Ask the Book Doctor

by Bobbie Christmas Q: How important is the format of my manuscript? If I don’t follow standard manuscript format, can my book get rejected? A: I can’t speak for every…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: There is someone in my current critique circle who keeps saying, “Write tight.” Is he just being incredibly critical, or is he just trying to say…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I just received an encouraging response from an agent I queried regarding my fiction manuscript. The agent requested a description (approximately one-page summary) and a synopsis…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: If I could find this in CMOS, I wouldn’t bother you. In one of Bobbie’s reports (Highlights of Chicago Style) it says: “Chicago style does not…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: With 9/11 and 24/7 prevalent in journalism, it seems odd not to write it with a virgule (slash) in fiction, even though Chicago Style and editors…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I watched a reality show some years back wherein celebrities competed to win money for their favorite charities. Something happened in it that has bothered me…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: How do we support ourselves while we’re writing our books? A: If you’re writing nonfiction, you can write a proposal and several sample chapters instead of…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I’ve been tasked with editing a magazine article that has quotes from several people. Some of the quotes use less-than-standard English. The article is in praise…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: Which of the sentences below sounds best? John’s mother told him, A. “I’m beginning to regret giving birth to you.” B. “I regret giving birth to…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I want to use TLC in dialogue (“Your sprained ankle could use some TLC.”) What is the proper way to write this? Also, how do I…