Writing and Publishing News from

February 26, 2008

New eBook Coming for Struggling Authors

Filed under: New Books — Patricia @ 5:05 am

Did I tell you I’m working on a new book? I’m calling it “The Author’s Repair Kit.” It will be designed to pull struggling, stalled, discouraged authors out of the quagmire. This book features my invention: the post-publication book proposal. It will provide the tools and techniques to redirect the wayward author toward a more successful outcome for his or her book.

I plan this as an ebook. I’ll offer it for sale at my website http://www.matilijapress.com and it will also be offered as a free gift to new and renewing members of SPAWN.

You’ll learn how to change the face (and the sales figures) of a bulldozer book, how to sell more copies of your memoir, how to bring the same book out with a new cover, how to increase book sales by simply changing your mind about the book and so much more.

If your book sales are lagging and you don’t know what to do about it, watch this blog for my new book announcement. I expect to complete this project in March, before heading to Atlanta to present the book proposal seminar and then on to Nashville to speak at Borders. Check out my Calendar of Events for 2008 at http://www.matilijapress.com/activities.htm

I’d like to produce additional ebooks on various topics of interest to authors and freelance writers. Please send me your topic suggestions. PLFry620@yahoo.com

February 25, 2008

Need Ideas to Write About?

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 6:18 am

I taught 5 workshops on article-writing this year at the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference. And I received the same questions I get from freelance writers everywhere I go: “Where do article ideas come from?” “How do you come up with all of those article ideas?”

My book, A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles explains this in depth, http://www.matilijapress.com but today, I’d like to suggest one way to locate good article ideas for magazines, newsletters or even your local newspaper.

Start by getting up off of the sofa and out into the world. Well, you can sit on the sofa long enough to look through the calendar section of the newspaper. Use your computer to locate activities and events near you. And then plan an outing for yourself and your dog or take your hubby and kids to explore some of the happenings happening around you.

Note: This is also a good way to get perspective, visions, etc. for your novel. One writer friend used to sit on the local pier watching people, animals, birds, inanimate objects (which sometimes become animated in the ocean breeze) and then she’d go home and incorporate what she saw and experienced into her latest short story. I remember her reading about a “cart-wheeling newspaper” at our writing group once—many, many years ago. She got that idea while sitting on the pier.

So where can you go, what will you see, how could this compute into article ideas? Oh my gosh, the possibilities are endless. There are quilt shows (each quilt has a story and each quilter is eager to tell it), cat shows (if you’ve never been to one, you’re in for a walk through a wonderland of fur) and motorcycle rallies (chat with some of the women riders, you might be surprised at their rather mundane or even high-power day jobs). See plays at your community theater, watch dance recitals for preschoolers, attend tee ball tournaments and talk to some of the world’s future athletic stars. Go to a popular recreation area, amusement park or zoo and just observe with pen and paper handy. If you have a writer’s heart, you will be jotting down ideas. Here are a few:

• Tips for families: play together and stay together.
• Exercise tips for promoting family togetherness.
• Safety tips on and around the lake or ocean.
• Quick and healthy meals to take along on a family outing.
• How to prevent heat ailments in your pet this summer.
• How to choose the best family dog.
• Traveling with cats.
• Grooming tips for people who like to adventure with their pets.

When you’re looking for a story, don’t miss the county fair, your city’s annual flea market, a book festival or a carnival, where there are hundreds of interesting things going on at once.

Go for the experience. Have you ever been to a marine animal park or oceanarium with a group of therapy animals (cats and dogs used in pet therapy)? What about an air show? Get an assignment beforehand and maybe you’ll land an interview with a pilot or, better yet, a ride in a stunt plane or jet.

What’s going on in your region or those areas you plan to visit this year? There are hot air balloon rides, bungie jumping, parachuting, fly fishing, white water rafting, pet parades, wine festivals, estate sales (just walking through some of these homes will awaken a flood of ideas), animal shelters, book signings and just so many other idea-rich activities and events.

This week, shove the cat off of your lap, get out of that computer chair and go where the ideas are. Don’t miss an opportunity to have fun and to get the ideas you need for your story or articles.

If you want more prompts or would like to discuss the world of article/story-writing with me, I’m right here at PLFry620@yahoo.com. I’m also available to edit your article or your book manuscript. For more about me go to http://www.matilijapress.com/consulting.html

February 24, 2008

Are You a Desperate Writer?

Filed under: Book Promotion,Writing — Patricia @ 6:24 am

When you approach an editor with a great article idea, is your anxiety level off the charts? When you send your manuscript to a publisher, are you filled with fear and apprehension? Will you grovel in hopes of hearing the “Yes” response? In other words, do you come across as sounding desperate when you present your work for publication?

And what about those of you with books to promote? How do you approach reviewers, booksellers and consumers? Does the desperation you feel come out in your spiel?

Promoting a book amidst the hundreds of thousands of others is tough. Getting an article or a book manuscript accepted is really difficult in today’s publishing climate. But you’re not going to make it any easier—in fact, it becomes much less likely that your project will be picked—if you come across as desperate.

Who would you rather to work with, someone who says, “Please, please publish my book. I’ve worked so hard. It really is good—my friends say so and my mother loves it. I really, really must get this published. If you don’t give me a contract, my life might as well be over.” Yikes!

If you think this is a far-fetched example, you’re wrong. Some hopeful authors are so anxious to get that publishing contract that they will cajole, plead and even threaten in anticipation of landing one.

I’ve watched authors practically beg people to buy their books and then become almost despondent when they didn’t. At a book festival or book singing, for example, this attitude can kill any potential for sales. Approach a potential customer with a down-trodden attitude and they won’t feel much like buying any book from you.

What does a disappointed writer/author do? Pretend, if you have to. So, book sales are slow, don’t make it the potential customer’s problem. Approach each new customer with the same sense of excitement and pride you felt in your book the first time you saw it—the first time you sold a copy. Forget about your sales figures. If you maintain a positive, confident stance with your customers, booksellers and reviewers, your bottom line will take care of itself.

The same holds true for hopeful authors. Approach publishers with an air of professionalism. Ooze with confidence about your project. But you can do this only if you are confident that you have a viable product. The only way you can be sure is to write a business plan (book proposal) for your book before you make the rounds with it. Make sure you are writing the right book for the right audience and then make a solid case for it BEFORE you start showing it around (and before you self-publish it).

Use The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and The Author’s Workbook to walk you through the process of writing a book proposal. http://www.matilijapress.com/ Sign up for my online book proposal course at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

If you are a freelance writer who is trying to land assignments or just sell an article or story, likewise, approach editors with confidence in your idea, your writing abilities, your timeliness, etc. And take “no” for an answer, if this is the answer you get, and move on. Rejection does not mean you don’t have a good idea or a well-written piece. It could mean one or more of many things. For example,
• The magazine has covered this subject recently.
• They have a piece like this in the works.
• Your story idea conflicts with an advertiser’s message.
• There were other articles on this subject submitted—yours didn’t make the cut.
• The topic is outside their realm of interest.
• The slant is not right for this magazine.
• Your piece is too biased.
• Your story is outside the realm of what they accept.
• The editor doesn’t like your stationery.

Fellow freelance writers, rejection happens—and it happens a LOT. Do what those of us who eventually succeed do, get up, dust yourself off, reevaluate your piece, thoroughly research other potential homes for this piece and, if needed, refine your approach (remember, come across as confident and professional). If you need help launching or building a freelance article-writing business, consider taking my online course, Writing for Magazines. Sign up at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm and purchase my book, A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles. http://www.matilijapress.com

February 23, 2008

There’s a New Publisher in Town

Filed under: Publishing — Patricia @ 6:23 am

Have you heard of Borders Personal Publishing? Two resourceful, imaginative major players in the “self-publishing” industry have managed to partner with Borders Books to form, yet, another self-publishing service for authors.

You pay and, together, Lulu and Borders will provide editorial support as well as design and print your book. In some cases, your book will be produced while you wait; through an interactive kiosk. And here’s the really exciting part—well, for some: Publishing with Borders makes your book ELIGIBLE to be carried in Borders stores. Come on guys, this is like the “self-publishing” contracts that say (in so many words), “Pay us to produce your book and we will make it available to bookstores nationwide.”

The price seems right. I know Dan Poynter (he’s a good guy), and his partner, Danny O. Snow, seems to have a good reputation. Mark Levine, in his book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, ranks their company, Lulu, among the outstanding self-publishing companies, along with BookLocker, Infinity, RJ Communications, Xulon Press, Virtual Bookworm, Outskirts Press, Cold Tree Press and a few others, but I still have my reservations about the world of fee-based “self-publishing.” It’s simply not the knight on a white horse for everyone.

It’s becoming more difficult for me to bash this community as a whole, now that reputable people (Poynter, Ron Pramschufer, Angela and Richard Hoy) and organizations (Borders) are jumping on the bandwagon. My reservations have more to do with the unaware author. While some “self-publishing” companies are on the up and up, many authors approach “self-publishing” companies with way too many unreasonable expectations and way too little knowledge. In fact, I wrote my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book in order to educate and inform hopeful authors about the publishing industry, their options, the possible consequences of their choices and, of course, their responsibilities as published authors.

What is the best way to approach the world of publishing? I say that you should be armed with knowledge. And your education should begin BEFORE you sit down to write a book. Read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Read Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual. Read Mark Levine’s, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing and other books related to the industry. Use my Author’s Workbook to determine IF publishing is for you, what is the best publishing option for you and your project, whether or not you have a platform and what it would take to build one, whether your book idea would compute into a viable product or not, your promotional plan, etc.

Before getting involved in any publishing option or a particular company, as Levine’s book insinuates, “Read the fine print.” Research the industry and compare several individual companies. Read between the lines. Scrutinize their contracts and ALWAYS have an intellectual properties attorney or literary attorney look at a contract before you sign it.

Examine your expectations—is it likely that this company can meet them? Are your expectations realistic? You probably won’t know that unless you know something about the publishing industry.

What is the worst case scenario that could occur as a result of you working with this company? Is this acceptable to you? Are you willing to gamble that, for example, your book will be among those chosen for sale at bookstores? Will you be satisfied to have your book in one major bookstore nationwide—one store, not one chain—as is part of one company’s contract?

Not every “self-publishing” company is the same. If you don’t know this, you’re definitely not ready to sign a contract. If you want to go the “self-publishing” company route with your amazing, professionally edited book, please do your research. Study the contracts, references, websites, samples of their published books, etc. for several companies before entering into an agreement with one. Seriously consider other options.

As I point out in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, not every option is for every author and every project. Use the Author’s Workbook to determine which option is best for you and your book.

If you’ve heard me say this before: “Publishing is not an extension of your writing. It is a business and it must be approached as such.”

Order The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and The Author’s Workbook:
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

February 22, 2008

The Author’s Workbook

Filed under: Publishing — Patricia @ 6:23 am

Have you ever used a workbook to help spark your forward motion on a stalled project? The Author’s Workbook is designed to accompany my hallmark book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I created this guide to help hopeful and struggling authors develop a publishing and marketing plan for their stalled book projects.

If you have a book in mind or even in manuscript form and you aren’t sure what to do next, The Author’s Workbook could help you to take the next step and then the next until you have a published book in your hands. And a book that is created using a professional workbook format such as in The Author’s Workbook, has a better chance at success.

How can The Author’s Workbook help you complete a more successful project? Let me count the ways:

1: You’ll discover whether or not you are a candidate for authorship.
2: You will gain more clarity with regard to the scope and focus of your project.
3: You’ll learn how to identify your book’s genre.
4: You’ll define your purpose for this book, which will help direct you.
5: You’ll be guided in choosing the right publishing option for your project.
6: You’ll devise your list of appropriate agents and/or publishers.
7: You’ll be led through the process of writing a complete book proposal.
8: You’ll learn volumes about your book as you work through the proposal process.
9: You’ll learn how to write a query letter, a cover letter.
10: You’ll be led through the process of self-publishing your book.
11: You’ll be coached in designing your marketing plan.
12: You’ll learn how to set up a bookkeeping system.

Order your copy of the coveted The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and the companion Author’s Workbook today. Read the book. Use the workbook. And here’s what you can expect:

• You could be holding your published book in your hands within the year.
• By this time the following year, you could be enjoying a measure of success

Of course, it’s all up to you. But I can tell you this with some certainty, if you don’t study the publishing industry before getting involved and if you don’t write a business plan for your book, you are more likely to join the 76 percent of authors who fail every year.

Order the book duo NOW at a special price: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html If you already own either the first or second edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, order The Author’s Workbook at a discount here: http://www.matilijapress.com/workbook.html

February 21, 2008

Writers as Mentors: Bringing Children Along

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 5:06 am

This is excerpted from my book, The Successful Writer’s Handbook.

Most writers develop a passion for writing early in life. Some of those I’ve interview tell me, “I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil.” Or “I can’t remember not wanting to write.” And this is probably true of some of the children in your family or neighborhood.

If you know a child with an interest in and/or a talent for writing, you can make a difference in his or her life. How? Get involved.

• Become a formal mentor either in person or online. There are many young people out there just waiting for someone to guide them in their writing efforts.

• Respond to those children and youths you meet who have a talent or an interest in writing. Offer to read their work and give constructive criticism. Help them to get published. (See links below.)

• Invite the child to attend a book signing or hear an author speak.

• Take a child to a book festival where he can meet authors.

• Start a writing group for children in your city—through your library or the school district, for example. I worked with a group of home-schooled students on a writing project, once.

• Offer to teach a creative writing class.

If you are already involved with a youthful writer or a group of budding writers, here are some ideas for helping them along.

• Give the child assignments to complete and then discuss what makes the work good, how to make it better, etc.

• Search out online writers groups and writing opportunities for kids.

• Find books on writing for kids.

• Sponsor the child in writing contests.

• Encourage the child to display his/her work at the county fair.

• Help kids design and compose greeting cards for special occasions.

• Print the child’s story and bind it as a surprise for him. Frame one of her poems.

Children are our future. Give one or several of them a boost by offering the kind of help and support you either had or wish you had as a child. It’s a win-win situation.

Get started as a mentor:
http://www.netmentors.org

Sites for kids who love to write:
http://www.stonesoup.com
http://www.youngwriter.org
http://www.realkids.com/club.shtml
http://www.kidpub.com

February 20, 2008

Your Book Promotion Blog

Filed under: Book Promotion,Writing — Patricia @ 6:34 am

Do you have a blog designed to promote your book? If not, why not?

As you may have noticed, practically everyone has a blog, these days: the stay-at-home mom with toddlers underfoot and a bent for the written word, the auto repair guy who wants to share his poetry with the Internet world, the animal lover who is passionate about educating the public on pet rescue issues. These people and millions of others are sharing their views, their talent, their obsessions, their opinions and their wares with anyone who is willing to stop by and peruse their blogs.

For some, a blog is a diary/journal of personal thoughts. Others use their blog space to try to change minds or make a difference. Still others just want to be read/heard. I know of one blogger who shares her journey as she writes and rewrites her novel. Another one posts photos and stories of his travels.

When you pay for blog space through WordPress, bBlog, Blosxom, Nucleous, Movable Type, etc., you can then blog about pretty much anything you want—your pet cow, your many girl friends, your Elvis memorabilia collection, your knitting projects, your wife’s bad habits or your book.

A blog is like a newsletter only, instead of sending it out to your list, you invite your list PLUS the rest of the world to read your entries. You might post daily, weekly or whenever you feel like it. And, as I have indicated above, you can complain, vent, brag, inform, educate, preach or simply share a feeling or thought.

If you have a book in the works or one to promote, blogging is a good way to help build your platform and to promote your book. Through your blog, you can:
• Establish credibility and/or recognition in your field/genre.
• Attract those who are interested in your topic/genre.
• Sell more books.

While my blog is designed to educate, inform and teach visitors about the world of writing and publishing, it is also an opportunity for me to promote my writing/publishing- related books, my online courses for authors and hopeful authors and spread the word about my upcoming appearances.

I suggest that you visit my blog often, but also do a survey of other blog sites and get some ideas for yours.
• Create a blog around the theme or topic of your book.
• Make it useful, informative and/or fun.
• Come up with ideas that will ensure repeat visits.

Leap Year Sale Announcement: Order one copy of my metaphysical adventure, Quest for Truth, a Journey of the Soul for $10.00 plus shipping (and tax for CA residents) and receive a FREE copy of Write On! Journal-Keeping for Teens. Read about these books at http://www.matilijapress.com/questpage.html and http://www.matilijapress.com/writeonjournalpage.html Hurry, this offer ends February 29, 2008. Questions? Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

February 19, 2008

Reasons for Joining Other Writers

Filed under: Writing — Patricia @ 6:58 am

While we write in privacy—holed up in our writing rooms all alone—most of us really do need other writers. We need feedback and encouragement for our work. We need validation. Is it really worth our while to sit day after day pouring our hearts into our work? No one else understands the heart of a writer and no one else can validate our passion.

Other writers provide information and resources we can use. Those who have gone down the publishing path before us can issue warnings about possible roadblocks and obstacles. They can reveal secret openings to potential success.

Every writer has experiences to share—experiences that can help guide others away from possible danger and toward some measure of success.

When you spend your days alone writing, you can get discouraged. Sometimes only another writer can provide the understanding, encouragement and support you need.

Join a face-to-face writers’ group in your area. To find one, check with your local librarian. Look at the calendar of events section of your newspaper. Contact a local arts council. Do a Google search using keywords, “writers group” and your city name. Ask other writers you know about a writers’ group. Or start a writers’ group yourself.

Join online writers’ groups. Do a Google search for a specific genre or type. I recommend, for anyone who is interested in being published, whether you are or want to be a freelance writer, author, artist, screen writer, etc. that you join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org SPAWN is a networking organization and resources center. Membership is only $45/year and it provides the potential for earning thousands of dollars through writing and book promotion. There’s also the possibility that you’ll save even more money by becoming aware of how to avoid making some seriously costly mistakes.

To engage in a dialogue with Patricia Fry use this email: PLFry620@yahoo.com. Visit my site at http://www.matilijapress.com While there, be sure to check out my array of books for writers, authors, grandparents, mentors and those who like metaphysical adventures. Look at my busy calendar of events. Sign up for an online course. Read about my consulting and editorial services. Enjoy my gift of resources and informative articles.

February 18, 2008

How Many Books Can You Sell?

Filed under: Book Promotion,Publishing — Patricia @ 6:30 am

A book proposal reveals many things to a prospective author—whether his or her book is a viable product, the scope of competition, who and how extensive is the audience and what’s the best way to market the book, for example.

One important question we like to answer in our book proposal (for potential publishers and for ourselves) is, “How are other books on this topic and/or in this genre doing?” But getting those sales figures or quantities is not an easy task.

I advise my clients to find out how their perceived competition is doing. I send these hopeful authors in search of facts, figures, numbers—any statistics they can get their hands on—which will demonstrate the potential for their own projects. If XYZ Publisher’s book on uses for toothpicks is selling well, then maybe there’s hope for your book featuring twist tie crafts. If ABC Publisher’s novels featuring all deaf characters are faring well, then your romance thriller about and for the blind ought to sell.

But how do you get sales figures to prove the potential for your book? I’m just one of thousands who would like to know.

So far, this is all I can offer my clients and faithful readers:

• Call Ingram’s database number for their sales figures: 615-213-6803. You’ll need the ISBN. You won’t get the whole picture here, but you’ll get an idea of how the book is moving.

• Talk to your local independent bookseller, or make friends with someone at a mega-bookstore. Ask if they can locate overall sales figures for a few specific books or at least quantity figures reflecting books sold through their chains.

• Research the book title at the publisher’s site. Has it been reprinted? If the book is in its 8th printing, that’s a good indication that it’s selling. This is good information to use in your book proposal.

• Note if the book has made a bestselling list—which one, for how long? Be careful. I’ve had people tell me their book was on a bestseller list and it wasn’t what you would think. The list was for one independent bookstore or it was one regional book reviewer’s personal list of books.

• Read press releases posted at the publisher’s site to see if there have been any comments made public about the volume of sales. Note the date of the press release, where it was published, exact quote and who made the statement.

• Research the book title using a Google search. See if you can find any additional stories wherein this book is mentioned. Remember to use quotation marks around your key words for a more refined search.

• Sign up for Google Alerts ( http://www.google.com/alerts. Type in the book title and/or the genre or topic, for example. You can stop the Google Alerts messages at any time.

If anyone has additional tips for locating sales or quantity figures related to specific books, please let me know. The more explicit we can be in our book proposals, the more ammunition we have in the difficult task of landing a publisher. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

And this crucial information isn’t just for potential publishers. You, the author, need to gather as much information as possible with respect to the viability of your book project. You need to know whether the book you have in mind is a good business decision or not. If not, and you find out early enough, you can change your course and head in a more successful direction.

For more about how to develop a book proposal, read my book: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

February 17, 2008

How to Get Your Book Noticed

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 6:07 am

People still ask me, “How did you get that interview (or speaking gig or book review)?” My typical response is, “I asked for it.”

Especially in the early stages of authorship, you have to be proactive. You must reach out—let the media, web hosts, book reviewers, booksellers, know that you exist and why you or your project is noteworthy. With time, if you have a worthwhile product and/or program, they will come looking for you. They will seek you out and ask to review you book, request that you speak to their group, set up a book signing or offer you space in their magazine/blog, for example.

It came to my attention recently that Writing for Dollars has given me a page at their site with my photo, bio and a list of my articles for view. Check it out at http://www.writingfordollars.com/articlesDB_lookup.cfm?author=94

I did a search this morning to see where else my name is appearing and here are some of the links I found:

My article, “Are You Writing a Bulldozer Book?” is at http://www.publishingbasics.com/current

There’s a surprise review of my book The Successful Writer’s Handbook by Molly Martin posted at Epinions. Tamara Sellman mentions me in her blog http://www.tamarasellman.blogspot.com

Of course, my upcoming conferences and workshops are noted numerous times throughout the web. Check out my calendar of events at http://www.matilijapress.com/activities.htm. I’ll be in Atlanta at the Spring Book Show March 29; Borders in Nashville on March 31; Los Angeles Times Book Festival April 26-27; a writers’ conference in Baltimore May 2-3, West Coast Authors’ Event in Ventura, California July 11; Wizard of Words Writers’ Conference in Phoenix October 10-12 and, possibly, the Prescott Library in Prescott, AZ October 15.

What’s the best avenue toward obtaining publicity for yourself and your book? Get out there and ask for it.
• Research appropriate sites, venues and publications.
(My book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, gives you tips for conducting research and links to sites such as those for book festivals, newspapers, libraries, etc.)
• Contact the director, organizer or editor with a specific request.
(“Will you review my book?” “I’d like to come speak to your group.” “I’d like to submit an article/story.” “I’m available for an interview.”)
• Be prepared to briefly and succinctly describe your book.
• Offer possible highlights for your article/speech/interview.
• Clearly outline your article/story.
• Ask for recommendations for additional venues, sites, etc.

If you want to sell books, you must have an audience and the ability to reach them. In order to be noticed, you must reach out. I tell my audiences and my readers, “While writing is a craft—a heart thing—authorship is a business which requires an entirely different mindset and array of activities.” It’s true, once you emerge from your writing room and start the process of publishing, in order to be successful, you MUST start honing your marketing savvy and promotional skills.

For more about this or other subjects related to writing/publishing, contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com

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