I recently had a bizarre run-in with a copyright-infringing web site owner who went crazy when I found that they’d illegally published one of my articles. But their extreme response taught me a valuable lesson that I now want to share with you. It’s a lesson about making sure you keep your private information private – always.
I want to have a site where people can find out about the book and post comments. I’ve been trying to make a Facebook fan page and can’t figure it out, I looked at Twitter and don’t think that is what I want either. I really don’t want to build a website. Do you have any suggestions of where I can have readers go to post comments that can be seen by anyone?
I’m a self-syndicated columnist, but that’s only the tip of my writing iceberg. You have to buy groceries, you know? And, I’ll be darned, but my kids have this weird idea they need to eat every day. So write, I must.
Many of you know our recent trip to Wisconsin was canceled because Richard broke his leg and needed surgery. We were traveling there to attend the wedding of our good friends, Scott and Kelly. They got engaged last October, at the top of Cadillac Mountain, while visiting us here in Maine.
On that day, I was able to take a picture of them just moments after Scott proposed. A few weeks ago, I printed a copy of that picture and, using it as a guide, painted a large picture on canvas with acrylics for their wedding present. Max (age 8) is the most visually artistic in the family and he helped me with the rocks. I posted pictures of what we did HERE. I think you’ll agree…the rocks are the best part! 😉
This week’s Maxism:
“When I grow up, I’m going to be a brain surge.”
Hugs to all!
Angela
Perhaps a dozen times a week, authors ask me some variation of this question:
What is the best way to promote my book online?
It’s quite simple, really. This is all you need:
Hi Angela,
First, many, many thanks for the amazing resource you provide through WritersWeekly.com and related services.
Second, my kudos and thanks to you for shining light on, and not backing down from, organizations such as Shakespeare Squared. Without your site, I would have likely contacted them in response to any of their many ads for writers and may have well ended up on the long list of writers who remain unpaid, or who waited out months and months of frustration before getting paid.
Again, thanks on behalf of all of us!
Best regards,
JS
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Dear Angela,
It has been many, many, many moons since I’ve actually written. I’ve been a subscriber, except for a year or so when I was moving around, since you were in Texas and before moving to Maine. It appears to me that you have taken WritersWeekly to new heights and it should be the benchmark for other writing magazines. But alas, instead of using you as an example, others try to imitate. Not a good thing in my book.
I just wanted to say thank you and keep up the good work.
John in Colorado
Editors and clients come and go who want too much for too little, have never before hired a writer, do not pay, or are otherwise too difficult for you to waste your time. By quickly recognizing and rejecting these people, you can move quickly on to customers who will pay handsomely and are a pleasure to work with.
I have about a contract I’m contemplating signing. The publication is in print and online, and I’ll be doing blog posts initially, with the potential to do features in the future. I really want to write for this pub, but when they sent me the contract, the paragraph below scared me:
“(The Publisher) will retain the copyrights to all stories, works or photographs published. (The Publisher) may at its discretion resell or republish any stories, works or photographs. (Contributor) will agree that all stories, and works of authorship, including photos, will be considered works made for hire and shall be owned exclusively by (The Publisher).”
My question is this: Is it standard to deprive the writer of all copyright rights from the get-go? I’m inclined to ask for a one-year reversion clause.
As writers, we tend to be polite. We do not like to pick fights or burn bridges or ruin contacts that we may need in the future. If we feel that we have been hard done by, it is all too easy to just let it go in order to keep everyone sweet. But we work hard for our writing, and we need to fight for our worth.
Richard is feeling a bit better but he’s terribly bored. If I could just get him out to the van and take him for a spin, I know that would cheer him up but he has no desire to do anything that might jar one of his ankle screws loose before the bones are finished healing. Can’t say I blame him.
On Sunday, we decided to celebrate Father’s Day instead of Mother’s Day. Richard needed pampering far more than I and all the kids thought it was a great idea. We were supposed to spend the summer building on our land so Zach and I went to Borders, looking specifically for a book on Yurts and we found one!
If any of you have any experience with yurts (building, living in, staying in, or just knowledge of), please contact me. Richard would LOVE to exchange a couple of emails with you. We’re really leaning toward a yurt instead of a cabin.
For those of you who don’t know, a yurt is cylindrical, tent-like dwelling…but people use different types of materials for construction (not just cloth). No, we’re not going to build a teepee. If we were, it would already be done! You can see pictures of yurts HERE.
Many companies sell yurt kits. We’d like to try to build one ourselves but since Richard will be relegated to the sidelines during his four-month recovery, telling us what to do with construction, maybe a kit is the way to go. Some yurts look like ultra-chic, round, modern homes but we want something far more modest. Then again, if we build our own, we could save thousands of dollars…or maybe not. I’m going to buy Richard a bullhorn so he won’t feel so powerless while sitting with his foot propped up, watching us work. I’ll see if I can find one with a push-button horn in it so he use that if somebody hammers a nail crooked or something. Heh…
This week’s Maxism:
“Next time we go camping, can we build a bombfire?”
Hugs to all!
Angela
P.S. QUERY LETTERS THAT WORKED! Real Queries That Landed $2K+ Writing Assignments – Want to read real query letters that landed these contracts? Woman’s Day – $2,800; Redbook – $3,500; Ladies Home Journal – $3,000; DiscoveryHealth.com – $2,000; Lifetime Magazine – $3,000; Life Extension Magazine – $6,480; Natural Remedies – $11,300; and many more! See: https://www.writersweekly.com/books/1409.html
BOOK PROPOSALS THAT WORKED! Real Book Proposals That Landed $10K – $100K Publishing Contracts – Want to read real book proposals that landed these contracts? Simon and Schuster – $100,000; Berkeley Books – $25,000; Osborne-McGraw-Hill – $19,500; Random House $15,000; and many more! See a complete list here: https://www.writersweekly.com/books/3332.html
