Published on April 13, 2011
writing career advice
Before I launched my freelance copywriting business, I spent three full months planning my escape from corporate America. (Four months if you count the month I spent over-thinking whether I should quit my day job . . . or not.) I read Peter Bowerman’s book, The Well-Fed Writer, cover-to-cover. Twice. I built a website and created an online portfolio. I converted my rarely-used formal living room into an office. And I planned my business implementation strategy.
These early efforts paid off. Within 90 days of starting my business, I had replaced my full time income…
Published on April 13, 2011
I’ve got a question that I hope you can help me with. I’m the editor for a not-for-profit organization. About 15 years ago a member gave us exclusive rights to sell her book as a fundraiser. We sold out of the books after a couple of years, but recently our office staff found one last copy. We’ve decided we’d like to make it digital and sell it again. The author has given us exclusive rights to do this.
I’ve scanned the entire 350-page book, and now have PDF files. I had thought to use OCR software to convert the PDF files to Word files and then, using InDesign, create the book. Well the OCR software can’t handle the job. I have Greek, Turkish and Serbocroatian characters (along with Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian and English). The PDF files are clear and clean and include some delightful hand drawings – none of which the author has in digital format.
Is there a way to make these PDF files directly into an ebook?
Published on April 13, 2011
For the last few years, my articles and essays have regularly appeared in several of the regional parenting publications. There is one editor in particular who is especially receptive to my ideas. I usually query her first, and if she’s interested, I write the story. After she prints it, I re-submit it to other regional parenting magazines around the country. (Most of these magazines buy just one-time regional rights, meaning I can sell the same article to any other magazine as long as their readership does not overlap. For me, this generally means I don’t send the piece to two magazines in the same state.)
Regional parenting publications pay modest rates, usually about $50 per article. But since I was selling the piece to multiple magazines, I was making a few hundred dollars on each story. I was happy with that…until my husband got involved. “What about these magazines?” He asked me, pointing at the glossy parenting magazines at our local bookstore. “Have you ever sent any of your stuff to them?”
I shrugged and shook my head…
Published on April 6, 2011
Last Friday, on April Fool’s Day, we got another 14 1/2 inches of snow. Sure, I go on and on about the glorious snow around Christmastime but it gets REALLY OLD this time of year! While my friends down south are talking about planting their gardens, we’re still dodging falling icicles…
Published on April 6, 2011
self-publishing
Your book is finally on the market. You print business cards, update your website, and send out press releases. You know you’ll get higher royalties when someone buys your book from your publisher’s website, so you send people there. But, wait! What does your publisher’s homepage tell your readers about your book?
Published on April 6, 2011
Not that I disagree with your take on alleged Free POD publishers, but there is one out there that seems to present some competition to all the wannabees out there; namely, WordClay.com. It would be interesting to see a comparison between them and others.
Roger
ANGELA RESPONDS:
WordClay is owned by Author Solutions, the same outfit that owns AuthorHouse, Xlibris, iUniverse and Trafford. There are numerous complaints about the Author Solutions companies online.
WordClay appears to work the same as Lulu and CreateSpace. They lure authors in with the word “free”, and then upsell them on services authors can get for less elsewhere.
Published on April 6, 2011
Guidebooks, restaurant reviews, advice for backpacking and luxury vacations alike…to most people, this is what springs to mind under the travel writing umbrella. And, of course, the notorious narratives by Paul Theroux, Bruce Chatwin, and other famous travel authors. Educational travel writing, however, is a niche that fewer people are familiar with…
Published on April 6, 2011
In your response to the letter you received regarding a person who can’t understand why no agent or publisher is interested in his/her self-published book, you didn’t mention the fact that the book is already considered “published.” Most, if not all, agents and publishers steer clear of already published books. There are rare–very rare–cases when they will take one on.
(WRONG, SAYS ANGELA)
Also, most self-published books aren’t up to par– grammar, spelling, or interest-wise–of what traditional (commercial) publishers sell. Anyone with some money can self-publish; agents and publishers have seen too many that are not well-written.
(RIGHT, SAYS ANGELA)
As for marketing, that is not entirely true either. (Commercial) publishers don’t up-front ask what a writer will do to market their book. First and foremost is a very well-written, intriguing manuscript.
(ABSOLUTELY WRONG, SAYS ANGELA)
Best,
Anne
Hi Anne,
I must disagree with you. There are many cases now of traditional publishers giving self-published authors contracts because sales of the self-published version have been proven. At BookLocker.com, we’ve lost several authors over the years because of this fact. We just lost another one who was offered a $20K advance from a NYC publisher. Before he signed the contract, I referred him to my literary agent, who then managed to get him an even higher amount from another traditional publisher. It’s not just BookLocker authors who are landing traditional contracts, either.
Click HERE to see an article I wrote back in 2007 about some BookLocker authors who landed traditional contracts. I haven’t updated the list since then but there are many more now.
I agree many self-published books are horrible but it would be ludicrous to say a book is horrible just because it’s self-published. There are many very good self-published books on the market.
Many traditional publishers do indeed ask authors up front for marketing and promotional plans and some even ask the authors to provide them with an analysis of competitive books. And, those publishers then expect unknown authors to perform most, if not all, of those marketing activities.
Click HERE for an example of one author who was asked last month for his marketing plan.
Angela
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Published on April 6, 2011
Looking for a new way to help market your local history book?
Signings are all very well, but have you considered doing a slide show for local retirement homes and assisted living facilities?
Published on March 30, 2011
Only a month ago, I told you about Mason (age 4) logging into ebay.com and buying stuffed animals for himself. Just last week, I told you about Mason terrifying us when he hid under the kitchen table, resulting in a phone call to 9-1-1. I probably should have given birth to this one when I was MUCH YOUNGER!
Anyway, Mason doesn’t yet *appear* to understand the concept of money, or buying, or anything like that. However, I think he may be practicing selective comprehension because he definitely does understand which buttons he needs to push on an iPad or iPhone with the end result being the mailman delivering a box to him…
