Writing and Publishing News from

November 8, 2011

Writers Make Their Money From Other Writers

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 5:42 am

I heard this said a couple of times during an author seminar over the weekend. And it’s something I’ve been thinking about since. Yes, I, too, offer author services. Many of you have heard the story of my reluctance to work with other writers over the years, as I established myself as a credible author and freelance writer. But when I finally said “yes,” some twenty years later, I found that I was in my element—I love helping writers create better manuscripts, write better proposals and query letters, make better decisions on behalf of their projects and successfully promote their books. So I am one of, evidently, many writers/authors who earn a good part of my living helping other writers.

So what kind of work are writers doing for other writers? You have self-published authors publishing other people’s books, writers at all levels doing editing and consultations and many of them are also teaching. And people are coming from other professions to get in on the money authors are ready to spend. Marketing professionals are offering PR and media training for authors, for example. Teachers are doing editing. Graphic artists are designing book covers and computer literate people are doing page layout. Some individuals are also hanging out their literary agent shingles just because they can. Yes, these are generally the ones who charge for their services.

Writers make their money from other writers. Interesting concept and, yes, it certainly seems to ring true. There are few authors who make significant money by selling books. Even some of those with numerous published books actually make their living by hiring out to do speaking engagements, by running a PR company, by publishing other people’s books, etc. There are some writers who earn a living by freelancing for companies and/or writing articles for magazines and e-publications. But some of them also offer additional services such as manuscript consultations, coaching and webinars, and they sell things, such as books, mailing lists and reports.

More and more writing/publishing-related organizations are forming and a greater number of them are presenting conferences for writers and authors. The book and author event I attended over the weekend was the first one presented by a brand new organization. The organizer, however, has a lot of experience in the area of event-panning and it showed.

While some individuals who provide services are certainly qualified, there are others who produce one book or who have been teaching English for many years who jump on the bandwagon with little actual experience or knowledge of the book publishing industry. Some of them decide to become a book shepherd, editor, publisher, publicist or publishing consultant. And some of them can help to a degree, but they may not be experienced enough to produce the results you desire.

My hat is off to those enterprising writers/authors who can build successful businesses using their authentic skills and knowledge. Businesses, after all, often do evolve with time and experience.

If you plan to hire an editor (which is strongly recommended before you approach any publisher or agent with your manuscript), go with a “self-publishing” company, sign up for an online course, elicit the help of a coach, etc., do your homework. Check the individual’s background. Look at their collection of testimonials. Get samples and estimates from the service provider.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

November 7, 2011

Attain Greater Success as an Author. It’s Entirely Up to YOU!

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 7:14 am

Do you ever meet someone at a writers’ conference, book festival or writers’ club meeting, for example, who truly seems to be knowledgeable in areas of writing, publishing, book promotion and so forth? You chat with this person for a while, sign up for a free newsletter or e-booklet, pick up their brochure or card and walk away. You agree to contact this person if you have any questions. But you never follow through.

You set aside the brochure, neglect to even visit their website and, when the free newsletter or e-booklet arrives, you don’t take time to look it over. In the meantime, you fret and stress over what to do next with regard to your writing or publishing project.

You attended the meeting or event in hopes of learning something new or getting some direction. But you disregarded most of the information and guidance you received from some of the professionals you listened to or spoke with. You are stuck and unwilling to take the next step or to even to explore where the next step would actually take you.

I know that many of you reading this blog can relate. I meet many authors at local book festivals and other events and talk to them about their projects. Some of them are looking for an agent or a publisher. Others are trying to figure out how to promote their books. I take time to listen and to offer some insights, resources and even specific guidance. I also offer to respond to their emails should they have further questions.

Fast-forward three, six or twelve months. I’m at another book festival or speaking at a writers’ group meeting and I meet some of the same authors. Many of them are exactly where they were the last time we spoke—still stumbling around in their confusion, having made little or no progress. They are still trying to figure out how to find an agent or a publisher. They tossed aside the suggestions they were so eager to receive. They didn’t check out the resources. They haven’t moved one step closer to their goal—to be successfully published or to sell more copies of their books. Why?

I guess we just get too set in our ways. We don’t have it in us to stretch and grow—something that is so necessary anytime we want to reach another level of accomplishment in our lives. Sitting on dead center within your comfort zone does not cut it.

Here’s an example of what many of you are doing. I met a man at a Toastmasters event once who knew I wrote regularly (at that time) for The Toastmaster Magazine. Well, this Toastmaster came up to me and said, “I’ve been trying to get my article published in The Toastmaster Magazine. They keep rejecting it. Can you help me get it accepted?” I suggested that he send me the article to look at.

After seeing it, I said to him that the editors of this magazine want how-tos, not essays. I recommended that, if he wanted to be published in The Toastmaster, that he rewrite it to conform to the guidelines of the magazine. I even gave him a few specific ideas on how to do this.

A year or so later, I saw the man at another Toastmaster event and he came up to me to tell me that he still could not get his article published in The Toastmaster Magazine. I asked him if he had rewritten the piece to conform to their requirements. He said, “Well, no. But it’s a good article, why won’t they publish it?”

Do you see even a little bit of yourself in this scenario? Have you reached out to professionals and received suggestions that you just don’t want to follow? Do you have publishing goals, but you aren’t willing to do what it takes to achieve them? This is the story behind thousands and thousands of authors who do not succeed. They hope to fulfill their dreams without making any changes to their lifestyle and without stepping outside their comfort zone.

Don’t let this be you. If you are serious about engaging in a successful publishing venture, you’re going to have to do your part to make it happen. And this means, educate yourself about the publishing industry. Make informed decisions. Take reasonable risks. Stretch and grow.

I would love to hear from those of you who have made dramatic changes in order to accommodate your desire for publishing success. Have you overcome your fear of public speaking, learned how to appropriately approach agents/publishers, worked through your distaste for promotion, etc? What has made the difference for you?

If you need additional information and resources, be sure to consider reading some of my wide array of books on publishing and book promotion. They’re all at Amazon.com. You can also purchase them at http://www.matilijapress.com>

November 6, 2011

Authors MUST Hone Their Research Skills

Filed under: Authorship,Research — Patricia @ 6:10 am

We talk every once in a while in this column about research. I often meet authors who claim they did tons of research during the writing of their nonfiction book or novel. However, when it comes to finding a publisher, an agent, a printer, a publicist or book review opportunities, for example, they are at a loss as to how to proceed.

Authors come to me with all sorts of questions that may take me a scant few minutes to answer. Sure, I have the advantage of knowing where to look, in some cases, or who to ask. But very often, I simply do an Internet search to locate directories of publishers for young adult books, a couple of magazines that publish vampire stories, an editor who lives in the northwest, a couple of writers’ conferences in Arizona, etc.

When I get questions like these from authors who have written books that require careful and diligent research, I begin to doubt the validity of their material. Did they actually do a thorough enough check on each battle they describe in their historical novel? Or did they use one source—an obscure book they found in a used bookstore or in their grandfather’s library? Did they use a style manual to determine whether certain titles should be capitalized and when? Did they reference the latest material when compiling their nonfiction book? Did they use several references for fact-checking?

If the author was thorough in researching his book, he should be skilled at determining which pay-to-publish companies have the fewest complaints lodged against them, locating speaking opportunities for promoting the book, connecting with other authors of similar books and so forth.

I can only guess that some authors look at the research necessary during the writing of a novel or nonfiction book in an entirely different light than they do other types of research. And that’s a shame. Research should be viewed as research—the exploration into facts and data related to a particular topic. The topic might be the earliest use of thimbles for sewing and include the types of material used in making thimbles over the years, whether thimbles are still being used and by whom, etc. You might be writing about dog grooming and need to research the different types of dog fur and the various grooming tools needed for each. Or you may need to learn something about gardening in Alaska for a chapter in your book. And most authors seem to be able to handle this type of research.

So why do they fall short or lose confidence when they need to find someone to design their book cover, they want to connect with a book shepherd or they want to know the basics of establishing their own publishing company?

Perhaps the answer to this question relates to the magnitude and scope of today’s publishing industry. It is so vast and complex that authors don’t know where to turn—which avenue to take. A simple search for publishers, for example, produces so many choices it can become quite overwhelming for the author. And, in fact, contacting someone like me to ask about a publisher for a certain type of manuscript, is a form of research.

Still, I urge and encourage authors and other writers to hone their research skills and actively use them when they have a question about some aspect of publishing or want to connect with someone to help them with editing, cover design, book promotion, etc.

Successful Book Event
SPAWN had a booth at the Ventura County Book and Author Fair yesterday in Camarillo. It was a most successful event. While I spoke with other authors who did not sell many (or any) books, I had a great bookselling day. I talked to dozens of new and hopeful authors about SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). Several signed up for our free enewsletter. http://www.spawn.org We got one new member! And I have quite a list of sign-ups for a free manuscript evaluation. I especially enjoyed seeing and chatting with old friends, clients and colleagues. And I was able to collect information for a few authors who have been searching for specific services and connections. Networking! It’s part of researching, after all.

My newest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author was a big hit. I sold out of copies. Authors and hopeful authors are recognizing the value in this book and many of them are purchasing it early—before they start the process of book promotion—so they can adequately prepare.

Order yours copy of Promote Your Book NOW at amazon.com or here: http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html (Caps in the title are necessary.)

November 4, 2011

10 Ideas for Author Bloggers

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 3:53 am

Authors contemplating a new blog are often stopped because they just aren’t sure they can come up with enough material to share. They have a few initial post ideas. But beyond that, they are stumped—blocked. They can’t imagine producing something worth publishing every day or even once a week. And some don’t. You’ve probably visited blogs where the most recent post was in October of 2010 or even 2008.

Here are some ideas for your blog:
• Share the back story of your book—how you came to write it, for example. This could cover at least a week’s worth of posts. Invite others to share their stories and you’ve greatly expanded your material.

• Talk about the writing experience. You could have something new to say on this topic practically every day if you go into your writing style, why you chose it and how it works for you; what inspires you; what inspires other authors you know; how you manage your writing time; what helps you overcome writers block and so forth.

• Provide information related to the topic of your book. If you’ve written a novel or children’s book, pull themes from your story to expand on in your blog posts. If your book is nonfiction, you should have numerous avenues you could explore with your blog followers.

• Use excerpts from your book. Actually publish sections from your book.

• Write how-tos: How to flesh out your characters, how to approach a publisher, how to choose fabrics for your quilt, how to groom a terrier, etc.

• Share resources related to the theme of your book. Yesterday, I offered links to online critique group sites. I’ve also provided links to book reviewers, publishers, magazines seeking articles/stories and much more.

• Keep up with the news on your topic and give reports through your blog.

• Invite guest bloggers to fill space in your blog.

• Give your opinion on topics of interest to your followers. Write editorials or essays on the state of the publishing industry, the popularity of the Kindle, the use of certain words in the English language, the price of ebooks, etc.

• Interview others in your field or genre.

As you can see, a blog is whatever you want to make it. But you’d better tune into your audience so that what you bring to the table is what they want served to them. Just keep putting yourself in the shoes of your readers and you should be able to entertain and inform them quite adequately through your blog.

FYI, I’m Patricia Fry. You can learn more about me, my books and my services here:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

October 29, 2011

Are You a Professional Working Out of Your Home?

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 5:24 am

Do you consider yourself a professional writer? Are you writing articles/stories for money? Do you have one of more books to promote? Are you offering editorial or some other service to writers/authors? Or are you in the process of writing and publishing your first book?

Most likely, you work out of your home. You’ve created an office or setup a corner of a room where you conduct your work. Most of us do, these days. And most of us start out feeling a little less than professional since we work from a spare room or a sectioned-off portion of our garage right there in our home.

How does someone come across as professional when they work from home? Here are a few suggestions:
• Have a separate telephone line for your business and answer it as you would if you were working for a company downtown—“Hello, this is Diane at Teddy Bear Publishing…” or “Amy’s Editorial Services, how may I help you?”

• If your business relies on customers or clients, keep regular hours when you will be available by phone or email. You might also consider this policy if you are producing a book and working with a printer, cover designer, etc.

A benefit of working at home, however, is the freedom to come and go as you please. And when your business has little to do the public, it’s easier to take a day off during the middle of the week, entertain out of town guests and drop everything to take a friend to the airport. However, there are still basics you can follow to maintain your professional persona. For example:

When someone calls or emails you to ask for some information or for a smidge of your time, avoid saying, “I have to get my nails done today (clean out the garage, buy a new dishwasher, babysit for my nephew), so I can’t do that until tomorrow.” Say, instead, “I’d be happy to take care of that for you, can I get back to you tomorrow around noon?”

Sure, you may be getting your nails done, cleaning the garage of going shopping, but your client, customer, or colleague doesn’t have to know this. Let him or her imagine that you are swamped with publishing, writing, editing or promotional work and can’t possibly consider their request at this moment.

What are some of the other things you do to maintain your professional persona?

October 27, 2011

All About the Author’s Platform

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:56 am

I just found out that my book, Promote Your Book, is on the Barnes and Noble Nook. AND, it has risen in rank at Amazon to a respectable spot, this morning.

Do you keep an eye on the Internet to learn who’s talking about your book, where it’s listed for sale, where your articles are appearing, etc? Searching your name on the Internet (or the title of your book) can be like opening gifts Christmas morning. And it can be telling. If you find nothing new in your search and if your numbers at Amazon aren’t changing, except to get higher and higher, perhaps you need to step up your promotional efforts.

Along with my own name and books, I often check on those of my clients, as well as my colleagues. I keep an eye on what my colleagues are doing in case there’s something additional I could be doing—approaching a particular reviewer, interviewer or blogger, for example. I tap into what my clients are doing in case there’s something more I could suggest to help them get more exposure and make more sales.

Unfortunately, few of my clients have high profile images throughout the Internet. They are doing little or nothing to get noticed, thus, they are not selling books. Some of them are writing a second book—why, I don’t know. If they aren’t interested in promoting their books, they aren’t going to entice many readers for the second book. So I wonder—what’s the point?

Some authors are waiting for a big break with a publisher. But I can tell you it won’t happen if you aren’t willing to build a platform and put effort toward promoting your book. Publishers certainly will pick up books that are previously published, but only if they are showing signs of success.

If you are a new or struggling author, you might want to consider bumping up your chances of publishing success by signing up for my online course on how to establish and build on your platform (your connections—your following—your way of attracting readers). Many authors don’t realize what they have going for them. They don’t know how to use what they already have in order to promote themselves to publishers or to promote their books to potential customers. This course is designed to help you discover and build on your attributes and add to them. Learn more here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_platform.htm

This might be the best $150 you’ll spend all year toward the success of your novel or nonfiction book.

October 26, 2011

Why Praise Your Favorite Author

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 5:05 am

How nice it is to hear from a customer who is using one of your books. I received such an email yesterday. The author said that it was five years ago when she won a copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book in a drawing and that she has read it numerous times and has used it to successfully produce a children’s book. She wrote in order to thank me for writing such a useful book for authors.

Nice!

Are you collecting testimonials, customer comments/reviews and so forth? Do you know what to do with them when you receive them? First, you want to thank the individual for taking the time to comment. What a rare gift. It is so atypical of us to go out of our way to offer such feedback. We can only hope that the satisfied customer is telling others about your wonderful book, even if he doesn’t think to reach out and give you the praise.

There are ways to initiate comments. If you have a customer list and you contact those customers from time to time with announcements, news, information or, perhaps, a regular newsletter, you just may receive a comment occasionally.

Post these comments at your website. Use them in your promotional material. Include them on your testimonials pages in the reprint of your book. Do not publish the name of the individual without permission.

On the other side of the coin, do you contact authors of books you find of particular value in your studies or that you have enjoyed reading? It’s a good habit to get into. Consider it your way of giving back or your contribution to encouraging this author to keep writing.

If you think your positive comment doesn’t mean anything, this is something you should reconsider. Feedback to an author is like a breeze to a sailor. It’s encouragement. It’s what keeps them going. Readers are vital to an author’s career. Without readers, an author has no purpose. And knowing those readers are out there and that your words are touching them in some way is terribly important to an author.

This week, I’d like to urge you to send a note of praise to some of your favorite authors. Believe me, you will feel almost as good to be giving as the author does when he receives your praise.

If you’ve read my book, Promote Your Book, you can leave your positive comments at the book’s Amazon page. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia
If you haven’t ordered your copy in print or on Kindle, yet, this is the place to do so. The print version can also be ordered at IndieBound and B&N.com as well as at the following sites:

http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html

http://www.allworth.com/Promote_Your_Book_p/1-58115-857-1.htm

October 22, 2011

How to Cure Book Promotion Burnout

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:37 am

It can happen. In fact, for some authors, it happens much too soon. They get their book on Amazon, have a book launch party, arrange for a signing or two, get a few friends to post reviews or announcements in their newsletters and then disappointment sets in.

Book sales aren’t anywhere near what you expected, your efforts seem to be for naught and you don’t know how to change this downward spiral pattern.

How, indeed? By doing something different. By learning more about the whole process of publishing and book promotion so that you understand what your next step should be and why. Oh, it is unlikely that you will find a book or a book coach that will tell you exactly what to do next. But, if you are astute, if you do your homework and if you are willing to try something new, you will, most likely, discover some new tools and ideas resulting in a renewed interest in your book.

So many authors firmly believe that just because they produce a book, people will buy it. And this just simply isn’t true. Sure, you’ll make a few easy sales out the gate. But most of your sales are going to feel like pulling teeth from a cantankerous walrus that hasn’t been sedated. You will very soon become disappointed, tired and disillusioned with the whole difficult process. You’ll dream of going back to your writing; but how can you justify spending your days doing what you love when you can’t sell what you write?

If you see yourself in these scenarios, I recommend that you get help NOW. I happen to have just the help you need.

1: If you are new to publishing and you don’t, yet, understand much about the publishing industry and how it works, purchase my book: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I wrote this book expressly for YOU. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

2: Whether you are still writing your book or you are in the process of promoting it, order my newest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://www.matilijapress.com/PromoteYourBook.html or order the print of Kindle version here: http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

3: If you have been trying to promote your book and it isn’t going well, you might benefit by reading my ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit, Heal Your Publishing Mistakes and Breathe New Life Into Your Book. It’s only $5.95. http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html

If you have a question about publishing or book promotion, contact me personally: PLFry620@yahoo.com

October 20, 2011

Write What They Want

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 6:27 am

Recently, I was reviewing an article for publication and I came across this meaningful message: “Write What They Want.”

Whether you aspire to be a freelance writer or you’re writing a book for publication, you won’t get very far in your pursuit if you think only of yourself and what you want to write. You’ve heard (read) me say it before—write for your audience. If you publish a book without having identified and located your target audience, you may find yourself stuck with books you can’t sell. If you didn’t consider your potential readers throughout the writing process to make sure you were actually speaking to your audience, you might soon discover that you have a book on your hands that only you appreciate.

If you are trying to support yourself through freelance work (magazine articles, piecework for companies, etc.), you have to go where the paying work is and accept the jobs that are available. While I never compromised my values in order to get paying work, I have certainly had to take some challenging and sometimes not very interesting jobs in order to keep the flow of money coming my way.

I prefer writing books, editing interesting manuscripts for clients and presenting workshops. But, in order to continue paying the bills, I’ve also written copy for local water companies, I’ve written articles on boring topics and I once wrote a sixteen-chapter book in three weeks for a client.

I’ve seen too many writers so bent on making their own personal statement or doing things their way that they get nowhere in this business. If you want to make a living or even earn some part-time money as a writer, you have to go where the work is and write what is needed/wanted.

It takes more to become a full-time writer or a successful author than just dreaming about it. Your number one focus should be on your audience. What can you bring to the table that they need or want? How can you make their life easier, more enjoyable, more successful?

Concentrate on your audience and you might soon discover a shift in your freelance business or an increase in interest in your book.

To learn more about promoting your book to your audience, order my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia

October 19, 2011

Tips For Hiring an Editor and Other Author Helpers

Filed under: Authorship,Editing — Patricia @ 6:42 am

Many writers, authors and marketing people, in recent years, have entered into the business of helping authors. Some of us, of course, have been working within the industry for a long time. But with the shaky economy and the huge new wave of authors coming on scene, more and more people without a lot of experience are offering various services to new authors.

There are book shepherds, writing coaches, editorial assistants, marketing/publicity people and ghostwriters, for example. Even traditional publishing houses are setting up self-publishing arms in order to help authors become published. There are fewer and fewer reasons for authors not to publish these days and more and more reasons why they can.

Before you sign with an editor, publicity manager, publishing consultant or other author’s helper, make sure that it is a good match. For example,

• How do you know this person? If he or she has been recommended, if you have been following this person’s career for a while, if you’re impressed by the material this person creates on the topic, he or she may be worth pursuing.

• Get an example and an estimate before signing with a new editor, ghostwriter and even publishing consultant. But remember, less isn’t always better. I had a hopeful author contact me once about editing her book. I gave her a quote. She decided to get quotes from others—which isn’t a bad idea, if you also check credentials. But the editor she chose for her manuscript quoted something like $300 to my $1,500 to edit her 200 page manuscript—which, by the way, needed quite a bit of work. She boasted to me that the “editor” could do the job in just a couple of hours, as opposed to my estimate of around 30 hours. Well, this author came back to me a few weeks later to tell me what a huge mistake she had made. She spent $300 for nothing more than a quick automatic spellcheck. Yes, there are scammers out to get even the hardworking, serious, diligent author. So beware. You will usually get what you pay for.

• Ask for references. Also check out the comments/testimonials posted at the individual’s website.

• Don’t necessarily trust lists of qualified, reliable book shepherds, etc. Why? Many of them require payment in order to be included—a fee is the criteria for inclusion, not qualifications.

If you are currently seeking an editor or someone to help you with your book proposal, consider contacting me: PLFry620@yahoo.com. I have references. You’ll find numerous testimonials on my websites. And I will provide a free evaluation and estimate for editing work.

One thing I do NOT want you to do is to go out and seek a publisher or engage a pay-to-publish service without first hiring an editor. The results could be disastrous.

Special offer for my blog followers: Send me your first three to five manuscript pages and I will do a FREE edit for you. What will this prove? You’ll discover whether or not you like my editing style. This may also give you some guidelines for doing some serious self-editing before you actually send your manuscript to a qualified editor. This can save you money.

Learn more about me and my work here: http://www.patriciafry.com Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com

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