Dear Angela,
I was a past participant in one of the 24 hour contests and I have a question regarding that.
I used the exact prompt for the story as written by WritersWeekly.
Now, I want to include that story in a book I plan to publish. My question is, can I use that story as written, or would I need to strike the beginning and change it?*
Thanks,
Mike
It was music to my ears to finally receive an email from an editor of a big educational publishing house who wrote, “I would love to work with Dorit and her manuscript, Greater Collaboration for K-5 English Language Learners.”
Initially, I thought this contract had everything to do with the fact that I found the only K-12 agent listing for educational publishing in the United States but I realized it had everything to do with a marketable manuscript. Breaking into educational publishing for this newbie writer was one of the hardest lessons to learn but here’s what I did to increase my chances of acceptance after 100 drafts (and counting!).
I’m writing this on Tuesday afternoon. M’s surgery is tomorrow. If all goes well, he should be released sometime later that afternoon. We’re going to head back to Bangor immediately while he’s still a bit woozy from the anesthesia. You see, at this time of year in Maine, the results of the frost heave are quite evident. There are huge cracks and potholes everywhere, making for a very bumpy ride.
When we lived in Texas, we didn’t have frost heave and I thought the term referred to men up north who drank too much on cold nights.
Anyway, if we get a hotel room after the surgery, not only would M have to navigate his walker on sidewalks and in the hotel lobby and hallways, but he would also feel the bumps in the road far more the following day. Ali is driving in tonight from Bangor after she finishes her last class. Richard will stay in the hotel room tomorrow with Max and Mason while Ali and I sit nervously in the surgical waiting room at the hospital. M is, understandably, very nervous. He’s never had surgery before. I told him it’ll be a breeze. The doctors and nurses have to do all the work, the family has to wait and worry for hours, and he just gets to sleep. 😉
This Week’s Masonism:
“Mom, I’m almost five. I need a job.”
Hugs to all
Angela
Hi Angela,
I FINALLY had the chance to read your most recent issue of WritersWeekly. I appreciated the article on “free” author copies of books. But do I have a doozie for you. I recently checked out a certain publisher, and found out AFTER I contacted them that they are POD. Not only this, but their contract states that they REQUIRE authors to buy copies of their books upon publication. Not just 1 or 2 copies, but 25 copies!! They add that cost to the set-up fee.
Pretty unbelievable, huh? The whole thing sounds unethical to me.
Keep up the good work!
Hugs,
Dawn Colclasure
—
Author of the following books: November’s Child, Take My Hand, 365 TIPS FOR WRITERS: Inspiration, Writing Prompts and Beat the Block – Tips to Turbo Charge Your Creativity, BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How We Survive as Writing Parents, Love is Like a Rainbow: Poems of Love and Devotion, Songs of the Dead, co-author of TOTALLY SCARED: The Complete Book on Haunted Houses, The Yellow Rose. Website: https://dmcwriter.tripod.com/
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If you’re like me, I try to include sidebar options in my queries to improve my chances of having my query accepted by editors…
I am really interested in using BookLocker.com to print my soon to be finished manuscript. I like everything you offer. I just wanted to verify something just in case as I am always one to prepare for the best to happen!
If I list my book with you and my marketing efforts help the book sales take off, and sell lots of copies, and if a larger publisher approaches me, can I switch to them? Basically I just wanted to ensure I would have this option if all goes well like I anticipate…
Friday, February 11th, 2011 was marked on my calendar as my first official day as a full-time freelance writer. No other job to go to. Just my words to bring in the paycheck…
It’s definitely the flu season here. My neighbor said a local retirement home was discouraging visitors last week because so many of their residents were ill. Richard caught something last week, and then Mason got it, and then Max, and now me. I was sick two months ago and I coughed for so long (6 weeks) that they sent me for a chest xray, and put me on an inhaler. I tell ya, 10 days on that inhaler did the trick! However, I finished the inhaler just a week ago and now I’m sick again. Oh joy.
Last week, we discussed how most POD publishers’ websites not only do almost nothing to promote their authors’ books, but also tell everyone their authors paid to have their books published. This week, we’ll look at those ridiculous “free book!” offers.
Hi Angela:
I would have gone even further than you did in answering to “Anne”.
Book proposals presented to agents and then to publishers must contain marketing plans at least as strong as the actual material being proposed for publication.
There might have been a time when major publishers had sufficient resources themselves to promote a famous person’s book.
They no longer have those resources to throw around on risks.
If Oprah herself presents a proposal with no marketing plan, and the publisher receives a proposal from Justin Bieber with a very persuasive and plausible marketing plan, committing Bieber personally to promotion of the book, the publisher will go with Bieber before Oprah.
I’ve ghost written proposals and then books for several people just one notch down from those two on the pop culture fame ladder. Strong marketing plans in the proposals made all the difference, not just in getting the book proposal accepted but also in the size of the advances.
I always opt for more money, rather than a simple “as told to” credit, or anything like that, because in the long run, I don’t care to be known as “so and so’s ghost writer.”
Scott Rose
