed' or 'an expression of the proof of a friendship.' They are not rankings, prizes or trophies.
So. Whom do we thank? Usually our immediate family members who suffered through our 'don't interrupt my writing unless you are dead, dying or bleeding to death' moments: read that hours, days or months! We may thank our support team of friends/editors/mentors who read, reread, correct, suggest, reread yet again or listen to the same story read aloud enough times so that they actually repeat it in their sleep. (My poor, beleaguered hubby in this case.) Basically, we thank those without whom we feel our book would not be as good as it is. One needn't get caught up in the 'what I should say' fol-De-roll: Say what you feel about those wh o helped, inspired, supported and/or put up with you.
Recently, I was included in the dedication to a friend's book. Never dawned on me to even think I might be. I was speechless. And, honestly, I was in tears. I felt (and feel) incredibly honored. Very special, indeed. Then later I heard she was being harangued because she didn't include a long time friend. No one has the right to expect to be included and it isn't something one should feel neglected over if they aren't. It is kind of like a yield sign: you give the right of way--you don't have it. It is purely the author's perspective and feelings over who they felt gave the most of themselves along the way.
Charlie Chaplin's dedication was simply: To Oona. Oona was his last wife and apparently felt he needed no explanation to anyone else and that Oona would 'get it' without further words. Virginia Wolff turned hers into a preface thanking many people including those writers who went before her who were an inspiration to her.
Writing a dedication is an intensely personal moment for the author and usually the last thing they write in their book. When I thought my Alyndorian Trilogy was going to be published as one book, I spent hours getting it just right. Now, it is going to be published as three books. Obviously I can't use the exact same one in all three. Back to the drawing board.
Having one or not, writing several paragraphs or merely a few words is the author's choice. Don't worry about getting feedback on it before it goes to print; let them be pleasantly surprised. It is your book, your choice.
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Writers, muses and friends who inspire me to no end!
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On why we write...must write...live to write....
LJPC - the tortoise  writes: I think you're right, Fyn. Those people who are pursuing the publishing dream (or any other one) with the idea of becoming rich & famous are bound for disappointment. It takes years to become a good writer and the rejections make it feel even longer. I must admit I often don't 'love' writing--it's hard work!--but I sure feel proud of it when I'm done. Thanks for the great NL! 
~ Laura
jim1184  says: Thanks for another good one. It is nice to remind yourself, why you were sitting at this keyboard until Zero dark thirty and Why this morning you are barely functional. Not to worry it's just an addiction.Jim
sawilson adds: Thank you for the honesty of this newsletter. I have picked up several self published books that have a great storyline, but have huge editing mistakes. I know the person was either tired of the process of trying to get published or thought they could make more money on their own. I love your decription of a writer writes just as we have to breathe. If I wasn't able to find at least twenty minutes a day to write, I really think insanity would take over. Thank you again for the honest article.
On the issue of editing mistakes...two-edged sword, that. Who's to blame? Author, editor, both? Makes a difference too if the self-pub book is put out by a company or an individual. And, as we all have noticed...whether by big-box publisher or an article on Yahoo News, poor edits happen. The important things are a)learn from the mistakes and what was missed and b) don't make them again.
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for why I write.
Mara ♣ McBain  laughs: Hmmm ... I definitely saw myself in this newsletter! LOL Editing, formatting, and WAITING are so much harder than just sitting down, opening a vein, and writing. I haven't get to the marketing part yet, but I will tell you while I sit here waiting on my 2nd proof, that I think about it and my stomach churns. I want to give my baby every opportunity to succeed. I paid out the money for promotional bookmarks and for the domain name and website. Those were the easy choice. Convincing people to give my baby a chance ... that's hard. I KNOW in my writers heart that they will love CLUB JUSTICE if they just give it a chance. But getting them to choose my baby from the crowd is the challenge.  Thanks for a great NL, Fyn!
It's out, published and is a great read!
bertiebrite hoping for peace writes: I thought, perhaps wrongly, that the publisher handled the publicity and such. I have self-published and had to handle all the PR, which, not knowing what I was doing, did not go all that well. I write because I love to tell a tale and see folks' reaction. If I make moolah, fine. If not, fine too as long as the book is read. On the publicity front, I thought the publisher handled all that stuff.
Depending upon the publisher--self or otherwise, it all comes down to what is in your contract. Some offer setting up events,press releases, event coaching etc. Some do not. Setting up events and doing well at them is a skill; like writing--it is something that you get better at over time.
ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy says: Thank you for the reality check about publishing. As I've said and written, "Write just because you can." That's why I write...maybe my great granddaughter will get it published after she adds her story someday. Meanwhile, I write just because I must.
allorde adds: True! Word vibration shook me! Good to learn here! No ending though, life is too short! If I could write all 24 hours a day! Nay, God is above! Not the only man I am! Yeah I know, you know the art, thanks for this glorious newsletter, full of newsy and crispy bits for authors, especially a poor author of my stature! Thanks for sharing, you are wise for your wisdom sparks here in each of your editorial work; I enjoyed, thanks once again for the words, last but not the least, YOU ARE YOUR WORDS!
My goodness!
J.W. Knight explains: I write because if I don't, then all of these ideas that just keep building in my head, never go away. So I write them all out and then try to flesh them out into a solid story.If I don't write the ideas out, then I can't ever get them off my mind. So I guess you could say, I write to have peace of mind.I post them to Writing.com to find out if my stories are any good.
--her submitted piece: "Elizabeth's Portrait ((Part 1))"
Joto-Kai  says: "Because I have to" might not even be enough. Compulsions range from divine callings to dark obsessions: the real question is what does writing bring to you when you do it? and Can you stand to do it?
Everything and, more importantly, can I stand NOT to? Nope...Write I must...and will and do! *smile*
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For Authors: April 18, 2012 Issue [#4992]
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