Richard and I have hired a midwife to deliver the baby at home. It’s a long story that I’ll try to detail next week (I’m a bit behind this week because of the virus). Basically, the local hospitals won’t allow VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean), even if the doctor doesn’t feel it’s in the patient’s best interests to go through that major surgery…
I received the following email last week:
Since my initial entrance into the World of Writing, as I like to call it, I have not generated any sales for my four novels, including the one we, (my wife and I) paid a POD Company $650.00, for what turned out to be a rather bogus list of media outlets and bookstores with which to try and get my latest novel into. I am not looking to get rich overnight, but it would be wonderful to walk into a bookstore and see my novels displayed upon a self.
If you’re wanting to see your book in bookstores, the best way to do that is to get an agent and then try to land a traditional publishing contract.
Hi Angela,
I really appreciated the advice that was given about writing for non-profits. Here’s the way I put it to the large non-profit I did some editing for last summer, after I was asked if I could donate 30 hours of my time, because the writers I would be working with–all employed by a teaching institution–were donating theirs: “This is how I make a living. I cannot afford to take on a large project for free.”
I did give them a slightly reduced rate, but only because I felt comfortable doing so. I absolutely agree that non-profits need to understand writing is a professional service like any other.
Having said that much, if the non-profit is local and run by volunteers, I may well donate an hour or two of time, because I do believe in giving back to the community, but in that case I’m very up-front about what I will and will not do.
As far as the Red Cross director’s salary–in my humble opinion, no one at all working for any non-profit deserves that kind of salary–it’s not as if they’re paying for their travel, etc., because those are all business expenses. A quarter of that amount, okay, which would put them on a par with university presidents, etc. But they shouldn’t be profiting personally off donations made to help the unfortunate.
Keep up the good work.
Kathy
Shhhhh. I’ve got a secret to share with you that you may not even know about.
In fact, if you have ever written a book or thought about writing a book, I’m gonna let you in on something that won’t cost you a dime of money, but could produce an incredible opportunity to effectively market your work.
What is this dream plan for building an audience of enthusiastic buyers for your book? Simply put, it’s a blog. What’s that?!
Dear Angela,
I am an avid reader of your newsletter and it has inspired me to get back into the freelance game this year. I recall seeing a letter for writers who have deadbeat clients who try to get out of paying. However, I’ve searched your site and can’t locate it.
I need it now and wonder if you could direct me to it’s location.
Thanks so much!
Dawn
It’s here:
https://www.writersweekly.com/the_latest_from_angelahoycom/002330_01122005.html
As you may recall from last week’s missive, Frank was sick with a severe case of strep throat for several days and, when he started showing signs of improvement, Max start showing symptoms…
Last week, I listed my New Year’s Writer’s Resolutions and asked readers to share theirs, too. Here are some that arrived by email. My, but we are an ambitious bunch!!
This Week:
People expend lots of energy and discussion on getting listed in search engines. There are companies that promise all sorts of amazing results if you just pay them a fee to perform their often questionable tactics. And people invest inordinate amounts of time fretting over where they are in the search results.
Truth is, there’s really only a few things you need to know about search engine and directory submissions…
Can you answer copyright questions, or refer me to someone who is knowledgeable?
I have two questions:
1. I write information articles for a corporation, under an executive’s byline. Most of the work is done through email, with no contract. If the company refuses to pay for a particular article – let’s say they claim I failed to do adequate research or did not submit a second rewrite – can I claim copyright infringement because of their use of my material of someone else’s byline? (Or do they protect against that by thoroughly revising the final draft?)
2. I write press releases for a nonprofit org as a volunteer, and submit to the PR manager via email attachments. The releases are published online (and in print) with the PR manager’s name, not mine. Sometimes they are revised without my knowledge before publication. I discovered the org used entire paragraphs from “my” releases in a monthly magazine. Should they 1) give me a byline and/or 2) pay me for the additonal use? My request for information about this was ignored. The magazine does not hire freelancers – articles are written in-house.
