Published on February 12, 2014
book marketing
After I started publishing content online, I got emails from visitors telling me how much they liked my websites. I smiled, sometimes responded, and hit “delete.” Later, subscribers to my email newsletters sent complimentary comments as well. I smiled, sometimes responded, and hit “delete.” It was almost two years, after I started putting websites and e-books together, before I realized I should save these testimonials. I then added the appropriate language to the “terms of use” pages on my sites, allowing me to use a few lines from any email received, and I set up files to sort the e-mails worth saving. From that point on, I carefully saved hundreds of testimonials, and even used a few once in a while.
Published on February 12, 2014
Frank (age 21) is in school, and wants to be a surgeon. He’s been on the Dean’s List since his first semester of college (he works very hard), is a waiter, and recently applied to volunteer at one of the local hospitals. On his first day at the hospital this week, he was offered a paying, part-time job in the surgery department!
Published on February 12, 2014
Your response to the would-be playwright was financially enlightening, but don’t discourage too much. Anyone who has a real passion for the theatre, the power of observation, research ability and talent to write convincing dialogue should try their hand at writing for the stage…
Published on February 12, 2014
It was November of 2009, and just 3 months after I’d lost my corporate job and my apartment. I had spent six years as a technical writer but, as a former English major, I didn’t feel like I was “legit.”
So, while I was cooped up in an upstairs bedroom at my parents’ house with my two cats, I created a dinky website for myself that would eventually become my business…
Published on February 5, 2014
The rain and cold finally went away this week. It was 86 here yesterday! Unfortunately, Max and Mason both came down with a cold so they’re stuck inside, sniffling, coughing, and drinking warm tea. Since I spoil them rotten when they’re sick, I don’t think they mind too much. The older kids say I’m going to turn them into little hypochondriacs. My response is, “I spoiled you, too, and you turned out just fine!”
Published on February 5, 2014
A writer contacted me last week, pitching an article on how freelancers can become successful playwrights or screenwriters. Now, I’ve been in this business long enough to know that profitable freelance playwriting and screenwriting is about as common as becoming a highly paid actor…
Published on February 5, 2014
Letters will return next week.
Published on February 5, 2014
promoting your writing, Social Media Promotion
If you create anything from marketing collateral to blogs to journal articles, then you are a commercial writer. And, the commercial writer’s playground is LinkedIn when it comes to social networking…
Published on February 5, 2014
There are pieces–short fiction and memoirs–on my web site that I want to submit to paying markets. Are those pieces considered “published” and therefore ineligible? If so, would they become eligible if I remove them?
Published on February 5, 2014
One of my first assignments as a writer was preparing monthly shopping, dining and events columns for a city magazine. The work wasn’t exciting but it was steady. I’d been doing it for several months when the editor telephoned. The magazine was planning a special edition for an international sporting event the city was hosting and the editor wanted me to write the features for it. She asked me to work up article ideas, and bring them to a meeting the following month. I was thrilled…
