Past clients usually make the best future clients. They’re already impressed with your work ethic, they know why you charge what you do and they love your style. You don’t have to dazzle them with flashy advertisements to reel them in, and you don’t have to walk on eggshells when you deal with them because you’re already familiar with the way they do business.
My brother in law has a traditional publishing house, small to be sure. He has ceased dealing with Ingram not only because of the discounts they demand, but also because of the mountains of returns he gets months later of books with torn covers, etc.
What is your experience?
I’ve written before about all the problems we’ve encountered in our “new” house in Florida. Well, the fun continues!
Last week, an author contacted me about publishing some old photos and postcards in her book. She insisted she could use the postcards because the company was “out of business.” She also said it was okay to use the photos because the people in them are deceased and that “no blood relatives of (one of the individuals) are living.”
Letters will return next week.
Frankly, anyone who reads WritersWeekly already knows the advantages of self-publishing. While some authors do very well on their own, and prefer to stay on their own, others have received offers from traditional publishers after proving there’s a market for their self-published book.
I have been reading your site for a few months, and I was wondering if this would be appropriate for Whispers and Warnings. I have written four articles for a national women’s magazine, one every month or two. The magazine’s policy is that writers are paid 60ish days after publication. The first was paid late (in the meantime, I was working on the 4th), and after much haranguing, they finally paid about a month late with excuses about how the financial department was held up due to this or that.
Now we’re at over 90 days on the second… so I’m detecting a pattern. I never signed a contract (I know, I know…) My emails asking about payment for the second are going largely ignored (my contact keeps saying, “I’ll check on it for you!” and then never responds).
I’ve Googled, and I can’t find anything from writers with similar experiences… what do you think? Thanks!
“So, what do you do?” is a popular icebreaker question at any social gathering. The answer “I’m a writer” opens the floodgate to follow-ups such as “What do you write?” and “Where might I have seen your work?” Having a few specific answers “on tap” is vital to appearing professional. These questions are not only getting-to-know-you party tricks, they are networking opportunities to discover alternative writing career avenues.
This weekend starts my favorite six weeks of the year! The Fall 24-Hour Short Story Contest is this Saturday and it always has swirling red, orange and yellow leaves, and crisp breeze, and, on occasion, something odd or creepy. Since Halloween is my favorite holiday (I get to display my horror doll collection), I absolutely LOVe reading the stories for the Fall contest! And, I get to start this weekend!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, and again, and again. DO NOT PAY FOR BOOK REVIEWS! Once someone finds out you paid a book reviewer, your reputation is toast.
