Writing and Publishing News from

October 3, 2012

Communication Then and Now

Filed under: Uncategorized — Patricia @ 5:07 am

I have an unusual job this morning. A magazine editor contacted me yesterday and asked if I would update an article I wrote for him in 1997. The article has some tips for staying connected with your long-distance grandchildren. Since technology has changed in the last 15 years, they will need a revision before publishing that piece again.

Speaking of technology, I had an email conversation with a friend this week about using wireless services when traveling. Most hotels and motels—even bed and breakfast establishments, etc.—offer free wi-fi. But the hotel where I stayed in San Antonio did not. There was a daily charge. I learned that if I joined their hotel membership program, however, all charges were dropped. The membership is free. There are other benefits as well—some of which I hope to use at some point in my travels.

My friend mentioned that she needed to be hooked-up while traveling to her computer, Iphone and Ipad. I was surprised that someone needed all of these things when traveling. I carried my computer this trip and my cell phone, camera and Kindle and that was almost electronic overload, when you consider all of the plug ins, battery chargers, etc. But she had even more gadgets and evidently has different uses in her business for the different communication devices. She lost me in the explanation of it all.

Remember when we could travel with a small purse (for women) and maybe a newspaper in hand for men? And you dressed for the trip—no shorts, sweats, tanks, flip flops or even jeans. You simply walked into even a busy airport a few minutes before your flight, strolled directly to your gate, got on the plane and flew away. While in the air, you were served a meal—as I recall, at no extra charge. And the flight attendant spiel did not include mention of electronic devices.

Yes, I’ll have quite a few changes to make to my 1997 article on how grandparents communicate with their long-distance grandchildren when I work on that article this afternoon. But first, I have to check email in 3 different places, check cell phone messages to see what time my daughter wants to walk this morning and email my mom in the next city to make sure she is doing okay this morning. I could go on facebook to see what my own grandchildren are up to this week—one just got back from Florida, another is heading for Tahoe for his wedding anniversary, another one is scheduled to fly his plane in a competition and I’d like to learn whether one got the job she was applying for.

How long does it take you to check all of your electronic devices each day? How much time do you spend in communication mode using electronics? I’d probably be surprised by your responses.

I have a couple of editing jobs coming in. But they won’t take long in case you need help with your manuscript. Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com. I’ll give you a free editorial evaluation and sample edit.

October 2, 2012

Submit and Score

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:53 am

Do you subscribe to newsletters related to the theme or genre of your book? Perhaps you belong to an organization that produces a monthly newsletter. First, I’d like to suggest that you read it religiously. And I also recommend that you contribute to it, if this is an option.

Most editors who write/compile newsletters are hungry for contributions. You should be eager to put your name out in front of your audience as often as possible. Now isn’t that a win-win situation for everyone?

But so many authors don’t think about writing articles as a way to promote their books. And few see their favorite newsletters and enewsletters as opportunities to reach their readers. Here’s your assignment for today:

1: Take inventory of all of the newsletters (including enewsletters, of course) that you subscribe to and/or receive. If you aren’t getting newsletters related to your book’s theme or genre, start seeking some out and subscribe. Many are FREE, such as SPAWNews, the monthly enewsletter for SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network).

2: Study those newsletters from front to back and determine what type of articles are used, the basic word count, the style and focus of the articles, etc.

3: Determine what is missing that you could contribute and begin formulating a few articles.

4: Study the submission guidelines. If you can’t find them at the website or in the newsletters, contact the editor and ask about the deadline, where to send the article, word count, etc.

5: Write the piece to conform and send it before the deadline.

6: Include your name, title of your book and your website in the byline at the end of the article.

But this should not be the end of the story. Put on your thinking cap and come up with additional ideas for articles and keep submitting them to appropriate newsletters, enewsletters, websites, bulletins, magazines and so forth. You will become known in your field, genre. You will sell books that you would not otherwise sell. You will develop material for your website. You will come up with new ideas for articles and books.

I’d love to hear from those of you who take this advice.

Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com
Visit my book showcase: http://www.matilijapress.com

Check out my editorial services: http://www.patriciafry.com

October 1, 2012

Why Do You Need an Editor?

Filed under: Editing — Patricia @ 5:14 am

What do you expect to pay for editing and what do you expect to get for your money?

How many of you have ever seen a cute craft or bakery item somewhere for sale and said, “Oh, I could make one of those?” You devalue the work that went into the item because you believe you could duplicate it, thus you don’t think it is worth the amount they are asking.

Of course, you never get around to making it, do you now?

Some people devalue the art and craft of writing simply because this is something everyone can do. They don’t feel they should have to pay for writing work or editing. And they can often find someone who will do the work for free or very cheap. Sometimes a friend who is a prolific reader will offer to edit a manuscript for the pleasure of being the first to read it. A family member who has a way with words might agree to do the editing for free or for a small fee. A creative neighbor might throw together a promotional brochure for the practice or to enhance his portfolio.

Sure, you can get writing and editing work done for free or practically free. But beware—if this person isn’t accustomed to editing book manuscripts, you may not be getting the value you desire.

A woman once came to me for an editing quote. She didn’t like my fees. If she didn’t like my fees, she wouldn’t like any professional editor’s fees. She was not of a mindset to pay even a reasonable price for the work she needed done.

She thanked me for my estimate and went on her merry way. A few weeks later, she contacted me and said, “You know, you really ought to change your way of charging. I found someone who will edit my 200-page book in four hours for $400.”

I explained to her that this is unrealistic. No one can even read a book for pleasure in four hours. That’s fifty pages an hour.

Several weeks later, she emailed me and said that I was right to warn her—that as it turned out, all the “editor” did was run her manuscript through his computer spellcheck and call it good.

Folks, do not skimp on editing. If you are writing a book, start saving now so that you are prepared to pay the $800 to $3,000 (or more) for the editing work your manuscript requires. I can’t tell you how many authors I meet who are great storytellers or they have a creative way of stringing together words and phrases or they know how to organize a how-to or informational book, but who desperately need an editor. They may use a lot of run-on sentences. They may have a muddy way of writing. They may not know how to use dialog so it works. Some of them are confused about paragraph breaks. There are those who try to tell a story rather than show it. Some have lost the flow of their story halfway through. Some are inconsistent in the way they present their characters or the story. Many of them don’t know how to use the apostrophe correctly. Several of my clients need help Americanizing their manuscripts—English is their second language.

These are just some of the things an editor can help with. If you don’t know where the problems are in your writing, turn your manuscript over to a book manuscript editor who will give you a free sample edit, an evaluation and an estimate. You’ll learn volumes about what your manuscript needs.

Questions: PLFry620@yahoo.com
For more about me and my editing work: http://www.patriciafry.com

For my showcase of books for writers and authors: http://www.matilijapress.com

September 30, 2012

Open Up to Experiences and Enhance Your Writing

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 7:10 am

I’m back from my vacation feeling more worn out than when I left. I’ve come to the conclusion that travel exhaustion is just different from work exhaustion. And it’s good to get vacation tired occasionally as a break from work-related tired. Does this make sense or am I losing it?

When I left for San Antonio last week, I was seeking relief from the mental stress of my day-to-day work and life-sustaining activities—you know, eating healthy, walking daily, keeping up with obligations, enjoying friends/family, etc. Now, I am eager to return to the life I’ve carved out for myself and leave the stress of travel behind. It is refreshing to leave the house in the morning and know where you are going—no more maps to figure out, no discussions about the days plans, no more decisions about where to eat, no concerns about what to wear and what to carry for a day of sightseeing in a strange place.

All I can say is that I had a great time doing the San Antonio river walk, and I am ready to dive back into my work—well, after a little adjustment to the time difference and the pace.

So did I come back renewed and with some new perspectives and information that I can use in my work—in my life? Certainly. Not sure what, yet. But you will be among the first to receive any tidbits of wisdom or perceptions I brought home as I often share such things in this blog.

One thing I know is that everyone else in the world carries on with their lives even when you are on holiday. So while you are traveling or sightseeing, there are hundreds of people doing their jobs and you have the opportunity to connect with many more skilled, service, helping, etc. people that you might not otherwise meet. And, whether you know it at the time or not, many of them make some sort of impression on you. And some of them can actually help you with your writing—either through what they taught you or shared with you or how they affected you or touched you. The experiences we have, no matter where we are or what we’re doing, have an impact on us as people as well as writers. Sometimes this is obvious to us and other times we may not even know (or remember) that it was the waiter in the hotel dining room or the tour boat guide or the gardener at the zoo who gave us something of value we can use in our lives or in our writing.

My message today—as weary as I am on my first day at home—is go after the experience. Open up to people and situations and relish the jewels that may result.

In the meantime, I know that some of you are still struggling within the publishing or writing realm You are trying to write a book or you are ready to publish and do not know where to start. Please stop—step back and educate yourself before diving into this highly competitive field. You will be so glad you did.

You’ve already started the process by reading this blog—be sure to spend some time in my archives. Oh my, you will find some amazing information and resources. Then order and read my book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It should be your first responder and your most trusted guide through the tangled publishing maze. Order it at Amazon.com in print or Kindle or at most any online or downtown bookstore. You can also order it at my website: http://www.matilijapress.com

Contact me personally: PLFry620@yahoo.com

September 29, 2012

3 More Tips for Starting Your Writing Career

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 2:52 am

I hope that those of you with a desire to write for a living or to supplement your income, studied the three tips I offered a couple of days ago. They may seem simplistic, but if you want to be a writer and it is not happening for you, perhaps you need to pay serious attention to those three tips. And here are three more:

4: Use your time wisely. Becoming a successful freelance writer takes discipline and realistic scheduling. Failure comes to those who procrastinate, who have trouble prioritizing tasks and who are easily distracted. Those who succeed in this business have found a way to organize their lives and discipline themselves.

5: Just start. It isn’t easy to transition from full-time office worker to full-time writer. Most of us don’t have the funds to support us while we build a new business. I didn’t always have 12 or even 8 hours each day to spend working my freelance writing business. I built it over time. For any of you who are interested, here is my story:

I started writing articles for magazines from a corner of my bedroom using a manual typewriter in 1973. Thirteen years later, however, it became necessary for me to take a full-time job. I’d just spent 5 years researching and writing a comprehensive local history book and self-publishing it. So funds were low and my lifestyle was in transition.

How I missed writing. While I had a good job with lovely people around me, I hated working for someone else—on someone else’s agenda. And it looked as if this would be my future. I became despondent. That’s when I realized that I had to find a way to write no matter what else was going on in my life.

I started getting up at 4 every morning and writing before I went to work. Then I would write on weekends. I completed an entire book in 8 months on that schedule. I can’t even begin to describe how happy and fulfilled I felt. But I wanted more. I wanted to come home and establish a writing business that supported me spiritually as well as financially. So I began using that time in the wee hours of the morning to submit articles to magazines—remember, this was before the ease of the Internet. Within a year, I was able to quit my job and come home to write. And I’ve never looked back.

6: Write what they want. 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’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. Write about things that are current, popular or even a bit provocative or controversial.

It takes more to become a full-time writer than just dreaming about it. If writing full-time is your dream, read and reread the six points I’ve offered and use them to finally fulfill your passion.

Read my book, A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles. Available here for $6.50
http://www.matilijapress.com

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 27, 2012

3 Tips That Will Jumpstart Your Writing Career

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:16 am

Would you like to establish a career as a freelance writer? Do you dream of writing full-time? Follow the suggestions below and your dream could become a reality. Here are three tips to help you break through the barriers that are keeping you from pursuing your dream. (I’ll post 3 additional tips within the next few days.)

1: Spend time writing whether it is convenient to do so or not. Your routine is important to you. In fact, it probably represents your comfort zone. To step outside of this zone, even to pursue something you want to do, often causes some discomfort. You have choices. You can give up your dream of writing or try easing into the writing realm. How? Make writing a priority and you will find the time.

2: Make time to write. Usually this means making some sacrifices. What are you willing to give up in order to write? Sleep, TV, Internet surfing or perhaps overtime at work?
Get up an hour earlier or stay up an hour later and spend this time writing. Turn off the TV more often. What may feel like a sacrifice at first, will become part of your new writing routine. If writing is your passion, you will soon feel blessed to have the time to write rather than feeling deprived of time in front of the TV.

3: Be realistic about your writing choices. Perhaps your true dream is to support yourself by writing stories for your favorite romance magazines. Or maybe you’d like to become a novelist. It is extremely difficult to break in as a career writer of fiction. If fiction is your writing bag, I strongly urge you to set that dream aside for now and pursue a mode of writing that is more likely to produce the monetary results you are seeking.

Here’s what I recommend: start writing articles for magazines, seek freelance writing work in corporate offices or on the Internet or produce some how-to booklets on topics related to your expertise, for example.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 25, 2012

A Respite From Writing

Filed under: Uncategorized — Patricia @ 4:54 am

I’m traveling this week with my junior high girlfriend—yes, we’ve been friends since 8th grade and we’ve had many adventures together. We’ve shared the passages of our lives. And I’ve used some of our stories in my writings—probably not so she would recognize them, however, because generally I just extract various attitudes, perspectives, impressions and lessons from them.

I’m sure that you do this in your writing. You have learned a lot over the years from some of your experiences. Whether you know it or not, you use phrases, points, ideas and even entire storylines from your life events and activities and lessons.

The next time you balk at taking time off from your writing or you feel neglectful because you do, consider all that you could ultimately bring back to your writing.

• A fresh outlook—renewed energy.
• New ideas and storylines for your fiction or nonfiction work.
• Unique phrases and points of view from those you meet.

If I discuss writing or publishing with a stranger, for example, I often walk away with a new blog post, article or even book in mind. When I’m doing a book festival or I’m out speaking to authors, I carry a pen and pad to jot down all of the ideas that occur to me from audience questions, discussions with authors, etc.

I have several more days of travel and adventure here in San Antonio and I’m eager to see what might inspire new writings when I get home.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 24, 2012

Is it Ever Too Early to Start Promoting Your Book?

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:52 am

Some people try to keep their book a secret until after it’s published. Authors do this because they may be embarrassed to tell anyone they are writing a book. What if they can’t actually finish it? What if the book doesn’t turn out as they envision? What if they never get it published?

Others are afraid someone might steal their idea and produce a book on their subject or the theme of their novel or children’s book. They want to be the first (and only) to publish a book like this.

I can see where these authors are coming from. But I also believe that these attitudes can get in the way of a successful book project. We need to be talking about our books in progress—letting friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues, coworkers, strangers know that we’re coming out with a book that will help them get a better night’s sleep, decorate on a budget, or get along better with employers, for example. We should be priming readers for our amazing romantic mystery, adventure novel or children’s activity book.

Don’t you know that your job as a book promoter will be easier if your audience already knows something about your book when you approach them with your promo material? If they’ve been waiting for it, they may buy it as soon as it comes out. It’s those people who never heard of you or your book who will need to be convinced to even consider buying it. The thing is, if you wait until your book is a book to start talking about it, promotion will be much harder and take much more effort and time.

So there’s a lot to be said for taking a risk and talking about your book, even though you fear that someone might try to copy it (which is pretty far-fetched). And it makes sense to risk embarrassment and shame in case you don’t ever finish your book if it means that you have a large following ready to purchase your book when it does debut.

That’s why I’m going to share this with you.

I finished the first draft of my first novel yesterday. There’s more work to be done on it. I have left it for someone to read and I will finish the writing sometime this fall. I’m already thinking about sequels. I have also been working on my description. Here’s my first attempt at that:

The Klepto Cat Mystery
When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt recover from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and fall in love with the local veterinarian. Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has the clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister?

If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated with interesting cats and if you love a love story, you may want to read this book.

Let me know if you’d like to be put on my mailing list to be notified when this book is published: PLFry620@yahoo.com

For Patricia Fry’s showcase of books
http://www.matilijapress.com

For more about Patricia Fry
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 23, 2012

Visualization Can Be Useful in Writing Fiction

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 1:36 am

Can you visualize your characters? Not everyone has the ability to picture things in their minds. But this is a good skill for a novelist to develop. Why? You’re more apt to develop a realistic character. And your characters will be more likely to remain in characters throughout your story.

I’ve edited novels wherein two or more characters used the same terminology—often starting their sentences with “Well…” or using a pet phrase such as, “My point is…” (which you hear often on the TV show, 2 and a Half Men). As authors, we have to be careful not to bring too much of ourselves into our stories—at least when we’re fleshing out several characters. In other words, make sure each character is as different as you are from your sister, neighbor, friends, coworkers and former classmates, for example.

It helps some authors to create character boards or cards. List the traits, description, idiosyncrasies, habits, speech patterns, favorite terms, etc. of each main character and refer to this chart or list often as you refine your story.

Once you have created your key characters, visualize them—their way of speaking, mannerisms, dress style, etc. and bring these differences to mind each time you use them to move your story forward—that is each time you have that character speak, respond or take some sort of action.

PLFry620@yahoo.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

September 22, 2012

Your Reader Reviews

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 4:31 am

How do you go after book reviews? Do you hope that reviewers will find you? Do you know how to locate book reviewers and contact them? There are numerous book review directories, for example, and you’ll find individual reviewers’ websites online. Also, you can locate book reviewers by studying the amazon.com pages for books similar to yours as well as these authors’ website pages, to find out who is reviewing their books.

Most book reviewers do not charge for reviewing your book. I’ve had probably over a hundred reviews over the years and I’ve never paid for one.

There are also peer/reader reviews. Amazon.com invites readers to review the books they’ve read. I just wrote such a review this morning for a novel I read. Sometimes I just remember on my own to write a review for a book I particularly liked. But this time, the author posted a plea for reader reviewers at a discussion group I belong to. I’d read the book and liked it, so I wrote a brief review and posted it at Amazon and shared it with our mutual list.

Why did I go to the trouble and take the time to do this? Sure I am busy like the rest of you. But I did this for a fellow author—to help and encourage her. I also did it for myself. I am working on a novel and I hope that other authors who read it will review it.

What do reader reviews do for you? Some readers are swayed to purchase a book because of a review. More of them are swayed by many positive reviews. So if your book happens to have dozens of peer reviews posted at Amazon.com, it is featured in several magazines read by your audience, colleagues post it at their sites as recommended reading, etc. you are definitely going to make more sales. How do I know that? Because the more people who know about your book, the more sale you will make. Doesn’t that make sense?

So if you have been timid about soliciting reviews for your book and if sales are weak, maybe it is time to step up and start asking readers, friends, colleagues, appropriate organization leaders, appropriate magazine editors, etc. to write a brief (or elaborate) review of your book and post it where your potential readers will find it.

For more about how to solicit book reviews, be sure to read Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. It’s at amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. You’ll also find it here:
http://www.matilijapress.com

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