Finding Contacts, Confidence and Cash in an Online Writing Group By Aimee Cirucci

When I first caught the writing bug in the Spring of 2006 I had no idea where to begin. Slow days at work were filled googling “writing tips” and “freelance writing” for information and inspiration. All this Internet research lead me to a variety of websites, often with conflicting advice: write what you know vs. write what you like to read; writers must be readers vs. writers must be writers. I was confused, to say the least. But as the vast, intricately linked world of the Internet would have it, just when I decided I was wasting my time, I stumbled upon a Yahoo group for writers that would change everything.

Whispers And Warnings For November 19th

READERS RESPOND! Damon Gibson / Texas Coastal Enthusiast Magazine / TxEnthusiast.com / Enthusiast Guest Book – Readers Respond to this volatile situation.
COMPLAINT about Prudence International Magazine / prudenceinternational.com / Samson Agbebi – Writer alleges non-payment of $120.
TWO COMPLAINTS about Weston Executive Partners / Sold on Sunday / Phillip Wade / Phil Wade – Writers allege he owes them $855 and $2967.50.
Full House Publications / fullhousepubs.com / Cherokee Family Magazine / CherokeeFamily.com / Forsyth Family Magazine / North Fulton Family Magazine / James Watson / Kelly Watson – Writer says she’s been owed $250 for more than a year!

Gearing Up for the Holiday Season

At BookLocker, we’re smack dab in the middle of our busiest time of the year. Everybody, of course, wants their book published by Christmas. We usually get a book to market within a month so the last-minute authors are flooding us with their manuscripts right now. Shwew!!

FORCED MARRIAGE: When POD Publishers Take Your Money AND Your Rights By Angela Hoy, Publisher, BookLocker.com and WritersWeekly.com

FORCED MARRIAGE: When POD Publishers Take Your Money AND Your Rights By Angela Hoy, Publisher, BookLocker.com and WritersWeekly.com

A year ago, I published POD SECRETS REVEALED: You Pay…But THEY Own the Rights, an article exposing how many POD publishers charge authors for services, but then claim the rights to the materials the author paid them to create. Let’s face it. If an author pays hundreds to thousands to a company, and then can’t get copies of their production files to use elsewhere, how in the world can that author afford to move their book to another publisher if they’re unhappy?

Letters To The Editor For November 12th

WritersWeekly.com Always Pays on Acceptance
Thanks, Angela, for your quick response to my submission for Success Story and for the check, which already arrived!
Mail from Maine to Buffalo must be by Polar Express!
Glad to be able to ‘talk’ to your readers.
Lois Vidaver

How Offering a ‘Gift with Purchase’ Can Grow Your Freelance Writing Business By Patty Harder

I’m a sucker for a free gift with purchase. In fact, I wait to buy my favorite Lancome or Estee Lauder beauty products until it’s bonus time. And I usually stock up on things like socks when the buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) specials come along. For freelance writers, this proven marketing tactic is a great way to get new clients – or revitalize an existing client relationship that’s gone cold.

The Art of Persistence By Alyssa Kagel

For most of my adult life, I’ve felt pulled in two career directions: renewable energy and freelance writing. Though my 9-to-5 job took me into the renewable energy world, I never gave up on my other passion. I sent pitches and articles all over town. On the good days, I received personal rejection notes. These, at least, were better than the generic “this isn’t quite right for us” or – even more prevalent – “no response” responses.

iPhone + Washing Machine = Uh Oh…

Richard bought me an iPhone for Mother’s Day months ago. I LOVE my iPhone! After dropping it numerous times on everything from the carpet to cement, I finally managed to kill it…by leaving it in my pocket one night. I realized it was missing the next morning and, after looking high and low, offered a reward to the child who could find it.