I tell every hopeful author and freelance writer who will listen that knowledge is one key to their publishing success. But where can you go to get information about the publishing industry, to become familiar with the resources you need, to be ever aware of the opportunities and keep up with the changes within the industry? Here’s what I suggest: <\/p>\n
\u2022\tJoin organizations such as SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a> as well as IBPA (formerly PMA), http:\/\/www.pma-online.org<\/a> and SPAN, http:\/\/www.spannet.org<\/a> Of the organizations mentioned above, SPAWN is the only one who addresses the needs of the beginning and advanced author and freelance writer. Sign up for the FREE newsletter at the SPAWN website: http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a>. Click on “FREE newsletter.”<\/p>\n I’m the president of SPAWN. And I write a second newsletter FOR MEMBERS ONLY which is posted at the SPAWN website each first of the month. This one, The Market Update<\/em>, is jam-packed with information, news bites, resources and opportunities for authors (at any stage of their publishing journey), freelance writers, artists, photographers, poets and others who are interested in being published. <\/p>\n Here’s a peek into the September edition of the SPAWN Market Update<\/em>. I have included:<\/p>\n For Freelance writers<\/strong>: For Authors<\/strong>: Join SPAWN today and gain access to all of this and much more in the September 2008 edition of the SPAWN Market Update<\/em>. The cost to join SPAWN is $45\/year. Every new member can earn many times this amount in the first month of membership through the tips, opportunities, resources and information bites available in just one issue of this incredible newsletter. Spend a little time searching our Market Update <\/em>archives and you could be taking money to the bank\u2014lots of it! PLUS you will get a free book or ebook of your choice. We are now including Mark Levine’s The Fine Print of Self-Publishing <\/em>as one of your choices. Join SPAWN, choose this book and you’ve knocked the cost of your SPAWN membership down to around $25.00.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tRead the newsletters and e-newsletters from these organizations and subscribe to others.
\n\u2022\tVisit these organization websites and take advantage of the resources they offers.
\n\u2022\tRead good books by reliable authorities. For authors, I recommend my book: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>, http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> and, if you plan to go with a POD self-publishing services, read Mark Levine’s book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing <\/em>(The Contracts and Services of 45 Self-Publishing Companies\u2014Analyzed, Ranked and Exposed). For freelance writers, read A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles <\/em> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/writingpage.html<\/a> and books by Peter Bowerman, for example.
\n\u2022\tAttend lectures and conferences related to publishing and freelance writing.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tListings for dozens of consumer and trade magazines, such as: HOW<\/em> (pays $900 per article), Human Resource Executive <\/em>(pays up to $1,000), Advantages Magazine <\/em>(pays up to $1,000 per piece).
\n\u2022\tSites where you can find additional trade magazines listed: http:\/\/www.freebizmag.com<\/a>, http:\/\/www.tradepub.com<\/a>
\n\u2022\tAn article focusing on when and how to get permission to quote an individual or a passage.
\n\u2022\tI’ve also included 5 magazines that will pay for poetry.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tA list of a dozen publishers to consider.
\n\u2022\tAccess to hundreds of children’s book publishers. For example: http:\/\/www.signaleader.com<\/a>
\n\u2022\tBook promotion opportunities, including a list of fall book festivals and a magazine where you can promote your memoir.
\n\u2022\tA library search tool where you can search for books you need for research purposes AND where you can discover which libraries house your own published books. I used http:\/\/www.worldcat.org<\/a> and discovered hundreds of my own books in libraries throughout the world, including South Africa, Australia, and London.<\/p>\n