Letters To The Editor For March 7th
Letters will return next week.
Five Reasons Writers Get Ripped Off Online By Jude Chukwuemeka
It sometimes looks as if writers are the most vulnerable set of talented workers in this world. If only employers knew what writers go through to complete their projects!
What Free Product Should I Use For Book Promotion?
I’ve been reading your book, 90 DAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR BOOK ONLINE: Your Book’s Daily Marketing Plan.
It is very handy to have all the info. in one place.
I especially like the idea of an ezine (Days 4-7 in the book), and think I could write one about my ideas on writing fiction. I need to find something to offer free to attract new subscribers and I have an idea I’d like to run past you.
I have an unpublished non-fiction manuscript. Even though I now write novels, does it make sense to offer chapters of my non-fiction book as the free item to attract people to subscribe to the Ezine?
The Joy of Refusal By Wendy J. Meyeroff
It was the early 90’s an,d after freelancing for a year or two, I had gotten some top-notch assignments; e.g. Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, and Weight Watchers. Still, pay was often less than stellar.
Periodically, something came up that sounded like it might have potential – but the pay stank. Despite various misgivings, at that stage of my career I rarely refused – and kept getting burned.
Shark’s Teeth!
Last Friday, we decided to play hookie in the afternoon, and take Max and Mason to the beach. It was 70-something degrees, breezy, and partly cloudy and it was the perfect day to go on a shark tooth hunt. We grabbed some towels, spoons (for digging), and bottled water and jumped in the truck. When we were just a few feet out of the driveway, a warning light came on, something beeped, and the transmission started jerking. Oh no……
Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com Winter, 2012 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
For the past six weeks, we’ve spent every spare moment judging the hundreds of entries submitted for the Winter, 2012 24-Hour Short Story Contest. In case you’re not familiar with our quarterly contest, this is how it works. On the date of the contest, at start-time, we send out the topic for that specific contest to all registered entrants, while also posting it online. Entrants then have 24 hours to write and submit their stories. The stories “must deal with the topic in some way to qualify” and they must not exceed the pre-assigned word count.
After reading the entries for each contest, we can see how difficult it is to come up with a unique plot when working with an assigned topic. But, inevitably, a few writers do manage to successfully break away from the pack.
So, today, hear distant cracking as you step out onto the ice…
Insist on a Contract!
Dear Angela:
As a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience, I am still surprised when companies are not willing to provide clear contracts for writers.
This is something that companies should view as a win-win situation to avoid any confusion or miscommunication, but instead many companies are unwilling to do it.
I was recently offered an online writing project, but the company refused to insert payment dates (it was a 3-month project) as per my request – which is standard for all writing contracts.
Unfortunately (for me) I was unwilling to accept the contract this way, and was surprised when their reply didn’t even consider my request.
I joined the writer’s union years ago because I had a bad contract, and ended up doing a lot of work for free.
Please make writers aware that, especially now with the Internet, a good contract will not only ensure that you get paid, but will protect your copyright.
Nobody should be working for free.
Thanks for all your great work!
Best,
Nina Flanagan
PR For My Book Increased My Other Business Income By $60K By Clyde Morgan, MD
In November, 2010, I self published The 2766th Provisional Headquarters Flight WW II with BookLocker.com. The book generated sufficient PR in the first year to bring in an increased income of $60,000.00 for my clinic during a year when most physicians I know fought to stay even…
Hey! That Book’s Title is Identical to Mine!
Another company published a book with the same title as mine. Is that kosher? Should I do something? Can you give some advice on this?
I Converted My Teaching Experience Into Paid Writing By Alexandra Lutz
For about ten years I had juggled motherhood, a job-share teaching position, and a freelance hobby. When my husband broached the possibility of having another baby, I blanched. There wasn’t enough money to quit my job, and there wasn’t enough time for anything (or anyone) new in my life. I knew there had to be a way to convert my teaching experience into paid writing, but how?