About Sample Chapters, Commas, and Audio Book Recordings

By Bobbie Christmas

 

Q: With a nonfiction book proposal, is it better to send the first chapter as a sample chapter or another chapter you believe to be the strongest?

A: Always find and follow each agent’s or publisher’s guidelines. Some want three sample chapters and do not designate which ones to send. Some want the strongest chapter. Some specify they want chapter one. Some want something in between.

If the guidelines say “sample chapter” or “sample chapters” without specifying whether to send the first chapter or not, include the first one. If your first chapter is not the strongest, rewrite it until it is, because the first chapter is the most important in the book. It must grab readers and keep them interested in reading more. If it does not do its job, the likelihood someone will buy the book is reduced.

 

Q: “How about you, Alex?” his friend Ben asked. Is the comma correct in this example? Do I need more? Why?

A: The sentence is correct as written. The comma between “you” and “Alex” is needed because a comma is necessary in direct address. In such a case, the name is set off by commas. Examples: I like you, John. Susie, come here. If you were me, Sam, would you buy this hat?

In your example, “How about you, Alex?” his friend Ben asked, “Ben” is not set off by commas because it is considered essential; we must assume that Alex has more than one friend, so the name gives us essential information: which friend.

Conversely, we Americans are not allowed to have more than one spouse, so examine the following: “We need paper towels,” Ben’s wife, Susie, said. In that sentence, the name “Susie” is nonessential. It could be deleted, and readers would still know it could be only one person, even without the name.

 

Q: I would really love to be a reader for audio books. I'm British born and raised and have (I'm told) a good speaking voice with a good British accent. My husband is also well-spoken and is adept at Welsh, Irish, and Scottish accents. How does one find employment as a reader?

A: It does sound like you both have a good start, but professionally produced audio book companies use actors who can distinctly “act out” the dialogue and change their voices and styles to depict the various characters in the book. To learn the ins and outs of performing on audio, you may want to take a course. You’ll also need to learn the business. I have not read the following book, but it looks like it might be a good one on the subject: How to Get a Job in the Music and Recording Industry by Keith Hatschek (Berklee Press Publications).

One great way to start is to volunteer your services for recording for the blind and dyslexic, to build your portfolio. I easily found once such service on the Internet at http://www.rfbd.org/about_3.htm. After you have gained experience, perhaps one of the places where you’ve volunteered can direct you to paying jobs, or you can search the Internet for companies that use recording artists to read audio books.

 

Bobbie Christmas, book doctor, author of Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.