I received some articles this week from someone who wants us to publish them in one of our SPAWN newsletters or at the website. Of course, they were designed to promote a book. But they were quite poorly written\u2014needed editing. And they were off topic for SPAWN\u2014so not appropriately targeted.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure that my regular blog followers do not make these mistakes. You make sure that your articles are polished and you submit them in the required manner and to the appropriate venue.
\nIf not, you, too, are probably receiving those dreaded rejection letters or, worse yet, you are being ignored. (Don\u2019t you hate when that happens\u2014not EVEN a rejection note or email\u2026.)<\/p>\n
Hey rejection happens. I received two rejection letters from publishers with regard to my revised edition of Over 100 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book<\/em>, just yesterday. The publishers just didn\u2019t feel as though they could sell enough copies of a book on this topic to chance investing in it. I understand. In the meantime, another publisher asked to see the completed manuscript and is reviewing it now.<\/p>\n Okay, but let\u2019s talk about those articles of yours. I suggest that you use magazine articles to promote your book. But let\u2019s be real! <\/p>\n \u2022\tThey must be interesting\/of some value to the reader. Think about it, if you needed (I mean really needed) an editor for your book manuscript, you probably need an editor for your articles. If you didn\u2019t hire an editor for your book, maybe you don\u2019t know what editorial problems may lurk within the pages of your memoir, novel or nonfiction book. And if your articles are continually being rejected, maybe it is because you need an editor.<\/p>\n Most editors (like myself) will edit articles as well as book manuscripts. I just finished working with a gentleman on an article he is going to submit to a contest. I think he is happier with it now\u2014I know it has a much better chance of winning. <\/p>\n When I wrote my rejection to the author who sent those articles to SPAWN yesterday, I offered my services (at $50\/hour) to edit his articles so he\u2019ll have a better chance of getting them published. <\/p>\n Some writers don\u2019t even know what an article actually consists of. They don\u2019t give it a beginning, middle and end. They just ramble or pull something from their book and call it an article. Most book excerpts need some work in order to turn them into an article.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve never thought of submitting book excerpts to magazines in order to promote your book? There are lots and lots of magazines in every category that use book excerpts. In fact, this is one of the themes for the SPAWN Market Update <\/em>to be posted in the member area of the SPAWN website April 1. Join SPAWN here http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a> <\/p>\n A more economical way to get your articles edited and to LEARN editing techniques for your articles is to SIGN UP for my online article-writing course. Sing up today and bring your article-writing skills up to par: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_magarticles.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n Contact me to edit your next article. I\u2019ll give you a discount if you\u2019ll mention it in your email: PLFry620@yahoo.com.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tThey must be relevant to the publication.
\n\u2022\tThey must be timely.
\n\u2022\tThey must be fresh\/not be run-of-the-mill pieces.
\n\u2022\tThey must be carefully edited.<\/p>\n