Published on August 16, 2006
Good web copywriters arm themselves with a thesaurus, a style guide, and maybe even some books on emotional intelligence in the workplace. But if you write for the web, you know that there’s more to successful copy than the old standbys of knowing your audience and keeping copy short for easy scanning. The following questions will help you navigate an early interview and also help you avoid hidden pitfalls after joining a corporate writer pool.
Published on August 16, 2006
I am a produced screenwriter and have just recently completed a novel that I was thinking of self-publishing. (After going through the five-year headache of getting a screenplay made into a movie–I’m not sure I want to start over with the tradional publishing venue!)
My question is, does this give me any kind of advantage in self-publishing?
I would be very good at book-signings, etc. but I’m not sure how well I’d do on the Internet marketing side of it. (i.e. building websites, etc.).
Published on August 16, 2006
Three years ago, I arranged my life to support the financial and emotional needs of a serious writing career: I moved from city to country, reducing my mortgage by seventy-five percent; sold my new car and paid cash for a used one; stopped eating at restaurants and started shopping at thrift stores. I was prepared to live on the small income my writing produced. But I wasn’t producing any writing.
Published on August 9, 2006
Last Thursday afternoon, Grandma finally decided to leave us and join her parents, husband and sister. We were sad because we’ll miss talking to her, but also happy for her because she’s been missing her husband for so long and now they’re together again. The memorial service will be in Pennsylvania at the end of this month so we’ll take the RV down there in a couple of weeks.
Published on August 9, 2006
There does indeed seem to be a camp of people online, most of whom have only been traditionally published, who loudly beat their drums against any author who dares to consider self-publishing. My problem with them is that they convey a “holier than thou” attitude when they have no idea who that hopeful author is, what their book is about, or what their potential sales might be. The fact is, there are self-published authors who have and are making more money than many traditionally published authors…
Published on August 9, 2006
This Week:
- Chapstick (R) Butt Balm
- Creative Client Cons
Published on August 9, 2006
Turning the organization of your query letters upside-down can be an effective technique to win trade magazine assignments. This means first presenting yourself as the type of writer the editor needs: accomplished and professional, rather than first pitching your article idea.
Published on August 9, 2006
I just read George English’s Creative Client Cons. Great article!
I just have one question. George suggests that “Another way freelancers can protect themselves is by never sending out work that has not been paid for. Instead, send watermarked proofs.”
I have coffeemarked notes and lipstickmarked cups, chocolatemarked cookbooks and perfumemarked lovenotes, but what are watermarked proofs?
Published on August 9, 2006
Somehow, McFarland has just awakened to the existence of the book (maybe from the endorsement by Rush Limbaugh) that I recently self-published through BookLocker. It is The Keeper of the Flame: The Supreme Court Opinions of Justice Clarence Thomas. They offered me a contract for the book. I’m delighted, of course, for all the usual reasons, and especially because now the book will get into many, many libraries throughout the United States…
Published on August 2, 2006
While the in-laws were here, we drove out to our new land. When we got there, which is located an inconvenient distance from any store, I was horrified to realize we’d left the diaper rash cream at home. Mason has very sensitive skin and his bottom was flaming red that day. In a panic, I reached for a tube of Chapstick that was in the diaper bag…
