\nAre you writing more than ever and earning less? Does it seem as though you are endlessly meeting deadlines and jumping through hoops in order to make a buck or to gain additional exposure for your book? And what is the result? Is your attitude about the whole dang economy and your dwindling bank account interfering with the way you write\u2014the material you produce? Is your writing losing its sparkle\u2014that trademark quality you have achieved over the years? Are your promotional efforts being thwarted at every turn?<\/p>\n
I heard from one former client last week who said that she has quit writing altogether because of the dismal return on her efforts. She said, \u201cIt just isn\u2019t worth it to stay in the competition.\u201d And boy don\u2019t you feel the competition out there? Thousands more writer are vying for space in magazines and on book shelves. There are many more of us trying to get our books reviewed, striving to get our blog sites noticed, attempting to be read! It seems to me that, with every writer or author who drops out of the competition, there are five more hopping on the merry-go-round reaching for the brass ring.<\/p>\n
So what can we, as freelance writers and authors, do to be noticed\u2014to get the writing work and to sell more books? Isn\u2019t it obvious? We need to do a better job of what we\u2019re already doing and, perhaps, add a few new tricks to our repertoire. Here are some suggestions:<\/p>\n
1: Practice new writing skills. Rather than throwing in the towel, work on your writing. Maybe you\u2019ve been told at your writers\u2019 group or by an editor that you have a tendency to over-write or that your writing lacks clarity. Find a writing buddy who will work with you on this problem. And practice, practice, practice.<\/p>\n
2: Join a group or online organization and participate in order to keep abreast of the opportunities for writers and authors. A SPAWN member told me recently that she finally took the time to read an entire issue of the SPAWN Market Update <\/em>(in the member area of the SPAWN website) and boy was she glad she did. She said that she followed up on two resources and adopted one of our book promotion ideas and now has renewed hope for her stagnating novel. SPAWN is Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a>. Sign up for the FREE newsletter and get a FREE ebook all about promoting your work. <\/p>\n 3: Try 5, 3 or even 2 new leads every week. In other words, submit your work to 5 new magazines or newsletters, promote your book through 5 new channels. This schedule is for those of you who are also working at an outside job. If writing or book promotion is your primary work, increase that number to 5 per day! <\/p>\n 4: Study! No matter where you are in the process of writing\/publishing, you have more to learn. Improve your chances of publication and\/or of selling more books by taking yourself back to school. If you have a book that is not doing well in the marketplace, read my ebook, The Author\u2019s Repair Kit<\/em><\/strong>. It will help you to breathe new life into your book. If you are new to publishing, PLEASE read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong>. Some authors consider this book their Bible. If you can\u2019t afford the fee your editor wants to charge for editing your manuscript, take my NEW Self-Editing course. It\u2019s so new that it\u2019s not up at my website yet. Contact me for course description: PLFry620@yahoo.com. <\/p>\n 5: Grow some courage. Writers are not always good at promotion. Yet, especially in this economy, we must be more proactive than ever before on behalf of our projects. If you are a bit timid\u2014if you absolutely despise having to actually sell your book or your freelance work\u2014perhaps it is time for a change. Join Toastmasters and learn how to handle yourself in formal speaking situations as well as casual conversation. http:\/\/www.toastmasters.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n You can have what you want. Here are the steps to attaining it:<\/p>\n \u2022\tKnow what you want. There\u2019s no magic. There\u2019s no mystery. Everything you need in order to succeed is inside yourself. It\u2019s just a matter of wanting it badly enough to change whatever is currently keeping you from having it.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tUnderstand why you want it. Is it for valid or frivolous reasons?
\n\u2022\tFind out what it is going to take to attain it.
\n\u2022\tChange aspects of yourself and\/or the situation in order to accomplish it.<\/p>\n