Posts Tagged ‘author’

“Does The Music Industry Really Expect Authors To Seek Permission To Use Lyrics In A Book Title?”

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Can a writer use a title from an in print or out of print book for a new book? Then there’s the question of the use of lyrics from songs, can they be used in the title of a book or even used in the book’s content? It’s not surprising that quite a few authors are uncertain about lawful use and what is believed to be copyright infringement, particularly when it comes to using the original works of others. Think, what if book title was subject to copyright? The law courts would be jammed to the rafters with criminal lawsuits. As breaching copyright is actually a criminal offence!

One advantage is that the title of a book cannot be copyrighted, although if it is part of a series like the “Dummies” series then you cannot pass your work off with that as part of the title. Sort of like in this example, “Using Song Lyrics in Book Titles for Dummies”.

A real hazard area is the use of popular songs in book titles and the likes of. Unless permission is first obtained for the use of popular songs being reprinted anywhere, other than what is commonly called “fair use”, musicians and their well paid legal teams do not take kindly to it.

Let us take the example of author George Korankye, he had a burning desire to use the lyrics covered under copyright, namely “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone” by Johnny Nash. First he had to write to the copyright holder and ask permission. In some cases this can cause lengthy delays. Many times the request gets shuffled from department to department and no one responds, leaving the author in limbo.

There are successful books out there with titles from song lyrics. First example that swoops to mind: A series of titles from Wally Lamb: “I Know This Much Is True”. “She’s Come Undone”. “Couldn’t Keep It To Myself”. Oh, and of course the George Korankye book “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone”.

The Dunblane heartbreak novel “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone” by George Korankye uses the events that happened in’96 when 16 schoolchildren and their teacher were murdered. That tragedy is a template for the book. Although permission was granted to use the title from Johnny Nash’s song, lyrics need permission. Usually a song title falls under “fair use”. Obviously this is something worth checking out, as it may be subject to a trade mark registration.

The novel “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone” builds up to a crescendo, and the ending is quite tear jerking, but for all the right reasons. The song by Johnny Nash is quite apt in that the author George Korankye sees it as a song of optimism and courage in overcoming ALL obstacles. From the outset, it mirrors the Dunblane heartbreak and builds towards a more reassuring ending.

Who would think that an African-American pop singer-songwriter mismarkted by ABC Records as another Johnny Mathis would one day have such a hit as “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone”? Born John Lester Nash, Jr. on August’,'40, in Houston, Texas, he went on to change the mainstream acceptance of reggae music by being the first non-Jamaican to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.

Nash began as a pop singer in the’50s, enjoying success as an actor early in his career appearing in the screen version of playwright Louis S. Peterson’s “Take a Giant Step”. Nash won a Silver Sail Award for his performance from the Locarno International Film Festival.

Besides “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone” Nash recorded several hits in Jamaica, where he travelled in early’68, as his girlfriend had family links with local TV and radio host and novel writer Neville Willoughby. Nash planned to try breaking the local rocksteady sound in the United States.

“I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone” has had numerous cover versions, one by Jimmy Cliff went to number’ in the US in’94. His version was in the John Candy movie “Cool Runnings”, about the Jamaican bobsled team.

Sales of Nash’s hit song “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone” shot through the roof, reaching well over seven million copies sold. With his fabulous voice and brilliant music scores, Johnny Nash is still as charismatic as ever. Perfect harmony exists between the George Korankye book and the Johnny Nash song, each meshed in a form of finely tuned synchronicity with the other. With just a little effort and patience applied, the legal status of the song’s copyright was kept intact without George Korankye being ignorant of the laws of copyright. Do ensure that you consult all copyright holders of material you intend to use in books, and stay within the law and out of court.

Radiographer turned novelist George Korankye wrote his first novel, bestowing upon it Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now the Rain Is Gone”“. He secured the legal use of the song lyrics, which are also included in the book. You wil find, just like George Korankye, that it is best to always obtain the lyricist’s agreement for use of any popular song title before using it, as litigation can be costly!

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Learn Rob Parnell’s Formula For Writing A Fictional Hero Best Seller

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Have you ever wanted to write a best-selling story? How about writing a novel based on your character’s hero or heroine?

Stories as diverse as Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, and The Color Purple along with most good action adventure, thriller, romance, fantasy and literary novels use the classic mythical 12-part journey from zero to hero as their basic plot premise.

You really need to understand the mindset and heart of your character. Telling a fascinating story means establishing its parameters. Discover simple and effective ways to start a story that will encourage sympathy from your reader.

A character must transcend his normal existence and be tested in any good story. Examine the hero’s character and motivation. The character’s separation from his ordinary world leads him to take the necessary plot to reach his goals.

How this metaphorical transformation can and must occur at the quarter point of the hero’s journey is the only way to ensure growth and eventual plot resolution. Knowing this will help you in all areas of fiction writing.

Writing should not be just a way of entertaining readers. It is also a spiritual journey of enlightenment for the writer. By the middle of the story, both the hero and the writer must be stretched to the limits of their imagination.

Explore the transformation of the hero and the writer at the crucial plot point and how to use simple guidelines to ensure the reader is transported by our story, its plot elements and our character.

The character’s ultimate reward is based on his or her ability to overcome the obstacles and achieve the agendas set out at the beginning of the story. Structure and resolve character development. Create endings that leave your reader gasping and begging for more. It’s all part of the hero’s journey.

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Learn The Formula For Writing A Best Seller Based On A Fictional Hero

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Have you ever wanted to write a best-selling story? How about writing a novel based on your character’s hero or heroine?

There are stories as diverse as Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, and The Color Purple along with most good action adventure, thriller, romance, fantasy and literary novels that use the classic mythical 12-part journey from zero to hero as their basic plot premise.

You must first establish parameters when telling a compelling story. Discover ways to start a story that will encourage sympathy from your reader. You should understand the heart and mindset of the hero or heroine.

Remember, in any good story you should examine the hero’s character and motivation because he must transcend his normal existence and be tested. The character’s separation from his ordinary world leads him to take the necessary plot to reach his goals.

How this metaphorical transformation can and must occur at the quarter point of the hero’s journey is the only way to ensure growth and eventual plot resolution. Knowing this will help you in all areas of fiction writing.

Writing is not just a way of entertaining readers, it is also a spiritual journey of enlightenment for the writer. At the midpoint in a story both the hero and the writer must be stretched to the limits of their imagination.

Explore the transformation of the hero and the writer at the crucial plot point and how to use simple guidelines to ensure the reader is transported by our story, its plot elements and our character.

The character’s ultimate reward is based on his ability to overcome the obstacles and achieve the goals set out at the beginning of the story. It is all part of the hero’s journey. Create an ending that leaves your reader gasping and begging for more.

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Developing Your Ability To Become A Writer

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Understanding what it is like to be an author is a primary step before learning how to write a book. There is a lot more to it than you might think. There are many things to consider first.

Writers are people with great imaginations. Possessing the ability to dream something is a prerequisite for writing. Novels, stories and poems are nothing more than dreams captured on paper. Without the dream in place, the reality will not come to fruition. There is a first step for everything in life. Visualizing is the first step for a writer.

Improving your dreaming capability is extremely important if you are serious about this. If you can clearly see in your mind’s eye exactly what the scene looks like, it will be much easier to recreate that image for the reader. Clarity is essential. How else are you going to be able to get the reader to accurately imagine what you are attempting to show him without clearly seeing the story for yourself?

Professional authors usually have a favorite place to work. There is usually one place that is better than all the others where your imagination is at its full capability. You need to discover this location for yourself. If you’re really smart, you’ll do everything you possibly can to preserve or improve that little space. This will be a major factor in your level of productivity.

To a professional, a blank piece of paper is like a painter’s canvas awaiting the paint. You should also think of it as such. Every blank page has the potential to become a masterpiece.

This is when the magic begins. Now it is time to morph that blank page into something that will capture the reader’s attention and paint a picture for him that is clear and bright.

It was just the two of them standing at the bar. The bartender was near the other end. They looked like the perfect couple. Paul commanded a real presence with his salt and pepper hair and six foot three inch physically fit stature. Susan was his equally attractive female counterpart with her wavy long auburn hair leading down to her almond skin shoulders. She was a real knockout in that black cocktail dress.

You really have to love it when you know you have captured the reader’s attention. It is very hypnotic. Being able to influence the thoughts of other people is very powerful indeed. This is the most rewarding side of being a professional author.

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Horror Writing Can Be Very Lucrative

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Why is horror still a multi-billion dollar industry that entertains and attracts record numbers of followers year in, year out? Savvy writers know that there’s a fortune to be made in thrilling their readers with everything from monster stories, psychological suspense, ghost stories and good old fashioned gore.

Now it’s your chance to cash in on this most lucrative of genres. Whatever your area of preference is Short Stories, Novels, Film and or TV, there is an ever hungry need for thrillers and dramas using supernatural themes and settings.

Now, don’t go thinking in cliches. Horror is not just Stephen King and Slasher movies! Horror and Dark Fantasy Fiction also encompasses the likes of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Matrix series, and TV shows like Buffy, Charmed, Medium and The Ghost Whisperer.

Of course there are the classics to aspire to. Edgar Allen Poe, Lovecraft, MR James, and more modern writers like Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Graham Masterton, James Herbert. Stephen King himself also describes Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs), James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell as closet horror writers too!

Successful writers know, and have profited from, the notion that scaring the pants off your reader not only makes you successful, it keeps readers coming back for more!

Good horror is sophisticated. More and more writers, like Joe Hill and Jack Ketchum, are winding up in the literary section of your local bookshop or library. No longer is horror marginalised. It’s increasingly seen as respectable and justifiably good writing.

Would you like to know how to build suspense? You know great horror happens in the mind after all. How to create deep and believable characters. How to come up with original and compelling ideas. The secret ingredient to writing a bestseller. How to create convincing monsters and psychological enemies. How to sustain a series of stories, books, movies and much more! Learn More Here!

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Learning The Steps To Writing A Book

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Many authors are not sure where to start when they are thinking about how to write a book. It doesn’t matter if you are thinking about self-publishing or being published by a big publishing company many of the fundamental rules still apply. The basic fundamentals must be done correctly and it is important to know how to start your publishing journey so you don’t make thousands of dollars worth of mistakes.

The very first thing you want to ask yourself is what you are looking to accomplish with being an author and publishing a book? Are you looking to make money or are you seeking exposure with your writing? These are the first two things to think about because this can help you clarify just what you are aiming at in terms of a successful end result.

The decision you make deciding where along the exposure and money scale you belong will help you to decide how you market your book. Many of the decisions you make as an author and marketer will stem from the answers to the purpose of you writing this book. Maximum exposure can be experienced if you printed a whole batch of books and gave them all for free. On the other hand a lot of money can be made by selling each and every book at premium price. You must decide what the best options is for you an your book.

If you are seeking a way to make money as an author than different elements are going to come into play. If you are writing for the main purpose to make money you are going to have to put a lot more emphasis on marketing, promoting, and advertising your written words. This is a different end of the spectrum than gaining exposure because there will not need to be as much time and effort put into these aspects when just hoping for exposure as an author. Aside from marketing you will need to decide how much money you are expecting or aiming to make. Do you want to cover the costs of the book or do you want more? Every author should want to make money from their writing if they are taking the time to write and publish a book. There is nothing wrong with feeling this way but you have to know just how much you want of each aspect.

Like I said both ends of the scale will result in different decisions and different results. It is crucial you know where you stand and what you expect from your book. This will make achieving your goals a lot easier and make the entire process much smoother and clearer.

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