QUIET TIME
The wrapping paper has been put in the recycling bin and the new toys from Santa are entertaining the children on their winter break. Richard and I are enjoying the peace and quiet…even though we have to work.
P.O.D. SECRETS REVEALED: FEEDING ON YOUR VANITY – OR IGNORANCE – HOT AIR ON PUBLISHERS’ WEBSITES IS INSULTING! – Angela Hoy
I have always been offended by over-the-top marketing verbiage. Saying something is a “good deal” is one thing but trying to tell me a product or service is going to “make my dreams come true” is insulting to an individual’s intelligence. I always wonder how people can fall for so much of the garbage being shoved our way by marketing executives these days…
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOR DECEMBER 27TH
Letters will return after the holidays.
HOW TO MAKE MONEY GUEST BLOGGING – Gloria Surban
Building a strong portfolio, networking with other writers, and reaching potential clients are the usual tasks that freelance writers continually focus on. Accomplishing these used to mean hours of unpaid work, especially for budding writers.
Fortunately, it’s now possible to earn money early on in your writing career, or when you’re in-between clients, through guest blogging…
KEEP YOUR EGGS IN MULTIPLE BASKETS! – Kate Meadows
My success as a writer began with one basic idea: remaining open to various sources of inspiration and capitalizing on opportunities when they arise…
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS!
The halls are decked, the wrapping is done, and all that’s left is the baking, which I’m tackling this weekend. Each year, I make the same four things…
P.O.D. SECRETS REVEALED: PUBLISHERS PROFITING FROM AUTHOR ERRORS! – Angela Hoy
At BookLocker.com, whenever I notice a mistake in a book, I alert the author. If I notice a few, I will send them a list. These errors can range from the occasional misuse of a word (their vs. there, for example), or a formatting inconsistency (Chapter 1, Chapter Two, etc.), to something like the author’s misuse of the term Prologue at the end of the book (should be Epilogue).
Since we send the formatted file back to the author for any final changes, they have the opportunity to make any corrections at no extra charge at that point in the process. Alerting the author when we notice an error helps them avoid future reader complaints and, of course, bad book reviews.
Here’s a dirty secret you won’t hear anyone talking about among P.O.D. publishers. Some of them see mistakes, and purposely allow them to remain in the book…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR FOR DECEMBER 18TH
Letters will return after the holidays.
AN EDITOR WHO REJECTED MY QUERY GOT MAD AT ME FOR SELLING THE ARTICLE TO HIS COMPETITOR!
If Online Newspaper editor says no, is it wrong to pitch it to others who may or may not overlap in coverage area?
WHY I KEPT WRITING FOR MY LOWEST PAYING CLIENT – Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan
When I launched my freelance writing career over two years ago, I had no clients and my only clips were from content mills. I needed to start somewhere so I contacted the editors of local newsletters. Finally, one editor gave me an assignment profiling a records storage company in 700 words for $75. The pay was pretty low for the time I’d need to invest, but I said yes. I did my best work, researching the company, asking questions, getting photos, etc. The editor loved the piece and ran it with almost no changes…