Published on December 12, 2007
Contests are everywhere for short stories, poetry and essays. One almost has to wrack his brain to name others. But to a novelist or book-length author, such competitions are rare; for self-published writers they are practically nonexistent. Everyone knows that using “award-winning” after one’s name may make someone take notice. But where does one find book contests? Not many people award self-publishing authors, but the few that do, do it quite well.
Published on December 12, 2007
Dear Angela,
I’ve been waiting for nine months for a magazine I really like to schedule a publication date for my inspirational essay. Soon after I submitted it, the editor told me she really liked it, but it would take them a while to schedule it. Now they’ve sent a contract in which they want me to sign over Exclusive First Rights for it to be put on their website without paying me on acceptance or scheduling a date for its publication. I’ll be paid when it is uploaded on the website, but “its placement is subject to the editorial staff’s discretion and may be removed from the website at any time without prior notice.”
I think they should pay me now or schedule a publication date if they want me to sign a contract.
If I turn over first rights, they could sit on the piece forever. I think it’s a good piece and I really want to see it in print. What do you think about the contract and do you think there is any advantage to my letting someone put it on the website? This isn’t a major magazine. I need good printed clips.
Thanks,
A.
Published on December 12, 2007
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Published on December 5, 2007
In case you missed the news this week, Maine got hammered by a huge snowstorm. It started snowing around 3 a.m. on Monday morning and, as I write this at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, it’s still snowing, but just a light, misty snowfall now.
Published on December 5, 2007
I have a big problem buying stuff for people who already have everything… especially when I know they probably won’t want whatever I could find on sale at the mall or at the department store. I’d much rather spend less money, but more time, making homemade gifts for family members and close friends.
Published on December 5, 2007
Hi Angela,
I just finished the article, How NOT to Waste Money & Time When Promoting your Book, by Marion Cuba and I had to shoot you a quick email. What an amazingly helpful piece!
I thought writing my novel, Out of the Ordinary, was hard. Now, I’m realizing I need to promote it (if I expect anyone to read it, that is) and I’m a total novice in this area. There’s so much to do, I don’t know where to begin. The practical, real world tips in this article have saved me hours of pointless work, needless frustration and, oh yes, a whole lot of money.
Thanks so much for, once again, sharing this type of quality info with all of us. This is just one more reasons we all love booklocker so much!
Happy holidays!
Susan Morgan Portfolio
Author, Out of the Ordinary
Blog
Published on December 5, 2007
“You’re not done with that book yet?” My husband’s voice was less than patient. I’d been regaling him with the difficulties of finishing The Last Casualty. I’d been working on the book for five years, on and off, and it simply refused to get written.
As frustrating as it was to him to hear about my lack of progress, it was infinitely more painful for me. After all, I wasn’t a novice. By that time, I’d had ten books published by major New York publishers, including a few on the USA Today bestseller list. I had four more books under contract…
Published on December 5, 2007
Angela, I know you’re not a lawyer, but I’d like to get your thoughts about this situation:
I recently entered a contest sponsored by a large financial business. The rules state…
Published on December 5, 2007
It has been a very tough year.
After six or seven years of being the only distributor for my books, the company decided they didn’t want to distribute anyone’s books but their own. I discovered this when I was about halfway across the country to pick up my supply. I had called to ask if they were going to be closed any time during the summer so I wouldn’t plan my arrival around their vacation. His answer was, “Didn’t you get my letter?” Not only did the distributor have almost 10,000 of my books (5 different adventure-travel books) but I had a new one being printed. It felt like someone had kicked me in the gut but I certainly wasn’t going to admit that to them.
Published on November 28, 2007
Now, we’re gearing up for Christmas. Well, okay, we’re already in the throes of it. Last Friday was Hoy Holiday. Each year, on the day after Thanksgiving, we go get our Christmas Tree at the local Christmas Tree farm. We then drag it home and all the girls laugh while the guys try to make it stand upright. We then pull the Christmas decorations out of the attic, decorate the whole house, inside and out, drink lots of hot chocolate, eat frozen pizza (don’t worry – we cook it first) and then sit around the TV together that night watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
