Okay, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s resolution time. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been a hopeful author or an aspiring freelance writer long enough. Now it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time to fish or cut bait. (Excuse the clich\u00c3\u00a9.) Is this the year that you will shift from would-be\/wannabe published to happily, successfully published? What is your plan? <\/p>\n
Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a concept: how about writing something that will sell and then actually submitting it? Can you handle the pressure? Can you overcome the fear of failure? Can you commit to an agenda that will facilitate your publishing dream? Let me help you get started on your path to publishing success.<\/p>\n
Make the Time<\/strong> 2: Sacrifice something. Everyone is busy. But, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll notice that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re never too busy to do the things you really want to do. If you are serious about writing, make some sacrifices. If not, stop whining about lacking time to write. For example, give up clubbing on Friday nights, Desperate Housewives <\/em>on TV and\/or sleeping in until 7 or 8 every morning. <\/p>\n Get Started <\/strong> If you want to write a book, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book <\/em> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> I recommend also using the Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Workbook<\/em>. Customers tell me it is highly effective in guiding them through the writing and publishing process. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/workbook.html<\/a> Also consider signing up for my online book proposal course, http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_bookproposal.htm<\/a> and\/or the self-publishing course, http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_selfpub.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n 4: Study your particular topic\/genre. Whether you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re writing articles, short stories or a book, you must have some sense of the market. Who publishes material on your topic\/genre? What is already out there? What can you add that is new, different and needed? Before choosing a slant or focus for your piece, become familiar with your market. Rather than pushing ahead with your brilliant idea, make sure that there is a market. Many many authors and freelance writers can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get a foot-in-the-door because they are too attached to how they want to present the material without giving a thought to what will actually sell.<\/p>\n 5: Write a proposal. For an article, you need only write a query letter, but you want it to include the purpose, scope, slant and style for your proposed article, names of any experts you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll interview or quote, number of words, something about you and your expertise in the topic\/genre and your expected date of delivery. <\/p>\n For a book, write a book proposal, first and then approach the publisher with a well-written, succinct query letter. Learn how to write a book proposal by reading my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em> (see link above). Let the companion Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Workbook <\/em>(link above) walk you through the steps. Sign up for my online book proposal course and get one-on-one help writing your proposal. (See link above.) For help writing a query letter for a book, refer to The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>. For help writing a query letter for an article, read A Writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Guide to Magazine Articles<\/em> (see link above). <\/p>\n
\n1: Set a schedule and stick to it. Even if you can only eke out an extra hour each day, use that hour to develop your writing project.<\/p>\n
\n3: Research the publishing avenue of your choice. If you want to break into magazines, study appropriate books, articles and blogs related to writing for magazines. For example, A Writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Guide to Magazine Articles <\/em> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/writingpage.html<\/a> Read some of my articles at: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/articles.htm#writing<\/a> Sign up for my online article-writing course at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_magarticles.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n