Writing and Publishing News from

November 12, 2010

How to Get Freelance Writing Work

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 3:28 pm

I hope you are fired up after yesterday’s blog post—that you are gearing up to seek your fortune in the writing field. If article-writing isn’t your forte, consider doing some freelance writing for local businesses and organizations.

When my work shows down, I will send out letters to local companies offering my services to revise their company manual (I rewrote a bunch of manuals for Toastmasters), write the history of the company or agency (I did this type of work for a couple of local water districts), develop and write a company newsletter (I took over the newsletter for a local company), rewrite their website text (I did this type of work for a local real estate woman) and other such jobs a company might want to outsource.

There are numerous writing jobs within companies and agencies. I once rewrote a contract for a publisher, I’ve done ghostwriting for heads of corporations, I’ve written speeches and commentary for fashion shows and I’ve composed letters for companies.

These are the types of jobs you could get, as well. See if you can find out what a company needs, send them a letter or set up an appointment with the manager and convince him that you are the person to do this work. Supply proof of a track record, letters of recommendation and samples of your work. Here are some additional ideas for finding jobs:

• Check Craig’s List for writing jobs in your area.

• Sign up for Help a Reporter Out (HARO). http://www.helpareporter.com.

• Talk to your friends, family and acquaintances about the writing needs of the companies they work for.

• Read the classified pages in your newspaper.

• Search local companies online. Visit their websites and see if you can determine a need that you can fill.

Good luck! And let me know what comes of your efforts. Remember, though, nothing will open up for you unless you are out there flaunting your skills. Sometimes a company manager doesn’t even know he or she needs a position filled until you point it out to them. Your pitch might get them to thinking that the person they have working double time to get out the company newsletter is really struggling under the pressure of the job. It isn’t actually part of her job description. She is frequently late getting the work done. And it might be cost effective to free up this employee to do her own job and outsource the newsletter to a professional.

The thing is, if you sit home and complain about having no work, you will continue to have no work. If you get out and try to drum up some opportunities, you have a 100 percent better chance of finding work. Contact company and organization heads this week and you might be bringing in an additional $500 or $1,000 or so a month from now.

Let us know how it goes.

Visit me at my websites:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

November 11, 2010

Get Writing Work Even in This Economy

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 4:26 am

In one of my discussion groups, we’ve been discussing how to jumpstart your writing work in a slow economy. The ideas have been flying in all directions. There are those who simply don’t believe there is hope for the working writer and others with an abundance of optimism. Who should you listen to? I guess it depends on whether you see the glass as half empty or half full.

It seems that those who are struggling tend to believe in the doom and gloom. Those who see the light at the end of the tunnel are working hard toward their goals. And these writers are earning a living—or, at least, supplementing their incomes. And these writers have a much more realistic outlook.

You’re probably not going to make any quick or reliable money writing books. This is a fact in any economy. Sure, there are exceptions. If you are producing and expertly marketing booklets related to a certain field, you can probably make some fairly quick money. Booklets, on a topic you know well and in your field of interest and involvement, are easy to write and convenient to market. To sit down and start writing novels in order to make some money, would not be a smart business move.

I always advise writers to think small in order to make it big. In other words, rather than spending ten months, a year or more writing a business book, break your subjects down and write several booklets. Instead of building a business around a full-blown book, slice and dice your ideas and create articles. Once you have a more steady income, you can still write that book.

Some people claim they have tried submitting articles and it just didn’t work out. One actually told me recently that he contacted the editors of one magazine and was told that they no longer publish articles, so he has decided to give up on that idea altogether. What???? Does he know how many magazines are out there?

In the latest issue of the SPAWN Market Update (appearing in the member area of the SPAWN website monthly), I listed 20 trade magazines that pay between $1,000 and $2,000 per piece.

Sure, maybe you don’t typically write for trade publications. You figure that if you don’t know anything about welding, running a hotel, finance and business management, for example, you can’t write for these magazines. But you might be surprised. I have sold article on intuition in the workplace, office politics, family-run businesses, how to run a business with your spouse, teen businesses, office organizing tips, networking, vacation tips, garage and basement manufacturers, how to survive shift work, power napping and others to trade magazines over the years. I’ve also had success writing for religious, regional and association publications. Religious/spiritual magazines publish pieces on family issues, for example, and there are numbers of them a writer could explore.

When the economy slows down, it’s time for the writer to gear up. Take chances (is rejection really that horrible?), try something new, think outside the box, get creative. Do what you do best in ways that may be unique to your style and that challenge your comfort zone.

No one ever got ahead in this profession by shrinking away from the challenges, making excuses for NOT trying something different, avoiding the research necessary to move forward or giving up.

If you’ve been knocked out of the game by shifts in the economy—your book isn’t selling, your bank account is dwindling and you don’t know what to do next, don’t give up. If writing is your passion, explore new writing opportunities. If you want to enter into the article-writing business and you need help, sign up for my article-writing course:
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm

November 10, 2010

When Speaking—Don’t Forget…

Filed under: Book Promotion,Public Speaking — Patricia @ 4:36 am

You know how to prepare to speak about your book:

• Choose a topic.
• Outline your talk.
• Focus on 3 points.
• Practice.

But what else do you need to remember when you’re planning a talk? I always try to leave audience members with more than just the memory of my speech. I attempt to leave them with something tangible and form a long-term connection with them. How?

• Create a handout related to the theme of your talk and your book.
• Attach your business card/brochure.
• Have a sign-up sheet for those who want to receive your newsletter, a free report (article, resource list) or a free ebooklet, for example.

You’ll find that there are advantages to collecting names and email addresses beyond just that initial contact. Add those names to your emailing list. Notify these people when you produce a new book, are speaking in their area or are offering a special service, for example.

I’ve had this practice pay off nicely for me. While the potential customer might go home and forget about me, I remember her and let her know about it. I inform her when I post new articles on the topic of my speech at my website. I let her know when I run a special on one of my books. I contact her with a resource I think she might be interested in. I alert her to blog posts I think she might be interested in.

Of course, you sometimes run into unreasonable people. Once, at a conference workshop I was conducting, a woman added her name and email address to my sign-up sheet. When I returned home, I sent her (and everyone else on the sheet) a thank you for attending the workshop and an invitation to ask any questions they came away with. I also offered a free report (article) on a related topic. This woman shot back an email accusing me of stealing her email address.

Oh well, you get all kinds. Expect it. But don’t dwell on the ugly stuff. Enjoy working with the people who need/want your help and support.

Sign up at my newest website for a FREE ebooklet: The Successful Author’s Handbook:
http://www.patriciafry.com

Check out my array of published books:
http://www.matilijapress.com

November 9, 2010

Absentee Blogging

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 9:32 am

I’m planning a business trip soon. I know that it isn’t cool to announce over the Internet that you will be gone from home. In this case, someone will be here with the cats. I’m going it alone.

I thought that some of you might have questions about how to continue a daily blog even when you are traveling. Here are some of my ideas.

1: Sometimes I compose blogs ahead of time and leave them for someone else to post to my blog site.

2: If I’ll be gone for three days or more, I take my computer with me. I try to write blogs ahead of time to quickly post each morning that I am traveling.

3: When I plan a major trip of a week or two, I lower my standards and post every other day or every third day.

I attended a writer’s conference in Santa Rosa recently. It was basically an overnighter. I decided not to carry my computer—it felt weird going through the airport with only a small purse. I wrote two blogs during the week prior to the trip and posted one in the wee morning hours before heading for the airport that first morning and the other one the next day in the early afternoon when I returned.

This week, I am preparing for my travel next week by creating a series of blogs to plug in each morning before I rush off to partake of or to participate in the conference. I’ll post one the morning I leave. I’ll post the second one as I prepare for the first morning of the conference. I’ll hurriedly post one the morning of the third day—my absolute busiest day of the conference (I’m speaking, signing books, attending a luncheon and a banquet and working two stints at the bookstore) and I hope to have time to post the last one the day I fly out.

The subjects of these posts are specific ways to build your platform. Each post focuses on a different aspect of your platform and how you can strengthen it both before and after the publication of your book. Watch for these posts the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st of November.

As I understand it, there are services that post your blogs for you. Do any of you use them? I’d like to know how they work.

I’m also interested in the publishing/writing/book promotion blogs you follow faithfully. Which ones are they? How do you follow them—Google Alerts? A feed? Or do you just go there on your own every day—every few days?

Also, what subjects are you most interested in reading here at my blog site?

To learn more about me, my services and my books, go to:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

November 8, 2010

A Writer’s/Author’s Idea Bank

Filed under: Authorship,Writing — Patricia @ 6:21 am

Oh there is so much to say and so little space and time. As a writer, do you sometimes feel that way? If you write fiction, you are probably overflowing all the time with stories, scenes, possible characters… For those of you who are into nonfiction—you write on a certain topic or theme—you are constantly gathering information, data, details, material, facts, updates, concepts and news in your field or on your topic.

If you’re like me, you sometimes don’t know which direction to go—what aspects of your expertise to pursue when you decide to write an article, create a speech or post a blog. This is my blog number 963 and, still, I am sometimes stuck as to which of the many ideas rolling around in my head I want to address on a particular day.

How do you choose your blog and article ideas? Here’s how I do it:

• I respond to some of the questions authors ask me.
• I play off of other blog posts and articles I read.
• I glean ideas from discussion board comments.
• I expand on comments from other experts.
• I share my views on pertinent or controversial topics
• I describe some of my own experiences.
• I report on industry changes and news items.
• I share resources I’ve explored.
• I write about some of my observations.
• I describe trends.

What is your experience? Do you have more ideas than you know what to do with? Or are you hard-pressed to come up with something to say or write about? What techniques do you use to fulfill your blog or article commitments? Do you ever feel as though your idea bank has run dry?

We’d like to hear from you. Leave your comments here.

KUDOS for “The Right Way” Book
I received a nice email this morning from someone who just finished reading my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. She said, “Wow, it was jam-packed with great stuff. There were so many good tips.” Thank you for that, Mary.

She also pointed out that some of the material is outdated. I hate when that happens—not when someone comments, but when the material becomes outdated. And, if you are writing about publishing, this will happen. Fortunately, the bulk of the book—the premise of the book—the main focus of the book—is evergreen as it is designed to teach readers about the publishing world, how to approach it/navigate it and succeed within it. When you complete this book (or even if you use it strictly as a reference book), you will have the knowledge and tools to move forward with your project toward a more successful culmination. And this is true whether you plan to pursue a traditional publisher, whether you want to self-publish (establish your own publishing company) or go with a pay-to-publish company. It’s all covered in this book.

If you plan to publish a book before the end of the year or in 2011, please do yourself and your project a major favor by reading The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Those who have read it and who have embraced the information within this book are definitely experiencing a larger measure of success with their projects than are those who have attempted to go it alone. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

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

November 7, 2010

Clichés: Shortcuts to Understanding

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 5:41 am

I discovered recently, while having a conversation with some young people, that what we consider clichés are actually new to some of them.

I was surprised to learn that my generation’s tried and true, overused phrases might actually be fresh to today’s young readers. Unless their parents or grandparents used terms such as, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater,” “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” “got hitched,” “born with a silver spoon in his mouth,” “Dutch treat,” “penny wise, pound foolish,” etc., subsequent generations won’t hear them growing up. And when they read them in books, they’ll consider these phrases and terms new and unique.

And think about this—after a few more generations of not using these old clichés, they will go by the wayside and, perhaps, disappear, only to be replaced by new phrases that will eventually become clichés. In the meantime, we’d be losing some very clever and poignant ways of relaying our thoughts and moving our stories forward.

I think you’ve heard/read me say that I love clichés. I use them more than I probably should in my speaking. I try not to use them in my writing. However, some of them are so meaningful and powerful, I would be among those fighting against eliminating them altogether.

Clichés are considered old, tired phrases that have no place in our writing projects. But some would disagree. The arguments for clichés include the fact that sometimes a cliché is the best way to convey a message or mood in writing. And most of us certainly use them as shortcuts to understanding in our speaking.

A cliché used for the sake of ease is frowned on. But the clever use of a cliché is often applauded.

Where do the clichés come from? Some of them are “as old as dirt.” They come from literature such as Shakespeare and the Bible. Some clichés we use have come into being in more recent years through political messages, presidential presentations, the military, sports, etc.

Right along with clichés as passé for writers are puns. I love puns, too. A pun is a play on words. And they can be freshly created by an author of merit and still be considered trite. You see (and hear) puns everywhere. But writers and speakers try to keep them to a minimum. I guess that is wise—too many of them certainly could spoil an article or a chapter in your book.

Here’s your assignment today—for fun, use a cliché or two. Or at least recognize and acknowledge when you automatically use a cliché in your speaking throughout the day. It may do your heart good and you know it is easy as pie to come up with no brainer clichés. And remember time flies when you’re having fun.

Learn more about me and my work, books and courses here:
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

November 6, 2010

Holiday Blues for Writers

Filed under: Article-Writing — Patricia @ 4:54 am

If you have been working as a freelance article writer for a while, the holidays are not your favorite time of year. Everything slows down. Magazine editors are impossible to contact. You’re hard-pressed even to receive rejection letters this time of year. You wonder, “Where did everyone go?” “Don’t they have magazines to get out?”

It has always been a puzzle to me—why it is so difficult to communicate with someone about your pending story, your idea or even your paycheck during the summer months and the major holidays. I imagine huge offices going vacant this time of year except for a lonely janitor tidying up while the phones are ringing off the hooks. Where are the employees? Home preparing Thanksgiving dinner, decorating their trees, shopping for gifts, I suppose. Maybe they’re traveling to warmer locations or to visit family in other states.

You know how the janitor feels as he or she rattles around in the expansive New York office building alone. You feel alone in your attempt to place your articles this time of year.

When I was writing articles full-time, I tried to keep up with the game all summer and during the fall/winter holidays. I continued my routine of coming up with article ideas, conducting research and interviews, sending out query letters and writing requested articles. But I felt as though I was in it all alone—that New York had disappeared from the face of the earth or at least had closed down for the winter. I also felt frustrated and a tad angry. Here I was working as usual and nobody cared.

If you have experienced this phenomenon or if you begin to experience it this year, I have a few suggestions. Rather than trying to conduct business as usual all by yourself, you might adjust your mindset, way of pursuing your work and your expectations. Here are some ideas:

• Catch up on your bookwork and organize your workspace or office while sipping on a hot toddy and listening to holiday music.

• Research new outlets for your articles. You’ll be prepared when everyone gets back to work.

• Contact several smaller publications with your article ideas. They seem to keep to the grindstone like you do. They may pay less, so think volume.

• Go into idea mode. This is a good time to read magazines and newspapers with a pen and pad nearby. Study the news and current trends with an editorial eye. Listen as people converse. Watch talk shows on TV. Locate new ideas or find ways to put a new twist or spin on older news/concepts.

• Recycle some of your articles. This might be a good time to send out reprints.

• Tackle that major piece you’ve been wanting to write. Start with the research and interviews you need to conduct in order to write a powerful query letter.

• Next year, leading into the summer and holiday seasons, shift into high and crank up your query and article submissions considerably to help cover the weeks (or months) that little is happening in your profession.

• Work hard all year and take a few weeks off during the holidays. You won’t even notice that no one is home in New York.

Are you aware of the phenomenon I’ve touched on here today—the absence of editors during the holidays? How do you handle your freelance business during these times? We’d love to hear from you.

Learn more about me and my work here:
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

November 5, 2010

The Author’s Web Presence

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 3:57 am

I read it again yesterday: Authors must have a strong web presence. In fact this came from a publisher who wrote in his submission guidelines, “Our best selling books are by authors with a strong web presence.”

What does this mean? In this case, it means that the authors whose books are selling are those who have created the most opportunity for exposure online. These authors are, most likely, showcasing their books at their own websites, they’re blogging regularly and frequently, they’re posting at Twitter and maybe a few other social networks. But they’re probably also commenting on other blogs related to the theme/genre of their books, getting their books reviewed online, being interviewed at appropriate sites, being guest blogger at active blog sites, and inviting big name authors, publishers and others in their field to be guest bloggers.

But there’s more that you can do to enhance the web presence you are so actively attempting to establish. Your potential readers who use Google Alerts to keep abreast of books and authors within their favorite topics/genres will easily find you. Those who are excellent researchers will stumble across your site and become aware of your book. But what about the many others out there who would read your book if they knew about it, but don’t know about it? Here are a few additional things you can do in order to boost your excellent web presence:

• Submit articles or stories related to your subject/genre to appropriate magazines and ezines regularly. And be sure to link it to your website.

• Send press releases every so often announcing an activity or event you’re involved in, a contest you’re running or a charity project you have started.

• Go out and speak publicly to your audience.

• Hand out and send out brochures, biz cards, etc. with your web address on it.

• Launch a newsletter and strive to keep building your subscription list.

• Create a spectacular book trailer that everyone will be talking about and post it at your website, show it from your booths at book festivals, etc.

Yes, a web presence is necessary for authors today. But if you stop at simply building a nice site, you will not even be noticed.

For much more about how to promote your book in this competitive publishing climate and so much more, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Visit my new website and sign up for a free ebook. http://www.patriciafry.com

November 4, 2010

The Whole Truth in Writing and Speaking

Filed under: Public Speaking,Writing — Patricia @ 4:07 am

There are a few things that are like fingernails on a blackboard to me. One of them is when speakers or writers profess the truth in their statements.

Honestly, (pun intended) when someone prefaces a statement by saying, “I have to be honest here,” “To tell you the truth,” “Truthfully,” “In all honesty,” “To be completely honest,” and so forth, I have to wonder if everything they said before that was a lie.

Why do people point out that they’re being truthful only now and then during a talk or in their written work? What are they thinking? What message are they trying to leave with their audience? “Hey, I’m a blatant liar except that now I’m going to be honest.”

I guess people who do this are trying to make a point of honesty with regard to something that one could easily lie about. Maybe it is a sticky topic and they preface a comment about it by letting their audience know they are being painfully honest at some cost. But I would advise those folks to be careful with those “honesty,” prefaces because I’m sure there are others besides myself who hear those statements and wonder, “Okay, what has this guy/gal been lying about?”

Does this bug you? It probably will now that I have pointed it out.

I listen to radio when I run errands or make the drive to visit my mother, etc. And I’m sometimes surprised to hear a radio personality who continually intersperses such filler words as, “You know,” throughout their commentary and conversations with guests. Sometimes I lose track of what the discussion is about because I am so busy counting instances of “you know.”

What common phrases, speaking patterns/habits and innuendoes irritate you? What are you working to correct in your own speech? What about clichés? I happen to love using clichés. They are sort of like a comfort food to me. I can find them easily and, unlike a fresh phrase that I might have to think about for a while, they roll off my tongue. I use clichés in writing, too. Only, when the writing is done, I go back and remove or exchange most of them. And I always edit them out of my clients’ manuscripts, except those included for some real purpose or when it is the way one of the characters speaks.

November 3, 2010

Who is Your Target Audience?

Filed under: Book Promotion,Book Proposals — Patricia @ 4:35 am

Are you still confused about who comprises your target audience?

If you have tackled your book proposal or if you have attempted to write an over-the-top effective query letter, you’ve had to address the question—who is the audience for your book?

Most first-time authors want to say, “Everyone!” They can reason that everyone is a potential reader for their book. There are:

• Those who are interested in the genre/topic.

• Your friends, family, colleagues, coworkers, neighbors, fellow worshipers, grocer, hairdresser and so forth.

• Curiosity seekers.

• Students assigned to read something on this topic.

• People who might find the book on a seat in an airport and read it because they have nothing else to do.

• Researchers.

• Those who received it in a gift basket they bought at a silent auction.

• Patients in waiting rooms.

Okay, if your book is in print long enough and if you continue to promote it wide enough, someone from each of these categories may, indeed, read (or purchase) this book. But this is not your target audience.

Let’s examine the word “target.” It indicates something you aim for, direct toward, pursue. When you refer to your target audience, this is the most reasonable group of readers for your book—those who would most likely want to read your particular book. And this is the audience you should be thinking about while you write the book, it is the audience you will market the book to and it is the audience your potential publisher wants to hear about.

Who is most likely to read your fantasy romance novel, your horror novel or your young adult adventure novel? The answer is obvious—those who typically read books in these genres. Your job, when determining your target audience for the publisher, for your own information and/or while devising your marketing plan, is to find out how many readers this group comprises and how to locate and approach them.

For your book on photographing pets, your primary audience is made up of adoring pet owners who enjoy photography.

Sure, most books have target audiences and fringe audiences. Your fringe audience for the pet photography book might be people purchasing the book as a gift, animal activists who want to improve the quality of their pet adoption photos, a journalist who writes about animals and wants to include photos in their story packages, and so forth.

Now maybe you can finally see the value in knowing your true target audience. The thing is, you have to promote this book. You’re not going to spend your time marketing it to journalists—that group is not large enough. You won’t promote it to people as a gift item—that means doing random marketing to everyone in hopes of locating a potential customer or two. NO! You are going to be promoting to your most logical audience—those who need/want your book.

Think about this: If you go with the premise that your book is for everyone and begin a wide sweep of marketing, you’re actually going to miss your best opportunities for sales. While you’re out there trying to capture the attention of everyone, your true readers may never find out about your book.

Are you writing a book? Have you determined your target audience? Have you ever targeted the wrong audience and had to change your total marketing strategies and direction? I’d like to hear your story.

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

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