Ask the Book Doctor

by Bobbie Christmas Q: When it comes to possessives, I find the rules can be confusing. Can you sort them out? What is the correct possessive of proper nouns, names…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: What’s the difference between book doctors and book coaches? A: In a nutshell, book coaches work on you, whereas book doctors work on your manuscript. Coaches…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I am trying to decide how to lay out my nonfiction book. The book will be six by nine. Can I use a .75-inch margin (top,…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: In this sentence (for a nonfiction book), which version would be correct? (Or should it be something else?) Most lenders expect your mortgage payments not to…

Q: I’m told not to use the Enter button or the Tab button. How do I go to the next line and to the next paragraph? A: You’ve been told…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I just received my edited manuscript, but in a few places I see a # (hash) mark. I don’t know what to do. Adding a number…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: I noticed your newsletter used to hyphenate email (as e-mail) and capitalize internet, but the latest edition doesn’t do those things. What gives? A: What gives…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: My ten-year marriage is ending. I don’t feel like writing. Do you have any advice on how to fight through the pain and write? A: As…

by Bobbie Christmas Q: A publisher recently requested my manuscript, and within forty-eight hours I received an email that said, “Only Word files are excepted.” Shouldn’t the word be “accepted?”…

Q: I can’t decide the best way to get someone to edit my manuscript. Should I let my editor edit the electronic file, or should I print out the manuscript…