Letters To The Editor For April 4th
This week:
- Unauthorized Reselling Of Articles
Guaranteeing Book Sales Through Market Analysis By Joan Wai
When people learn I’m an author with my own small press and a couple of non-fiction titles in print, I hear a lot of enthusiastic ideas about books they would like to write. Many tell me about their passion for their work, as if the sheer love for their idea is what will make their book sell. I ask if they’ve done a market analysis to prove the marketability of their idea. They usually answer me with a blank look.
Should I Pay These Companies for Their Book Promotion Services?
Hi Angela,
I am wondering if you or Richard have an opinion on two book promotion possibilities:
1) Paying [a company] to help get me on radio talk shows, etc.
2) Having [a website] post an interview and book review on their website for $250.00
Thanks! Lynne
Don’t Wait for Opportunities to Come to You By Kara Williams
Three times in the 16 years I’ve been in the publishing industry, I’ve gone after jobs and writing opportunities well before positions were ever posted in want ads – even before publications were launched. Each time, I’ve landed a much-wanted gig, ultimately leading me to the successful freelance-writing career I have today…
Chew Toys for Little Boys
Mason (age 9 months) has a particular fondness for soft plastic or rubber toys he can easily chew on. If he doesn’t have a toy to chew on, he’ll clamp down on your arm, your neck, or any soft flesh he can find (just ask Percy, the dog).
Readers Weigh In…
Last week, I ran the following in WritersWeekly Whispers and Warnings:
Creative TECHniques / creativetechniquesmag.com / All American Crafts Inc. / allamericancrafts.com – Writer alleges she’s owed $350; publisher got upset with writer and terminated the contract…after the articles were finished and submitted. What do you think? Does the publisher owe the writer the money? WritersWeekly would love your opinion on this one!
Quite a few of you wrote in with your opinions! Some of you agreed with my opinion while many of you didn’t.
The responses are great! Please read them here:
https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=7250
How Some POD Publishers Milk Authors
Hi Angela,
Wow, GREAT article on the in’s and out’s of POD publishing!
Thanks for the detailed info, like the various prices to expect!
Dave Kaiser
https://www.FloridaPublishing.com
Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You: Ten Tips For Food Writers By Melissa Bradley Diskin
Food writing. The glamour! The posh eats! The twenty extra pounds! (Wait. Who said that?)
I write about restaurants and hotels, among other subjects. Yes, meeting chefs is fun. Yes, the food is (usually) great. What isn’t so hot? Eating alone at a really nice restaurant. Gaining weight. Telling my husband that he needs to feed, bathe and put the baby to sleep by himself after his own hard day at work. But whether you write for larger mags or smaller regionals, food writing can be made easier if you follow a few rules to ensure that you hook up with the right people and pay attention to details.
Unauthorized Reselling Of Articles
Hello, Angela.
I’ve been getting your Writers Weekly e-mails for quite a while, and think you do a terrific job.
I have a question I’m wondering if you could help me with, or if you know someone who may be able to help.
I am a freelance writer and I’ve been writing for a west suburban paper for nine years. Recently I noticed that my stories are popping up on Findarticles.com, www.questia.com, www.highbeam.com, goliath.ecnext.com, and maybe other sites, which charge a fee to read the complete stories.
Now, none of these sites have ever gotten permission from me to post these articles, and I do not make one cent off the articles I wrote which they are “selling.” Is what their doing legal? If not, what can I do?
Although my articles appear in that large newspaper, I still retain the rights to what I’ve written. Is that meaningless, in the Internet age? Can anyone take what I’ve written and use it, even sell it?
Sincerely,
R
Book Signings – Are They Worth The Time? By Diane Craver
I survived my first book signing on February 24th and it wasn’t at a bookstore. It was held at a union township civic center. I was asked to participate in an Author Day/Book Signing, which was sponsored by our library. Fifty people attended and many of them were at the workshop to learn about writing. All six authors spoke about the struggles and triumphs of writing, plus gave tips. I had pre-ordered thirty copies of my two recent releases, No Greater Loss and A Fiery Secret, and I sold ten books plus three copies of my book, The Christmas of 1957. Other authors and family told me that they thought I did great selling 13 books at my first signing.