Max got sick on Saturday so he spent the day curled up next to me, watching TV, while I worked on my laptop in bed (my favorite spot). He had a severe sore throat and his temperature got up to 102 in the afternoon. He felt much better on Sunday so we went leaf watching.
This week I’m going to share another installment of our popular column, World’s Worst Book Proposals. Yes, we can learn from others’ mistakes! Featured below are real quotes from book proposals submitted to me over the past year.
Letters will return next week.
Psst…what if I told you that you could run a successful freelance writing business by charging freelance writers next to nothing and then selling their hard work for much more? Would it seem unethical to you? If so, you may be in the minority among some writers.
I thoroughly enjoy WritersWeekly, and especially appreciate your views about the publishing industry. An acquaintance wrote me recently to tell me that he saw my book posted on Google Books. I hadn’t heard of Google Books and was somewhat shocked to discover a majority of my book’s pages posted in full on the site.
Isn’t this protected by a copyright? Is this good or bad for authors and publishers? I’d love to hear your opinion!
I moved from Seattle to Orlando and, as soon as I settled here, I began writing for a regional publisher, Central Florida Lifestyle, which puts out 12 magazines. I also answered a call for a writer from the Natural Resources News Service (NRNS).
Absolute Write / absolutewrite.com / Absolute Classes / absoluteclasses.com / MacAllister Stone – Writer alleges she’s owed money; Publisher pays writer after contact from WritersWeekly; writer claims payment was short $50.00.
Annette Young / The Creative Competitor / creative-competitor.co.uk – Publisher responds (what do you think about this story?), and the alleged victim reports them to the police department.
THIRD, FOURTH and FIFTH COMPLAINTS received about RiseUp Publications, LLC. / usariseup.com / Ellis Management Marketing
Group / EMMG / emmg.net / Janice Ellis / Christopher Ellis, et. al. – And, publisher sends lame form responses regarding each one to WritersWeekly.
The Smart Set / thesmartset.com (formerly Dragonfire / https://www.dfire.org) / Drexel University – Pennoni Honors College/
https://www.drexel.edu/honors / Jason Wilson, Editor of the Best American Travel anthology series – What do you think about this situation, readers?
Last Friday, Maine was put under a hurricane watch – the first one in 17 years. We were worried that the electricity might go out during the middle of the Fall 2008 24-Hour Short Story Contest. Just a few hours after discussing our concerns, the electricity did go off…except it was only Friday night and the storm was still over a day away. The entire street was plunged into blackness. Hmmm…
This Week:
I know of no other profession where members accept work assignments without finding out when they get paid. Paid on acceptance or paid on publication used to do the trick, but no more. The world of writing has gotten more complicated.
