Writing and Publishing News from

June 18, 2012

Submission Guidelines

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 5:01 am

Do you sometimes have trouble finding Submission Guidelines at magazine or publisher websites? It is a mystery to me why some web designers make these so difficult for freelance writers and authors to locate.

While some Submission Guidelines are front and center when you visit a publisher’s site, for example, others are imbedded in the most unusual and unsuspected places. Yesterday, while I was working on research for the SPAWN Market Update, I found Submission Guidelines in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) at the site. That’s a first—although, maybe that’s because I’d never looked there for them before. Have any of you found Submission Guidelines on a website’s FAQ page?

I’ve found them under “contact,” “about us,” “for writers,” and embedded in pull-down menus at the site which had absolutely nothing to do with this topic. And, in some instances, I can’t find them at all—usually that is because they don’t exist. Either you have to write to get a copy of the guidelines or the editors don’t have guidelines at all.

And sometimes they aren’t labeled as you would expect. You’ll find them listed under Editorial Guidelines, For Writers, Writer’s Guidelines, Author’s Guidelines, Write for Us, or just simply Writers.

What are some of the most unique Submission Guidelines scenarios you’ve encountered?

June 17, 2012

Become One With the Information Highway

Filed under: Research,Resources — Patricia @ 5:15 am

Lately, I’ve had a handful of published authors contact me for advice. All of them had one question, “What should I do?” But, in each case, the scope of their dilemma was more complicated than that. They wanted confirmation that they were contemplating the right thing. They needed resources, recommendations and introductions.

Oh, I guess I could just say to them, “I don’t know—do what you think is best.” But I took the time to respond as best I could—giving them references, pointing them toward information I was aware of, offering my opinion and then I gave them each a far-reaching gift.

I reminded them that they have the greatest source of information at their fingertips and, probably, at their elbows. Many of them own some of my books for authors and books by other experts and professionals. They certainly have the Internet at their disposal. With a few clicks, they can locate the information and resources they seek. And you can, too.

So often, we forget that we have such power—that we can find answers, statistics, possibilities, options and opportunities just by typing in the right keywords and following valid links.

Do you want to find a good illustrator for your book? Search for “children’s book illustrator,” or “directory of illustrators.”

Do you need a publisher for your humor book? Locate books like yours on the Internet and find out who published them. Check out these publishers’ catalogs and submission guidelines.

Are you unsure as to which pay-to-publish company to go with? Conduct a search of complaints against your various choices. Type in the name of the company plus, “warning,” or “complaint,” and see what you come up with. Also be sure to read Mark Levine’s book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing. He rates and ranks several of these companies and explains the ins and outs of their contracts for you. Don’t make a choice without having read Mark’s book. You can get the ebook version of this book FREE when you join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). http://www.spawn.org

As a member of SPAWN, you will also have access to one of the best author’s/artist’s/freelance writer’s enewsletters around, the monthly SPAWN Market Update. I list directories of jobs for freelance writers and artists, new publishers seeking good works, important industry news and trends, book promotion ideas and opportunities galore.

Are you searching for a good book editor? You might look on the acknowledgements pages of books you like, retrieve the promo material you picked up at a recent book festival or writers’ club meeting for the speaker you admired, ask for recommendations and/or do an Internet search and then audition those editors you like best. Remember, I do book editing. And I can put you in touch with some satisfied clients. http://www.patriciafry.com

Learn to use the reference books you have purchased. Purchase excellent reference books that come to your attention. We put a great deal of effort and time into creating an index for you—use it. And use the huge information highway that’s in front of you at this moment when you have questions or issues that need resolution.

Two GREAT reference books:
Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author
Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author

Both available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores.

On the horizon—watch for it this fall:
Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. It’s already listed as a pre-order item at Amazon.com. Check it out and see what you think.

June 16, 2012

Networking at its Best

Filed under: Resources — Patricia @ 4:10 am

Do you belong to online discussion groups related to writing? Do you find them helpful? Do you participate in ways that might be helpful to others? Have you asked for recommendations, advice or assistance with one of your writing/publishing projects? What were the results?

SPAWN has a discussion group. I’m also a part of the Cat Writers’ Association discussion group. And I love it when members rally to help someone with a challenge they’re facing with their book project or, in the case of the Cat Writers’ group, a cat problem or question. This represents networking at its best. But it’s disappointing when someone reaches out and no one bothers to respond.

We’re all busy. I don’t think I know anyone who isn’t busy. But how long does it take to share a resource, give a recommendation or even offer a pat on the back? If everyone would reach out on occasion to help someone else, it wouldn’t be the same people responding all the time.

Each of us has expertise in some aspect of the writing craft or the world of publishing. We’ve all had different experiences along our publishing journey and we’ve learned things that could be of value to others. Let’s share what we can when we can and make someone else’s path easier—brighter. Not only is this a generous thing to do, this gesture will benefit you, as well, in ways that may surprise you.

Reach out. Networking can be a powerful tool toward your success and sense of self.

June 15, 2012

8 Steps for Starting a Writers’ Group

Filed under: Announcements — Patricia @ 4:14 am

1: Contact friends, acquaintances, neighbors, coworkers, associates, colleagues and others who are interested in writing and let them know that you plan to start a writers’ group. Ask them what sort of group they would most like to join and what they would hope to get out of meetings. Not only will this process guide you in designing your club or organization, it will help you to establish a support team.

2: Find a free place to meet. This might be in a bookstore, at a local college, in a library or in someone’s home. Meetings might also be held in an office building, at the local recreation center, in the community center at a mobile home park and so forth. Think about places where you have attended meetings in the past. If you must pay for space, consider charging a small fee for each meeting at the door.

3: Plan your first meeting. This might be a brainstorming meeting where all interested parties discuss the type of group to establish. Or invite a popular guest speaker—a local author who just got some media publicity, an agent, a publisher, an editor from a local magazine, a printer or someone who can talk about book promotion, for example. It helps to know the needs of potential members when planning your meetings.

4: Set a date and time for your meeting. If you have had a lot of input from other writers, try to choose a time that is convenient for the majority.

5: Make simple flyers announcing the first meeting and post them in bookstores, libraries, local colleges, senior centers and on community bulletin boards. Include a phone number and email address where people can request more information.

6: Send flyers to everyone you know who might be interested in meeting with other writers and/or who might be a good candidate to speak at a meeting.

7: Send announcements to local newspapers at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Check with each newspaper to learn their submission requirements. Community announcements are usually free.

8: Visit other writers’ groups and senior centers, etc. and announce your meeting. Be sure to take material with you to hand out.

June 14, 2012

Collaboration for Authors

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:50 am

A colleague contacted me this week to discuss the possibility of him collaborating with other authors on a project. At least that’s what I thought he meant. Turns out, he only needed a few resources.

I found the concept of collaboration for authors an interesting one, however, and decided to run with it in today’s blog post.

I recommend collaboration for an author who is struggling with a live presentation, a book title or even a storyline or book marketing ideas. Bring friends together and brainstorm ideas. It can be fun and productive.

Collaboration occurs naturally in writer critique groups when everyone jumps in to discuss how a certain passage could be made better or whether or not the main character is believable.

We sometimes engage members of our online or real-time writers’ groups to hash out questions and come up with ideas and resources in an automatic sort of way.

But how about creating a collaboration group of people you trust and respect to discuss the various issues that come up throughout the planning, writing and production process of your next book project. They might be able to help you determine the best route for your story to take or a better approach to your nonfiction book. Together, you might come up with a better cover design or fine tune the interior of your book.

I especially like the idea of a book marketing collaboration group. Just imagine how successful you could be with your book if you had the ideas and support of others who actually care. Of course, you would have the opportunity to help your colleagues out, as well. And just knowing that you have this responsibility, can prompt you to become a better researcher and a more astute student of publishing/book promotion, etc.

For more on collaboration and networking for authors, be sure to read my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. For additional ideas to bring to your networking or collaboration group, purchase the print or digital version of Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. Both are available at amazon.com and other online and downtown bookstores.

June 13, 2012

Education is the Author’s Friend

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 4:58 am

Are you afraid to learn? Do you have a block against changing the way you approach your publishing project? Some people do. In fact, this fear or block can stop you from moving forward with your book project and keep you from experiencing a high level of success.

I know someone who is dealing with a serious illness in the family. This man doesn’t understand what is happening—why things are changing and why things are so out of control. He has information about the illness at his fingertips, but instead of studying it, he does what he knows. He stays in his safe zone. Rather than learn something new, he keeps a journal—writes down what happened that day with his loved one, logs episodes and positive/negative activities occurring each day.

Instead of trying to understand the condition and how to handle it, he ignores research results and reports and is acting from his own limited knowledge. He keeps dealing with the same issues in the same way and, guess what? Nothing is changing.

I see authors do this, as well. They write a book and decide to publish it. But they aren’t willing to shift their mindset from writing mode to business mode. Some won’t even acknowledge that there is enough of a difference to acknowledge between the process of writing and the process of publishing.

If you are writing a book for publication and you want it to be a commercial success, you really must shift gears even before you complete the writing process. Once you know you will publish, start studying the publishing industry and what it takes to succeed.

It begins, you know, at the drawing board. You must first determine your audience and write the book for them.

When it is time to publish, bring with you that wonderful measure of creativity you’ve used while writing the book, as well as the discipline and skill. But also be willing to go back to school (so to speak) and learn the business of publishing before getting involved. Acknowledge that publishing is a very different activity than writing and that you must prepare yourself to enter into this fiercely competitive business.

Take the stance that publishing is an extension of your writing and you will be among the nearly 80 percent of authors who fail.

Are you ready to study the publishing industry? If you are even thinking about writing a book for publication, you should be ready NOW. Order my book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s at amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. Also available here: http://www.matilijapress.com

June 12, 2012

Are You CEO of Your Book Project?

Filed under: Authorship — Patricia @ 4:55 am

You are the author. You are in charge of writing and producing your book—finding a publisher, hiring a publisher or becoming the publisher. You are the major decision-maker and, by the way, the marketing agent.

What most authors don’t understand is that authorship means taking on all of the responsibilities related to your book project just as the CEO of any recognized company would. The author is responsible for:
• Writing a viable book for which there is an eager audience.

• Producing an error-free, well-written book.

• Researching publishing options and choosing the right one.

• Taking control of production—which means you’d better educate yourself about the industry.

• Promoting his or her book.

Shun these responsibilities and your book will likely fail. Nearly 80 percent of books fail. Why? Because the author:
• did not study the publishing industry.
• wrote a book without regard for his audience.
• failed to hire a good book editor.
• signed with the first pay-to-publish company he found.
• deferred to others when it came to making decisions.
• didn’t know that it was up to him/her to promote the book.

If you are writing a book for publication, start now taking it as seriously as you would any business venture. I generally recommend that authors—early in the process—study the publishing industry. A good book to give you a well-rounded understanding of the industry, your responsibilities as an author and tons of resources is my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resource for the Enterprising Author.

It’s at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. Also here: http://www.matilijapress.com

June 11, 2012

How to Prepare for Author Opportunities

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 6:12 am

Opportunities come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. If you have a book to promote, you must learn to recognize opportunities when you see them. And then you must know which ones to act on and when.

It seems that when you decide to turn writer, you must also hone your social, networking, marketing, Internet, organizational, public speaking and psychic skills. Why?

• Bookselling opportunities are often revealed when you network socially as well as in business situations.

• Without an inkling about marketing and promotion, you won’t even recognize opportunities, let alone know how to act on them.

• The Internet has much of the information and resources you need in order to publish and market your book. You must use it to learn, reinforce your skills and to research individuals and companies before getting involved.

• Organizational skills are a must for any busy author and if you are an author and you are not wildly busy, you are doing something wrong. I’d bet, for example, that you aren’t selling many books.

• I believe strongly that personality sells books. It follows that, as an author, you should be out there meeting your public in person, of course, but also via your website, blog, newsletters, articles, etc. Every author should be prepared to speak one-on-one as well as to a group of his or her readers.

• And we need to use our intuition in order to make the right choices when presented with opportunities. Not all of them will move us forward along our path to success. I can tell you, however, that I’d rather you say “yes” to an opportunity that doesn’t take you very far than to decline and reject every opportunity that appears on your radar.

What skills have you honed since deciding to write a book or since publishing one? Are you pursuing new skill challenges? Are you remembering to use the Internet to research companies and individuals before becoming involved? Do you use research skills to keep your finger on the pulse of the publishing industry as well as the genre or topic of your book? Are you out there meeting people and learning from them? How often do you use your intuition? Or do you consider it logic? Perhaps one person’s logic is another person’s intuition.

I would like to hear from newer authors on this topic. I think it would make an interesting article. Here’s your chance to be featured in an article (or, perhaps, a book). It’s an opportunity to get exposure as an author and exposure for your book.

I have been writing for publication and publishing books for so long it is part of my DNA. I grew up automatically honing these skills, so it’s difficult for me to isolate which ones I’ve leaned on more than others. I guess for me and my long-standing colleagues, technology has been our biggest challenge. For me, after 20 years of running my writing/publishing businesses the old-fashioned way, I had to learn a whole new way of operating. This required a major shift in the entire operation of my businesses—how I approached my projects and contacted and related to people; having access to greater opportunities due to wider exposure; everything happening momentarily rather than taking days or weeks to accomplish; a new skill base and way different marketing techniques. It has been an interesting ride.

If you’d like to learn about publishing from professionals in the industry—those who have the experience—order my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s at Amazon.com and other online and downtown bookstores. You can order it at my website, as well. http://www.matilijapress.com

I pour knowledge from my nearly forty years writing and publishing experience into this book and I’ve included advice and anecdotes from around 24 additional authors and publishing professionals. I designed it to be a one-stop shop for authors at any stage of their projects.

June 10, 2012

How to Promote Your Book of Fiction

Filed under: Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:23 am

When is someone going to write a book showing how to promote fiction? That caught your interest, didn’t it? Some of you novelists are saying, “Yes, when? It’s about time these book promotion experts think about us and our needs.”

The truth is, folks, most book promotion books and articles related to book promotion are brimming with ideas and tips for promoting fiction as well as nonfiction. The writer of fiction just views this material differently.

Over the years, I’ve had novelists tell me that my books and articles on book promotion and have nothing (or little) in them for the fiction author. I continually argued that these books are meant for all authors—that fiction authors must also solicit book reviews, go out and speak to their audiences, seek out specialty booksellers, request endorsements, build promotion into their books, promote their books by submitting articles/stories to appropriate publications, send press release, build a website and so forth.

So I wondered why even savvy fiction authors would say that the promotional ideas I presented were designed specifically for the nonfiction author. I wondered, what is missing in my books and articles that fiction authors need?

After many discussions with fiction authors—especially those who produce and market both fiction and nonfiction—the answer was revealed to me. It all boils down to perception. Those who successfully promote fiction actually use the same tactics as nonfiction authors do, only they use them in different ways. When they read a book on book promotion, they need explicit examples for authors of fiction and a little hand-holding to go along with it. Most fiction authors live so deeply in right brain mode that they can’t see the promotional possibilities unless they are spelled out.

If you are writing or already promoting a novel or a children’s book, it would behoove you to practice shifting to left brain thinking. Seriously consider viable book promotion ideas. Rather than discounting them, explore ways to use them in your promotional efforts. If you believe that these ideas work for nonfiction authors, figure out ways that they could work for you, too.

• Find the nonfiction hooks in your story and locate related avenues to pursue.
• Give entertaining live presentations.
• Build an interactive website.
• Design a book trailer.
• Post a podcast on your website.
• Contact influential people in your genre or related to the nonfiction hooks in your book and ask them to help with promotion.
• Solicit numbers of book reviews on the book page at Amazon and elsewhere.
• Submit stories and articles to appropriate magazines, newsletters and ezines to spark an interest in your writing style and stories.

I know one novelist who got a speaking gig on a cruise ship simply by asking if she could present a program on board.

I know authors of fiction and poetry who have sold quite a few books at book festivals.

I met an author once who had taken his novel door-to-door and sold copies to his neighbors.

I am aware of several fiction writers who successfully present programs to segments of their audiences.

Most authors of fiction, these days, have their own websites, do book signings, donate copies of their books to be auctioned off, place their books in appropriate specialty stores, blog, get numerous book reviews and so forth, just like their nonfiction counterparts do.

So tell me, what part of these promotional activities isn’t meant for fiction?

While each author must devise a marketing plan that works with his or her particular book, keep in mind that authors of both fiction and nonfiction can and should choose their promotional activities from the same pool. Never, never discount a book, article or presentation featuring book promotion ideas because you think they do not relate to your book. Most likely they absolutely do. You’re just peering at them through a narrow slit in your mind.

Here’s what I advise, study books on book promotion. Consider how you could manipulate or massage the activities to work well on behalf of your book. Use your amazing sense of creativity to design your own unique promotional activities. Open your mind to the possibilities and you will experience greater success.

In the meantime, read my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. http://www.matilijapress.com or http://amzn.to/oe561a

This book, by the way, has numerous tips, ideas and instructions specifically for authors of fiction, children’s books and poetry.

June 9, 2012

Personality and Creativity Sell Books

Filed under: Authorship,Book Promotion — Patricia @ 5:22 am

Yesterday we talked about establishing and building on your author’s platform. For some of you, this was a reminder to get out there and make yourself known to a larger audience. Others still don’t understand the concept. You have told family, friends and a few acquaintances, coworkers and other random people about your planned book and they all seem interested. Their feedback has encouraged you to continue writing. From all indications, this book will be easy to sell.

But I have to tell you, only a percentage of those people you talked to will actually buy the book. You will need to reach a whole lot of people in order to sell even 100 copies of your book. If you want to sell more than 100 copies, you and your book must become known to an even larger number of potential customers.

Do you have an agent who typically works with big name publishers? Do you expect to land a publisher who will heavily advertise your book on radio and major magazines, get your book in Publisher’s Weekly, place it in all bookstores nationwide, get you gigs on TV, arrange for your book to be in the gift bags for the Oscars and so forth? Then, you can probably count on sales in the millions—or at least high thousands.

But if you plan to go with a pay-to-publish company, self-publish or even sign with a small or medium royalty publisher, it will be up to you to locate and pitch to your audience. Unless you have money to burn, there will be no advertising with the majors. Your book probably won’t be featured in Publisher’s Weekly. Nor will it be placed in bookstores or tucked into celebrity gift bags. In fact, any publicity your book gets is up to you. And with so many books being promoted, it’s really difficult to have yours noticed.

That’s why you need to make yourself and your book known to a wide audience. I mean thousands! You need to identify your specific audience and put your book in front of them as often as possible. And, because personality sells books, it is important that you become known to your audience. You might also come up with some interesting sales gimmicks

Margaret Brownley is a colleague of mine. She is the author of several novels, some of them hit bestseller status. I’ve known Margaret for a couple of years. And I’ve been curious about her books. I thought, “Someday I’d like to read one.”

Recently, I received a notice from her (because I’m on her emailing list). She was offering one of her novels FREE for Kindle. I didn’t have a Kindle, but I know someone who does and I asked him to order the book for me so I could read it. Not only did I enjoy reading her free book, I really liked using the Kindle. Now I have my own Kindle AND I’ve ordered more of Margaret’s ebooks.

Some authors run contests to attract new readers for their books. Some bundle their books. Amazon does a lot of bundling of late. In fact, we can learn from Amazon. They are amazing marketers. Do you notice how, when you go to their site to learn more about a particular book or to find a book on a certain topic or in a specific genre, you get suggestions for other books, as well. Amazon says to customers, “If you liked that book, you’re probably going to love this one.” They are always selling.

And one of their sales ploys is the book review. They know that the opinion of other readers counts.

We could all take lessons from Amazon. They are high profile, indeed. They try to make their authors high profile. And this is also something you need to do for yourself.

If you don’t want to put yourself in the limelight—if you would rather stay in the shadows—don’t expect to sell the number of books you would sell if you were out meeting and greeting your public in numbers of ways—even through your writing.

It’s your choice, of course. I just want you to be aware that, in this horrifically competitive publishing climate, if you don’t establish and continue building on your platform—if you don’t use your sense of creativity when it comes to promotion—you will be disappointed in the number of book sales.

Learn more about how the publishing industry works and your responsibilities as a published author by reading my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. If you’re ready to start thinking about or pursuing book promotion, you really need my book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. Amazon is bundling these two books as we speak.

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