How to Write What People Will Pay to Read!
How to Write What People Will Pay to Read!
Overview
No-nonsense, concise answers to hundreds of writing and publishing issues you must know so people will pay to read your book! Action Does Not Always Constitute Plot Movement. Action That Does Not Advance the Plot. Adjectives--Their Overuse. Adverbs--When They Should and Should Not Be Used In a Narrative. Backstory (Flashback) in a Narrative--Three Effective Techniques Other Than Dialogue. Backstory--How to Write It. Chapter Length--Why Consistency Is Important. Characters Significant to the Plot Must Change for the Story to Be Effective. Classic Authors' Styles. Comma Usage. Conflict--Its Meaning and Significance. Contractions and Their Use to Create More Fluent Dialogue. Contrivance Issues. Dangling Modifiers. Dashes Defined By Variety and Application. Derogatory Material--Issues to Consider. Description in a Narrative--When Is There Too Much Information? Developmental Arcs. Dialogue--How Not to Begin It In a Novel. Dialogue--Interior Attributes That Are Unnecessary. Dialogue Techniques To Remedy the Overuse of Speaker Attributes. Dialogue to Enhance Characterization. Dialogue to Enhance Pacing. The Five Most Common Errors an Editor Sees. Ellipsis Use--What Is Correct. Ending a Story Effectively--The Value of Setting Up a Storyboard. Etymology and Its Importance When Writing Period Material. Fiction Writing Techniques Defined in Literary Classics. Fleshing Out a Character. Fleshing Out a Scene. Gerunds and Gerund Phrases. Literature Written by These Four Authors Defined the Craft of Writing Perfect Prose. Metaphor Use. Narrative Fluff. Nonfiction or Fiction As a Category--If Some Aspect of a Book Is True, Which Is It? Novel Length--What Is Correct for Each Genre. Opening Chapter--Writing a Powerful Hook Is Essential. How to Write the Perfect Paragraph. Paragraph Length in a Novel. Plot Authenticity. Plot Believability. Plot Elements Should Not Be Revealed Prematurely. Plot Holes--How They Can Destroy a Story .Point of View in Writing--a Clear Definition with Techniques for Effective Shifts. Political Correctness. Profanity in a Novel--What Works in Which Genres. Prologues. Pronouns That Foster Incorrect Linkage. Parentheses in Fiction. Punctuation. Effectively Using the Semicolon. The Exclamation Point. Redemptive Characters. Redundancy Issues--Alliteration, Sibilance, and Repetitious Alphabet. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses. Showing vs. Telling Defined. Simile Use. Simple Word Revisions That Can Dramatically Improve the Narrative of Any Story. Sound in Writing. Spelling and Word Meanings in the U.S. That Differ in the U.K. Starting the Story Sooner. Tautology Defined. "That"--Its Overuse, Underuse, and Misuse. The "Chase." The "Reveal." Threads and Methods for Tying Up Plot Elements. Tic Definition and Examples. Time and Distance. Timeline Gaps. Coming Up With A Great Name for a Story. Transitioning. Villains--How Bad Can They Be? Voice--Active vs. Passive. Voice--What Does It Mean?. Word Consistency in a Manuscript. Words That Define in Absolute Terms. Copyrighted Material--How to Gain Permission for Use. Critique Groups. The Various Services Editors Provide. Fair Use and Copyright Infringement. Formatting a Manuscript For Agents and Publishers. Understanding Genre When Querying Agents. ISBN System Explained in Detail. Listing a Manuscript with Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Amazon. Literature Defined As a Genre. Manuscript Evaluations--What Publishers Consider. Publishers--Large vs. Small. Query Letter Writing--Finding the Perfect Agent for Your Novel. The Query Letter Dissected. Query Letter Writing and What Not To Include in the Content. Query Writing Is Different from Writing a Synopsis. Revision Suggestions and How to Deal With Them Effectively. Screenplay Writing--Turning a Book Into a Screenplay, and the Cold, Hard Facts About Options. Voice--Maintaining the Author's Voice When Editing. Word Count for a Novel and How It Applies to Genre. Writing New Material--When It's Time to Write Something Else.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
No-nonsense, concise answers to hundreds of writing and publishing issues you must know so people will pay to read your book! Action Does Not Always Constitute Plot Movement. Action That Does Not Advance the Plot. Adjectives--Their Overuse. Adverbs--When They Should and Should Not Be Used In a Narrative. Backstory (Flashback) in a Narrative--Three Effective Techniques Other Than Dialogue. Backstory--How to Write It. Chapter Length--Why Consistency Is Important. Characters Significant to the Plot Must Change for the Story to Be Effective. Classic Authors' Styles. Comma Usage. Conflict--Its Meaning and Significance. Contractions and Their Use to Create More Fluent Dialogue. Contrivance Issues. Dangling Modifiers. Dashes Defined By Variety and Application. Derogatory Material--Issues to Consider. Description in a Narrative--When Is There Too Much Information? Developmental Arcs. Dialogue--How Not to Begin It In a Novel. Dialogue--Interior Attributes That Are Unnecessary. Dialogue Techniques To Remedy the Overuse of Speaker Attributes. Dialogue to Enhance Characterization. Dialogue to Enhance Pacing. The Five Most Common Errors an Editor Sees. Ellipsis Use--What Is Correct. Ending a Story Effectively--The Value of Setting Up a Storyboard. Etymology and Its Importance When Writing Period Material. Fiction Writing Techniques Defined in Literary Classics. Fleshing Out a Character. Fleshing Out a Scene. Gerunds and Gerund Phrases. Literature Written by These Four Authors Defined the Craft of Writing Perfect Prose. Metaphor Use. Narrative Fluff. Nonfiction or Fiction As a Category--If Some Aspect of a Book Is True, Which Is It? Novel Length--What Is Correct for Each Genre. Opening Chapter--Writing a Powerful Hook Is Essential. How to Write the Perfect Paragraph. Paragraph Length in a Novel. Plot Authenticity. Plot Believability. Plot Elements Should Not Be Revealed Prematurely. Plot Holes--How They Can Destroy a Story .Point of View in Writing--a Clear Definition with Techniques for Effective Shifts. Political Correctness. Profanity in a Novel--What Works in Which Genres. Prologues. Pronouns That Foster Incorrect Linkage. Parentheses in Fiction. Punctuation. Effectively Using the Semicolon. The Exclamation Point. Redemptive Characters. Redundancy Issues--Alliteration, Sibilance, and Repetitious Alphabet. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses. Showing vs. Telling Defined. Simile Use. Simple Word Revisions That Can Dramatically Improve the Narrative of Any Story. Sound in Writing. Spelling and Word Meanings in the U.S. That Differ in the U.K. Starting the Story Sooner. Tautology Defined. "That"--Its Overuse, Underuse, and Misuse. The "Chase." The "Reveal." Threads and Methods for Tying Up Plot Elements. Tic Definition and Examples. Time and Distance. Timeline Gaps. Coming Up With A Great Name for a Story. Transitioning. Villains--How Bad Can They Be? Voice--Active vs. Passive. Voice--What Does It Mean?. Word Consistency in a Manuscript. Words That Define in Absolute Terms. Copyrighted Material--How to Gain Permission for Use. Critique Groups. The Various Services Editors Provide. Fair Use and Copyright Infringement. Formatting a Manuscript For Agents and Publishers. Understanding Genre When Querying Agents. ISBN System Explained in Detail. Listing a Manuscript with Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Amazon. Literature Defined As a Genre. Manuscript Evaluations--What Publishers Consider. Publishers--Large vs. Small. Query Letter Writing--Finding the Perfect Agent for Your Novel. The Query Letter Dissected. Query Letter Writing and What Not To Include in the Content. Query Writing Is Different from Writing a Synopsis. Revision Suggestions and How to Deal With Them Effectively. Screenplay Writing--Turning a Book Into a Screenplay, and the Cold, Hard Facts About Options. Voice--Maintaining the Author's Voice When Editing. Word Count for a Novel and How It Applies to Genre. Writing New Material--When It's Time to Write Something Else.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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