This Week:
As you may recall from last week’s missive, Frank was sick with a severe case of strep throat for several days and, when he started showing signs of improvement, Max start showing symptoms…
Last week, I listed my New Year’s Writer’s Resolutions and asked readers to share theirs, too. Here are some that arrived by email. My, but we are an ambitious bunch!!
This Week:
People expend lots of energy and discussion on getting listed in search engines. There are companies that promise all sorts of amazing results if you just pay them a fee to perform their often questionable tactics. And people invest inordinate amounts of time fretting over where they are in the search results.
Truth is, there’s really only a few things you need to know about search engine and directory submissions…
Can you answer copyright questions, or refer me to someone who is knowledgeable?
I have two questions:
1. I write information articles for a corporation, under an executive’s byline. Most of the work is done through email, with no contract. If the company refuses to pay for a particular article – let’s say they claim I failed to do adequate research or did not submit a second rewrite – can I claim copyright infringement because of their use of my material of someone else’s byline? (Or do they protect against that by thoroughly revising the final draft?)
2. I write press releases for a nonprofit org as a volunteer, and submit to the PR manager via email attachments. The releases are published online (and in print) with the PR manager’s name, not mine. Sometimes they are revised without my knowledge before publication. I discovered the org used entire paragraphs from “my” releases in a monthly magazine. Should they 1) give me a byline and/or 2) pay me for the additonal use? My request for information about this was ignored. The magazine does not hire freelancers – articles are written in-house.
Ever wonder how a guy gets a job like this? Lots of people seem to because it is one of the number one question people ask when they see me at the events I attend. Everyone wants to know, “How do you get a job like this?” Everyone from Brenda, the cute little waitress from Gaylord who loves snowmobile racing, to many of the racers and race crews even. A lot of people seem to want to do what I do.
This Week:
On Christmas night, Frank was lying in bed watching TV, despite the fact that many of his new toys from Santa were still lying on his desk, unopened. He even had a friend over for the night. I was concerned, but he didn’t feel warm so I decided to wait until the next morning to see what might be going on.
5. Create a new budget and stick to it (And I really mean it this year!!)
4. Add a Writer’s Guidelines database to the WritersWeekly forum I started this on Tuesday. You can see what I’ve posted here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=12.
Many publications don’t yet feature their guidelines online so we’re offering to publish them on WritersWeekly to cut down on their incoming email. If you own/operate a paying publication or traditional publishing house and would like to be included, please email your guidelines to me here at: angela – at – writersweekly.com
3. Stay caught up so I’m not behind when the baby is born in June…or in case complications arise. I’m having some problems with debilitating hip pain and, from what I’ve read online, it’s a very common problem with no known cause or cure (though lots of speculation). I’m still researching, however, and I have a doctor appointment tomorrow.
2. Writing some fiction for fun. I want to write a novel someday, but I’m always buried in non-fiction projects. If I write some fiction for fun this year, maybe I’ll be able to build up my confidence a bit and attempt a novel in the next year or two.
1. And my #1 resolution for 2006 – Work on one of my books for at least one hour each morning (before I dive into my email box) and finish and publish at least three books this year. I’ve already started two of them!
I’d love to hear about some of your New Year’s Resolutions, too! Send them to me here at: angela-at-writersweekly.com
