Letters To The Editor For October 18th
This Week:
- Malicious Reviews On Amazon
- Just Doin’ Our Job…
Promoting Your Book With a Podcast By Patrice-Anne Rutledge
In order to determine whether podcasting is a good choice for your book promotion efforts, you need to learn the basics of podcasting.
Copy Tests
I heard through the grapevine that a major retail chain store here in my hometown was looking for a full time copywriter. I sent over my resume and writing samples to their inside ad agency. The creative director said that they would be sending over a little exercise “to see what their applicants could do with a pair of assignments that we might actually take on.”
With marketing in mind for two states (where they are planning on opening stores), for the “test,” they want one :30 second grand opening TV spot and one :60 second radio spot. In addition, for another campaign, they want one :60 second radio spot targeted at teens.
Sounds to me like a lot of work for free. I’m not going to do it. I don’t need the work that much but want to reply in a dignified way. What are your thoughts?
I Won’t Give In to Murphy’s Law! By Wendy Komancheck
I won’t give in to Murphy’s Law. You know, “If anything can go wrong, it will.” I am convinced that Murphy’s Law happened to me again when my assigned sources never followed through on an interview. Of course, this also was during a time when I was ready to leave for vacation, and my family and I were getting ready to move. Besides, I insisted on meeting my editorial deadline, and keeping my writing moving forward during these seemingly stressful events.
Fall Cleaning
In anticipation of the arrival of my mother-in-law this week, we cleaned the house from top to bottom. Ali (age 15) complained the ENTIRE time I spent in her room rearranging drawers, sorting clothes, looking under her bed and hope chest (pretty scary!), and arranging her books, among other fun things. But, she was very happy with her new room when I was finished. The very next morning, I walked into her room and was horrified to discover it looked like I’ve never even been in there!
Malicious Reviews on Amazon By Angela Hoy
Amazon allows any Amazon customer to post a review about a book, even if that person did not purchase the book from Amazon. This means Amazon has no way of verifying if that person has even read the book or not.
PSTD, Anxiety, et. al.
I know people with a lot less on their plates who are anxiety-ridden and depressed! Despite all you’ve been through, you manage to write about it concisely and in a fashion that’s certain to help others.
You’re a caring, giving, valuable person not just to your immediate family but to your larger family of fans and writers. Those of us in the latter group are glad you’re taking care of yourself. Soon life will brighten and you’ll feel yourself again. Meanwhile, we’re out here cheering for you.
By the way, the John Borchardt article is the best I’ve read on the subject of white papers. Thank you for a wonderful publication.
All the very best,
Paulette
Custom Publishing Magazines are Customized for the Freelancer By Behlor Santi
According to a “white paper” at americanbusiness.com, custom publishing – the creation of magazines, newsletters, websites, and other media for a particular company or organization – is the fastest-growing and youngest segment of the media. About 60% of the US companies that custom publish started their in-house or standalone operations in the last ten years. The industry’s trade association, the Custom Publishing Council, is still in its relative infancy, and no particular company looms in profits and prestige. While a handful of custom publishers make between $20 and $50 million in annual revenue, the majority are small in-house and standalone firms.
Author? Who Me? By Kay Fellows
The last thing I ever expected to hear over an intercom at Barnes and Noble was the surreal announcement, “local author Kay Fellows is signing her travel book “Upper Mississippi Valley by Motorcycle” at a table near the mall entrance.”
PTSD Update, School Shootings and Lack of Lunch
Last week, I posted a note about my recent surgery that followed a litany of other challenges we’ve experienced over the Summer, including the doctor telling us Mason might die, and my resulting anxiety attack. I went to the doctor last week and posted an update to last week’s missive on Wednesday afternoon. If you read the issue before the update was posted, you can see the update HERE.