Writing and Publishing News

It takes the same things it always has, only more of it. Skills appropriate to the genre/field. Knowledge of the medium you choose. A creative approach. Energy. Commitment. Persistence. Patience. Without these 7 attributes, you won’t get very far as an article-writer, short story writer or author. Those of you who are already involved in [...]

The October SPAWN Market Update will be posted in the member area of the SPAWN website within the next few days. This month, among other things, we feature a directory listing 400 publishers who have published first novels. Now that’s a valuable site to have, don’t you think—if you are in the process of writing [...]

Most unaware authors want an easy publishing option—a quick and painless way to produce the book of their dreams. And that’s where the pay-to-publish companies come in. Most of them have packages you can choose from, friendly representatives to work with you and/or easy-to-navigate do-it-yourself websites. Once he signs a contract with one of these [...]

It seems that the memo should have gone out to everyone who is writing a book and who has ever thought of writing a book—“The first step to a successful publishing experience is studying the publishing industry.” I’ve been vocalizing it and writing about it ever since the huge increase in publishing options. My colleagues [...]

Does it seem as though there are more and more magazines coming on the scene that don’t pay freelancers? And many of us are supporting this practice. Are you noticing that older magazines are using fewer submissions—relying more on staff? As some of you know, I supported myself from what I earned writing articles for [...]

In order to determine the potential for a product, you develop a business plan. The book proposal is a business plan for a book. Even before writing a book, there are certain things that you need to know. And this is true whether you’re writing a memoir, novel, children’s storybook, chapbook, historical, how-to, self-help or [...]

Yesterday, I told you that I would explain myself when I suggest that you study the publishing industry before getting involved. Those of you who published a book without learning something about the industry, your options, the possible consequences of your various choices and your responsibilities as a published author know what I am talking [...]

I’ve come to realize that there are many levels of writers with varying degrees of passion. Occasionally, I meet another working writer who has managed to carve out a writer’s living and lifestyle. Generally, they are freelancers and/or journalists and some of them have a one or more books. Some writers/authors have morphed into editors [...]

Do you submit articles or short stories as a method of promoting your nonfiction book or novel? Of course, the point of having your articles or stories published is to bring news of your book to your potential audience. It is a method of making your audience aware that your book exists and that you [...]

Where do books come from? A non-writer might ask this question. As a writer/author, you know that books come from ideas, imagination, dreams, inspiration, need… But books can also come from other types of writing—other mediums. I once wrote a book based on a conversation I overheard while in line at the grocery store. A [...]