If, as I do, you enjoy reading so much that you read the labels on canned foods, why not, after you’ve read a book, try your hand at writing a book review and pick up an extra $50 or $100 a month? Writing a general book review doesn’t require any special expertise, only a good command of grammar and basic writing skills. Here’s how to go about it…
The halls are decked, the shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped and Matt will be arriving on Friday. We are so excited…!!
Today, 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 few months.
I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried…
This week:
Writer’s chat rooms and discussion boards are constantly flooded with comments about rates for writers. New writers argue that they take what they can get to build a portfolio, while veteran writers argue that you should receive fair pay for your work, adding that you will never be respected if you simply give your work away. Yet, even long-time writers have fallen prey to some less than “acceptable” rates rather than turning down work considering the current economic state…
I queried the editor of (a magazine) with an article idea on spec.
He requested seeing the article. After reviewing, he stated that he
liked the article.
Per his request, I adjusted the word count from 1700 to 1050.
He asked how much I wished to be compensated for the article.
I replied that I would be happy with whatever he’s paid in the past for comparable articles.
He countered that he needed a price.
I caved in and requested $200 for the article and photos.
Communication stopped.
Would you happen to know how much this publication/website typically
pays for articles?
I’m curious if I’m way out of bounds with my request.
I’m usually not a big roller coaster fan but I was feeling adventurous at Universal Studios last week and I asked Max (age 10) if he’d ride one with me. Richard has been having problems with his neck and Mason (age 5) was too small so I really needed to talk Max into riding with me if I didn’t want to ride alone. He shook his head no.
I asked him again each time we heard people screaming from the roller coaster. He kept saying no. We passed Revenge of the Mummy and we didn’t know what it was but it seemed to be pretty popular based on the line. Max agreed to give it a try with me as long as we didn’t sit in the first row. I explained to Max that the location of our seat was out of our control. When it was our turn, the lady working there said, “Row 1, please…”
Regarding last week’s article, How to Get Art for Articles – I always find it easier to do the art myself, or take photos myself, as I am guaranteed to know who the copyright holder is without any concern whether someone gave me someone else’s work.
George Arnold Hall
https://www.georgearnoldhall.ca
twitter: @georgeahall
Business: George Arnold Hall’s Pen and Pencil
Series: Immortals of Scar (more info at georgearnoldhall.ca)
One is a romance novel that my sister wrote 20 years ago. She died very young, but was in the process of a final edit. We never could get a publisher interested in it because they wanted someone who would continue to write novels, not a one-shot thing.
My father passed away four years ago. He had written many, many stories about upbringing in the country that could be published either singly or as a collection.
With Print on Demand, both of these now are possible.
That said, is there any reason I can’t publish either one of those? Would I need to get permission from my sister’s husband?
The editor of an online magazine requested me to write an article about a nearby county fair. The payment was low, but I decided to write the article anyway because spending time at the fair on warm, sunny day would be enjoyable, and writing the article, my first one for this magazine, might lead to better opportunities. Both of my expectations were correct.
