Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Protecting Yourself from Other Writers
By Alyssa Ast
Recently, I found myself a victim of another writer, who decided to abuse the power of the pen. A few weeks ago, I learned a woman, a complete stranger, took it upon herself to write a book that included information about me and my family, including pictures and information about my children. Every time I think about it, it infuriates me that a fellow writer would take advantage of people like this.
She has completely compromised my family and my children's privacy. When I first learned what this woman had done, I was at a complete loss at what I could possibly do to get back my family's privacy. I hope no one else ever finds themselves being victimized in this way by another writer, so this post will be how to take the first steps to protect yourself and your family.
Rights to Privacy
Rights to Privacy
Everyone has the right to maintain privacy. There is a 'Rights to Privacy' law, which prohibits others from publishing information about your private life without written consent. Here is a basic description about the law:
"United States privacy law embodies several different legal concepts. One is the invasion of privacy, a tort based in common law allowing an aggrieved party to bring a lawsuit against an individual who unlawfully intrudes into his or her private affairs, discloses his or her private information, publicizes him or her in a false light, or appropriates his or her name for personal gain."
Cease and Desist
Once I learned this I was told by an attorney to send the woman a cease and desist order, have it notarized, and sent certified mail. This is important because you will be sent the receipt after the person has signed for the envelope, which is vital evidence in court. Make sure you send a copy to yourself as well and do not open it, which is further proof in court.
A cease and desist order notifies the person they have invaded the 'rights to privacy' law and what they are doing is illegal. It gives the person a certain amount of time to destroy the invasive content and to send proof they have done so. Unfortunately, if they do not comply with the demands of the order further legal action needs to be taken, which I have learned is very expensive.
While none of this will regain my family's privacy or get my children's pictures back from this stranger, there is still a sense of satisfaction and relief that comes from knowing I could put a halt on this woman's abusive power of the pen. All I can do is hope this woman has a shred of moral decency to stop her actions before my children's privacy is harmed farther.
And another word of advice, be very careful what you post on social networking sites because you never know when someone will take that information and use it as they please.
Definition taken from Privacy Laws of the United States
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Sunday, August 29, 2010
How to Sell a Business Book - Part 1: Market Research
by N. StraussA few years ago, I started work with a coauthor on a book for the business market. The subject was online communities. When we had finished a few chapters, we began shopping around for a publisher and sold the book to New Riders/ Peachpit.
The process of writing the proposal and selling the book was actually quite straightforward. In this 4-part series, I'll explain step-by-step how to do it.
Research the market
Let's say you're going to write a book on corporate blogging. First, you want to find out what other corporate blogging books are out there. How will your book be different? What gap will it fill? Are there enough people who want to buy a new corporate blogging book?
A friend mentioned to me yesterday that she's working on an epic poem about the Black Plague. If she doesn't manage to publish this poem, this woman can legitimately claim to be a misunderstood genius, unappreciated during her lifetime. That's how art works -- an artist follows her vision and hopes the world will respond.
However, no one will give you misunderstood-genius points if you fail to sell a corporate blogging book. Better to do the research in advance and avoid wasting your time. Plus, you’ll use this research later in your book proposal.
Easy market research on Amazon
You can find a huge amount of data on Amazon. Do keyword searches to look for books on your topic and see how Amazon has categorized them. Also click through the category menu and look around in your book's category.
On Amazon, select the option "Books," then click on "Bestsellers," and analyze the bestseller list in your book's category. (Note: when considering Amazon sales rank statistics, be aware that these update frequently. You may therefore want to track them over a period of time.)
Use Amazon's "Look Inside" feature to browse tables of contents and get a feel for specific books. While you're there, make a note of who's publishing books similar to the one you plan to write. They might be good publishers for you too.
More easy market research
Search on Google to find websites, blogs, and online forums related to the subject of your book. What trends do you observe there? Are there hot topics that everyone is talking about? See what books are being discussed and reviewed in your niche.
You can also do some research offline by visiting bookstores and libraries. Look at what books on your book's topic are on their shelves or in their catalogues, but don't forget to check publication dates. Ask booksellers and librarians what kinds of books people are looking for related to your subject area. Is there something specific that readers are looking for and not finding? When doing this type of offline research, be aware that you are dealing with a relatively small set of data, so your conclusions might not be representative of the book market in general.
Competition is good
Does your book have competition? That's actually a positive sign. If no one's publishing books about your topic, the reason probably isn’t that no one's had the same great idea you have. More likely, there's just not enough demand.
Think of how to differentiate your book from its competitors. What unfulfilled need can you address? What unique angle can you bring to the topic? The answers to these questions will shape your book proposal, as well as the book itself. And they will depend on the profile of your target reader, which is something I'll discuss more about in Part 2 of this series.
Watch this space
A little market research now can save you from wasting a huge amount of time on an unviable project. It might also give you ideas for new directions for your book.
And your understanding of the market -- and your book's place in it -- will allow you to write a much stronger book proposal.
Next week, I will talk about how to define your target reader and start planning your content.
Would you like to be a misunderstood genius, unappreciated during your lifetime? Try writing literary fiction. Check out Creative-Writing-Now.com's guides on how to write a story or how to write a novel.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Losing My eBook Virginity
By Pam Houghton
A fellow writer/blogger asked if I'd read a client's book, The Other Boyfriend by Sylvia Massara, and review it for my blog.
I agreed before I realized it was actually an eBook. Being a bit behind the times, it took me a while to get used to the idea of actually reading a book on a mechanical device as opposed to one made out of trees, with a jacket cover and glowing reviewer quotes.
After putting if off for a few days, I decided to read it on my laptop rather than my PC (since I don't have a Kindle; or, an iPhone - on which you can apparently read books!). That way, I could replicate my usual reading position on the couch - in full recline with a pillow and a comfy blanket.
I half expected to be annoyed by the mechanics of reading the book on a computer, much in the same way I once balked at the thought of a cell phone. Now, I couldn't leave home without my pacifier...er, cell phone.
Turned out I didn't mind reading it on the laptop. At all. The eBook was less than 200 pages on the computer, and each page seemed to have less copy on it than an actual hardcover or paperback book. So it was quite easy to read and click through.
It helped that the story moved along at a brisk clip (always good for me and my ADD) and was pretty darned entertaining. Rather than turn me off e-reading, I think it helped me see eBooks as a viable alternative should "real" books go the way of the land line or VCRs: hopefully old-fashioned and out-of-date.
I hope that's not the case completely though as I still associate paperbacks and hard cover books with great pleasure, including the comfy couch, the pillow and the full recline. I'm not sure I could ever replace that association with a Kindle. But then, maybe I'm hopelessly old-fashioned and out-of-date.
Have you transitioned to eBook reading? On a Kindle, or similar reading device? Or are you like me, hoping to cling to your paper products forever?
photo by pdekker3/stock.xchng
Friday, August 27, 2010
I know this much is true
Forgive me, Wally Lamb. I love the title of your book. I have attempted to read it at least three times. Frankly, it's an imposing book. And then there’s the cutting and the bleeding. In the library! All those books that could have been injured! I’m sure there are lessons learned and challenges overcome. I will never know. Oprah would not be pleased.
What I know to be true about being a writer has far less bloodshed and family tragedy … most days anyway.
- I know that if I really, really want to write something there will be at least one change in the day’s plan, a child in need of a Band-Aid, a call from a good friend I can’t ignore or an important errand to run. I will craft soaring sentences in my mind; the kinds that make angels sing and win Pulitzer Prizes. When I get to my computer the words look like misfits on the page. I can’t tell if I forgot a few or if everything is more sparkly in my mind. (Imagine, dear reader, what I’m thinking of you right now. You look positively radiant!)
- I know that if I grab a notepad or write said sentences down hastily on last year’s issue of Time in the doctor’s office or at my desk at work (shhh) or in the night from my bedside table, my handwriting will later appear as hieroglyphics in sandstone and I will think, “Hmmmm. What did I mean by glib fir standapan, anyway?”
- I know that when I’m hot I’m hot and when I’m not I’m not (thanks Jerry Reed). Kind of like housework … on the right day I actually want to tackle junk drawers and cluttered closets. Same thing when I’m in the mood for writing and have a lot on my mind; the words come faster than I can type.
- I know that just like laundry and the kitchen chores, even if I’m not in the mood the drudgery must be done. If I sit at the keyboard and wish I were a carpenter building a sturdy chair that I could really sit on, or a nurse or a social worker with a life in front of me that I could help in a more tangible way, eventually some words will come in between the daydreaming and self-loathing. Stilted, uncooperative words that won’t play nice together, but words nonetheless. And after I get through mentally slashing my wrists or spending the money I might win if I invested my next feeble check in the lottery, the words start arranging themselves more cooperatively or an idea saunters by nonchalantly like it was there all the time waiting for me to notice.
- I know that writing is some kind of magic that is always there for me even when I push it away or spend too much time playing online games in avoidance.
- I know that I can’t deny the part of me that is a writer no matter how much I try to be something else. (I do! Often!) It is where my interests, my talent, my ability, my comfort, my entire history as a human being have gravitated and settled.
This much is true.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
7 Ways to Find Better Writer Pay -- Right Now
By Carol TiceAs the recession drags on, many writers are wondering: Where are the good-paying jobs hiding?
I've written on how to earn more and move up before, here and on my own site, where this week I'm telling people how to find good-paying Web-content clients and how to deliver killer content once you find them.
But clearly, it's not enough. Writers need more information on where the good-paying jobs are!
In a recent discussion of Demand Studios' IPO filing, one DS writer asked me to stop criticizing DS's business model and instead, "Lead the people to high paying, lucrative writing assignments. I couldn't find them." She detailed how work she did off bidding sites led to her being stiffed for several hundred dollars by loser clients. How she needed to keep writing for DS to earn a pittance.
This made me sad. I want writers to earn a good living, not get stiffed.
So today, I'm going to tell you how to speed up the process and find better-paying clients this very month.
It will require radical action on your part. But if you do it, you are highly likely to change your situation and start earning a better hourly rate.
First, think about where have you been looking for writing work -- on online job boards? On bidding sites? On content-mill dashboards? On some combination of these three? (Or, substitute whatever it is you've been doing to find writing gigs that hasn't translated to earning well.)
OK. Here is the experiment to try if you want to find better-paying clients: Never look for work in those places. For a whole month, don't ever go on those sites, for a single minute.
I can hear you freaking out from here. What will I do? I won't have any money!
And maybe for one month, you won't. (If you don't have one month's reserves to use in advancing your writing career, read this.) But if you want to put more money in the bank between now and the end of the year, it's time to change how you look for clients.
At the risk of stating the obvious, if you keep doing what you've been doing to market your writing business, you will probably keep getting the same result.
I believe the above modes of finding writing work become an addictive crutch for many. They're the low-hanging fruit of job-hunting. It's so easy to just sit at your computer and browse these sites, so they're really common forms of job-seeking. So everyone's doing it. So the customers placing those ads don't have to pay much! They know they have a huge pool of desperate writers to select from.
If you are not earning well, acknowledge that the methods you've been using for finding writing jobs are not leading you to the prosperity you want.
Next, try something else. Try new, more active ways of marketing your writing. Go where fewer writers are looking.
My commenter couldn't find the good-paying writing assignments on job boards, DS or bidding sites because for the most part, great clients don't appear there. They find writers through referrals, or on natural search, or by being contacted proactively by smart writers with great story ideas or an apt analysis of how a company could improve its marketing. They're not interested in paying the least they can -- they're interested in getting writing work done that's amazing.
Once the time-wasting of checking job boards and bidding site proposals and $15 article assignments is gone, you'll have a lot of free time you can use to try new job-finding methods. Here are seven other, proven ways to consider for finding good-paying writing work:
1. SEO your writer Web site. I recently had a Fortune 500 company hire me at $2 a word after finding me through a Google search for "Seattle freelance writer." (Go ahead, do that and see what happens. I'll wait. Interesting, huh?) More and more major companies are simply letting their fingers do the Web searching when they need a local writer. Learn more about how to get found online here.
2. Pick up the phone. Make a list of companies in your city that you know are doing well, take a look at their existing marketing materials, come up with an idea for a marketing piece they could use in addition to those (white papers? a brochure? case studies? a blog?), and just call them. Ask for the owner at a smaller company, the marketing manager at a larger one. Introduce yourself, and ask if they use freelance writers. Everyone I know who does this says that somewhere in 20-30 calls, they get at least one client, at professional rates.
3. Meet live humans. Leave your desk and go to networking events. Go to one daily if you can find that many. Meet many people and describe the type of writing work you are looking for. Making in-person connections is a powerful way to find good clients. I've rarely attended a networking event without coming away with at least one good new job lead.
4. Find high-exposure writing opportunities. Get your work onto the highest-traffic, most popular, well-regarded sites you can, even if it's for free. I get a lot of clients who call me after reading high-visibility articles and blogs I've written previously. Write quality, and you can find yourself on the front page of big Web sites. When that happens, prospects will call.
5. Query. I know -- it's so old school! But you know what? Query letters get writers really good-paying assignments in both on- and offline publications. In the past couple of weeks, I got four article assignments worth nearly $7,000 off queries. Study your targets, and send them story ideas that are perfect for their audience. If you're not getting results, learn more about how to write great queries.
6. Build your online networks. OK, here's one thing you can do online -- use your social networks to actively put the word out about the kind of clients you're seeking. Make new connections and chat them up about what they do and who they know. Find every editor you have ever worked with and learn what they're doing now. Search on LinkedIn for publishers and companies you want to target. Contact them through LI with InMail, through connections, or just by giving them a call. DM people on Twitter. I've met two new editors on there recently that have given me assignments.
Just as I was writing this, I got a friendly message on LI from a Seattle writer-friend -- he said he'd had a project fall through and was looking for fill-in work, had I heard about any jobs that I didn't want? Nothing pushy, just a shout-out that listed his expertise areas. I don't know of anything this instant, but I thought he was so smart to proactively put that out there. I'm fully booked, so I might well hear of something I'd pass on and could refer him. Bet he gets a gig through that great outreach!
7. Write and market your own products. I'm prepping an e-book for sale, and most smart writers I know are doing the same. If you hate pitching editors, spend your free time creating products that could be an ongoing source of passive income for you.
If you aren't earning well, maybe it's time to break out of your old habits. Reach out in new ways. Change your marketing strategy. Find what works for you and brings you the writing work you really want, the kind that pays a real, living wage.
Try it, and maybe a month from now, you'll find you don't need to go back to your old prospecting habits, because you have better-paying work.
What forms of marketing are finding you good-paying writing jobs? Leave a comment and let us know.
Photo via Flickr user AMagill
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
How to Get Author Interviews
The other day I made an author website. I had made a decision to move forward and not look back. As a writer, you can't really ride the fence. Either you settle for horrible paying jobs or you make the leap and make the choice to give it all you have. I fondly refer to this method as "shit or get off the pot" mentality. It works wonders once I implement it.
Now that I had an author website, I needed something to really make it pop. I decided that I was going to do it with writer interviews. I interviewed Bikki Johnson, a singer/song writer. Next, I interviewed Peter Straub. Both interviews went fantastically well, but the one I got the most readership from was the one with Peter Straub. It's also the one I got the most questions from. The most common question was the one wanting to know how I got the interview in the first place. While I won't share the details of how it happened, I do have just one answer. I simply asked him.
Now that I finished the interview, I've contacted more authors that I never thought I would. It seems that I just needed to break that bubble that seemingly existed between me and some world famous authors. I won't hesitate to contact them now and I do it by whatever means I can find. If they don't have an email listed, but they do have a website, I contact them through it. Facebook, fan sites, what ever method I can. I encourage you to do the same.
The only way to get an author interview is to ask for it. They are people just like us and they started at the bottom, just like the rest of us. So, I challenge you to think of your favorite author, find the means to contact them for an interview and then just do it! The worst thing they can do is say no.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Persuasive Writing Tips
By Alyssa Ast
Throughout our writing careers we will likely have to create persuasive writing pieces. I don't know about you, but I love persuasive writing. I think persuasive writing truly allows a writer to let their abilities shine. The ability to sway an audience simply by reading your words is a huge accomplishment in my book. It really shows how effective words are. By effectively creating a persuasive writing piece, a writer's strong points truly show. To ensure you create an effective persuasive writing piece there are certain tips you need to keep in mind.
Develop Your Argument
When writing a persuasive piece you must develop a strong argument. This should identify a problem or cause you want to address. It should be based on a question you are going to answer for your readers; however, it does not need to be stated as a question. Using a question simplifies the writing and research process for you. For example, how can we fix the education system can be your question, but the paper will be about the best methods for increasing the educational budget.
Research!
Research your position in-depthly. Support your claims with facts and evidence that support your reasoning. Facts and figures are always important when it comes to persuading an audience. Make sure the facts and evidence you use are relevant to support your position. The facts and evidence need to come from reliable sources as well. Make sure you double check the information you are using to support your claims.
Organization
After you have gathered all your research, you want to begin writing the piece. However, it must be well organized. Begin with a strong opening statement that includes the argument you are discussing. Describe your supporting reasons in one sentence per idea.
The body should be well organized also. Only include one supporting idea per paragraph. This will allow you to backup your claims and easily persuade your audience. Structuring the persuasive piece in this manner will provide your readers with the basic component they need to form an opinion without confusion.
Conclusion
End your piece with a strong conclusion. Restate your position and the supporting causes for your position. The last sentence should impact the readers in a way they can relate to. It is the final punch to make them believe what you are arguing is true.
Use Strong Words
You will not sway an audience to believe your agrument if you use weak words. You want to use an active voice. Avoid using words like "should," "might," or "think." Instead use strong words to tell the readers what to think and believe, such as "will" and "know." Do not beat around the bush when you write a persuasive piece, say it straight with no fluff to make the information easier to swallow.
What are some things you do when writing persuasive pieces?
Throughout our writing careers we will likely have to create persuasive writing pieces. I don't know about you, but I love persuasive writing. I think persuasive writing truly allows a writer to let their abilities shine. The ability to sway an audience simply by reading your words is a huge accomplishment in my book. It really shows how effective words are. By effectively creating a persuasive writing piece, a writer's strong points truly show. To ensure you create an effective persuasive writing piece there are certain tips you need to keep in mind.
Develop Your Argument
When writing a persuasive piece you must develop a strong argument. This should identify a problem or cause you want to address. It should be based on a question you are going to answer for your readers; however, it does not need to be stated as a question. Using a question simplifies the writing and research process for you. For example, how can we fix the education system can be your question, but the paper will be about the best methods for increasing the educational budget.
Research!
Research your position in-depthly. Support your claims with facts and evidence that support your reasoning. Facts and figures are always important when it comes to persuading an audience. Make sure the facts and evidence you use are relevant to support your position. The facts and evidence need to come from reliable sources as well. Make sure you double check the information you are using to support your claims.
Organization
After you have gathered all your research, you want to begin writing the piece. However, it must be well organized. Begin with a strong opening statement that includes the argument you are discussing. Describe your supporting reasons in one sentence per idea.
The body should be well organized also. Only include one supporting idea per paragraph. This will allow you to backup your claims and easily persuade your audience. Structuring the persuasive piece in this manner will provide your readers with the basic component they need to form an opinion without confusion.
Conclusion
End your piece with a strong conclusion. Restate your position and the supporting causes for your position. The last sentence should impact the readers in a way they can relate to. It is the final punch to make them believe what you are arguing is true.
Use Strong Words
You will not sway an audience to believe your agrument if you use weak words. You want to use an active voice. Avoid using words like "should," "might," or "think." Instead use strong words to tell the readers what to think and believe, such as "will" and "know." Do not beat around the bush when you write a persuasive piece, say it straight with no fluff to make the information easier to swallow.
What are some things you do when writing persuasive pieces?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Writing Opportunity: Book Publisher American Carriage House
- Original manuscripts by never-published authors
- Women's topics including infertility and pregnancy
- Parenting topics including adoption
- Children's stories
- Inspirational topics and stories
- California and West Coast history and topics
- Memoirs
- Cooking and Nutrition
- Poetry
- Biographies
- Topics that appeal to niche markets
Full submission guidelines reprinted from the website, below:
Manuscript Submission Information
American Carriage House Publishing is interested in your work. If you are seeking a publisher for your book, we request that you include the following:
· A cover letter
· A one-page description of the work.
We are looking for proposals, both fiction and nonfiction, preferably wholesome topics with emphasis on the following:
· Original manuscripts by never-published authors
· Women's topics including infertility and pregnancy
· Parenting topics including adoption
· Children's stories
· Inspirational topics and stories
· California and West Coast history and topics
· Memoirs
· Cooking and Nutrition
· Poetry
· Biographies
· Topics that appeal to niche markets
If you are unsure whether your manuscript is appropriate for American Carriage House, please take a moment to drop us a quick email here.
If you are submitting a proposal, please allow 8-12 weeks for a response. Please send your information to:
American Carriage House Publishing
PO Box 1130
Nevada City, CA 95959
For more information feel free to contact us at (530) 432-8860.
Thank you for considering American Carriage House as your publisher.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Keep On Writing On
It is with a sad heart that I tell you this will be my last post for The WM Freelance Connection.
No, writing for The WM Freelance Connection doesn’t take hours upon hours of my time. But (oh, yes, I DID just start a sentence with “but”!) it takes just enough that I started wondering how the heck I was going to homeschool 3 kids this fall while also keeping 2 others occupied all while watching them grow up entirely too fast. And don’t get me started on schlepping all over town looking for Internet access.
I also realized I worked too hard on my ebook baby to not take the time to actively promote it. I’m considering doing print-on-demand with Booklocker.com, which opens up all sorts of other possibilities. To do that, however, I need to write more articles (trying to break into the big national parenting magazines lately!) and raise some money for the whole process. If my fellow smart and gorgeous bloggers will allow it, I may come back to report as a guest blogger sometime.
If tears are running down your face as you read this and you know you’ll miss me just too darn much, just remember you can always find me lots of places on the World Wide Web. You can visit me at GetPublishedParentingMags.com and at my goofy family blog TheKerrieShow.com and at LazySugarMama.blogspot.com and even every now and then at my irreverent writing blog MotherWriter.blogspot.com.
And you bet your butt I’ll be linking back to The WM Freelance Connection quite often because this is truly an amazing source of information for writers … published and unpublished, young and old, man and woman. It is truly an equal opportunity writing site, and I’ll be keeping my email subscription.
Good luck to everyone, and happy writing!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
As the World of Seven-Bucks-an-Article Turns
By Pam Houghton
I'm apparently "on the list" for some independent outfit I've written for before that provides content for an educational publisher - who in turn provides that content to a variety of website clients.
Out of the last three projects offered, one was actually quite interesting and provided a nice little chunk of change. And it had nothing to do with providing content to some SEO-obsessed client.
So I thought I'd be a sport and try one of the newer projects. Yes, it was providing content, but real short travel articles - 250 words each, to be exact. I thought since the process was pretty structured - all I had to do was grab a title from a database, do a little research, then write - maybe I could crank 'em out pretty fast. And it wouldn't hurt to have a temporary stream of filler material, no matter how piddly the pay was. I wasn't above piddly.
I don't know what I was thinking because even though these were 250 word articles, there was still a bit of work involved to churn out something halfway decent. And when it came to structured writing, I knew I wasn't fast. Which meant it took me a least an hour to "research" (read through several pages of a single website), pick out the pertinent details I thought the client was looking for (not that I knew what they were), and creatively paraphrase information already available on the web.
After I submitted my first article, it seemed to pass the initial editor's standards. But somewhere along the way, some other editor, probably the client, had other ideas and rejected the article back to me for more work. And not just a few nitpicky things; apparently, I'd focused too much on the history of the place and not enough on the "pertinent details" the client really was looking for.
I read through the comments, and conceded the editor's points. They were valid. But did I mention I was only getting paid seven dollars for this puppy?
I did not want to spend another hour on this dumb, little 250-word article, on a place I'd never been, that didn't have much for the traveler to do, and that was only interesting for its history.
Even so, being the mature person I was, I fixed the piece to their specifications and turned it back in. Apparently, it passed muster because I never heard back. Which means I'll get my seven bucks.
But I doubt I'll continue writing for this project (which ultimately requires the production of hundreds, if not thousands, of these articles by a fairly large pool of writers), or that I'll agree to write for the equivalent of a couple of Lean Cuisines ever again. If I do, somebody, hit me upside the head! Please!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Social Networking with Greta Garbo
When it comes to social networking there seem to be three kinds of people: the ones jumping on the social media train, blowing their whistle on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, etc.; and the Greta Garbos of the internet, fiercely guarding their privacy with white knuckles and some seriously huge sunglasses;
Oh, and we shouldn’t forget the “social what?” people. Even though you and I can’t go a day without an invitation to yet another social media webinar in our inbox, we should acknowledge that there are people living perfectly balanced lives away from the internet who don’t tweet, post or ping. (Who are these people? How do they shop or write their term papers? OMG! When will they ever reconnect with that freckle-faced kid from their Algebra 2 class in high school?) I often wonder if I’m missing out on life on the planet when I’m spending so much of my life online.
Yeah, I am feeling my inner Greta these days. While I’ve initiated social media accounts and posted on behalf of businesses, I haven’t done much to promote my brand and stay in touch with my “customers” similarly. I have a Facebook account I use mostly to play a highly addictive game called Bejeweled Blitz and exchange photos with some good friends who moved away. I think I have a Twitter account because I was following somebody but I can’t recall my password. I was going to use a Flickr photo here but it's not recognizing my Yahoo ID and I haven't had time to fix that. I’m on LinkedIn because I feel I must for finding work and business networking – I got a response from a potential client two days ago because someone forwarded me a LinkedIn job opportunity so there’s that. But I have not completely embraced the new age of connecting and sharing and being noticed. And I work in marketing!
As the technology becomes more intricate, as more apps and programs for managing one’s social media presence emerge, pushing content from one portal to many channels – I become more and more withdrawn. How does a writer get work blogging if she doesn’t blog? How does a freelancer find jobs if he isn’t up on the TweetDeck scanning the horizon? Can you survive as an independent contractor without communicating in the manner that you advise your clients to? If this is how the audience wants to receive information is it not our duty to provide it that way?
There are people who have scads of followers, who post hourly and keep their public informed and entertained, like the Johnny Carsons and Peter Jenningses of old (dating myself now). Today it’s not about the masses gathering around one watercooler, it’s masses of watercoolers, with the flavored water of your choice. I won’t argue that important, timely information is shared and people and businesses are benefiting by way of saving time or making money or both.
But I wonder … is it enough to be tuned in to social media, to flip through the dial, to follow those who broadcast to their respective niches, to troll for opportunities and stay informed, or does a writer have to put down her fountain pen not to be left behind like an actress from the silent film era?
I joke sometimes that “I vant to be alone,” but if I keep this up, I might get what I wish for!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
7 Money-Management Tips for Freelance Writers
By Carol TiceIn case anybody missed it, I was the subject of vilification on WAHM.com last week for daring to mention Demand Studios' recent disclosure that it loses buckets of money. The discussion on WAHM turned into a long thread full of reasons people love writing for Demand. And the big one is that they pay so fast.
Some posters said they write for mills because of the "enormous" amount of time it takes to get paid by magazines and corporations -- up to six months! And also that they felt a lot of uncertainty about whether they would get paid or not -- maybe they'd only get a "kill" fee if an article didn't work out.
I'd like to puncture these myths and say that it really doesn't take forever to get paid from most of these types of clients. It's also pretty rare to get stiffed, especially if you have a contract. It's been a lot of years since I had an article killed, too -- good communication with an editor can usually prevent stories going that far awry.
I have a pretty broad variety of clients, from major publications and media conglomerates to businesses large and small, and six weeks is the longest payment timeline I have, and most of my clients pay ranging from instantly on auto-deposit to net 15 days.
Still, I get the sense that needing to wait even two weeks to get paid is an insurmountable obstacle for a lot of freelance writers. So they need to keep writing for mills. They're kind of stuck. Or as one of the commenters put it, "trapped on the gerbil-wheel of writing for pennies" because mills pay fast.
This brings me to my topic for today: money management. To be able to move up to better-paying clients and ultimately earn more, you're going to need to be able to manage your cash flow so that you can wait a couple weeks for a check to come. It's the only way to break the low-pay cycle. Once you build up a stable of better-paying markets, it'll get easier to deal with a longer wait to payday.
Here are some tips on how to get your finances in order so that you have some savings -- or at least access to capital you can dip into to tide you over -- and can take on better-paying clients, even if you have to wait 30 days for their check. It may involve some short-term sacrifice, but it'll be worth it, as having more financial resilience will unleash your ability to work for higher-paying markets.
1. Read Your Money or Your Life. This game-changing book has been around for decades, and it's still teaching people how to live cheap and retire young while enjoying life to the fullest. The authors will ask you to write down every dime you spend for months, and then evaluate the data. Usually, you can find places to cut your expenses you never dreamed of as a result.
2. Evaluate all your fixed costs. The cable bill, health insurance, cell-phone plans, Internet fees, gym memberships -- when's the last time you compared prices? See if you can find a lower-cost provider. Then start banking the difference.
3. Examine your discretionary spending. I realize many people are living close to the bone these days. But if you're not, add up how much you spend eating out, renting videos, or whatever your favorite splurges are. Could you not do them, just for a few months? If so, you could end up with a nice bit saved up. Get your family's buy-in that a little short-term doing without could allow you all to be living better, soon. Then:
4. Create a rainy-day fund. This is one of personal-finance guru Suze Orman's favorite mantras. We should all have three to six months of living expenses in a savings account. That's the cushion you can draw from and repay later if a client is a week late paying. Savings equals power -- the power to say no to low-paying writing gigs and spend that time finding better-paying clients.
5. Learn to buy cheap. When I did the grocery shopping around here (hubby's currently the main shopper), I belonged to The Grocery Game, which can save you hundreds a month on the food bill. Clip coupons. Buy your groceries at Walmart, Smart & Final, or whatever discounter is near you. Stop buying junk food. Shop yard sales. Shop chain stores' sales. At this point, my three kids are fully trained, and are delighted to get used stuff I find on Freecycle or my local community classifieds.
6. Clean up your credit. If you do not have access to low-interest or zero-interest credit-card offers, get a free copy of your credit report and see what's on there. Then work on cleaning it up -- call the agencies if there are errors. Make payments on time. Get a store credit card and slowly pay off your bill to build your track record of making payments. If you can improve your credit rating, you can get a bank credit line for your writing business, or a low-interest or zero-interest credit card offer that will allow you cheap or free access to money if a client is slow paying you. Another strategy: see if your bank will extend you overdraft protection to help smooth out any cash-flow bumps.
7. Manage your payment schedule. Look at when all your big bills are due, and if they're all coming at once, see if you can shift them around. You can call credit-card companies and ask to change your payment due date. Also, look at each bill's due date and don't pay bills until they're due, keeping cash in your pocket longer. Personally, I got my mortgage set so it pays in two halves twice a month instead of all at once -- less difficult than making that nut all in a lump.
Have any more tips for managing money as a freelancer? Leave a comment below and tell us.
Photo via Flickr user yomanimus
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Finding the Spark In Your Writing Career
By Lindsay Woolman
In the business of writing we all have our strengths and our weaknesses. Even though I might speculate expert status with 10,000 hours of writing experience under my belt (Yes, I’m counting all the writing I did as a child), there are still types of writing that I don’t do well.
The following are some of the ways I’ve been able to identify what I do best and why some writing assignments are better left to others...
You Love Doing it: I love fiction, self-help writing, blogging for others, and copywriting. It’s like being a kid in a candy store. What I don’t love is writing press releases (not creative enough), editing anything (blah!), and writing college essays (again, just not my thing). Therefore, I try to stay away from mentioning on my website the things I don’t enjoy or want to do on a regular basis. Of course, you're not going to love everything you do as a writer and you have to make money, but you might as well go after those jobs that are likely to make you shine.
Identify Your Gifts: Just as there is that weak spot, there is one just as strong that is uniquely yours and makes you "pop." Your gift might also be that small thing you take for granted because you think that everyone can do it, but it's just not true. One of mine, I believe, is putting humor into writing. I haven’t always thought of it as a gift (or anything special, really), but then as I’ve actually been starting to use this gift in my writing and ideas, I can see it might be important (plus, I love making people laugh). Another gift for me personally is the ability and enjoyment to ghostwrite. I’m happy to polish up another person’s writing voice and make it stronger without needing my name in lights.
What Do Your Critics Say? Now, I don’t necessarily just mean actual critics, but also your inner critic. I think we all have that nudge when we’re unsure about something and that might be an indicator of a weak spot. Another way to see this is to notice what happens when you do get negative feedback. What are you learning? Perhaps it’s that you need to work on improving your listening skills, or working harder to understand what a client wants.
Your Background: Some people might come in to freelancing with a lot of experience in writing, while others may have little. I think your background can help you know what kinds of jobs and clients to target. Also, if you are the kind of person who will go crazy without some human interaction during the day, perhaps you have a gift of both writing and working with people. In that case, you might not only offer writing services, but also sending clients MP3 files of your phone conversations as a bonus. You can bulk up what you’re already offering by tapping in to your personal spark.
Remember, everyone has something special to offer. It’s just like in marriage… You likely picked your spouse because that person was “different from the rest.”
What makes you different as a writer? These are the strengths to market yourself!
Photo via flickr user nina
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
What's the Secret to Your Success
By Alyssa Ast
What do you attribute to being the secret to your success? I have found that everyone has a different factor that they believe has made them successful with their writing careers. Throughout my short writing career I have been asked this question numerous times, each time answering it's all about believing in yourself and maintaining a positive attitude.
I have been told many times that I have come along way in the 2 1/2 years since I began writing. I am 23 years old and I am a high school dropout, yet I write for a newspaper, magazine, lucrative clients, co-run a business, and have self published a book. While I did get my start in the writing industry working for the dreaded content mills, I have left them far behind.
Now, I am begin to receive ample opportunities to make a decent living as a writer through private clients and print content. Over the past year my income has doubled from what is was this time last year and the opportunities to continue to grow are constantly becoming present.
I often find myself wondering, how did I get to this point? I don't know whether it is natural talent or not, but I firmly believe the secret to becoming successful in such a short period of time can be found within myself.
The secret to a successful writing career is believing in yourself and your abilities as a writer. You have to KNOW with certainty you are destined for great things. You can't wait for opportunities to come to you, you have to go out and find them. If you don't believe in yourself as a writer, you won't have the desire to make this happen. By believing in yourself you will continuously strive to refine your writing abilities, never being satisfied and always seeing room for improvement.
Becoming successful also has to do with your attitude. Even when work opportunities are slim, you have to maintain a positive attitude about the situation. Positive energy attracts positive results. Maintaining a positive attitude ensures your motivation to succeed. You have to BELIEVE something great will come your way. If one door closes, another WILL open.
These are the things I attribute to my success as a writer. What do you consider to be the secret to your success?
Photo: "Sign: Success & Failure" By CobraSoft
Monday, August 16, 2010
Tips for Conducting Professional Interviews
Conducting interviews is an essential skill to master for any type of writing, whether it is for journalism or a blog. These days, it is often acceptable to conduct interviews via email; however, most employers will not count these forms of interviews as actually interviewing experience. Face to face and interviews over the phone require much more thought and actual skill than interviews conducted through email. While interviewing in person and over the phone is much more difficult, it is vital you master this form of professional interviewing.
Preparation
Prior to the interview, sit down and review all the information you have gathered about the interviewee. Conduct research if you have to because you want to be as well informed as possible. After you have all the information, write out the interview questions. You need to do this before the interview because nothing will lower your credibility quicker than stumbling over your words and struggling to find a question to ask. Even with questions already planned out, don't hesitate to deviate from the questions during the interview to gain more information.
Interviewing
Interviewing in person or over the phone often adds that special, personal touch to an interview. By conducting interviews this way you are more likely to get greater detailed information that you wouldn't have received otherwise. To make the interview process easier, it's best to invest in a digital voice recorder with multiple play back speeds. This will make the transcription process after the interview easier. Also, if conducting an interview over the phone, use a speaker phone, which will free up your hands so you are able to take notes during the process. After you have conducted the interview, transcribe your notes as soon as possible so the information, details, and overall tone of the interview are fresh in your mind.
Upon completing the interview, remain professional and courteous. Close the interview by thanking the interviewee for their time and for allowing you the opportunity.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Writing Opportunity: HybridMom.com
Hybridmom.com is a cool site that pays well for a variety of submission types, like personal essays/opinion (800-1200 words); news/informational (600-1200 words); humor (400-600 words); reviews (200 words for mini-reviews; 600 to 1200 for longer reviews). They also have a print magazine called Hybrid Mom. Below are their guidelines, taken from their website. Check them out!
"Readers of HybridMom.com and Hybrid Mom magazine are women who are leading double lives … and loving it. Blending a commitment to at-home parenting with other demanding roles means that their days are crazy; they crave a support group that is there when they have time for it, to make them laugh and feel good about the path they have chosen. These women are no longer choosing between a successful career or a successful family life, but rather integrating their many aspirations for the purpose of achieving a balanced life. Hybrid Mom’s editorial content reflects a voice of friendship, rather than an expert and focuses on the “real world” of this new generation of Moms. Hybrid Mom provides insight and intelligence, practical tools and strategies to guide today’s Moms in their quest to work, play and live without sacrificing their families. We share secrets, stories, photos and wisdom gleaned from experience, but we don’t tell readers how to be a better mother, housewife and person. We celebrate and commiserate rather than lecture. Our readers are more than mothers. They are wives and daughters and human beings with brains and dreams and a yearning for a community that fits all of their identities. Our readers are educated, determined and at times, frustrated. They are also very busy, so get to the point fast. Entertain them with stories about people like them. Educate them with information they need in the easiest-to-digest format possible. Most important, have fun. Find new and creative ways to reach the heart and mind of our readers. This is the next generation of “reality magazines.” A good trick is to read the story out loud to a friend before you send it in. If it doesn’t sound natural, try again. Read the stories on our site. Once you understand where Hybrid Mom’s readers are coming from, you will understand how to write for them.
We are excited to hear your stories and ideas! Here are just some of the topics which need your voice. We do not pay for articles published on our website, but we do pay $150 for columns and $300 for features for published submissions. We pay for Personal Essays/Opinion (800-1200 words); News/Informational (600-1200 words); Humor (400-600 words); Reviews (200 words for mini-reviews; 600 to 1200 for longer reviews).
WITHIN OUR WORK CATEGORY
All content here will support and be relevant to how a Hybrid Mom “works.”
• Career
• Continuing Education
• Business Technology Tips
• Entrepreneurs
• To Work or Not to Work
• Volunteering
WITHIN OUR PLAY CATEGORY
All content here will support and be relevant to how a Hybrid Mom integrates work, and however she defines it, within her everyday.
• Body
• Entertainment
• Family
• Humor
• Mind
• Reviews
• Technology
WITHIN OUR LIVE CATEGORY
All content here will support and be relevant to how a Hybrid Mom integrates these subcategories into living!
• Entertaining
• Friendship
• Marriage
• Money
• Parenting
To submit any content to be published on HybridMom.com please submit an article via email to Allison Rubin, Managing Editor Allison Rubin, Submissions allison@hybridmom.com. By submitting a piece, you grant us your consent to publish it on Hybridmom.com. You will retain all rights, and are free to publish the piece anywhere else as long as you put forth your best effort to make sure that “Originally published on Hybridmom.com” with a back link to us. By submitting a piece, you are acknowledging that you solely own the copyright and agree to the above guidelines. We will become the top online and offline destination for Hybrid Moms, with you, our readers and writers, sharing your experiences, your voice and your sense of humor!"
Saturday, August 14, 2010
My Short Life in Poetry
By Pam Houghton
In a long ago and far away time, I participated in a poetry workshop at the local library. Not that I wrote poetry; the workshop was billed as a group for "writers at all levels and genres." Hey, that was me! I figured I couldn't go wrong.
Turned out the woman who ran the group was a retired teacher who had just received her M.F.A. in poetry and had been anointed "poet-in-residence" at the library. She apparently had a following that attracted other poets to the workshop. Which meant that out of 25 or 30 participants, I was one of two members that did not write poetry.
Instead, I was an essay-producing freakazoid while the other holdout wrote short stories. Luckily, the group embraced poets and non-poets alike and I received valuable feedback on my writing.
Too bad I wasn't always able to reciprocate. After a member read their poem to the group, the other members often seemed moved. There were a lot of "Mmmms" and "Oh, that was wonderful," and other supportive comments.
My often-too-typical reaction (that I kept to myself): What the heck was that all about?
I wasn't used to stories without paragraphs and dialog and character development to move the story along. So I'd pick out a line or a phrase that appealed to me, and maybe something that didn't work. But I couldn't provide the nuanced feedback on iambic pentameter (whatever that was) or blank verse poem that others could.
Oh well.
This week, I'd like to share a link to a Territorial Preserve, a poem by Patricia A. McGoldrick. Patricia is a regular reader of our blog and recently had her poem published in the Christian Science Monitor (guidelines here).
This poem I understand, and it's worth a chuckle. Please enjoy.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Who put the FREE in freelance?
I’m curious about the tipping point, where a freelancer turns a profit and doesn’t get short-changed by self-employment taxes and can actually declare themselves a writer instead of a starving artist. Why? Because I haven’t reached that point yet. You know the old adage “don’t give up your day job?” Well I haven’t and won’t anytime soon.
I have met some wonderful writers who have husbands and significant others who make a significant income, which has allowed them to start small and work toward their goal. And I mean them no disrespect. They are fortunate and they are no less dedicated, hardworking or talented than the next dedicated, hardworking and talented writer (like, say, you and me). But I want them to step aside for this survey. While I applaud their work I am insanely jealous and might say something I will regret later if they tell me it was easy. Have I mentioned that I’ve been known to slip into childish behavior when someone has what I want? I need to work on playing nice.
Seriously though, when does the freelance writer feel he or she has “arrived?” We can talk about feelings of job satisfaction, of touching at least one life with our words and how we are following the Gandhi principle of doing a small, insignificant thing well because it is our duty. I love that principle because it assures me that even if I’m not hugely successful I am doing what I am built to do and there is honor in that alone. But all that existential stuff aside, “show me the money!” I am having a weak moment where altruistic motives, anything Guy Kawasaki says and “The Secret” are not working for me.
There is a point where art meets the hard asphalt of life and something’s gotta give … where baby needs new shoes and the taxman cometh and somebody wants to go to college to get a job more sensible than writing so they can actually pay the bills AND have a life. I am all for financing that, particularly on days like this when I am wondering what on earth I am trying to do. I don’t sound bitter, do I? Good.
I would like to know how other writers deal with the occasional thanklessness and solitary nature of entrepreneurship, the highs and lows of the writer life and the brass tacks of making a living wage at what we are trained to do. I heard a down-and-out celebrity say that he forgot about the “business” in “show business.” When I started writing on my own I quickly realized I knew little about business ... and it showed. I’m still not fond of it ... and it shows. So many days I wish I had some other talent, some other calling, some other passion I can’t let go of – like physical therapy or investment banking, for example.
So writer friends, tell me how you make peace with all of this. Or maybe you are making money at all of this and have words of wisdom to share. Tell me if the ideal freelance situation is writing on the side for joy, where any success is a bonus/blessing and there is little pressure to make a living at it; if writing faithfully to build a platform and an on-ramp to the writer’s superhighway is the answer (directions, please); or if writing to find balance as a mother and making contributions where we can is enough. Should we banish the word "freelance" in favor of contractor, professional or my personal fave "goddess?" People would pay extra for that level of work, wouldn't they?
Or should we advise our youthful compatriots, like my mother did, to be something more sensible, like a nurse or an accountant, or find a sugar daddy to underwrite the cost of internet access and massages? My mother didn't suggest that option. (Does anyone else have a cramp between the shoulder blades from all of this trying so hard?)
Sure as shootin’ this will be the blog my husband actually reads!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Guest Post: Nancy Strauss-- How to Get Published in a Literary Magazine
By N. Strauss
Do you want to see your short stories, poetry, essays, or articles in print? (Remember print?) Here's what you should know about submitting your work to literary magazines.
Do your homework
Let's say you've written some unrhymed, unmetered poems, and you send them to a literary journal dedicated to traditional poetry forms. What do you really think will happen?
Don't submit your work at random and hope for the best. You'll only end up wasting the editors’ time and your own.
Do your homework and find magazines that publish the kind of stuff you're writing. You might even discover that your work fits into a particular niche that has dedicated journals. Writing haiku? Stories about the American South? Essays about race relations? There may well be a publication looking specifically for that.
There are directories of literary magazines that you can browse, such as the list published online by Poets & Writers. Such directories are a good starting point. Be sure that the information you're using is up-to-date: the literary publication landscape is changing rapidly.
Read and (yes) buy the journals
After doing this initial research, you should actually read the journals to which you're considering submitting. The work published by a journal reflects the editors' tastes. If you don't like the work published by a certain journal, chances are that the journal won't like your work either.
On the other hand, if you are reading a collection of stories that you love and notice on the acknowledgments page that three of those stories were previously published in The Kenyon Review, for example, that might mean that the editors of The Kenyon Review have tastes similar to your own.
Don't just carry a dozen journals into the Borders' café area, spill coffee on them, and then return them to the rack. Actually buy the journals. Many literary magazines are losing their funding right now, and it's important to support them. It's only fair if you're hoping that others will buy your work.
Follow submission guidelines
Check the submission guidelines of each literary journal before submitting to it. Tip: find out the relevant editor's name and address your submission to that editor.
In general, submissions should include a short cover letter of not more than one page, in which you briefly describe your submission and mention any relevant credentials (for example, if you have an MFA in creative writing, have previous publications, have won literary awards).
I have heard editors of literary journals say specifically that they do not want to read a lengthy description of the work or a pitch aimed at selling it to them. They can easily look at the work and form their own opinions. You do not have to tell them that your story is "like Rambo II meets The Sound of Music." Submitting a poem to a literary journal is not like submitting a screenplay to a Hollywood agent. In most cases, the magazine editors (or their interns) will actually read your work. So your cover letter can be brief and to the point.
As for formatting, look up some examples of standard manuscript format online. Creative formatting (colored paper, curly fonts, glitter glue, lipstick kisses) is likely to be seen as unprofessional. Your creativity should come through in the work itself.
Be patient
I recently attended a panel discussion where the editor of Poetry Magazine said that his journal receives 90,000 submissions a year.
Yes, 90,000. So if you send them your poems, don't expect an answer tomorrow.
In another panel discussion, the editor of a different literary journal criticized authors who send simultaneous submissions -- that is, they submit the same work to more than one magazine at once. He expressed frustration about investing significant time on an author's submission, only to discover that it was already being published elsewhere.
After the presentation ended, I heard a number of authors responding with frustration of their own. "Like we can afford to sit around and wait for nine months," one fiction writer complained.
"And what are the odds that two publications will accept the same piece at the same time?" another writer agreed. "If a piece gets accepted somewhere, you'll have time to withdraw your story from the other places you've submitted it."
You can form your own opinions about the practice of simultaneous submission. Just know that many editors frown on it.
While you're waiting for replies, keep writing, and -- importantly -- keep reading literary journals. It's your professional responsibility to keep up-to-date on what's happening in the literary world. It's also a professional courtesy to read other authors, just as you hope that others will read you.
Plus, it's good karma to support the future of literary journals. Some good karma might be just the little extra boost you need to get your literary career off the ground.
More about N. Strauss
N. Strauss is founder of Creative-Writing-Now.com, an online creative writing resource which provides creative writing ideas, support, and training to writers and poets at all stages in their writing lives. In addition to one of the largest collections of writing prompts on the Internet, Creative-Writing-Now.com offers free online writing courses, and step-by-step guides on how to write a story, novel, or poem.
Nancy Strauss will be joining the WM Freelance Connection team on August 29th. Look for her weekly posts every Sunday!
Do you want to see your short stories, poetry, essays, or articles in print? (Remember print?) Here's what you should know about submitting your work to literary magazines.
Do your homework
Let's say you've written some unrhymed, unmetered poems, and you send them to a literary journal dedicated to traditional poetry forms. What do you really think will happen?
Don't submit your work at random and hope for the best. You'll only end up wasting the editors’ time and your own.
Do your homework and find magazines that publish the kind of stuff you're writing. You might even discover that your work fits into a particular niche that has dedicated journals. Writing haiku? Stories about the American South? Essays about race relations? There may well be a publication looking specifically for that.
There are directories of literary magazines that you can browse, such as the list published online by Poets & Writers. Such directories are a good starting point. Be sure that the information you're using is up-to-date: the literary publication landscape is changing rapidly.
Read and (yes) buy the journals
After doing this initial research, you should actually read the journals to which you're considering submitting. The work published by a journal reflects the editors' tastes. If you don't like the work published by a certain journal, chances are that the journal won't like your work either.
On the other hand, if you are reading a collection of stories that you love and notice on the acknowledgments page that three of those stories were previously published in The Kenyon Review, for example, that might mean that the editors of The Kenyon Review have tastes similar to your own.
Don't just carry a dozen journals into the Borders' café area, spill coffee on them, and then return them to the rack. Actually buy the journals. Many literary magazines are losing their funding right now, and it's important to support them. It's only fair if you're hoping that others will buy your work.
Follow submission guidelines
Check the submission guidelines of each literary journal before submitting to it. Tip: find out the relevant editor's name and address your submission to that editor.
In general, submissions should include a short cover letter of not more than one page, in which you briefly describe your submission and mention any relevant credentials (for example, if you have an MFA in creative writing, have previous publications, have won literary awards).
I have heard editors of literary journals say specifically that they do not want to read a lengthy description of the work or a pitch aimed at selling it to them. They can easily look at the work and form their own opinions. You do not have to tell them that your story is "like Rambo II meets The Sound of Music." Submitting a poem to a literary journal is not like submitting a screenplay to a Hollywood agent. In most cases, the magazine editors (or their interns) will actually read your work. So your cover letter can be brief and to the point.
As for formatting, look up some examples of standard manuscript format online. Creative formatting (colored paper, curly fonts, glitter glue, lipstick kisses) is likely to be seen as unprofessional. Your creativity should come through in the work itself.
Be patient
I recently attended a panel discussion where the editor of Poetry Magazine said that his journal receives 90,000 submissions a year.
Yes, 90,000. So if you send them your poems, don't expect an answer tomorrow.
In another panel discussion, the editor of a different literary journal criticized authors who send simultaneous submissions -- that is, they submit the same work to more than one magazine at once. He expressed frustration about investing significant time on an author's submission, only to discover that it was already being published elsewhere.
After the presentation ended, I heard a number of authors responding with frustration of their own. "Like we can afford to sit around and wait for nine months," one fiction writer complained.
"And what are the odds that two publications will accept the same piece at the same time?" another writer agreed. "If a piece gets accepted somewhere, you'll have time to withdraw your story from the other places you've submitted it."
You can form your own opinions about the practice of simultaneous submission. Just know that many editors frown on it.
While you're waiting for replies, keep writing, and -- importantly -- keep reading literary journals. It's your professional responsibility to keep up-to-date on what's happening in the literary world. It's also a professional courtesy to read other authors, just as you hope that others will read you.
Plus, it's good karma to support the future of literary journals. Some good karma might be just the little extra boost you need to get your literary career off the ground.
More about N. Strauss
N. Strauss is founder of Creative-Writing-Now.com, an online creative writing resource which provides creative writing ideas, support, and training to writers and poets at all stages in their writing lives. In addition to one of the largest collections of writing prompts on the Internet, Creative-Writing-Now.com offers free online writing courses, and step-by-step guides on how to write a story, novel, or poem.
Nancy Strauss will be joining the WM Freelance Connection team on August 29th. Look for her weekly posts every Sunday!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
5 Ways for Writers to Make Networking Count
By Lindsay Woolman
These days you don’t have to do in-person networking to connect with people. So much can be done online and through social media marketing that potential clients can come from anywhere.
However, especially in the beginning of a freelance writing career, networking events are one of your greatest assets. You learn to talk about what you do and how you do it, you practice answering questions about your business, and even though you might not always come away with a prospect, your knowledge will expand.
There is a lot to be gained by putting yourself out there. When I go to networking events what overwhelmingly happens is I meet like-minded people. I have also found that there simply aren’t a lot of writers who go to networking events, so you tend to stand out in a good way. Here are some more good tips for writers to make their networking efforts worthwhile:
1. Try Out Different Events: In every city there are events going on during the day. It’s amazing to realize all of the opportunities out there. Going to say, one meeting per month, and getting out of your comfort zone can help you grow. Many events will cost money, but most allow guests to come free as a visitor. There are events with you local chamber of commerce, BNI, Toastmasters, Meetup.com, and even groups from Twitter and Linked in that meet in person. In Boise we have BYP, which stands for Boise Young Professionals. They often have meetings that allow networking and hearing interesting speakers (and it's less pricey than joining the Chamber).
2. Go Without Expectations: The time I went to a networking event and got the most business cards was when I simply went to practice my elevator speech. I knew prior to the meeting that everyone had to stand up and speak for a minute and I honestly just wanted to challenge myself. Apparently, something I said resonated and maybe my laid-back attitude because I came home with quite a few contacts who wanted me to follow up with them.
3. Don’t Jump Up and Leave: I have found that even if no one is talking to you, it’s important to spend a few moments just enjoying the atmosphere. You can smile and look around the room, admiring the people who are chatting together and often this will lead to a conversation with someone. There have been many times when I choose to stay longer at events (even though I could have left) and that was when I made a connection.
4. Don’t Give Business Cards to Everyone: I don’t know about you, but when I come home with a stack of random business cards and I can’t place names to faces, I probably won’t end up contacting any of those people. I’ve also been in at events where the exchange of business cards feels kind of awkward, like asking for someone’s phone number too quickly. I know I’ve been too eager to give you my card at times, forcing it over to people who probably didn’t want it anyway. What I’ll say is that if the exchange feels natural and comes after some conversation both people will feel more comfortable and you’ll make a better first impression.
5. Don’t Just Rely on Social Media: Despite what anyone tells you about social media marketing, the power of connecting in person cannot be replaced. It’s kind of like online dating. You might email someone back and forth and think you’re falling for the person, but then you meet and there’s no spark. Getting in front of people is where a lot of magic can happen. Looking into a person’s eyes, getting an impression of them, and watching their body language often tells you everything you need to know. So, get out there and show people that you are not just a writer, but a networker too.
Photo via Flickr user ricki88c
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Press Release Tips: How to Write a Press Release Effectively
By Alyssa Ast
A press release is essential in order to successfully market a product or service. As writers, we are often hired by clients to write press releases, but you can also write press releases for your own personal gain. For example, you can use a press release if you release a book or begin offering a new service to clients.
A press release is basically a mixture of an article and an ad. The point of a press release is to inform readers with accurate information to entice them to purchase or use your product or service. In order to create an effective press release, there are certain tips to use to enhance the appeal of the content within the press release.
Press Release Format
The exact press release format is up for debate, but basically the overall information remains unchanged. A press release needs to include:
- The release date; for example: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE and HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL
- An informative and intriguing headline
- Location and date
- The body of the press release
- Company or organization information
- Contact information
- Either the word count or ### to mark the end of the press release
Press Release Tips
There are 5 press release tips you must remember in order to write an effective press release. While there are other tips, these five are absolutely essential for the success of a press release.
- Keep it clear and concise.-- When writing a press releases, keep the content as informative as possible but avoid complex terms, which may be difficult for the average reader to comprehend. If the reader becomes confused reading the content they are less likely to become intrigued by the product or service.
- Make sure it is newsworthy.-- A common mistake many writers make when the write a press release is they make it sound like an advertisement. A press release is actually an announcement, not an advertisement. To ensure you keep the press release newsworthy, write in the third person.
- Make an impact.-- When you begin the press release, start it with a BANG! A press release with a strong start is more likely to entice readers to keep reading. Make sure you answer the questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how.
- Keep it to the point.-- Press releases need to be kept to the point as possible. Avoid stuffing the press release with fluff. Do not detour from the topic at hand. Avoid using many colorful and descriptive words.
- Make sure you know the facts.-- When writing a press release, to boost the credibility of the release and to promote the product or service, include strong facts. Make sure you have conducted the research and the facts are indeed facts and not the opinions of others. Backing your press release up with creditable facts will give you that strong edge you need to make the readers believe they need that product or service.
When creating a press release, you always need to keep the reader in mind. Place yourself in the readers shoes when you write. If it isn't intriguing to you, chances are it won't be intriguing to the reader. Write it so the reader knows what's in it for them to keep them interested.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Writing Opportunity: Thriving Family (Focus on the Family)
While hunting down writer's guidelines for my e-book, I came across Focus on the Family's magazine called Thriving Family.
Below are the guidelines sent to me via e-mail at my request. Good luck!
THRIVING FAMILY (FOCUS ON THE FAMILY)
Colorado Springs, CO – bimonthly
thrivingfamilysubmissions@family.org
Phone: 800-232-6459
Thriving Family focuses on marriage and parenting from a biblical perspective. Most articles address marriage and the needs of families with four- to 12-year-olds in the home, but parenting preschoolers and teens are not ignored. The magazine is divided into the following departments:
FAMILY STAGES: Think immediate and practical applications for parents of preschoolers, school-aged children, tweens and teens. Submit a 50- to 200-word practical family idea or one way you proactively and successfully trained your child to do something. Each article must include the ages of the children mentioned and can be written in first or third person, but must be a true-life experience. Payment is $50 on acceptance for first non-exclusive rights. Send the complete manuscript, and use “Family Stages” as your subject line.
FOR FUN: Humor articles showcase the dynamics of marriage, parenting and routine family life with a hilarious, enjoy-the-journey tone (no sarcasm).This true-life, funny narrative is written in first person and should be around 500 words. Payment is $175 on acceptance for first non-exclusive rights. Send the complete manuscript. Humor cannot be queried.
FAMILY FAITH & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT: No freelance articles are accepted for “Family Faith” or “Family Entertainment” at this time.
FEATURES: Thriving Family includes 1,200-2,000-word articles that include well-known personalities in the Christian world. See our magazine for examples. Query first. Payment begins at 25 cents per word.
FAMILY LIFE: The following areas accept freelance queries, and payment begins at 25 cents per word. Please query your topic and ideas before submitting a manuscript:
• For Him — This 450-word article written by a man offers insight into one marriage or parenting issue from a male perspective.
• For Her — This 450-word article written by a woman offers insight into one marriage or parenting issue from a female perspective.
• Blended Family — This 800-word article covers one aspect of family life that is intrinsic to and exclusively about the issues and concerns of blended families.
• Extended Family — This 450-word article shows families how to stay involved and active in relationships with close and distant relatives.
All articles should:
• Be topical, timely and accurate.
• Not use fictitious or hypothetical anecdotes or composite characters.
• Avoid frequent scriptural quotations—biblical concepts should be implicit.
• Avoid Christian jargon and clichés.
• Include sources for statistics, facts or research.
• Include contact information and verifications for anyone who is quoted within an article.
ONLINE MARRIAGE AND PARENTING ARTICLES: Thriving Family will have an online presence that accepts 800-1,200-word articles. Review our themes list for more details.
All emailed submissions and queries must be inserted within the body of an email. No attachments are accepted.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Writing for The Examiner: Why I Stopped, Started and Stopped Again.
By Pam Houghton
Last October, I started writing for the Examiner. After years of working and balancing home and family before a corporate lay-off, I figured I could share my experience as the Detroit Working Moms Examiner to help other harried, frazzled working moms maintain their sanity.
I could pretty much write whatever I wanted, as long as each article included 200 - 500 words. Mostly in third person, with references to my geographical location and a bit of SEO thrown in, two to three times a week.
I thought it would be fun, maybe a bit therapeutic, and I have to admit, I kinda' liked the instant gratification. You write, you publish, you're done! No testy editors or long, drawn-out waiting periods until you see your article in print. Or in this case, online.
Though I couldn't produce 2 - 3 articles a week, I did crank out 12 articles, all based on personal experience.
But after four months of writing, I couldn't think of anything else to say. To continue, I'd have to research, maybe interview a few folks - stuff that took time and was beginning to feel like work.
Which would have been fine, except I only got paid a penny per page view. Most articles I was lucky to get 100 views. Was $1.00 an article worth all that extra effort?
After mulling it over for a few milliseconds, I thought not. I let the column slip away to focus on other projects.
Six months went by. By then I figured I was done writing for pennies until a fellow Examiner informed me that she had acquired several high-paying freelance writing clients through her column.
Really?? People who needed writers contacted her? And peeps with deep pockets? My hopes lit up like sprinkle cupcakes. That could be me!
Call it coincidence, but I felt a couple more working mom topics welling up inside. Suddenly, I was churning out one after another. Or more accurately, one, then another. Then I stopped.
Did I exhaust my topics again? Or did I once again feel the futility of writing for, basically, free? I'm not sure. If the spirit moves, I'll write another column.
But if some fat cat client wants to hire me because of something I wrote for the Examiner? Let the big bucks roll in!
photo by arinas74/stock.xchng
Friday, August 6, 2010
The story behind the story
I have written a lot of feature stories and profiles over the years, which means I’ve done a lot of interviewing. This is one of my favorite things about writing. For a conversationalist like me, this can be a blessing and a curse.
I love meeting people and learning about what motivates them; how they got from point A to point B. I’m fascinated by life journeys. I suppose this is why biography is one of my favorite genres. Or maybe I’m just nosy about other people? Whatever the case, an effective interview is more about listening than talking. I find myself biting my tongue a lot. This has taken some discipline over the years!
These days, most of my work is done by telephone and email – I rarely meet my subjects as I did in the past. When you aren’t face-to-face you have to be even quieter than usual. The last thing you want to do is cut someone off when they are about to hand over the money quote.
The all-important visual cues are missing, too – and not just the interviewee’s expressions and demeanor. You can’t observe the subject in his or her natural environment. There aren’t accidental interruptions from the coworker offering a glimpse of the person’s daily workload. You can’t see the tchotchke behind the desk that ends up being a paper cartridge bullet from her great-great grandfather’s Civil War musket. You can’t discover that the breathtaking artwork hanging behind him was painted by the investment banker himself.
These interesting tidbits don’t come up in conversation but they can make great sidebars or completely rework your angle. You may have to ask some unconventional questions to bring out similar golden nuggets. Your subject has no idea what kind of information is compelling, but you do, and it can be the way you pose a question, tidbits from an Internet search, the things you are personally curious to know, or the backgrounder you obtained from their friends that makes all the difference. You have to be a private investigator, a student asking the most basic of questions, and Gladys Kravitz, Samantha’s nosy neighbor from Bewitched all rolled up in one.
I leave many interviews wishing I could visit with the subject more – and really be able to talk. I meet people who have accomplished some impressive things, people who have accumulated great wealth, and people who have gone out of their way to help others or start a movement because they believe in a cause. I feel privileged to meet them and tell their story and I hope that by introducing them to readers their energy can somehow be transferred like an electrical charge.
Oh sure, there are those interviews where I feel like I’m drawing blood from the turnip and those are the stories I usually forget about as soon as they are written. In most cases I’m affected in some way by having encountered the subject.
These people have followed their dreams or taken a risk that paid off. That's when I'm inspired to do more. Some people have lived lives of sacrifice in exchange for all they’ve gained. That’s when I’m okay with being a mom/writer with conservative goals and time for my family.
The proof of a good interview often lies in the resulting story, for the detail or the personality that jumps off the page. But after just about any interview, the writer can usually tell you an even better story off the record.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
How to Find More Story Ideas
By Carol Tice
(Carol is on vacation this week. This blog post is a reprint of a post that original ran in October 2009 on her writer site, caroltice.com, back when her blog was still called Start Freelance Writing. Enjoy!)
Other writers often ask me how it is that I always have so many story ideas. Back when I was a staffer and needed four story ideas a week, I often had a couple extra left over to give to other reporters.
Personally, I wish there was a brain operation I could get where I'd think of fewer of them, because it's a bit frustrating as I can never get to them all! But on the plus side, it means I always have a lot of ideas to pitch editors. '
In the current down economy with layoffs abounding, having a lot of story ideas is more important than ever. Magazines and newspapers that used to have suites full of editors have often dismantled those brain trusts, and they're looking to you – the freelance writer – to supply them with ideas.
It's a terrific strength if you can present yourself as someone who has a lot of ideas. Being an idea factory positions you well for getting regular assignments from your editor contacts instead of just sporadic work.
Do you have trouble finding story ideas? In general, you probably need to read more widely and talk to more people.
Try these tips:
1. Plug into local events. Be aware of what's going on in your town, and go to events when you can. Walk around, open your eyes, talk to people and see what's there. I went to a harvest fair on my island a few weeks ago and discovered a local resident has created a reproduction 1910 gypsy wagon she uses as a guesthouse – it's stunning, and I hope to sell the idea to a local shelter magazine. You never know when you'll see a new product or creative idea that could be turned into a story pitch. When you're socializing or at the gym, find out what people do – their hobbies and unusual vocations are prime story-idea fodder.
If you're going to a local event, be sure to ask local media if they need someone to cover it – you may make a few dollars while you're there looking for more ideas!
2. Track issues and controversies. Is your neighborhood up in arms about shoreline access, a sex offender who's moved in, or a planned new development? You may be able to cover these for local publications or use them as examples to illustrate a national trend for bigger pubs.
3. Where are they now. If you happen to know where someone is who was once in the limelight but has been out for a while, and they're doing something new and interesting now, that's a great story. Folks love to catch up with figures like these, so if you have access to one, pitch away.
4. How-to pieces. The Internet is bristling with these, and if you have some expertise you can get paid decently for them. Be sure to target high-circulation or high-readership markets.
5. What's missing. When you read the newspaper, do you find stories that raise more questions than they answer? Those missing facts are new story angles you could pick up and follow.
6. New products. If you discover a hot new product or fad that you can demonstrate has found a market, that's a great story to tell in business magazines, or maybe a women's or consumer magazine, or perhaps an industry trade publication. If a startup has gotten their product into a big national chain such as Wal-Mart or Nordstrom, that's a great story.
7. Recycle. Read lower-level publications for ideas that can be repurposed for bigger, better-paying markets, perhaps by adding more sources or a national expert for perspective. Association and charity newsletters, small-town newspapers and university magazines are all great places to find news that could play on a bigger stage. It also works in reverse – scan national publications for national trends you could "localize" for statewide, regional or local publications. Be a compulsive story scanner -- flip through every publication you can get your hands on.
8. Take the one-hour news challenge. If you have trouble finding ideas, you may need to sharpen your curiosity and your skills in getting people to talk to you and tell you their news. Try this exercise: Go to the center of your town, get out and walk around for one hour, with the goal of coming back with at least one story idea. Go in every shop and talk to the owners about what's going on, talk to customers, people outside eating lunch, and people you're waiting for the bus for. I had to do this once during a writer's retreat at my paper, and it was amazing how many stories we came back with after just one hour.
Let me know if this gave you any ideas for stories that you sold – I love success stories!
Photo via Flickr user alonbennett
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