More World’s Worst Book Proposals By Angela Hoy
This week, we’re again sharing snippets of some of the worst book proposals we’ve ever received. We hope you get a giggle from them like we did. Yes, these are real!
This week, we’re again sharing snippets of some of the worst book proposals we’ve ever received. We hope you get a giggle from them like we did. Yes, these are real!
This Week:
Blogging for profit might be the newest chapter in the book of business models for writers, but phrases like “very part time basis”, “exposure”, and “split the ad revenue” tell the same old story. They are sugar-coated ways of saying “come work for free.”
Some say that the three most important aspects of starting a retail business are location…location…location. By the same token, a successful author might adhere to the same concept with, marketing…marketing…marketing!
We recently taught Max (age 4) how to use the TIVO controller so he can now rewind and replay his favorite parts of Blues Clues over and over again. However, today, I kept hearing the same dialogue from the television in the other room. I investigated and discovered that Max was watching an eHarmony.com dating service commercial over…and over…and over again (sigh…).

Forgive me while I step up onto my soapbox today. I am SO tired (whine!) of receiving book manuscripts from convicted felons who have written books about the government conspiracies waged against them…
This Week:
Last week, I received two letters from readers complimenting us on only running quality job ads. While I do occasionally screw up and get “had” by a bad one, I try very hard each week to avoid the questionable/seedy ads, and only run ads that are for real companies that pay writers real money.
I admit I get pretty upset when I see my writing website colleagues running ads that are obviously questionable or unethical, if not downright scams (pay per click, term paper mills, etc.) and, unfortunately, when I write to them to complain, they usually ignore my emails…
I love your site. It’s very fun and informative. Do you know of a good manuscript editing service?
We’ve had a really unusual winter this year. As I am writing this, there is no snow on the ground. Yes, that’s right. It’s supposed to be the coldest, nastiest time of the year for Mainers. But, it was in the 50’s last weekend, sunny, breezy, and downrights Springish! I ran errands on Saturday and didn’t even need a sweater.