Libel is where you write something that is damaging to another person. If your writing is professionally damaging to that person, the scope for redress is even greater.

Libel is a publisher’s nightmare as it can lead to bankruptcy and the end of a career for you as a writer.  Caution is the watchword when handling contentious issues which may put you at loggerheads if you have something you passionately believe in.

The main defence to libel is in writing the truth.  What constitutes the “truth” may be a very difficult thing to prove once you are in a court of law and you are required to back up your claims.  From bitter personal experience of courts in the UK and the US, though fortunately not for libel, I have learned to appreciate that there is a huge difference between what I know and what I can prove.

Libel is something that can affect both the non-fiction and fiction writer.  Writing a denigrating piece that places a product in a bad light can be considered libellous, so product or service comparisons must be made with care.  Using a fictional name for a character in a novel that you are basing upon a real life individual will not protect you from a libel suit if that person is identifiable from your writing.

It is necessary to demonstrate that you have been malicious or reckless when demonstrating libel.  This is why you see disclaimers along the lines of “All characters are fictional and any relation to persons living or dead is unintentional.” but you still must take reasonable steps to ensure that you are not using someone’s name who actually exists.  If you were to write about a politician or business person who is corrupt, you should Google that name and ensure no politician exists out there that has the name of your fictional character.

You cannot libel the dead so essentially you can write what you want about them.  It would lead you open to criticism about making allegations against someone wh is unable to defend themselves or indeed, you may indirectly libel living relatives of the deceased.  Best not to get involved in either case.

If you inadvertently libel someone, the best course of action is to consult a lawyer and your publisher.  Issuing an apology and a retraction tend to do the trick but libel in the UK is serious and it can be horribly expensive so take care.

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Some wag once said these were the two main food groups and given my recent intake, I’m inclined to agree.

There is something to having that caffeine injection first thing in the morning before I take the mutts out for their morning constitutional and I never really get firing unless I have that little white cancer stick burning away as well.

Aside from the obvious health issues, you have to take a step back and consider how much you are drinking in.  I had a health check up recently and obtained a clean bill of health - blood pressure is fine, heart is fine, lungs are fine - but I did notice that I was getting periods during work when I just had to get up and stroll around, which my son characterises as “pacing”.  That my friends is too much caffeine.

Working at home, it is all too easy to overdo the cups of tea and coffee so this may sound a little stupid, but watch how much you are drinking - especially if you have fresh brewed coffee.  I now only drink a cup at 11am and 3pm just so I do not overdose on the stuff - a far cry from drinking non-stop and wondering why I was bouncing off the ceiling by midday.

Remember when you are writing, your brain is being exercised and your imagination is the main tool at your disposal - anything that adversely affects either is what is known in the trade as “not a good thing”.  Take a regular break and exercise away from the keyboard and the chair, but watch the caffeine - it does things to you!

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Periodically I research for myself on the subject of “writing”; that is a bit of a shocker as it is my chosen means of earning a crust.

I came across a site which you can find here - www.grammarbook.com - an American site again but informative and helpful if you just watch for those Americanized spellings.

One recommendation I found useful is avoiding the overuse of “there is”, “there are” and “it was”; something I am perenially guilty of.

Remember one of the Supaproofread writing tips - if you can dispose of a word in your piece then remove it as long as your message is not affected. This is simply good practice to impart your ideas with economy so the message is not lost in an overgrown bramble of words.

Here are some examples to chew on:

“There is a car accident reported on the news.”

My version

“The news reported a car accident”

Note the use of the active voice in my corrected version - remember with active voice, follow the sequence “Doer - Action - Event” not the reverse.

“There is some more work to be done.”

My Version

“Do more work!”

Something we have all heard our boss tell us, still it imparts the message imperatively.

Another sin I commit is using double negatives. As a mathematical scholar in my spare time, I understand a double negative means a positive so; -1 +(-1) = +2; try explaining the logic of that to an 11 year old!

When it comes to writing it is not pretty and very easy to lose your reader with the logical twists and turns. The example given was “He is not unwilling to help.” when simply writing “He will help.” is clearer and easier to both write and understand.

Finally, parallel construction was a new one on me - here, you use the same grammatical form when providing several ideas within the same sentence or piece. An example is:

“Train with weights, running and swim.”

My Version

“Train with weights, running and swimming.”

Quite a neat little site, and as I enjoy learning something new each day, I feel it was a productive few minutes.

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Proofreading is a final check on your work to ensure accuracy, correction of grammatical errors and general presentation are within the specifications you have been given.

Editing is much more than this as it combines proofreading together with revisions that should improve the flow and structure of your work to maximise the impact of the piece.

Some may disagree as Nabakov (he of Lolita fame) once said “By editor I suppose you mean proofreader.”  Indeed, editing is often referred to as the “butcher’s trade”.

Editing requires a thorough grasp of English whereas proofreading requires an ability to simply spell.  It is also fair to say that editing requires the exercise of the little grey cells to a far greater extent as they will be actively considering the subject matter and how well the piece will communicate with the prospective reader.  This contrasts with simple proofreading which is a more mechanical process.

For instance, I try not to proofread a piece immediately after I have completed it.  I personally find that if some time elapses between completing the draft and going back to correct the grammar and spelling errors, then I am able to focus my attention on the words rather than the ideas and ensure greater accuracy.  If I proof a document as soon as I have finished, I usually end up becoming immersed in the ideas and subject matter which leads to proofreading errors and ultimately, a few spelling mistakes sneaking into otherwise finished product.

Editing courses exist on the internet that will help you deal with the issues involved but for many, editing as a profession is in decline which is technically known as “not a good thing”.  Modern day editors simply do not have the time to edit, and the sharp suits have taken over with their eye on the cost and bottom line rather than the quality of the work.  This doesn’t simply affect literary pieces but commercial copy as well as editing is the ultimate peer review you can have.

I read a piece in the Guardian which dealt with the decline of editing and relayed a story concerning Tom Wolfe (not the Bonfire of the Vanities author but the other one) and it made me smile.

Our Tom Wolfe was a prolific generator of words - so exceedingly verbiose in fact that I was instantly reminded of the Michael Douglas character in the film, Wonder Boys when he plays an English professor with writers block and a penchant for smoking dope.  His editor, Maxwell Perkins advised that he was going to take the book away from Tom and indeed he did so after receiving a manuscript some two feet high containing 450,000 words.  Eventually this was whittled down and published; something that would not have happened without an editor though Ernest Hemingway (who also used Perkins as his editor) proclaimed, “It’s 60% shit!”

For many, the editor is a bully boy, larger than life character and their use of the pruning shears on your work can leave it completely altered beyond any recognition.  The reality is if you are lucky enough to have someone who will edit your work, build that relationship, devote some time to it and this will pay dividends with your work.

T S Eliot once was asked if editors were simply failed writers to which he replied:

 “Perhaps - but so are most writers.”

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I’ve written about handling rejection before and I will again simply because you’re going to have to get used to it.

I received a knock back today on a relatively small commission but nevertheless, it stung probably because of over confidence - I had the feeling it was in the bag so it surprised me to get a phone call.  To be fair, that was the first telephone rejection I have ever had as usually it is an email or simply deafening silence.

I read an email sent to me by my wonderful ex-wife, Donna who is single and looking as am I on her behalf, so any eligibles kindly drop me a line with your annual salary and housing situation. 

The email was a speech of some sort given by Bill Gates to some high school students and though not funny, it rang especially true.

One of his rules for students was “The world is not fair so get used to it.” and it certainly isn’t.  Many of us that have been around the block a few times will understand that “fair” does not come into it.  Rejection is not “fair” but it is a fact of writing life.

Another rule he came up with was “You are not going to earn $60,000 straight out of high school.  You will not be a vice president with a car phone.  You have to earn both.”  Writing for a living is just like anything else; you have to earn what you get and that means more than just the money, it also means your professional reputation and your own satisfaction with the life.

There was another rule that struck home, and for someone who had the work ethic bashed into him by grandparents who raised him, I definitely subscribe to this one.  “Flipping burgers is not beneath anyone.  Your grandparents had another word for this and it is called an opportunity.”  Writing is an opportunity for anyone with enough self discipline and modicum of common sense who is prepared to stay on their backside in front of the keyboard and concentrate with the largest consumer of calories in your diet - your brain.  You just need to apply yourself.

Whatever the rules, the number one with writing for profit or fun is to get used to rejection.  It is never personal, don’t treat it as such.  Learn from it - rejection is also an opportunity.  Do not expect to earn mega bucks writing - expect to achieve a degree of success if you are disciplined, open minded and willing to apply yourself but most of all, be prepared to learn.  With that in mind, look at rejection as some form of Darwinian factor that is going to weed out the spineless amateurs who are not prepared to face those slings and arrows of misfortune.

Finally, the last rule of Mr Gates that has nothing to do with writing but really tickled me pink.

“Be nice to nerds.  You will probably end up working for one.”

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