by Raquel Byrnes (Edge of Your Seat Romance)

We’ve all been there. We check and re-check our email jumping at every ring of our phone. Waiting for a call or an email acceptance of our query or proposal can be nerve wracking. You second guess yourself. You worry you should have gone with the other tagline. You drive yourself nuts.

It’s important to stay busy, a fellow writer once told me. Send off the queries and then get back to work. I think that is the best advice out there. Why? Because worried writers often make mistakes in their frustration that can hurt them in the long run.

Here are three important things not to do while waiting to hear back on your submissions.

• Complain publicly. I’ve seen this on countless blogs and websites. Writers at their wits-end bashing agents or editors for the wait time. They post or Tweet or comment about how inconsiderate they think people in the industry are or how the “gate-keepers” have no idea what the public wants. This is both unprofessional and a detriment to your career. Who would want to work with a rampant complainer? Do yourself a favor and complain to a friend or journal it. But please, for your sake, keep it off the internet.

• Stop Writing. You’ve polished your manuscript to brilliant perfection. You’ve written a query that wows. Your proposal will be used as an example of marketing genius throughout the writing community. Great job. Now get back to work. One of the worst things you can do is not produce. Publishers often look at new writers with a bit of trepidation. Is one novel you spent four years on all you have in you or can you continue to produce good work in a timely manner? Block out another story, have it in the wings in case you do get “The Call.”

• Be Impatient. I know that you want to see your words in print. I know that you have the heart to reach others with your dreams. Don’t let waiting spur you into something you might regret. Don’t stalk the agent or the editor. Don’t send the equivalent of “Are We There Yet?” emails. Sure its fine to check back after their posted lead time. Some agents even encourage a follow up after a month or two. The problem is when you damage a possible relationship by being difficult. Be patient, Grasshopper, your time will come.

Some things to definitely do? Stay visible. Network online and build the following you’ll surely need when you do get published. Go to conferences and avail yourself of the great workshops they offer. Even published, successful authors continue to hone their skills. Also read. I can’t stress this enough. Writers are avid readers especially in their own genre. Know your stuff. Learn from styles different than yours. Reading feeds your imagination and that, after all, is a writer’s best friend.

Raquel Byrnes is a writer and blogger. Visit her at her blog and website to learn more.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Additional resources on novel writing:

• Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days
  
• You Can Write A Novel
• This Year You Write Your Novel

It’s no secret that one reason I love interviewing writers is because I learn a lot. The very best writers teach, inspire, and help other writers. People I’ve talked to throughout my freelancing career have introduced me to other helpful people in publishing, those people have taught me new things, and the cycle goes on and on. Whether you are a freelancer or novelist, there is no shortage of ways to learn about this industry.

In interviewing about 200 writers, I’ve noticed a few things about us.

1. There really is no such thing as the same writing career for everyone. Freelancers each have a different way of getting clients and making money.  Authors have a different fan base, a different approach, and loads of different writing styles.  It’s up to each of us to respect another writer’s choices, and just do what it right for us.
2. Writers come from all walks of life, every educational background, and every age group. This reaffirms for me that it’s never too late to start writing, regardless of where you are in your life.
3. Writer’s goals are all different. This is not the same statement as #1 on this list.  While every writer might have a different career right now, they also vary in where they want their writing career to be.  (And I’m not talking about I want to make money from my writing.  That’s a given.)  Some writers want to be bestsellers.  Some want to tell a story.  Some want to make a living and support their family.  Some do this because they have health issues, and the flexibility allows them to work.  What each writer wants from their career is different, and that’s okay.
4. Writers love to read. No, I mean, they seriously love to read.  Most writers I talk to read an average of a book a week, and some many more.  Writers love the written word, which isn’t surprising.  The fact that they actually make the time to read?  Somewhat surprising to me.
5. The more humble and gracious the writer, the more I respect them. I’m a fan of all writers (so now you know my secret) but when I meet an accomplished writer who is really so very grateful that he or she has fans and success, well that just makes me adore them all the more.


6. The writers who know exactly who they are have an easier time succeeding. There are some writers who loath any novelist, blogger, or freelancer who has success.  I’m not sure why.  Obviously they don’t know of list item #1 above.  Or maybe, they just don’t know who they are as a writer.  When you figure that out, it is easier to make decisions for your career that are right for you.  When you do that, you can find a level of happiness with your life and writing.  If you don’t know who you are, you end up chasing another writer’s career.  You’re trying to be the next…. (fill in the blank)… and the result is that you aren’t going to be happy no matter what.  You will use up your energy in being angry in what you think you don’t have, rather than in appreciating your unique career path.
7. Writers make time to write. We all knew this already, didn’t we?  Writers don’t wait for the right time or a muse, they just sit their butts down in a chair and write.  Regularly.
8. Most writers don’t believe in writer’s block. One of the questions I ask writers occasionally is whether they believe in writer’s block.  The overwhelming majority say no.  That doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t struggle at times or have other moments when the writing flows more easily.  It just means that if writing is a job, you do it.  You might get up from your chair and take a walk outside to clear your head, but you’re going right back to the computer because you don’t have time to “be blocked.”  Which brings me to my next point…
9. Writers need breaks, chocolate, and a puppy kiss or two. Writers need to do things other than writing occasionally, to get fresh air and exercise and to think about something other than work.  Most writers I know “write” all the time, whether it is scribbling down notes or working out a scene in their head, but all of us need to step away from the computer, story, or keywords a time or two.
10. Most writers are wonderfully supportive of each other. The other ones?  They are easy to spot.  They act jealous of any writer’s success or are constantly unhappy even when they get a book deal or new client.  Pissy, childish writers are everywhere, but they fade into the background when you seek out the mature, supportive writers who are willing to help and “pay it forward.”
11. Good business skills are important. We talk a lot about marketing when it comes to writing, but what I’m referring about here is business know-how.  This is true for freelancers, bloggers, and novelists alike.  Learn the terminology of publishing, understand what it means to query, get a contract, and send a partial.  Understand how it all works so you can make the best decisions for you.
12. Writers get starstruck sometimes. Is it just me?  My worst interviews here are the ones with the writers I most admire.  Either I am the lamest interviewer ever (I think you’re so great! tell us why you’re so great!) or I was starstruck.
13. Some people have no idea what writers do. I’m talking about friends and family here. They really, seriously, don’t understand what it is you do.  What do you mean you can’t come to lunch?  What do you mean you have to get back to work?  Why are you on Facebook so much?  How exactly do you get paid?  What is it you do now? They are well-meaning and try to understand, but they somehow just don’t get it.  Compare that to….
14. Some people in your life won’t be happy for your success. This is different from other writers not supporting you.  This is people you know, are friends with, have pulled for, supported, loved, and yet… they are resentful.  I’ll admit, I don’t understand this.  Do some people want secretly to be writers?  Do people feel writing is not a “real job”?  Or are they are unhappy with their own life for whatever reason?  Who knows!  Whatever the reason, there will be people in your life who will shock you with their pissy, lame comments about your career.  They will secretly delight when you get a rejection letter or lose a client.  It sucks, which is why finding other supportive writers can be so helpful.


15. The publishing world is alive and well… and changing. There are some folks that declare the publishing world “dead” but that’s not true.  In fact, everything about writing is changing, including the freelance world.  Writers have many more options for their careers than ever before.  The key is finding out the facts about writing and publishing and making decisions armed with correct information.
16. There are successful writers who don’t actually think of themselves as writers. This always boggles my mind, but there are writers who come to this profession as an expert in something else.  You know?  And they write, have successful books or articles, and yet still don’t really think of themselves as actual, honest to goodness, writers.
17. There are writers who need to get their egos in check. This, thankfully, is a really small percentage, in my opinion.  One example:  a writer who contacted me for an interview, then never had time to answer the questions (I told her no problem I didn’t have a deadline) then asked me if I understood how hard it was to work under a deadline because she had a manuscript that was killing her (yes I’m a writer too) then looked at my questions and said she’d answered similar questions before and could I just cut and paste answers from the FAQ on her website?  (Uh…. no.) Then, asked when the interview would be up.  (Never.)  Here’s the thing, sometimes people are going to ask you lame questions, they are going to interview you when they have a new site, they are going to ask you for things when you are under a deadline.  But how you respond and treat people speaks volumes about ego.  Get it in check.
18. Writers need to adapt to changing times. All these changes in publishing and freelancing mean that to continue to be successful, you’ve got to change too.  My favorite interviews on this blog are with people who have been in the business a long time.  They continue to succeed, in large part, because they try new ways of reaching out to readers, they’re open to the new methods of publishing or communicating with clients.
19. There really is something to learn from everyone. Finding out how writers market, find inspiration, interact with editors, find agents… all of it is something that another writer can benefit from.  Just when you think you’ve heard it all, you learn something new.
20. It really is possible to make a living as a working writer. This is perhaps my favorite realization of all.  Now, I’m not talking about being a millionaire, I’m talking about making a living.  A true-blue, buy groceries and pay rent living.  Not just a side income, but a real salary.  It isn’t easy.  Like anything worth doing, it’s hard work.  You probably won’t be famous.  You will, however, enjoy what you do.

Guest post by Courtland L. Bovee

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million by some counts), with thousands more being created every day. Making yours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but here are ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from the crowd.

1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader’s attention. It is the first thing someone reads, and it should get your reader’s attention right away. Your title should both pique the reader’s interest and be informative. Do not write “Business Writing Advice”; instead, say “The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Your Business Writing Worries.” Longer titles have the advantage of describing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a good range.

2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a long way. Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detangling complex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also, use strong language. Start a new paragraph every few sentences, and limit each post to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in under 250 words, split it into two entries.

3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points, and subheadings to make your posts easy to scan. Lots of white space on the page is a good thing-it allows your reader to take mental breaks and let the knowledge soak in. In addition, with the inevitable clutter of banner ads and side text, this technique puts some distance between your writing and all those distractions.

4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stay up-to-date so your readers do not have to themselves. Read newspapers. Scour the web for references. For example, if you write a blog about business communication, subscribe to Google News Alerts using keywords related to the field, such as blogs, podcasting, instant messaging, business letters, memos, and business reports, so you will always be well informed. Posting items from last month or last year will lose your reader’s interest faster than you can say “Enron.”

5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of course, there are some situations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people a reason to read this blog by you and not by the person next door.

6. Be accurate. If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up. Know what your sources are and quote them accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind that fans it.

7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but then what? Do not just post links to the same tired sites, offer your reader something new. Contribute to the conversation. Your goal is to be the site to which everyone else is linking-so you had better have something worth writing about.

8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of your blog, stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no business posting about the latest innovation in alternative energy. Such a deviance will only confuse your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.

9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key. Harness your blog’s search engine potential by dousing your title and post with effective keywords that will help interested parties find your page in the vast, muddled blogosphere. This is one of the most important elements of getting your blog read-go at it with gusto.

10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Post frequently-at least several times per week if you want to increase your potential of attracting new readers. Let your blog languish for weeks without updates and your audience will move on to fresher ground.

Maintaining an informative blog that people want to read takes hard work and good writing skills. Find what makes your writing unique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.

About The Author:
Courtland L. Bovee, one of America’s leading instructors in clear and effective communication, co-authors several leading college-level texts with John V. Thill, a prominent communications consultant and current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Communication Strategies. Their website, Business Communication Headline News, the #1 business communication site on the web, is at http://www.businesscommunicationheadlinenews.com.

Image: sxc.hu.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Guest post by: Donna Gunter

The most effective strategy that I’ve used to date to promote myself online, establish my expertise, and develop a following has been to write at least one quality “how to” article weekly and get that submitted to online article banks and directories. I love writing these “how to” articles in a tips format, i.e. 7 Secrets to…or 5 Strategies to Help You…or How You Can Do (something) in 6 Easy Steps. Why? Because people browse the Internet for free information, and the easiest way to convey that information is a step-by-step “how to” article providing a number of tips to help someone accomplish a task.

I find “how to” articles the easiest format for a website visitor to read, as the numbered or bullet format enables the reader to quickly scan your points, and then return to those that interest her for a more comprehensive review. Quite frankly, they’re also the easiest to write.

Here’s how I write my “how to” articles. In fact, I wrote this article in this very fashion.

1. Determine a topic. What would be most valuable to your readers this week? Is there an issue or a problem that you’ve recently helped a client solve? A common question you routinely answer for people via email? A current event that ties in perfectly to your service? Remember, you don’t have to tell everything you know in the article — you only have to hit the most relevant points and provide enough content so that the reader believes the article to be of value.

2. Write down 5-7 “talking points”. These talking points are a 5-7 word description of each of the points I’ll be making in the article. As you can see in this article, I’ve succinctly described each talking point at the beginning of each of the numbered segments. How do I determine my number? That’s easy — it’s completely based on the number of points I wish to make in an article. If I can only come up with 5, then it’s 5. Sometimes I have much to say and end up with 10, or occasionally even as many as 15. However, my average is somewhere between 6-10 points per article.

3. Fill in your talking points. Here is where you elaborate with a bit more information about each of your talking points. Don’t let this step overwhelm you, even though it is the one that will take the most time. Just visualize yourself speaking to a client about a particular point and simply write in the same way that you would talk. Don’t try and imitate someone else’s style — just be yourself. If you speak better than you write, you might find it helpful to record what you’re saying and have it transcribed and edited. For recording, you can use Audacity.com, which is a free recording software, or use a telephone bridgeline service that records calls, like TheBasementVentures.com, and then search on freelance sites for a reliable transcriptionist.

4. Create an opening paragraph. After completing the number points in my article, I then create 1-2 opening paragraphs that lead into my topic and tell the readers what I plan to tell them. Usually I tell a short story about what has led me to write this article based on either my experiences or those of my clients. The more you personalize this and make it your own, the better rapport you develop with your readers and the better they get to know you.

5. Write a closing paragraph. Just as in a speech, your closing paragraph should summarize what you’ve said in your article. Some article banks will not accept an article without a closing paragraph when you use the tips format, so wrap up your article in 1-2 concluding sentences.

6. Create a title. This is when I go and do a bit of research on Google and try out article titles to see what else is out there and to assess if I’m using popular search keywords in my title. The general formula that I use for my article titles is a number and a problem that most of my target market has or a number and a solution to a problem that they have. Make sure the terms you use in your title are ones commonly used and referred to by your target market.

7. Proofread and publish the article. After you complete the article, walk away for 30 minutes and then return to proofread your article. If copy editing isn’t in your skill set, have a friend or colleague or your assistant proofread your article, checking for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Then, have your assistant set up the article for distribution through an article submission service or individually to article banks.

Don’t let the thought of writing an article completely overwhelm you. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll discover that you can write an article much more quickly than you might have imagined. In just a few short months, you’ll have the makings of a growing bank of expert articles for your target market.

About The Author:
Online Business Resource Queen (TM) and Online Business Coach Donna Gunter helps independent service professionals learn how to automate their businesses, leverage their expertise on the Internet, and get more clients online. To claim your FREE gift, TurboCharge Your Online Marketing Toolkit, visit her site at http://www.OnlineBizU.com. Ask Donna an Internet Marketing question at http://www.AskDonnaGunter.com.

Article source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/writing/article_1488.shtml

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Guest post by: Peter Bowerman

Got a Non-Fiction Book? Tell Your Reader What’s In It for Them! by Peter Bowerman (Adapted from The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living, by Peter Bowerman. Fanove, 2007. www.wellfedsp.com). NOTE: the following suggestions apply to non-fiction works.

Some time back, I got an email from an ebook author who wanted a blurb for his upcoming book on writing. I couldn’t help but notice that his title seemed a bit weak. The book was about getting past the obstacles that most fiction writers encounter on the way to finishing their books. The original title was:

Writing Your Novel: A Quick and Easy Guide to Getting It Done

Yawn. It needed to be more dynamic. Here’s what I came up with:

UNSTUCK! Kick Down Those Roadblocks and Finish Your Novel Now!

Now, someone can look at the title and know instantly what the book is about and the benefits they’ll get from reading it.

If you’re writing non-fiction, your title and subtitle are as crucially important as a great-looking cover. And in many respects, a title is similar to a corporate tagline, something I have a good bit of experience through my commercial writing career. Let’s look at some famous taglines:

• GE. We bring good things to life.
• Delta. We’re ready when you are.
• Avis. We try harder.
• Burger King. Have it your way.
• Virginia is for lovers.

What do they all have in common? They’re promises. They tell you what you can count on. Same with a brand. Think Dove soap. Tiffany’s. Volvo. IBM. Any doubt as to the promise in those brands? Keep this in mind as you create your book title.

Promise, Then Elaborate

When I created my title, I kept in mind the promise, and I say I could have done a lot worse than The Well-Fed Writer (a detailed how-to guide on starting a “commercial” writing business – writing for corporations, where the income potential money was FAR greater than typical “freelance writing”).

I then used the subtitle to reinforce, clarify, elaborate on the promise of the title. I went with: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less – an additional promise in its own right. Don’t make readers wonder what your book is about; have them “get it” right away from the title and subtitle. A good rule of thumb on titles vs. subtitles? If the title you come up with sounds more explanatory than catchy (and is more than 4-5 words, max), it’s probably a better subtitle.

It all comes down to benefits. Good title/subtitle combos tell readers what’s in it for them, why they should bother picking up the book in the first place.

Another Case Study

In another case, I was hired to mentor a new self-publishing author, an ad industry veteran who’d written book on creativity. While he wanted to tap my expertise on a variety of nuts and bolts issues, in his mind, his cover artwork (and photography) was paid for and nailed down, along with, of course, his title, too:

The Field Guide to Creativity:

One Path And 101 Pointers For Discovering Fresh Ideas

Well, when I told him his title needed work, he wasn’t exactly overjoyed. I must confess, I felt a bit like the parent telling his daughter that, despite the fact that the wedding is two weeks away, invitations sent, and caterer, florist, photographer and band paid for, I thought her intended betrothed is a loser and it’s not too late to call it off. Here was a book – a really good, interesting, valuable and yes, creative book – purporting to help people be more creative, and its title simply wasn’t.

He took my advice, revisited the idea, he and I and a bunch of his friends (via email) brainstormed a bunch of jazzier titles, and here’s what he ended up with:

ZING! Five Steps & 101 Tips for Creativity on Command

Not a promise in a strict sense, but in way, the feeling it evoked was.

Speaking of Creativity…

I had a client recently, a long-time elementary school art teacher, who’d hired me for general consult on her unfolding self-publishing process. She’d created a wonderful book – an artistic resource (“idea book”) for young people designed to spur their unique creative expression through a host of fun, unusual artistic techniques as well as all the necessary supply lists and “how-to.” Early on, she’d named this seven-year labor of love:

The Color Book: A Book of Ideas to Inspire Young Artists

Her rationale: color and choice of color were fundamental to a child’s artistic development (and the book was so colorful). I questioned the main title, even though she hadn’t asked me to critique it, and in fact, considered it set in stone.

My thinking? For starters, her title made sense to her, given what she knew about the concept, none of which was self-evident to a buyer. Just as importantly, it was potentially confusing; it could mean a lot of things (i.e. color swatches, history of color, etc.). Finally, it didn’t explain what the book was and didn’t begin to really do justice to the book’s mission. I suggested something I felt was more descriptive of that mission:

Art Sparks! A Creative Adventure to Inspire Young Artists

Again, a promise. And while she liked it, she initially resisted it, more out of attachment and inertia. But, she quickly realized that she needed to think of her buyer, and came to love it as she saw that it truly captured her heartfelt mission for the book.

Know what the #1 best-selling trade paperback of 2002 was, according to Publishers Weekly? A cookbook! And one that sold 1.8 million copies. Title: The Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting With Your Slow Cooker. (Authors: Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good). Now is that a promise or what?

*************
Can’t land a publisher? Do it yourself, and make a living from it! Check out a free report on self-publishing at www.wellfedsp.com, home of author Peter Bowerman’s award-winning 2007 release, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living.

About The Author:
Peter Bowerman is the self-published author of The Well-Fed Writer titles (http://www.wellfedwriter.com), multiple-award winning selections of Book-of-the-Month Club. Over 50,000 copies of his first two books in print have earned him a full-time living for over five years.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Guest post by: Paula Plantier

Copy editing is a most important and time-consuming task for those involved in the field. It requires the sensitive editorial handling of print material of every kind. And it requires the editor’s close attention to a document’s every detail, its format, and all of its elements; a thorough knowledge of what to look for and of the style to be followed as desired by the author or client; and the ability to make quick, logical, objective, justifiable, and defensible decisions in the correction of spelling, grammar, punctuation, terminology, sentence structure, clarity, conciseness, tone and voice, inconsistencies, and typographical errors. Valued editors are those who know editorial and factual things that others don’t know and who offer keen understanding of an author’s need to advance communication.

To begin with, copy editors are thoroughly familiar with and comfortable applying the universally accepted editorial and typographic marks and symbols—as described in the Chicago Manual of Style and summarized under proofreader’s marks in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition—that are commonly understood by compositors working in English.

The editorial function comprises two processes: mechanical editing and substantive editing. Mechanical editing involves a close reading, with an eye on consistency of capitalization, spelling, and hyphenation and other end-of-line word breaks; agreement between verbs and subjects; scores of other matters of syntax; punctuation; beginning and ending quotation marks and parentheses; number of ellipsis points; numbers given either as figures or as words; and hundreds of other, similar details of grammatical, editorial, and typographic style.

In addition to regularizing those details of style, the copy editor is expected to catch infelicities of expression that mar an author’s prose and impede communication. Such matters include but are by no means limited to dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, mixed metaphors, unclear antecedents, unintentional redundancies, faulty attempts at parallel construction, mistaken junction, overuse of an author’s pet word or phrase, unintentional repetition of words, race or gender or geographic bias, and hyphenating in the predicate, unless, of course, the hyphenated term is an entry in the dictionary and therefore permanently hyphenated in every grammatical case. Job seekers, especially, need to attend to such details in their executive résumé.

The second, nonmechanical, process—called substantive editing—involves rewriting, reorganizing, or suggesting more-effective ways to present material.

o Editors identify by instinct and learn from their experience how much of this kind of editing to do on a particular document.

o Experienced editors recognize and do not tamper with an author’s unusual figures of speech or idiomatic usage that is pertinent to a work.

o They preserve the author’s voice with a view toward the faithful reproduction of the author’s manuscript.

o They silently correct inconsistencies, misusages, and misspellings solely for the purpose of clarifying the unclear.

o They know when to go ahead and make an editorial change or simply suggest it to the author.

o They know when to delete a repetition, when to change it for variation, and when to merely point it out to the author or to job seeker on an executive résumé.

o They respect an author’s right to expect conscientious, intelligent editorial help.

o They never make queries that sound stupid, naive, or pedantic or that seem to reflect upon an author’s scholarly ability or powers of interpretation.

* Adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style

About The Author:
Paula Plantier http://www.editamerica.com/

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/writing/article_1515.shtml

Image: sxc.hu.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Guest post by: Gail Richards

Most new authors have no idea how book sales happen or what numbers to expect. A typical successful book from a major publisher sells between 20,000 and 40,000 copies. Healthy book sales from a smaller publisher may number at least 5,000 copies, whereas a self-published book may be considered promising if it sells as few as 1,000 copies to a wide audience.

Set your sales goals high but your expectations lower. Obviously you want high sales for you book; otherwise, why do all the work? But be clear about your vision. If you plan to author a book for your own seminar business, your expectations will necessarily be different from those of the author who wants to become a world-class speaker and subject-matter guru. Clearly a book about diets will have broader market appeal than a book on corporate strategic planning.

Your ability to drive book sales will also depend on the name recognition you’ve already established. Someone like Dr. Phil McGraw can realistically expect his next book to sell millions of copies regardless of the subject matter. How’s your name recognition?

Most people are surprised to hear that less than half of book sales each year are through bookstores, leaving other possibilities for authors to pursue.

Many new authors just assume their book will appear in bookstores. If the book is self-published, it is very unlikely you will be able to crack the bookstore market; therefore, it will be important to consider:

* Sales through your own Web site
* Sales through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com
* Sales through other Web sites and affiliate programs
* Sales through print catalogs
* Sales to specialty markets for premium incentives (organizations and corporations)
* Sales to mass merchandisers or other retailers

Almost the only way to get your book into national bookstore chains is to be published by a traditional publisher. They have the distribution methods in place to make this possible.

You may choose to self-publish and work on sales through some of these non-bookstore channels, get to credible sales figures, and then approach a traditional publisher to finally hit that desirable bookstore market.

If you sell your own book, you know exactly how many books you printed, how many have been sold, and how many are left to be sold in the printing.

Oddly enough, when books are published by traditional publishers and go through the bookstore system, there are very few avenues open for authors and even publishers to track “real” sales of books. The Bookscan report from Neilsen Broadcast Data Systems, available since 2001, provides weekly sales by the major book retailers. But only the very largest companies can afford this expensive service. It is virtually impossible to estimate the real sales of a book from the quantities that are shipped to the stores. Remember, all “sales” to bookstores are made with a long-established, full-price return policy anytime. That means all the books could be returned to you, even a year later. Major publishers expect overall return rates of 20 percent to 30 percent, but individual books can be much, much higher.

When your book is returned, it doesn’t mean that someone bought it, didn’t like it, and sent it back through the bookstore. Far more likely, it was never sold in the first place, and the bookstore returned it to the distributor after sixty to ninety days.

You will see sales numbers on your royalty statement, but generally there is also a reserve for expected returns as well.

If your book is published by a traditional publisher or printed by Lightning Source, you can call the distributor Ingram’s sales tracking phone number, 615-213-6803, to hear about sales for both the previous week and last year.

It seems that most authors these days say their book is a best seller, and that’s because there is no established, objective criteria for what that means. There are roughly forty national and regional best-seller lists in the United States. The New York Times’ list is probably the most well-known and respected. Another one that is well-known, especially inside the publishing industry, is provided by Publishers Weekly (PW). In 2005, 442 adult titles were declared best-sellers, according to the Publisher’s Weekly compilations.

Some best-seller lists such as those belonging to Publisher’s Weekly and USA Today are based on national surveys, with others on much less objective criteria. The New York Times bases their list on a poll of both chain and independent bookstores. The list from the American Booksellers Association polls only independent bookstores. The Los Angeles Times polls thirty bookstores in the Los Angeles metropolitan area to compile its list.

Only eight self-published books have made it to number one on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list.

Copyright (c) 2007 Gail Richards

About The Author:
Gail Richards is founder of http://www.AuthorSmart.com a dynamic website connecting aspiring authors with the classes, audio library, tools, information and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions at each step in the nonfiction book publishing journey. Jan King is the founder of http://www.eWomenPublishingNetwork.com a membership organization devoted to supporting and coaching women who become successfully published nonfiction authors.

Article source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/writing/article_1517.shtml

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
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If your goal is to build a presence on the Internet using free social networking sites, it’s imperative that you provide the right kind of content for your audience to digest. This one tip can help you develop a loyal following that appreciates your message so much they help spread your links for you to other like-minded individuals.

Web-based social media content isn’t the same kind of text that you would read in a professional publication. Your audience is used to verbiage more conversational in nature. You want to write as if you’re having a one-on-one conversation with your reader, as I am to you right now.

Content on social media sites should also be provided in easily digestible chunks. See the paragraphs I’ve created here for you? They’re not 20 lines deep. You don’t want to try to post content that would rival a novel on one single social networking page. When you have that much content, you need to break it up into multiple pages, leading your reader from one to the next – or create an info product like an eBook and sell it or give it away from the pages you create.

Depending on your goal with using these Web 2.0 social sites, you may want to practice the art of using teasers with your audience. A good teaser provides just enough value to your reader to make them believe they didn’t waste time reading your work – but it leaves them wanting a little more, which is why they’ll click through on your hyperlinks and buy your products or services.

Good social media content answers questions or solves problems that your audience has. You can use free keyword tools to figure out how consumers are searching on Google and create content online that uses those keywords and makes your Web 2.0 masterpieces “findable” on the ‘Net.

Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Guest post by: Jill McDougall

As a writing coach, I read dozens of manuscripts each week by aspiring children’s writers. Most are very competent but in many cases, the readability of the text and the emotional impact of the story could be cranked up with just a bit of tweaking.

Here are my current top three tips ….

TIP 1:

Let the reader experience the character’s emotion directly.

Don’t just say: Lydia felt embarrassed. That leaves the reader with a bunch of words that convey pretty well … nothing. The reader needs to feel what Lydia is going through to become emotionally involved in the story. Dredge deep into your own personal experiences to find the right words. Genuine descriptions will feel real to the reader.

Okay … what do you do or feel when you’re embarrassed? You might feel a warm flush creep up your face. You might stare dumbly at your shoes or discover something important under your fingernail. You might force a laugh or put on a fake-cheerful smile.

Instead of telling the reader that Lydia felt embarrassed show her experiencing the embarrassment:

Lydia’s face grew warm. She busied herself with a loose thread on her jacket.

TIP 2:

Make friends with the delete button. Why? Because good writing is tight writing. I’ve lost track of the number of editors and agents I’ve heard lately saying: I want a great story written sparely.

What does this mean? It means you should say what you want to say using as few words as possible. This will force you to use only your sharpest images, your most engaging dialogue, your liveliest action.

Here’s a trick: Pretend that you have to fax your story to a publisher at $2.00 a word. You’ll quickly discover words, phrases, sentences and whole paragraphs that aren’t vital to the story. If you find your ms shrunk to half its original size – don’t panic, celebrate!! That means it’s more tightly written and has a livelier pace.

Here’s an example of pruning:

BEFORE:

Andrew noticed that there was a very big spider on his pillow.

AFTER:

An enormous spider sat on Andrew’s pillow.

This example reminds us of the impact created when you move the focal part of a sentence (in this case, the spider) to the beginning.

TIP 3:

Instead of beginning sentences with ‘He saw” or “She heard”, launch directly into the action. Here’s what I mean …

BEFORE:

Jemma saw Dad cooking muffins.

AFTER

Dad was cooking muffins.

If Jemma is your viewpoint character, the reader will instinctively know who is observing Dad. By talking about the main character (Jemma saw Dad …), you remind the reader that a narrator is at work, describing the scene from a distance.

Watch out for:

He/she saw …

He/she watched …

He/she noticed …

He/she looked at …

By avoiding these and describing the action directly, you strengthen the readers’ ability to imagine themselves in the role of the viewpoint character.

Happy editing!

About The Author:
Jill McDougall has published over a hundred books for children and is working on her next 100. You can find more writing tips at Jill’s website http://www.jillmcdougall.com.au and download a free preview of her ebook: Become a Children’s Writer.

Article source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/writing/article_1596.shtml

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs