Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Mahalo and the Better Business Bureau
Many of you may have heard about the issues going on at Mahalo.com right now. There are more than a few upset writers. Personally, I'm upset for the big earners and the ones that used Mahalo just to earn a few extra dollars from month to month. I'll give you a brief rundown on the site and my experience with it.
I, along with a large group of writers I belong to, joined Mahalo because they paid decent for doing fun stuff. They were a little odd, using their own form of currency that essentially meant the writer got $.75 for every Mahalo dollar. I always thought it was silly and wondered how long it was going to take in order for that to bite the writers. I regret that I did not foresee just how badly it would bite them.
A couple of months ago, the site implemented Vertical Managers. They managed groups of pages and were supposed to help Page Managers to increase traffic and all that. To be fair, I do know that there were some who put a lot of effort into their task, while others did nothing but claim a page and rake in the cash. That's because VMs, regardless of what they did to a page, got a percentage of the earnings.
Around the same time, the site put in place a new payout threshold of M$150, that's $112 USD. While that simmered for a while and many writers just didn't even try to work with the site, the revenue built up.
Recently, the site completely revamped. They cancelled VMs, but they also cancelled PMs. Now, Mahalo gets the revenue that PMs and VMs used to get. No one has their own pages. They write them and the articles go into a community pool, with supposed bonuses when revenue is high enough. Now, there are "guides" who must apply. They write 100 pages a month, have to do 48 hours of updating pages and participate in 40 questions, all for $1000 a month.
It has been decided that the revenue sharing system wasn't really working. Well, to be frank, the only one it wasn't working for is the man at the top of that particular totem pole. (I refuse to put his name here and give him personally free traffic.) To give you an idea of how well the system was working, just one article of mine made over $20 in revenue sharing in the last couple of months. I did not promote it very much either. Now imagine writers who had hundreds of pages that they promoted heavily.
The kicker here is that people who do not make payout when the changes are complete, will be forced to spend their pay at the Mahalo store. Considering that they closed the task system on the same day that they made this announcement, most people who were under payout will just have to suck it up. Now it makes sense for them to have raised the payout level when they did.
The president of Mahalo states that revenue sharing is his idea (yeah, no other site does it...right?) and that it just wasn't working. He also stated that the writers who weren't earning high dollars there just weren't good writers and Mahalo doesn't need them anyhow.
I feel for my fellow writers who have felt the pinch of these decisions. I hope that efforts are made to force the Better Business Bureau to take a closer look. After all, since the writers now have to make a set number of articles (which average about 900 words by the way) to earn their set rate, that is piece rate.There are laws against it in the United States. The reason behind those laws becomes clear when you realize that people who don't make that set rate, even by one article, do not have to be paid at all based on the new system. So, raise your hand if you want to write 99 articles, answer 40 questions and 48 hours updating pages for free! Actually it's worth being noted that the requirements are stated in weekly terms, so the months with more weeks are just going to be loads of fun!
If you feel the urge to contact the BBB, and I hope you do, the address for the site is listed below.
Mahalo.com
902 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 593-6150
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Writer to Watch: Author Conrad J. Storad
By Alyssa Ast
Recently, the WM Freelance Connection was granted the opportunity to interview author, editor, and researcher Conrad J. Storad. With over 30 published books and awarded as the “Arizona Children’s Author of the Year,” he offers valuable information for aspiring writers and even the seasoned professionals. Part one of this intriguing interview will be published today, but look for part 2 and the conclusion of the interview next Tuesday, July 6th.
WM: You have a very diverse background as a writer, including editor, researcher, children’s author, and reporter. Why have you chosen to acquire such a wide variety of writing skills instead of sticking to one genre?
Conrad: I actually always thought I would be a scientist. The writing bug bit me hard a bit later. Growing up in Barberton, Ohio, I was the little boy you’d always find wading through the pond, poking around rotten stumps in the woods, or lifting up rocks to look for insects and snakes and other wild treasures. We had a wonderful area of woods and wetland near my parent’s home. It was a natural playground and provided a new learning experience every day. I also figured out early how to channel my interest in science and nature into entrepreneurial activity. At age 10, my buddies and I set up a business to catch and sell insects to the high school girls of the neighborhood. They were required to create an insect collection for biology class in those days. We made a tidy sum of “Dairy Queen” money catching butterflies, beetles, and creepy crawlers of every shape and size for those young girls. Dragonflies were the big money makers. We charged 50 cents each for a blue darner or a snake doctor. They were tough to catch.
Actually, my very first writing journals were for science class. They were lists of the creatures I had observed, both under the microscope and in the woods and swamp. I found I had a liking for writing, and that I was pretty good at it. It all developed slowly. Just like life. Doors opened, and I was ready to walk through. I never lost my love of science and nature. Eventually, I got the chance to combine both my loves. Instead of doing science in the laboratory or in the field, I got to write about it. And not just about a single discipline. I got to write about everything. And for audiences of varying ages. What could be better than that? For me, nothing has come close…so far. Writing for children has become the ultimate challenge. It is the most difficult writing I have ever done. But the results are the most satisfying.
WM: Throughout your writing career you have received numerous recognitions and awards. What would you consider to be the highlight of your career and why?
Conrad: That is a tough question. I have been blessed during my career with the opportunity to work with many talented colleagues, including writers, editors, graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers. Together, we earned more than 350 regional, national, and international awards from all kinds of professional communication organizations for various of bits of work on magazines, web sites, and television productions. Some of those awards went to me as an individual; others were part of the team effort. My biggest personal honor as a children’s author came in 2001 when I won the Judy Goddard Award as Arizona’s Children’s Author of the Year. Many of my books have won awards as well. It is always a great feeling to have your work be judged by peers to be the best of their kind. As a science writer and magazine editor, I am most proud of winning Gold Medal Awards of Excellence from CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education based in Washington, D.C. My ASU staff and I won for both ASU Research Magazine and for Chain Reaction Magazine, the science publication for young readers that helped to create at Arizona State University. The gold medals meant that our magazines were judged to be the very best of their kind among competition from throughout North America.
WM: You’ve written more than 30 books. How do you stay focused? What does your writing routine look like?
Conrad: Part of me feels as if I have not really done as much as I could. I have so much more that I want to write, that I want to contribute. But writing books is a team effort. It takes commitment, a good partnership with a publisher, and a bit of luck to see the process through from idea to final product, be it as an actual published book or some other readable format. I do have goals for each and every book that I write. First, I hope that my words provide enjoyment at some level. I try to write books that are actually FUN to read. I also hope that the information I provide might spark a bit of curiosity in the reader. I hope that they actually go beyond what I have written in the search for more information. On a higher level, the goal is that my work might actually demystify a topic for a reader. I try to provide easy to understand and accurate information. If everything works the way I want it to, my words may help the reader to have a greater respect and appreciation for the amazing world in which we live. If I can accomplish any one of these things with a child or an adult, then my work is a success.
In terms of writing routine, I don’t really have one. I work in bursts that can last for days or weeks. I need a concrete assignment to focus my energy. I would really like to be like the authors who work for so many hours per day, every day. So far, that is not me. But stories are always bubbling and computing in the back of my brain. When the time is right, the words flow through my fingers to the keyboard and onto the page….or screen.
WM: I met you at a local books and authors festival. Do you feel participating in these kinds of events have enhanced your career? Why or why wouldn’t you encourage other writers to participate in these events?
Conrad: Yes, indeed. I like to meet members of my audience, and hear from the people who read my work. As a writer of any kind, you better be able to take criticism. And praise. And you should be able to handle both with professionalism and humility. If you can’t, I think you are in the wrong profession. Book festivals and writing conferences are very important. I feel that my work is all about promoting literacy in general and science literacy in particular. A good writer should be a good reader. These events are all about promoting reading. They are about communicating person to person and face to face. We can’t let technology be the end all, be all. Technology should help the communication, not take its place.
Look for Part 2 of this interview next Tuesday, July 6th!!
Recently, the WM Freelance Connection was granted the opportunity to interview author, editor, and researcher Conrad J. Storad. With over 30 published books and awarded as the “Arizona Children’s Author of the Year,” he offers valuable information for aspiring writers and even the seasoned professionals. Part one of this intriguing interview will be published today, but look for part 2 and the conclusion of the interview next Tuesday, July 6th.
WM: You have a very diverse background as a writer, including editor, researcher, children’s author, and reporter. Why have you chosen to acquire such a wide variety of writing skills instead of sticking to one genre?
Conrad: I actually always thought I would be a scientist. The writing bug bit me hard a bit later. Growing up in Barberton, Ohio, I was the little boy you’d always find wading through the pond, poking around rotten stumps in the woods, or lifting up rocks to look for insects and snakes and other wild treasures. We had a wonderful area of woods and wetland near my parent’s home. It was a natural playground and provided a new learning experience every day. I also figured out early how to channel my interest in science and nature into entrepreneurial activity. At age 10, my buddies and I set up a business to catch and sell insects to the high school girls of the neighborhood. They were required to create an insect collection for biology class in those days. We made a tidy sum of “Dairy Queen” money catching butterflies, beetles, and creepy crawlers of every shape and size for those young girls. Dragonflies were the big money makers. We charged 50 cents each for a blue darner or a snake doctor. They were tough to catch.
Actually, my very first writing journals were for science class. They were lists of the creatures I had observed, both under the microscope and in the woods and swamp. I found I had a liking for writing, and that I was pretty good at it. It all developed slowly. Just like life. Doors opened, and I was ready to walk through. I never lost my love of science and nature. Eventually, I got the chance to combine both my loves. Instead of doing science in the laboratory or in the field, I got to write about it. And not just about a single discipline. I got to write about everything. And for audiences of varying ages. What could be better than that? For me, nothing has come close…so far. Writing for children has become the ultimate challenge. It is the most difficult writing I have ever done. But the results are the most satisfying.
WM: Throughout your writing career you have received numerous recognitions and awards. What would you consider to be the highlight of your career and why?
Conrad: That is a tough question. I have been blessed during my career with the opportunity to work with many talented colleagues, including writers, editors, graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers. Together, we earned more than 350 regional, national, and international awards from all kinds of professional communication organizations for various of bits of work on magazines, web sites, and television productions. Some of those awards went to me as an individual; others were part of the team effort. My biggest personal honor as a children’s author came in 2001 when I won the Judy Goddard Award as Arizona’s Children’s Author of the Year. Many of my books have won awards as well. It is always a great feeling to have your work be judged by peers to be the best of their kind. As a science writer and magazine editor, I am most proud of winning Gold Medal Awards of Excellence from CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education based in Washington, D.C. My ASU staff and I won for both ASU Research Magazine and for Chain Reaction Magazine, the science publication for young readers that helped to create at Arizona State University. The gold medals meant that our magazines were judged to be the very best of their kind among competition from throughout North America.
WM: You’ve written more than 30 books. How do you stay focused? What does your writing routine look like?
Conrad: Part of me feels as if I have not really done as much as I could. I have so much more that I want to write, that I want to contribute. But writing books is a team effort. It takes commitment, a good partnership with a publisher, and a bit of luck to see the process through from idea to final product, be it as an actual published book or some other readable format. I do have goals for each and every book that I write. First, I hope that my words provide enjoyment at some level. I try to write books that are actually FUN to read. I also hope that the information I provide might spark a bit of curiosity in the reader. I hope that they actually go beyond what I have written in the search for more information. On a higher level, the goal is that my work might actually demystify a topic for a reader. I try to provide easy to understand and accurate information. If everything works the way I want it to, my words may help the reader to have a greater respect and appreciation for the amazing world in which we live. If I can accomplish any one of these things with a child or an adult, then my work is a success.
In terms of writing routine, I don’t really have one. I work in bursts that can last for days or weeks. I need a concrete assignment to focus my energy. I would really like to be like the authors who work for so many hours per day, every day. So far, that is not me. But stories are always bubbling and computing in the back of my brain. When the time is right, the words flow through my fingers to the keyboard and onto the page….or screen.
WM: I met you at a local books and authors festival. Do you feel participating in these kinds of events have enhanced your career? Why or why wouldn’t you encourage other writers to participate in these events?
Conrad: Yes, indeed. I like to meet members of my audience, and hear from the people who read my work. As a writer of any kind, you better be able to take criticism. And praise. And you should be able to handle both with professionalism and humility. If you can’t, I think you are in the wrong profession. Book festivals and writing conferences are very important. I feel that my work is all about promoting literacy in general and science literacy in particular. A good writer should be a good reader. These events are all about promoting reading. They are about communicating person to person and face to face. We can’t let technology be the end all, be all. Technology should help the communication, not take its place.
Look for Part 2 of this interview next Tuesday, July 6th!!
Visit ConradStorad.com to learn more about his career.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Using Microsoft Word Versus PowerPoint for Ebook Creation
Recently I wrote about my ebook creation journey and admitted that I had used PowerPoint for the text of the first version and that it was a formatting nightmare. Fellow WM Freelance Connection blogger Alyssa Ast was curious about what problems occurred when I used PowerPoint for the text of my ebooks.
I’m glad she asked because it made me rethink how I had done things, and I switched my ebook to Microsoft Word format for the second edition of Get Published in Regional Parenting Magazines. This made my life easier for a number of reasons:
1. Changing the margins (something buyers wanted me to do so they could print and three-hole-punch the book) was a snap, and in Word the page breaks fell in natural places*. In contrast, after I changed my margins in PP words just fell off the page and into space and would have to be cut and pasted onto the next page.
2. Buyers also wanted me to put the ebook in a smaller font so they wouldn’t have to use so many pages to print it. Changing the font from 18-point to 14-point in Word again found page breaks falling naturally. Individual text boxes in PP made changing fonts a tedious process.
3. The margins are static in Word, as opposed to PP where you have to try to line up text boxes exactly the same from page to page.
4. Bullets and PP text boxes do not mix as far as text lining up underneath the first word of each bulleted point.
5. I also like how Word has the option for me to view the document with the dots for spaces between words (the toolbar button with the paragraph mark on it) so I could quickly tell if I had 1 or 2 spaces between words and sentences.
6. I thought Word would be hard to work with when I needed to pop in a sample invoice or sample e-mail message box, but it proved to be the opposite.
*Of course on some pages (where only one or two lines of writer’s guidelines were on a page alone) I had to do a Control+Enter to make a hard page break.
I’m always happy to answer any questions you might have about ebooks. I’m still learning the best way to produce ebooks, so I also welcome constructive criticism and other feedback.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Writing opportunity from AARP: The Magazine
By Pam HoughtonI recently received a copy of the July/August issue of the AARP (American Association for Retired Persons) The Magazine in the mail. Not that I have any reason to belong to the AARP. It's not like I'm 50 or anything. Geez.
But go with me here.
I recently spent an afternoon browsing through the magazine. (Someone threw it in our magazine rack, and, well, I figured I'd check out the articles. That is all. Really.)
Pretty interesting stuff for people 50 and over - not that I would know, being 29 and all.
Let me share some of the highlights.
1. Valerie Bertinelli interview - it isn't like I was obsessed with her late 70s/early 80s sitcom One Day at a Time. Like I'm old enough for that! No, I only know Bertinelli from her Jenny Craig days. Anyway...it was interesting to read how her life has taken a lovely turn in middle age with a new TV show, a new fiance, and weight-loss success.
2. A nice little first-person article on eliminating distractions aimed at the 50+ crowd (not me).
3. A brief fitness article on managing the aches and pains that come with gardening. (No aches and pains here.)
4. A Q&A with Laura Bush. (She is soooo much older than me!)
And more!
Maybe I will pitch them a story. Of course, I'll have to imagine what it's like to be 50*. Kind of a stretch.
If you'd like to as well, here are the Writer's Guidelines, directly from the website.
*Note: The author of this post has no reason to imagine what it is like to be 50. She is 50. She just thinks she's 29.
Thank you for your interest in submitting a story idea to AARP The Magazine for review. Please note AARP The Magazine will not accept unsolicited manuscripts and any material you submit will not be returned. Additionally, AARP The Magazine rarely uses unsolicited ideas. However, you may submit your idea based on the following guidelines and your material will be reviewed. Note: We do not print articles that have been previously published.Story idea letters for specific features and departments should be one page in length and accompanied by recent writing samples. The letter should explain the idea for the piece, tell how you would approach it as a writer, give some sense of your writing style, and mention the section of the magazine for which the piece is intended. Your samples should not include the actual story that you are proposing.
Features and departments cover the following categories:
- Finance: investments, savings, retirement, and work issues
- Health and Fitness: tips, trends, studies
- Food and Nutrition: recipes, emphasis on healthy eating
- Travel: domestic and international
- Consumerism: practical information and advice
- General interest: new thinking, research, information on timely topics, trends
- Relationships: family matters, caregiving, living arrangements, grandparents
AARP The Magazine does not accept queries by fax so either e-mail your story idea to AARPMagazine@aarp.org as plain text within the body of your message (no attachments) or mail it to the following address:
AARP The Magazine
c/o Editorial Submissions
601 E St. NW
Washington, DC 20049
Friday, June 25, 2010
Finding that Authentic Voice
I have been drawing inspiration lately from other writers. I’m not getting ideas about what to write from them, but rather how to write.
These people I wish to emulate have found their authentic voices. Their writing resonates because they open themselves to the reader. I have immense respect for the work they have produced.
I once wrote a piece about a major life event that I’m embarrassed about. The facts stated were true but when I read it now, it isn’t me telling this precious, life-changing story. It’s the person I thought I was supposed to be for this particular publication. Someday I plan to rewrite it for myself first, and then find the right path to the reader.
That’s how these writers did it. And their stories found their way straight to my heart ...
Katherine Schneider is a retired university psychologist who has been blind since birth. Her first book was a memoir entitled "To the Left of Inspiration: Adventures in Living with Disabilities," published in 2005. Then she decided kids with all kinds of disabilities needed a friend to help them see the positive aspects of their situation and know they are not alone. So she wrote a children’s book, found a publisher to set her up with an artist, and is doing book readings at schools and libraries, accompanied by her guide dog, Fran.
“Your Treasure Hunt: Disabilities and Finding Your Gold” is beautiful and helpful and humorous and her gift to kids because she’s been there, done that, and lived to tell the story. She also used her inheritance to found the Schneider Family Book Award given annually by the American Library Association to honor books about the experiences of children and teens with disabilities. That’s authentic stuff.
"The Tiger in the Village" was self-published at lulu.com by a graduate student who simply needed a story sample for her research on story organization as part of her master’s thesis. The book is based on a Hmong folk tale that Pakou Vang's grandmother told her using Hmong story cloth – fabric embroidered with images that tell a story. Her intention was to put the story in quality book form so it would be comparable to another book used in the study.
What results is a beautiful oral narrative that reflects Vang’s culture and history and has been preserved for future generations. Regardless of the number of books she sells, Vang has carried on her grandmother’s legacy and honored her heritage with something tangible in the world.
Michael Perry is an author, humorist and singer-songwriter. He has been a nurse and a firefighter, and as a freelance writer appeared in such magazines as Esquire and Men’s Health. He published a book of his essays, “Off Main Street,” and a book about freelance writing before his memoir hit it big. “Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time” tells the story of the vagabond writer who learns you can go home again, and recounts his experiences on the New Auburn volunteer fire department in northern Wisconsin. Humorous and touching by turns, Perry takes the reader on a personal journey in which you can almost hear the catch in his voice when he expresses fondness for the one-eyed butcher, his dump-truck driving sister-in-law and the winding back roads of his beloved hometown.
He followed with “Truck: A Love Story” about refurbishing his old International Harvester at the same time he meets the love of his life. He’s part grease monkey and part Shakespeare here. Then he goes on to share his new life with wife and children, raising chickens and living off the land in “Coop: A Farm, A Family and the Pursuit of One Good Egg.” The chapter on the birth of their daughter is poetry. It does not get more real than this.
Michael Perry is the same guy in the pages of his books, in his blog at http://www.sneezingcow.com/, in his dispatches for public television and at his book readings across the country. He even writes and sings his own songs. Same guy. Same voice. Some guy. Some voice.
These writers aren’t working to “get published.” They are working to tell a story and to make sense of their world. In turn, they help make sense of ours.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Here's Exactly How Writers Move Up and Get Paid More Money
By Carol Tice
So today, I'm going to teach you how.
One reader wrote me after reading my post on business blogging that talks about how my minimum contract for small-business clients is $1,000 for 8 blog posts. She wrote:
How do you do this? I just had a conversation with a new client and quoted him $75 per blog post. I really want to charge $100 per blog post. This client wants to try two blog posts per week. I know I'm a great blogger and have the experience to back it up. I really want to charge my rate and deserve it.Plus, he wants web content writing. The content writing is for eight pages and the words will be from 60-100. I charged him $10 per page last time. I have a feeling I under charged and undercut myself. Any advice?
Oh, certainly I have advice. And my advice is simple: Stop offering to work for $10 a page.
Here is the secret of earning more. Look at your rate now, and raise it. Start saying your rate is $20 a page. Next month, say it's $40 a page. Then, say it's $80 a page. Repeat until you find you are earning at least $75 an hour.
So this is the part that terrifies writers. You think if you raise your rate, you won't have any clients. That is simply not true. You may have fewer clients at first -- but that'll be OK, because you are getting paid twice as much, or soon, eight times as much. So you'll need fewer clients.
How will you get new, better-paying clients? You'll have to get out of your comfort zone, and find better-quality prospects.
Who's a better prospect? A company or publication with something difficult they need solved, that not every writer on earth can do.
They need to explain insurance annuities to an audience of actuaries, or they want articles about technological advances in refrigeration units. Figure out what you know about that not everyone knows, and you've zeroed in on your target market for better pay.
Then, when you get in a negotiation, ask for real rates. It's just that simple. There's no magic. You'll actually have to screw up the gumption to ask for good pay.
If they say $300 for this article, take a deep breath and say, "I usually get $500." And see what happens. Maybe they'll tell you they can't go higher. But you'll be surprised how often you can get more, especially now with the economy improving.
If your client balks, you may have to educate them about why you're worth it. Maybe they'll walk away. That means they're not the right client for you -- they're too cheap.
But this is how writers earn more. They find clients with tough problems, and show they can solve them.
It really works. The writer who asked that question above? After talking to me, she went back and asked for $20 a page, and got it.
It's a start. That's how better income happens -- one notch up the ladder at a time. All it takes is a commitment to move up from where you are, to begin the climb. The universe will not likely hand you more money out of the blue. You will have to ask for it.
Have you raised your rates lately? Leave a comment and let us know how you found better-paying gigs.
Photo via Flickr user borman818
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Confessions of a Writer
By Lindsay Woolman
Confession #1: I don’t know if other writers experience this, but sometimes writing gives me a kind of “high” where I feel euphoric. It makes me feel like I have never been more alive. Time stops. I forget to eat. I have almost burned my house down… I know this wonderful feeling is partly why I like to write, but a great deal of time, it’s only half on, and yet I still have to produce. I struggle with how to write in that space where I’m not feeling inspired and yet the work has to get done.
Confession #2: Sometimes I feel like I overdo client projects because I don’t know when to stop and be done. If don’t get that electric jolt that says, “this is awesome!” I keep pushing to find it, sometimes spending twice as long as I should and not getting paid any extra. I get the sense that I spend too much time working for other people, and not enough time working for myself (if that makes any sense). I rarely turn in work that is “just acceptable,” but sometimes I get the feeling that “just acceptable” might be fabulous to a client.
Confession #3: I have actually tested my “just acceptable” work at one of the content mill sites. I don’t get paid very much for these articles, so sometimes I will write and turn stuff in that isn’t all that good in my opinion. In a normal situation for a client I would spend a long time babying my work, but for content articles, I let them be. Then, sometimes it’s crazy because I’ll get complimented! It makes me wonder how much more I could be doing if I gave myself a break…
Confession #4: I often notice these odd feelings from my childhood come up—feelings of uncertainty or my personal favorite one, “I am going to get in big trouble!” (that one usually means exactly the opposite—I am about to get rewarded). This “big trouble” feeling is confusing… it’s like my intuition is telling me something bad is going to happen, but nothing ever does. I’m just pushing out of my comfort zone.
Confession #5: I get nervous before a project starts and sometimes I doubt myself in the beginning. I feel like I even inadvertently push away new projects because the newness makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t know if I do this because I’m female or if I’m just nervous in general, but once I get over the hump I always do a good job. I wouldn’t take on a new project unless I knew I could do it.
Confession #6: I love writing for this site, but I am not a real mommy. I am not even married. I have a wild cat who I adore. This week my cat got in a fight with some evil cats and while I was making an appointment with the vet, I had a sense of what parents must go through when they want to protect their kids from bullies. I’m not sure if I’ll have children, but I think it’s possible to be a mom to many living creatures.
Phew! I feel better just writing all that out. I hope everyone has a great hump day!
Photo by flickr user monkeytraffic
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Writing Contest: How to Books Competition
For full details about this writing competition read their press release which can be found HERE.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Writing Opportunity: National Geographic Traveler
Writer's guidelines reprinted from the website, below:
Writers Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in contributing to National Geographic Traveler, which is published eight times a year by the National Geographic Society. Traveler’s publishing goals are to find the new, to showcase fresh travel opportunities, to be an advocate for travelers. Traveler’s tag line is “Where the Journey Begins,” and accordingly, a Traveler story must capture a place’s essence in a way that inspires readers to follow in the writer’s footsteps—and equip them to do so with useful destination information.
What Types Of Stories Does Traveler Publish?
Each issue of the magazine contains five or more features, roughly balanced between U.S. and foreign subjects. Generally, we are interested in places accessible to most travelers, not just the intrepid or wealthy. The types of destinations we cover vary widely, from mainstream to adventure travel.
Traveler features are usually narrow in scope; we do not cover whole states or countries. Subjects of particular interest to us are national and state parks, historic places, cities, little-known or undiscovered places, train trips, cruises, and driving trips. Service information is generally given separately at the end of each feature in a section that includes how to get to the destination, things to see and do there, and where to obtain more information. The writer is expected to send along as much service information as possible with the manuscript to help us prepare this section.
We also publish several regular service-oriented departments, with the emphasis on meaty, practical information. Subjects include photography, food, lodgings, ecotourism, adventurous learning experiences, and short getaways. Essays offering reflections on the travel experience round out the department mix.
What Kinds Of Proposals Is Traveler Looking For?
We accept freelance queries for most of our departments. Ideas for features are generated both by the Traveler staff and by freelance contributors. We do assign features to writers we have not used but only to those whose published clips demonstrate the highest level of writing skill. We do not accept phone queries from writers, and we discourage the submission of unsolicited manuscripts for feature articles. We do not accept proposals about trips that are subsidized in any way.
How Should An Idea Be Proposed?
If we have to sell readers to consume our magazine, then writers must sell us with more than just notions and place-names, so please do not send us any unfocused wish lists of multiple queries. Restrict each submission to one or two well-developed proposals that have been crafted especially for us. A carefully considered proposal combines support for doing a particular destination with some premise or hook. A good query has a headline that suggests what the story is, a deck that amplifies on that, a strong lead, and not much more than a page that clearly sets out the premise and approach of the piece. The query should represent the writer’s style and should answer these questions about the story: Why now, and why in Traveler?
Check the Traveler index to make sure we have not recently run a piece on the topic you are proposing. Please include your credentials, relevant published clippings and a SASE to ensure that the requested materials are returned. Mail your proposal to Query Editor, National Geographic Traveler, 1145 17th St NW, Washington DC 20036. Prospective contributors doing preliminary research for a story must avoid giving the impression that they are representing the National Geographic Society or Traveler. They may use the name of the magazine only if they have a definite assignment. When Traveler gives an assignment, the terms are clearly stated in a written contract.
How Long Are Traveler Feature Stories And Departments?
Most Traveler features range from 1,500 to 2,500 words, depending on the subject. Traveler departments generally run from 750 to 1,500 words. Compensation varies depending on the type of feature or department but is competitive with other national magazines. Payment is made upon acceptance. We buy all rights to manuscripts, although copyright is returned to the author 90 days after publication.
What Does Traveler Look For In Writing Style?
There are no limitations on style, as long as the writing is lively and interesting, although a sense of discovery should be at the heart of every Traveler story. We want our writers to project a curious and knowing voice that captures the experience of travel—the places and personalities, the insights and idiosyncrasies. Writers who work for us must see destinations with fresh eyes and real insight. We place a premium on surprise and good storytelling—the compelling anecdote, the colorful character, the lively quote, the telling detail. And we prefer that our readers be allowed to experience a destination directly through the words and actions of people the writer encounters, not just through the writer’s narrative.
Beyond being strongly evocative of place, our articles attempt to speak to the soul of traveling. Every traveler, no matter how seasoned, wonders what awaits at a new destination. This goes beyond weather and accommodations and language and scenics and museums. There’s a certain frisson of expectation: How foreign is this destination? What new experience will I have? This is travel as texture—the feel of a place, its essential differentness, its look, its flavor. We seek that texture in every story we publish.
Writer’s Queries
Mail to:
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER
Attn: Query Editor
1145 17th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-4688
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Art of Memoir Writing … and Who Cares?
Last week my dad called me to say my ex-husband was on the news for taking off halfway across the country with his 16-year-old stepdaughter. The police were looking for him for all kinds of reasons.
It didn’t take long for the local news reporters to start hounding me, and I wasn’t much help to them about the current allegations. However, it got me thinking about how I’d always wanted to write about the years when I was with this guy. It would be a memoir that would warn some women and get others out of current domestic violence situations. I could do some good. Then these questions popped into my mind:
1. Really, who would buy it?
2. When do I have time to write a memoir?
3. Do I want to revisit such a dark time in my life?
4. Do I want to subject myself to the potential wrath of my ex’s family?
5. Do I want my parents, husband and children to know about the bad decisions I made when I was younger?
Then yesterday I got the current issue of Writer’s Digest in the mail. The cover screamed, “Write & Sell Your Memoir.” Topics include breaking in, finding your hook, 5 elements your story needs and how to protect yourself from legal problems. I’d better read my Writing Bible’s advice before I dive into such a huge project.
Anybody else out there have a memoir in the works (really, what writer doesn’t have a memoir planned?!)?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Eight-plus Things I've Learned Since Writing This Column
By Pam Houghton
I saw an article posted by Writer's Digest on their Facebook page called "Seven Things I've Learned So Far." I'd been thinking about writing a similarly themed post for this column.
So, in a tiny twist on that title, here are a eight-plus things I've learned since writing this column.
1. If you are itching to publish a book, it isn't that hard to circumvent traditional publishing and put out your own e-Book. But if you want it to sell, you have to market the heck out of it.
1a. The whole process of writing, publishing and selling your e-Book will most likely be filled with trial and error. Which is good, as long as you are learning.
1b. But first, you gotta write the book.
2. Even though I wonder what I am going to write about in this space every week, I manage to come up with something. But only because that deadline is staring me straight in the face like a hungry Rottweiler.
2a. Self-imposed deadlines are extremely helpful, especially when you announce to a sizable Internet audience you are going to blog for 30 days straight.
2b. I can blog for 30 days straight.
3. I have a hard time writing unimaginative pieces, especially the type available through so-called content mills.
3a. Their payment issues are almost secondary to the type of material one must produce.
3b. I don't have it in me to write: "How to Replace & Repair a Wall Furnace Thermocouple."
3c. Kudos to writers who do.
4. Writing a lot results in writing a lot more. And writing a lot more makes it easier to write.
5. When you don't know exactly where you are going, jumping into something whole-heartedly (30-day blog, this, shameless self-promotion) helps to define goals. Though goals may change, and change again, the process of sink or swim gets you thinking. Thinking is good. And helps to define goals.
6. I don't know if I'll ever get used to hit-and-run writing opportunities. Especially when editors respond as though they are interested in your work; then you respond; then you don't hear back; then you wonder: is it something I said?
7. I still don't get SEO. Maybe I don't want to.
8. Old habits are hard to break. Though the vast majority of the civilized world has probably transitioned to writing on the keyboard, I still start with pen and paper.
What have you learned lately?
Friday, June 18, 2010
We don't need no peepholes here, thanks.
I was explaining to my friends how the “freelance thing” wasn’t taking off too quickly and they seemed surprised. They’ve seen my work. They know I’ve been paid to write before. They think I’m a shoe-in. Everyone needs friends like this. I didn't tell them that I haven’t exactly been knocking down doors to get work yet.
I have to confess that I probably spend more time crafting clever emails for the people who already like my work than I spend on queries and proposals, but I can’t help myself. I want everything I write to have symmetry and cadence. I like messages that entertain, come to some soul-satisfying point or contain a call to action. (Let’s get together for lunch can actually produce some decent prose in my world.) I also like it when they tell me how much they like my messages. There may be some ego involved here. And perhaps procrastination?
Clearly I don’t focus on productive writing as much as I should, but I have been writing; for work and for pleasure, for better and for worse. You may have seen some of the latter right here in this space. However, if I want to be a published writer in the larger markets, it's time to be more focused. It's also time to be a salesperson. I have to sell myself to the people in publishing who can help me reach my goals. My friends were sold at “hello.” (You have to know me and love Jerry Maguire to appreciate this.) I don't need to impress them anymore.
Here’s the rub: In order to sell my writing, I have to write about my writing. It’s like needing experience in order to get your first job.
The query letter is the equivalent of the door-to-door salesman’s porch pitch. It has to look good, sound good and get to the point quickly. What makes my take on a topic better than the next writer’s? My query must explain this succinctly and close the sale by showcasing my writing skills. No wonder I’d rather send witty emails to people who won’t reject me. This is complicated stuff.
I recently interviewed a highly successful investment banker who, upon graduating with a master’s degree in business administration back in the 80s, took a job as a door-to-door salesman. His product? Peepholes! I wonder if his customers bought them to avoid opening the door to more salespeople ...
He said he learned a lesson in humility from this challenging task. You’ve got to knock on a lot of doors before you sell a peephole. Sooner or later, if you believe in what you’re selling, if your product is relevant, and if you persist, a door is going to open.
As I regain focus on the important business of crafting and sending out query letters, I’m going to picture myself as that highly successful investment banker who survived the school of hard knocks. (Sorry, that was too good to resist). And I'm going to imagine the editor is a friend who already thinks I’m wonderful. Then I’m going to demonstrate just how wonderful I am with the same energy and cleverness I’ve been squandering on emails. When I send the query off, I will picture the editor opening the door to me instead of expecting an inevitable slam.
If it’s a game of numbers, I need to work on my pitch and get knocking on more doors. Sure wish I had a peephole into the future!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What Content Mill Customers Think of Content Mill Writers: My Tiny Poll
By Carol TiceAs regular WM readers know, I am not a fan of content sites and think bidding on them for jobs is rarely a good route to a solid freelance writing income.
This topic came up (again!) because I was interviewing with a prospect offering $75 a post for a very large batch of 500-word articles...which I was turning down because that is below my bottom rate for pieces of that length (even ones done off online research only).
The prospect said gee, that price was a big step up for them because they usually paid $18-$20 on Elance. I was kind of blown away because this was a very large, long-established company in the education space, where you'd think they'd care about quality.
I was fascinated. "And how did you find the quality of the work you got for $20 or less?" I asked.
"Well..." the prospect hesitated. He explained that of course they had to pay an editor to substantially rewrite and clean up the entries before they could be posted. The drafts were a long way from publishable. It seemed lost on this person that they could have just paid a professional a real rate and saved greatly on the editing side...but obviously I didn't get into this with him. Still hoping to get some high-level work at professional rates out of them.
This conversation got me thinking: What do businesses who hire writers from content sites think about the experience? Are they satisfied customers?
I took a poll on my blog for Entrepreneur magazine to find out.
It wasn't exactly an avalanche of responses -- apparently few businesses are willing to admit they use this content! Doesn't that tell you something?
But I did hear from a few.
Responder 1: Says he has good Elance experiences -- better than dealing directly with vendors. (Work on your negotiation skills and professionalism, people! This shouldn't be the case!) He say the key is to offer some real money: "Set a fair price then you'll probably save some money and get a good provider." (If only more companies would listen to that piece of advice!)
Responder 2: "You get what you pay for. If you put the award low enough, you can be sure no quality providers will be interested [in] participating. Quality is not what to look for in crowdsourcing." (Ouch!)
Responder 3: "You don't have to outsource, you can make your own websites."
Responder 4: Did a logo-design job on Crowdspring -- OK, it's more design than writing, but stay with me because the principles are the same. She was happy with the results...but not with the amount of time it took to get them. "It was quite a significant time investment. I had 550 submissions from 150 designers. I spent twice as much time on feedback as I would have with one designer. So what I saved in designer fees I paid in time investment, mostly because communicating with the designers was very hard. I asked for the same change three times and finally gave up." Sounds like this one definitely won't be back.
So there you have it -- one out of four people surveyed thought content sites worked well for them, or one out of five counting the client I interviewed on the phone about it.
Completely unscientific obviously...but some food for thought there. Personally, I think poor client experiences like these may add up to much content-mill use being sort of a fad that fades away, especially as the economy picks up. As their revenue improves, more businesses can afford to just hire a pro and skip the rigmarole of looking through hundreds of bids and trying to lowball a job. Their time will be more precious, and they'll probably get better-quality work that helps them drive sales more effectively. We'll see how it shakes out over the next couple of years.
Take a class, brush up your skills, and build the best portfolio you can now -- I think that will really pay off in '11.
Photo via Flickr user Mushroom and Rooster
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
How to Get Hired as a Ghost Blogger
By Lindsay Woolman
I know some people have a misconception that hiring a ghost blogger is like cheating and that everyone should write their own blogs, but to me this service is one that many potential clients would love.
Basically, a ghostwriter or ghost blogger writes for someone else and does not get the credit. Ghostwriters do not have their name on the work that they are hired to write and traditionally they've written books and articles for other people.
The fact is that ghost bloggers are extremely valuable. On most static websites, the only content that gets updated weekly is blogs. This part of a website helps increase traffic, gets the website indexed in search engines more often, and is written in a conversational, non-formal writing style. Blogs might be entertaining, informative, or what I like to call “mini marketing pieces,” but what they really do is take a business and make it more personal.
Now, it might seem like an oxymoron to say that hiring a ghost blogger will make your business more personal, but considering that most people aren't professional writers, this is no different from any other marketing tool. A professional writer has the practice and knowledge to do it better. A ghost written blog is going to stand out a lot more than a blog written by a CEO who rarely writes and who doesn’t have time to understand what a good blog encompasses.
I think it’s possible for professional writers to become busy as ghost bloggers. In addition, there are businesses that will give bloggers a byline, so it’s almost like a weekly column. Some business owners also just want content, so if you can deliver new topics every week, you could be a ghost blogger without having to worry too much about emulating your client’s voice.
So, the blogging opportunities are definitely out there…
Here are some more tips you can use for getting work as a ghost blogger:
Know what the client wants: Get clear on the type of voice and writing style the client wants, including whether you’d be required to offer links, interview experts, or do research.
Get in the door: One idea is to offer to write a sample “audition” blog to show your writing style (I would probably only do this for someone who is very interested or who is already a client—you don’t want to end up writing a bunch of blogs for free).
Know your price: Carol Tice also did some recent posts on ghost blogging over on her site, Make a Living Writing, and she talks more about pricing. She mentions it's a good idea to have a price in mind based on your hourly rate and the estimated time to write the blog—and to stick to your guns. Also keep in mind that if the client tries to lowball you, quickly move on. Chances are another client will come along and pay you exactly what you want.
Stay organized: Keep a running list of the title of the blog posts by date and topic so you can see what you’ve written and stay organized. I have a couple columns on a spreadsheet where I keep the word count, date, and how long each blog took me to write. This can help for quoting future clients.
Be creative: Consider offering Tweets or another social media aspect to correspond with the blog posts. You can also take one topic and blog about it in a couple different ways by repurposing the content.
Honestly, I think every type of business might be interested in this concept if they only knew how much value it brings to a website.
Next week I’ll talk more about how to offer blogging services to business owners. This is something I want to incorporate more into my practice and I think this is an exciting area that will continue growing.
Happy blogging!
Photo via flicker user Kristina B.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Guest Post: Get Out, Get Out, Get Out! By Thomas Warren
I am a writer. It’s kind of fun to say those words because they carry such lofty connotations. They tell the world that you are a person of intellect, someone who understands, utilizes, and manipulates the English language (or whatever language you happen to write in). Being a writer is a job that is both fun and thoughtful, alternately ethereal, spiritual, technical, and if you’re lucky, just plain silly. You can use your craft to make people feel deeply, to motivate, and to change minds. But all of these lofty goals are only possible if, when you sit down to write, something actually comes out.
So you’ve suddenly (or laboriously) found yourself with the best job on the planet. You can be both creative and technical, you can set your own hours, and you can take on as much or as little work as you desire (if you’re both talented and lucky). Now what?! You actually have to stop procrastinating, hibernating, or otherwise avoiding your computer and get to it. But what if nothing comes out? This is the all-consuming fear of most writers. And there is an answer that is both helpful and obvious. Get the heck out of the house!
You may say to yourself, “Gee, isn’t leaving the house just another form of avoidance?” No. Not if you do it in the right way and for the right reasons. While it’s tempting to hole up in your den for hours or days at a time, this is a surefire way to bottleneck the flow of your writing. Your body is a highly functional little ecosystem, but you have to work with it. If you’re expelling, you must replenish. In practical terms, you need some input and inspiration if you’re going to keep putting out, and vacating the premises will fit the bill nicely. Plus, you need breaks. Only a fool would push their body to jog non-stop, 24/7, and the same principal should be applied to your brain. After awhile, it will become exhausted and then your writing will suffer (if not dry up completely). So make time for breaks, just like you would at any other job. But stick to the schedule. Don’t go for a walk and come back three hours later only to eat a snack and take a nap. Pencil in a couple of hours to catch up with a friend or an hour for your Pilates class at the gym, and then return home prepared to work.
You can also use change of scenery. Variety is what keeps us interested and you need to make an effort to cultivate different parts of the brain if you want to keep your writing interesting (both to you and to others). A recent study reported in Psychological Science reveals that people who commune with nature show an increase in brainpower, so an afternoon in the park with your laptop might be just what the doctor ordered (or spend a day at the beach, or take a walk, anything that gets you away from the house and into the outside world). And don’t forget to partake of a little human companionship once in awhile. Whether we like it or not, human beings thrive on social interaction and you must not overlook this important form of stimulation. Whether you’re discussing the latest action flick or talking through an outline, bouncing your ideas off someone else (no, your dog does not count, even if he does know the secret recipe for Bush’s Baked Beans) can take you places you’d never get on your own.
Making an effort to tear yourself away from the one-eyed workhorse can be difficult, but it is necessary. If you’re serious about your writing, you need to treat it like a real job, and that includes setting hours and taking scheduled breaks. But you also need to realize that your occupation is unique and requires certain allowances if you’re going to persevere. Inspiration, in all its many constructs, tends to come from the outside, whether it’s an hour of consuming alternate forms of media (yes, even tabloids count) or a day spent frolicking in the surf. Whatever you take in to fill the void your writing has left, just be sure to get some time away from home to have fun, reflect, and virtually reboot your brain.
More about Thomas Warren
Thomas Warren is a content writer for Go College, one of the oldest and most trusted resources to guide students on how to finance and succeed in college.
Thomas Warren is a content writer for Go College, one of the oldest and most trusted resources to guide students on how to finance and succeed in college.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Writing Opportunity: SitePoint
Accepted tech articles are paid $100 plus a generous page view bonus that starts at $50 for the first 10,000 views and goes up to $250 for each 100K views. SitePoint.com also accepts book queries.
Writer's guidelines reprinted from the website, below:
Showcase your Expertise to the World!
SitePoint strives to be at the forefront of new ideas, emerging challenges, and cutting-edge technology on the Web. We are always looking to partner with writers to bring these messages to the web development community.
If you’ve got an idea for an article or a book we’d love to hear from you!
Our articles reach over 3 million web developers, designers, marketers, and site owners each month and our books are held in the highest regard by the industry. There’s no better way to get your name out there, build your freelance business, help your fellow developer, and become recognized in the web community than by writing for us.
Contribute Articles to sitepoint.com
sitepoint.com is one of the most popular sites for web professionals. Publishing an article on sitepoint.com exposes you to a global audience of interested and passionate web professionals.
SitePoint pays cash for every article it publishes, and we reward you for submitting great content. The more traffic that your article receives, the better you’ll get paid for it. Assuming your article is accepted and meets our quality guidelines, here’s how it works:
* Retainer: US $100
* Bonus payment:
o +$50 10,000 pageviews
o +$100 25,000 pageviews
o +$150 50,000 pageviews
o +$200 75,000 pageviews
o +$250 100,000 pageviews
All articles are accompanied by a full bio, which can contain links to your web site, providing valuable traffic and backlinks.
Article submissions should contain practical information for web designers or developers, clearly explained, ready to be implemented on their websites. The information should be current and timely, and presented in a friendly and helpful tone. Articles should be a minimum of 1,500 words in length, and should be submitted in plain text, Microsoft Word, or OpenOffice Document format.
If you have any questions about contributing content to SitePoint, email the editor (editor@sitepoint.com).
Currently Commissioning …
If you’re able to write an article about any of the following topics, we’d love to hear from you!
Client-side Topics
* CSS frameworks (CSS-based, or CSS-generating)
* modern CSS techniques & practices
* CSS3
* CSS/HTML/JavaScript for mobile devices (especially iPhone)
* HTML5
* HTML Email
* microformats
* RDFa
* Raphael
* Google Closure
Server-side Topics
* PHP frameworks (CakePHP, CodeIgniter, symfony, ...)
* content management systems (Wordpress, Django, Joomla, Expression Engine, ...)
* ecommerce frameworks (Magento, Shopify, ...)
* Ruby on Rails (tutorials, scalability, Case Studies)
* identity (OAuth, Facebook connect, OpenID, Twitter, ...)
* nginx web server (especially use with PHP)
* web hosting (configuration, tools, reselling, ...)
Web Design Topics
* Photoshop tips
* web design trends
* practical web design tutorials
* web fonts and typography
* design tips for developers
Business Topics
* web site case studies
* shopping cart options
* customer management
* managing transactions
* pricing on the web
* landing page design
* website/retail integration
Article ideas and submissions should be sent to submit@sitepoint.com.
Book Submissions
SitePoint BooksSitePoint publishes practical, solution-focused products for web professionals, which are carried in stores worldwide. We welcome proposals from potential SitePoint authors and, whether you are an experienced writer or not, our supportive editing team will help you to ensure that your book is of the highest quality.
We publish books and kits on topics that are likely to interest our audience (web designers and developers) and that:
* Advocate best practice techniques
* Lead the reader through practical examples
* Provide working code for the reader’s web site
* Make learning easy and fun
If you have a great idea for a book that you think we’d like, send your proposal (including, if possible, an outline, a description of your expertise, and why you think the book will sell) or sample content to us by emailing it to bookproposals@sitepoint.com. You’ll get a personal response and feedback on your proposal from one of our friendly editing team.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Writing Opportunity: The Writer Magazine
Once you have some writing experience under your belt, you might want to consider writing about writing! Below are the submission guidelines for The Writer, which I grabbed from their website.
"The Writer is dedicated to helping professional and aspiring writers with a straightforward presentation of information, instruction and motivation. In the pages of our 123-year-old magazine, writers come together to share their experiences, expertise, struggles, successes and suggestions. The magazine's efforts have been recognized in recent years with gold and silver medals for Editorial Excellence in Folio magazine's national competition.
About 90 percent of our articles are written by freelance writers. The best way to get an assignment is to send a good query letter on a topic that is fresh for our magazine and well suited to our mission.
Please familiarize yourself with our magazine before querying--our tone, audience, approach, the types of articles we do and don't do. Try to skim through the last year or two of issues to get an idea of what we've recently written about.
In your query, be sure to describe your writing background, and don't keep us in suspense: If you promise in your proposed article to provide eight tips on how to find an agent, tell us what all or most of your tips are. We can't properly evaluate your query if you don't.
On those occasions when the magazine's staff originates a story idea and assigns it, we use writers who have previously been in the magazine.
We do not accept fiction or poetry.
Unless otherwise noted below, send queries to queries@writermag.com. Submissions may be sent as .doc files or by copying and pasting text into the body of an e-mail message. Please DO NOT send .docx files. Hard copies are also acceptable.
Feature articles generally run 600 to 3,500 words. These include our "Step by Step" how-to articles and our regular in-depth author interviews. A separate memo is available by e-mail on our "Step by Step" articles, which are built around a series of interactive steps. These articles are done only by experienced writers. Most of our "Step by Steps" address a specific aspect of fiction writing, but we also consider general nonfiction and creative-nonfiction topics.
We encourage a roundup approach for articles on market or publishing trends, such as the changing youth market, the growing interest in inspirational writing, the best of the small presses, how to get your manuscript past the first reading, what small-press editors want, and how to find an agent.
We will consider personal essays about writing as both general features and Off the Cuff columns, but these essays should not be of the "navel-gazing" variety that is excessively focused on self and one's life story. An essay should provide some take-away advice and benefits to a writing audience just as our other features do.
Columns and departments usually run around 600 to 1,600 words. Our lineup is:
Breakthrough: Formatted first-person articles of 700 words about a writer's experience in "breaking through" to publication (with an article, book, etc.). Query senior editor Ron Kovach at rkovach@writermag.com.
Freelance Success: Tips on the business of freelancing. Length is 1,600 words. (Note: We are not currently accepting queries for Freelance Success.)
Get Started: Short articles specifically angled toward instructing the beginning writer. Most of these are assigned by an editor, but queries are accepted. About 830 words, including a short sidebar of resources. Query associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com.
How I Write: One-page, formatted interviews with authors including a bio blurb. About 600 words, plus 100 for bio blurb and credits. Query senior editor Ron Kovach at rkovach@writermag.com first.
Literary Spotlight: A one-page look at a literary journal. Most of these are assigned by an editor. Query associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com.
Market Focus: Reports on specific market areas such as trade journals, alumni magazines, parenting, sports and travel. Usually 1,600 words. Query associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com.
Off the Cuff: Personal essays on a particular aspect of writing or the writing life. Usually 1,600 words. Submit finished essays to associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com. Please send .doc files or copy and paste text into the body of an e-mail message. Please DO NOT send .docx files.
Poet to Poet: Specific aspects of writing poetry, such as imagery, revision or poetic forms. Note: A regular columnist currently does all the Poet to Poet columns and queries are not accepted.
Take Note: Brief, topical items of literary interest. Should be 150 to 400 words. Query associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com.
Writer at Work: A writer describes a specific writing problem and how it was successfully overcome on the way to publication. Most of the columns deal with fiction. Experienced writers only. A separate memo is available by e-mail on the Writer at Work column. Query senior editor Ron Kovach at rkovach@writermag.com first.
WriteStuff: Reviews of books and other products of interest to writers. Experienced book reviewers write for this column. Reviews are 450 to 700 words. Send letter and book-review clips to associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com.
Basics
All queries should be submitted in writing. Do not call. We prefer electronic queries, to queries@writermag.com, except where noted above.
Hard-copy queries can be mailed to The Writer at 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187. Include a SASE for a response and return of materials.
We do our best to respond to queries within 6-8 weeks, and most are dealt with much sooner. Queries that make it into our "Maybe" basket can sometimes take longer.
We acknowledge assignments with an e-mailed confirmation message. We give an article an "acceptance read" around the due date; if the article is in acceptable shape, we mail a contract within the next few weeks. We send payment after we receive a signed copy of the contract.
Generally, we buy first rights. Payment varies. In general, our rates for articles range from $100 for book reviews to $100 to $300 for columns and $300 to $500 for features, depending on length, complexity and the research required. Items for the Take Note section pay $25 to $75. We are also looking for writing-related cartoons ($50); these should be sent to associate editor Sarah Lange at slange@writermag.com.
Payment is initiated upon acceptance. We pay only those expenses agreed upon in advance.
Completed assigned articles should be submitted as a Word attachment to the assigning editor. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and a list of sources used for the article, along with their contact information. To help us fact-check, we ask that you include copies of any printed background materials you used for the piece. Photo suggestions are appreciated. Please do not send original manuscripts, artwork or slides, as we cannot be responsible for their return.
Editorial calendar
The Writer has no editorial calendar per se, but most months we publish stories or sections that focus on particular topics:
January: MFAs
February Self-publishing
March: Screenwriting; agents
April: Conferences
May: Freelance writing
June: Children's writing
September: Book publishing
October: Mystery writing
November: MFAs
Thank you for considering The Writer as a market for your work!"
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Good Book: '100 Things Every Writer Needs to Know.' Well, Here Are Six.
By Pam Houghton
When I first dabbled in writing over ten years ago, I picked up a copy of Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones to get me started, amongst a host of other writing books.
After a loooong period where I was working, writing on the side, then not working, then trying to make sense of the writing world as it exists today, I rarely read a book on writing.
Recently, I went to the library to try and find newer books that would effectively combine writing with today's social media environment. Instead, I walked out with three books that were over ten years old.
I've read one, Scott Edelstein's 100 Things Every Writer Needs to Know, and surprisingly, a lot of the advice still applies.
Here's what I think I already knew, but it's nice to be reminded.
1. It takes five to eight years to build a freelance writing career, with little to no income the first couple of years. (This is probably the "learning-the-ropes" stage.) If you persevere, things are likely to take off toward the end of the second year, with a slow, steady climb thereafter.
2. Most freelancers have at least one other job. The author of the book taught part-time at a university.
3. There is far more money to be made writing for business and non-profits than for publication. However, if publication is your goal - and income a need - don't give up. Continue to earn income from business/non-profit/etc writing but allocate a certain amount of time each week - 10%? 20%? - to getting published.
4. Unless you become famous, expect to be rejected much of the time. A few fun facts about the number of rejections for well-known authors and books:
- Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull: 18
- Dr. Seuss's first book: 23
- Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: over 100
Here are a couple of things I hadn't considered before.
1. Avoid sending query letters to editors, publishers and producers. Send whole manuscripts instead. "Query first/no unsolicited manuscripts" requests are intended to weed out the non-serious writer from the serious. If you send your manuscript to the right editor, chances are 90% of the time it will get read. Interesting! But is it really true?
2. Don't waste time entering literary contests, particularly those with entry fees (unless you find one that really fits). Usually, contests are created solely to make money for the organization putting it on. Your efforts are better spent submitting work to editors and publishers.
Why? If you don't win the contest, you're done. But if a piece gets rejected by an editor, you may not be done; if the editor sees potential in your writing, he may ask to see more.
Lots of other good advice in the book - so here's my advice: if you are looking for guidance or confirmation that you are on the right track, go to the library and snatch a few writing books off the shelf.
30-day blog challenge update: Last week, I wrote about the 30-day blog challenge. Was I insane? I don't think so. So far I've blogged every day and have had fun doing it. But I'm not doing so well seeking out other blogs to read. If you'd like me to read yours (and you'd like to read mine in return) leave your URL here or on my blog, The Working Mom's Guide to Staying Home.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Oh! The Places You'll Go!
It’s graduation season and no doubt this treasured Dr. Seuss book will make the rounds, encouraging young people to follow their dreams and leave the rest of us to wonder if it’s not too late to go off and away.
Since I have a high school graduate this year (gulp*sniff*sigh), I have not had much time for writing or working on my new website. After I predictably mourned the loss of my son’s childhood and my own sanity, I spent most of this month telling a different kind of story; his life story, that is.
You see, I’m a scrapbooker, and the many years that I regret not working on my creative writing, I justify now by having journaled and collected pieces of my boys’ life stories. I carefully marked photos with dates, recorded my thoughts, and hung on to anything that captured their personality at the time. Bless the teachers who give students the fill-in-the-blank worksheet — My favorite food is … Anything that is not a vegetable. My mom likes to … Sit on the couch. In my future I see … Christmas presents.
I wondered if the ribbons and certificates and crayon self-portraits would amount to anything more than a box of hidden treasure my children might unearth after my funeral. Thankfully, I lived to tell the story!
These seemingly random snippets of their lives, once woven into the history of our family, reveal character development; backstory, if you will. If I never write anything more, I have successfully produced a picture book that will capture the imagination of the reader, touch his heart and give him something to think about long after the cover is closed.
On challenging days, we sit in front of our monitors wondering what to write that will matter to anyone else. We find ourselves in Seuss’ prickle-ly perch left out in the Lurch, with Bang-ups and Hang-ups about our work. Maybe this is writer’s block or maybe we’re Seuss’ bane, the people just waiting and staying.
Our writing dreams come true when we take action; when we attempt to make sense of the world around us; when we educate, inform or entertain others; or when we document our reflections in our own voice. This is how we get out of the Lurch, with banner flip-flapping. This is how we make a connection with an audience of one or an audience of many.
The work needs only to hold meaning in the soul of the storyteller and find truth in the heart of the reader. I can see now that writing doesn't have to be epic, best-selling or even published in order to be successful.
What kind of writing will you do today?
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
Will you succeed? Yes you will indeed.
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
Apologies to Dr. Seuss.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
How Writers Can Get on the Map With Natural Search Results
Earlier this week, Alyssa wrote about search engine optimization, or SEO, for your writer Web site. I'd like to pick up that thread and offer a story on why SEO matters.
I think writers hear about SEO until they're blue in the face, but many put off working on it because they're not getting the connection to how it can pay off.
But you should work on your site's SEO beause increasingly, companies looking for writers Google some search terms and call the writers they find. It really happens. It happened to me last week.
Here's the story of how a big client found me, and how you can replicate my success:
I got an email out of the blue from a Fortune 500 company based in my town. One of the best-known, still-thriving brands around. They were interested in having me possibly write for a new email newsletter they want to create! As you can imagine, I was ecstatic.
Like any good marketer, before the conversation went too far, I stopped to ask: "Where'd you hear about me?"
Now, in the case of this company, there were any number of ways they might have known my name. As it happens, I covered this company as a reporter for more than six years as a staff writer for a local business journal. They might have remembered me from back then. I currently also write and blog for many business publications...maybe they saw one of those pieces online?
But no. The editor says, "I just Googled 'Seattle freelance writer' and looked at the sites of the writers I found."
I was blown away. SEO win! As it happens, I have been working hard on upping my natural-search results. To keep my site content changing, I try to pick a newly published article at least once a week and add it to my 'favorites' box on my landing page, now that my blog has gone off to its own home. I rewrote my landing-page copy to say "Seattle freelance writer" in the heading and body.
Go ahead, Google that phrase right now, and see what happens. Or click that link I left you in the previous sentence. I'll wait.
Behold! I'm on the first page of results for that search three times out of the top six responses. No wonder he called me!
How'd I do that?
Besides working on my site keywords and keeping my site content fresh, I also got on Google Local, the feature where you can enter your business on their local maps. See it in the graphic above?
Being in Google Local shot me right into the top few listings, as Google promotes itself by putting that map first in results that mention a city name. I've also got not one but two other natural-search links, to my main author site and one of my popular blog entries.
One little bitty freelance writer really can do this simple SEO stuff for free and get noticed online by major companies looking for writers. Being tops in search makes you look insanely pro.
I can even also track the natural-search results I'm getting through Google Places (not sure if you can view this if you're not me, but give it a try). It says I appeared in their search results 238 times last month, and five people went to my site as a result. Wahoo! And the most popular phrases they searched on that turned me up were "blogger," "mentor," "freelance writer" and "freelance writing." Useful, free information for future SEO efforts.
One nervous-making aspect of using Google Local was it wanted an exact address, which I didn't want to provide since like most of us it's my home. But I discovered the feature will settle for a general description of where you are, which worked for me.
Have you Googled yourself lately? Googled common search terms for your market? See what you find, and then start working on moving up in natural search. It's really worth the effort.
I have to conclude this article by giving props to my mentee Lindsay Woolman, who blogs on WM as well, for cannily taking the URL BoiseFreelanceWriter. SEO doesn't get any better than that for getting local clients! Wish I'd thought of it, but somebody in my market's already locked that down.
Graphic via Flickr user Ethan Bloch
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Applying the 80/20 Rule to Your Writing Business
By Lindsay Woolman
Now I am not a big fan of math, but I find this theory interesting. You can actually apply it to anything, including your freelance writing business.
It basically says that only 20 percent of effort produces 80 percent of results.
This is really good news for busy people or people who constantly procrastinate and wonder why they’re unmotivated. If you think about this theory long enough you’ll realize that the ability to focus and concentrate your best efforts on what matters most—or that 20 percent of what produces results—can improve your ability to write and get more clients.
It suddenly doesn’t sound quite so overwhelming to go out and market yourself knowing that only 20 percent of what you do matters anyway. It kind of makes you think you might as well just write for a couple hours, send some queries and then take a nap, right?
Here are some more 80/20 rules that apply in most cases:
• 20 percent of sales people produce 80 percent of profits for a business.
• 20 percent of your website will be looked at by 80 percent of your visitors.
• 20 percent of what you do during the day produces 80 percent of your results.
The 80/20 Rule at Work
Keeping this theory in mind, here are some ways to maximize your time and get the most out of your freelance writing business:
Revisit past contacts: If this rule holds true than the marketing efforts to reach new clients will be more challenging and time consuming than reaching out to previous clients. Thos past clients already know you and are more likely to work with you again, so you’re able to do less and get more. It seems wisest, then, to touch base with everyone on your current contact list before starting out brand new.
Expand what you do with current clients. If you are in need of more work, don’t forget to ask those who love you most dearly—your current clients. Also, consider different creative ways to offer more of your services to the 20 percent of people who use you the most. At the least, sending a friendly email that you are available should elicit some conversation.
Work more efficiently. This rule makes perfect sense to those who have a very bad habit called “checking your email every 15 minutes.” Even though I sometimes can’t help myself, checking email pulls me out of the zone and is usually a waste of time. This is especially true if I am in the middle of a project and “taking a break.” The truth is that even if I checked email just three times a day, I would probably have 80 perfect spam and 20 percent worthwhile emails that need responses.
Don’t work around the clock. If you put in 8 hours for the day, it might be better to just call it quits and start fresh tomorrow, rather than pushing it. One of the worst parts of this career for me is the anxiety that creeps in when I think I should be doing more and that I’m not doing enough. It is really hard to relax and let go with all the pressure to be successful and make an income, but really, if it’s all just a giant waste of time beyond that 20 percent maybe I should unplug when I’m tired rather than going to my maximum.
Use your talents wisely. Again, using this theory, it could also be said that 20 percent of writers produce 80 percent of the best content. Now, that is not saying that most writers are bad at what they do, but there is a small percentage who are really, really good and would shine even more if given the right opportunities. Don’t hold yourself back from doing that 20 percent of work that would be ideal for you.
Photo by greta eagan via Flickr
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