Often, a new writer will come up with innovative “out-of-the-box” ideas for promoting a book without realizing that (a) they may actually hurt sales and (b) it’s been done many times before. “Scam” is probably too harsh a word for many of these ideas, but some of them are downright unethical and illegal. That’s what we’ll focus on in this article.
Well, we had quite a magical, celestial evening on Friday night!
On the way home from dinner, with a wind chill below zero outside and Christmas music piping through the speakers in the van inside, Frank suddenly yelled from the backseat, “I just saw a white light shoot through the sky!”
We all got excited and started looking out all the windows, but we didn’t see anything else…yet. A few minutes later, Richard and I were sitting in the front and, out of space (literally), a green ball of light shot out of the sky and appeared to travel…
Thanks for Robson
Where can I find an editor?
I am currently writing a book and need to find someone to edit it. Do you have any suggestions?
Please click above for a list of freelance editors we recommend.
Should I pay an agent?
Hi Angela,
I have a question. A literary agent is interested in representing my books, but charges a fee. Is this a normal practice? They have a listing on editors and
predators as a bad agency…
Will selling my essays as a column hurt future book possibility?
I hate to bug you like this, but you really are the only person in the world who seems to have answers to some of the thornier questions we blossoming freelancers sometimes face…
After WritersWeekly.com published my article, Paying Personal Essay Markets, a publicist who had read my article contacted me and inquired if I’d be interested in reviewing a book on sexual child abuse. She’d supply me with the book plus the opportunity to interview the author, but I’d be responsible for writing, querying and ultimately selling the book review.
Last weekend, while buying Frank a pair of shoes, I overheard an elderly couple shopping for a gift for their grandson. They were going to buy him snow boots for Christmas. I immediately thought, “How will they know the right size?” Geez, I can’t even get shoe sizes right when my children are right there with me and I have to seek professional help (the store clerk). How was this couple going to get the size right on a child who, obviously, lived in another town?
Each year, relatives write asking us what the children want for Christmas. I’m happy to give them hints on what the children would like, but also ask them to avoid certain popular toys and other items we’ve had personal experience with. I’m sure many of you parents know exactly what I’m talking about. So, today I’m sharing my list of the worst presents to buy for children, along with alternatives that will make them very happy…
One Present Peeker Who Got Caught
I was a peeker, too, and a good one, or so I thought. Mom always hid gifts under the bed, and she was a late wrapper, so I could open the end of the bag and put it back exactly as it had been, content to know that “Santa” was bringing most of what was on my list. I’d go so far as to erase my tracks across the green wall-to-wall carpeting…
Just Doin
As the author of a POD book, you have three hurdles to overcome in selling to bookstores: discounts on POD books are generally less than 40% (sometimes as low as half that), POD books are usually non-returnable (which discourages experimentation), and the publisher isn’t promoting your book to the bookstores. Here are some ways that you can overcome these hurdles and get your book into the stores…
Readers Respond to Jean Sorensen
I want to thank WritersWeekly.com for the fine e-book, How to Be a Syndicated
Newspaper Columnist. I bought it about a year ago and have been taking your advice to heart ever since, submitting two different columns to various arts weeklies and traditional newspapers across the country…
