Publishing practices that drive me crazy

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I find when they put "a novel" in as part of the title that really is annoying. I'm not stupid and I know I'm reading a novel.

But what if 'a novel' is not part of the title, but the actual title, as in The Novel, by James A. Michener.

And what if they made a movie of The Novel and called it The Novel, The Movie?

But what if - what if, I say! - The Novel was actually a short story, and they lied to you and said it was actually a novel? You know, like so many Indy writers falsely claim with their novels. I would feel insulted, especially if I did it. (There's nothing worse than insulting yourself!)

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

But what if 'a novel' is not part of the title, but the actual title, as in The Novel, by James A. Michener.

And what if they made a movie of The Novel and called it The Novel, The Movie?

But what if - what if, I say! - The Novel was actually a short story, and they lied to you and said it was actually a novel? You know, like so many Indy writers falsely claim with their novels. I would feel insulted, especially if I did it. (There's nothing worse than insulting yourself!)

I much prefer to insult myself than be insulted. Saving others the trouble always seems like the polite thing to do.

As for truth in advertising, I haven't yet seen a title including "a novella" or "a novellete", which seems a missed opportunity. For the author that really isn't sure I suggest "novelish", for those epics perhaps: "a doorstop", although that doesn't work so well in these days of e-readers.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Sometimes it’s “s’” and sometimes it’s “s’s”. There are rules how it works and also some exceptions.

From what I remember from school, if the word or name has a single syllable, it's girls', and if the syllables are more than one, then it's Cassius's.

[gmw]

I'm surprised no one has brought up the matter of author attribution, where the name in big bright flashing letters is already famous and now resting on their laurels, and the one in tiny print in the corner is the one that actually did the work that the publisher is now trying to palm off on you under false pretences.

There are many examples, but for the full Where's Wally experience you need to look to someone like Clive Cussler with co-authors hidden in red-print over explosions and other such tricks.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Luffy

From what I remember from school, if the word or name has a single syllable, it's girls', and if the syllables are more than one, then it's Cassius's.

That's the main rule, but there are some customary exceptions. Also with time an apostrophe may be dropped.
Peek, Frean and Co.
Peek Frean's
Peek Freans

[ownedbycats]

Punctuation hurts my head.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by gmw

There are many examples, but for the full Where's Wally experience you need to look to someone like Clive Cussler with co-authors hidden in red-print over explosions and other such tricks.

Enid Blyton books where the real author may not be on the copyright page, only a publisher and not on the cover. They are using the stylised signature as a trademark to sell poor quality adventure stories for gullible parents to buy for their children or grandchildren.

However this is more misleading marketing than "Publishing Practices" which is why I didn't mention it. Also Leslie Charteris hired Ghost Writers, Patterson has a team. The Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew were all various hired writers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratemeyer_Syndicate
The early Nancy Drew were by Mildred Wirt Benson and are thought to be the best. She had her own career.

See also branded products from Grundig, Telefunken, RCA, Bush, Akai. Those companies don't exist. RCA was gone in 1986. Or companies renting the name from another company:
Motorola phones (Really Lenovo)
Nokia, Alcatel phones (TCL, though TCL always made Alcatel phones)
Philips TVs (an Asian company), Philips AV (another Asian). Philips is now pre 1927: mostly light bulbs and care products.
Virgin Media (Really Dutch UPC, a subsidiary of USA Liberty Global/Global Media, renting name from Richard Branson).
Jacobs Biscuits (two different companies depending on region).

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by gmw

As for truth in advertising, I haven't yet seen a title including "a novella" or "a novellete", which seems a missed opportunity.

That's because now they are called Kindle Singles

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by gmw

As for truth in advertising, I haven't yet seen a title including "a novella" or "a novellete", which seems a missed opportunity.

A search "novella" on Kobo's site shows 2 covers with "a novella" on them, one going even further with "an original novella" - all on page 1 of the search results. I lacked the stomach to check page 2.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Quoth

That's the main rule, but there are some customary exceptions. Also with time an apostrophe may be dropped.
Peek, Frean and Co.
Peek Frean's
Peek Freans

This is a not-bad modern "guide" with examples on the head-splitting 's rules:

https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/apostrophe.html

And believe me, at my shop, we see it EVERY which way--and "right" versus "wrong" also seem to be heavily dependent on when/where you went to school. I grew up with the no 's after words or names that ended in s period, but it's patent that that's changed.

Hitch

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That's because now they are called Kindle Singles

Kindle Singles are DOA.

Hitch

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Kindle Singles are DOA.

Hitch

Fine, fine. However, the link I provided goes to: Last Light (Novella) (Kindle Single) by Dean Koontz. So there's at least one out there that does say 'a Novella'

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Fine, fine. However, the link I provided goes to: Last Light (Novella) (Kindle Single) by Dean Koontz. So there's at least one out there that does say 'a Novella'

Yeees, I was just advising those who come along reading. Deader'n Julius Caesar.

H

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by gmw

I much prefer to insult myself than be insulted. Saving others the trouble always seems like the polite thing to do.

As for truth in advertising, I haven't yet seen a title including "a novella" or "a novellete", which seems a missed opportunity. For the author that really isn't sure I suggest "novelish", for those epics perhaps: "a doorstop", although that doesn't work so well in these days of e-readers.

I have the word 'novella' on my cover (with some additional words), but it's not part of the actual title. Perhaps a missed opportunity.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

But, Jon....THINK, MAN! THINK! That means you'd never see me again! You would miss me! You would cry! You would feel lost! Abandoned! Disheartened! And so, so alone! *


* This post was made using Vellum! And who else would dare use asterisks in every sentence!

Are you saying you use Vellum? I hope not. Especially when we have Calibre and Sigil.