Articles

Say it Funny, Sell It By Susan Sundwall

Published on April 1, 2009

"Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke." If you guessed the above quote to be from Will Rogers you'd be correct. Our friend Will was extremely popular with the American people back in the 1930's. And isn't it uncanny that we can relate to his witty observation today? Good humor is like that - timeless. And it will always sell because people, whatever their circumstance, love to laugh. As writers it's in our very best interest to be mindful of that, and we should attempt to infuse our material with a tickle or two whenever we can. …

Use Your Day Job to Break into Trade Journals By Diane Stark

Published on March 25, 2009

Waking up early, putting on the required business attire, commuting to work, and having someone tell you what to do. Or getting up when you want to, staying in your pajamas, and working from home as your own boss. Which one sounds more fun to you? …

Go Back to School to Sell Your Story By Eric D. Goodman

Published on March 18, 2009

Are you an author whose book has been picked up by a small, independent press? Or was it picked up by a large press, but you're not the "flavor of the month" attracting all the imprint's marketing dollars? Perhaps your book is self-published? In any of these cases, as most published authors will tell you, getting your book into print is akin to elementary school, when compared to the high-school hard knocks of trying to market and sell your book. Your book, if you're fortunate enough to get it in the bookstores at all, is competing with hundreds of thousands of others. …

It Sounded Too Good to Be True…and It Was By Julie Engelhardt

Published on March 11, 2009

As many of us know, there are times when a writing opportunity comes along that seems too good to be true. Generally, we're the ones (or at least I am) knocking on editors' doors, pitching ideas or letting them know why we're the best for a particular assignment. A couple of weeks ago I thought my luck had turned and I'd been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and the best part about it is that I really didn't even have to look for it - it came my way. …

Don’t Count on Your Publisher’s Publicist! Building Your OWN Platform By Rich Mintzer

Published on March 4, 2009

Trying to get a book deal? Trying to sell copies of your book? It's not easy. Most publishing houses, even before the economic crisis, began minimizing their publicity departments. While in-house publicists still play a vital role in generating initial attention for the product, they can no longer set the wheels in motion for big marketing campaigns on a budget that typically consists largely of whatever they can pull from under the cushions of the office couch. In essence, unless you're quite famous, you will need to go out and do your own promotion if you want a successful book. And promotion today begins with the latest buzzwords in publishing, "a platform." Yes, you need an area in which you excel and in which people want to read what you have to say - and hear about it. …

Cons and Scams. Oh Me, Oh My! By Karen Carver

Published on February 25, 2009

When people are desperate for money they're more likely than ever to "try anything"...to "take a chance." That's when they become ripe prey for con or scam artists. …

Write, Get Published, and Get Paid Without Getting Screwed By Laura Bell

Published on February 4, 2009

This sounds like a fundamental quest for any writer. The problem is that it sounds easy. If your writing career has been going smoothly, you are blessed. For the rest of us, let's look at the issues realistically. Someone wants your work. You deliver and getting paid turns into one big headache. As far as I know writers are the only professionals who get treated this way. The world as a whole does not treat us professionally. Professionals get a decent wage and get paid on time. …

Wedding Bliss and Paychecks: Writing for the Wedding Market By Steff Green

Published on January 28, 2009

Planning a wedding is big business these days - the average cost of a US wedding is $28,732 - that's more than many people earn in a year! Most couples have never planned an event of this size or cost before, so they're searching for any advice to help manage their wedding plans. Bridal magazines and online planning guides cater to these dazed brides and grooms. If you're passionate about taffeta and lace, seating plans and wedding bands, perhaps you should consider writing for the wedding market. …

It’s a Wonderful Time for Interviews By C. Hope Clark

Published on January 21, 2009

Everyone loves to peek inside the lives of the successful, the intriguing, the ones who made the world spin to their whim. That's why interviews are great cash cows for those freelancers who can spot a personality and turn him into a neat guest spot in a feature. Name a magazine that doesn't accept a snappy interview? …

VAMPIRE PUBLISHERS: How to Tell If You’ve Been Bitten by One By Julie Matherly

Published on January 14, 2009

Like many writers who can't break through the exclusive ceiling of agents and large blockbuster-thirsty commercial publishers, you might be forced to change tactics. You query smaller houses until you receive every author's dream - a book contract. The publisher pays royalties and claims not to be a self-publisher, POD, or vanity press. They invite you to ask questions, making you feel safe. You can't wait to sign while the stars of potential royalties romance your head. Some of the terms seem a little vague, but your hunger for publication convinces you not to expect much with a first published book. You're grateful to be one of a chosen few while the publisher seduces you to join their sacred family. You surrender to your appetite and sign. Having your first book published is worth almost any risk, right? Sadly, writers who buy into this deceptive myth may face dire consequences. Welcome to Vampire Publishing. …

The Power and Profit in a Fiction Title By Marion Cuba

Published on January 7, 2009

As a writer, I am constantly barraged by Internet advice on how to market your book. Unfortunately, most of the suggestions are geared to non-fiction. Many also urge me to "research the market" to find the perfect subject. I dismiss - and delete - these ideas as NA: not applicable. They hold no interest for me. Nor would they be of any value. …

Thirty-One Writing-Related Resolutions By Melissa Mayntz

Published on December 31, 2008

Thirty-One Writing-Related Resolutions By Melissa Mayntz

Many writers are stressed at the end of the year, not because of holiday parties, last-minute shopping, or a second batch of cookies, but because it's time to plan next year's writing progress with the dreaded New Year's resolutions. Instead of getting stumped on the same "write more, write better" goal, these 31 writing-related resolutions - one for every day of January - offer ideas every writer can embrace for a productive and profitable new year. …

Getting Paid, Taking Aim, and Reporting in 1899 By James Stovall

Published on December 17, 2008

The Writing Wright offers a banquet of information, quotations, essays and notes about writing, writers and the writing life. Here you will find out about Ernest Hemingway's attitude toward punctuation, when Tom Clancy found out about submarines, and much more! Richly illustrated by the author, this book is one that you find hard to resist. …

Aim Off Target By Eric D. Goodman

Published on December 10, 2008

Any new author will tell you that writing the book is only the tip of the iceberg. Then comes revising it, rewriting it, editing it, finding a publisher, and a long final stretch - marketing it. These days you can't just write a book and expect the masses to come to you. To succeed, you must take your book to the masses. …

Writing for Writers Works By Steff Green

Published on December 3, 2008

Many writers in the freelance industry struggle to find their writing niche, yet they overlook the most obvious niche - writing about writing. Any writer who has clocked their hours in front of a keyboard knows a few tricks, techniques, dos and do not's they could share with other writers. Why not write for other writers and earn money while you're at it? …

Make Money Writing Santa Letters By Julie Engelhardt

Published on November 26, 2008

Make Money Writing Santa Letters By Julie Engelhardt

We've all heard the expression "necessity is the mother of invention," and as the days before Christmas begin to dwindle down, this mother needed to think of an invention that would bring in some extra money for holiday presents. …

BEWARE! Text Editing Scam By Cee Gee

Published on November 19, 2008

In August '08, an internet scam hit very close to home and I was almost conned. It started when I went looking for a job on Cleveland.com. There, I came across a posting... …

How Offering a ‘Gift with Purchase’ Can Grow Your Freelance Writing Business By Patty Harder

Published on November 12, 2008

I'm a sucker for a free gift with purchase. In fact, I wait to buy my favorite Lancome or Estee Lauder beauty products until it's bonus time. And I usually stock up on things like socks when the buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) specials come along. For freelance writers, this proven marketing tactic is a great way to get new clients - or revitalize an existing client relationship that's gone cold. …

Get Your Money Up Front! I’m Glad I Did! By Debbie Elicksen

Published on November 5, 2008

Books are my business. In the last seven to eight years, I've helped make people's books come alive with manuscript editing, project managing books to print, graphic design and layout, and sometimes ghostwriting. So when a fellow member of an association - a friend - came to me to ask me to ghostwrite a manuscript, I didn't turn him down. …

If I Flop, Let ’em Pan Me By Sharon A. Struth

Published on October 29, 2008

Knute Rockne, head coach for Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish" team brought his team to national prominence and wasn't afraid of his critics. "If I flop, let'em pan me" he once said. It takes confidence to make that statement. …

Travel Stories Right in Your Backyard By Joan Airey

Published on October 22, 2008

Travel articles can be written without leaving your backyard. In July, my oldest son informed me that a business acquaintance was leading trail riders and a wagon on a two-week trek starting from our hometown. …

Becoming an Author One Piece of Trivia at a Time By Jodi M. Webb

Published on October 15, 2008

I'm a lot of fun on a school field trip (embarrassing is the word my children would choose). It's not enough for me to visit Philadelphia and listen to the standard speech by the National Park Service employee. I ask weird questions. Who named the Liberty Bell? What did the men who wrote the Constitution eat for lunch? Did they order takeout or did they brown bag it? Did somebody from Philadelphia really invent the Philly cheesesteak? For decades I've waited but no one created a magazine "niche-y" enough for the tiny shards of knowledge I've gathered. …

We Have Seen the Enemy and She is…a Writer? By A. Antonow

Published on October 8, 2008

Psst...what if I told you that you could run a successful freelance writing business by charging freelance writers next to nothing and then selling their hard work for much more? Would it seem unethical to you? If so, you may be in the minority among some writers. …

I Should Have Known Better… and So Should You! By Laura Bell

Published on October 1, 2008

I know of no other profession where members accept work assignments without finding out when they get paid. Paid on acceptance or paid on publication used to do the trick, but no more. The world of writing has gotten more complicated. …

Name Dropping for Money By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Published on September 17, 2008

"It's not what you know but who you know" has never been truer when interviewing celebrities. Interviewing celebrities gives you more than just the ability to name-drop at parties. It also lends credibility and interest to your articles and springboards your writing career to better-paying assignments. You don't have to live in Hollywood to gain access to celebrities. These tips will help you get rolling. …

Transformation By James Robert Daniels

Published on September 10, 2008

Sometimes we study a market and look for article ideas to fit the style, voice and editorial calendar. The most prolific and successful writers find ideas everywhere, then pitch them to suitable markets. We can also start with experience and leave the writing and selling until later. I can't always get a magazine assignment before an event has come and gone. And getting expenses paid is not that likely for a freelancer. So what do you do? Find something interesting and just do it. …

The Hidden Nuances to Writing for Publication By Kamala Thiagarajan

Published on September 3, 2008

Do you believe that getting published is only about finding a good idea, pitching it to the right market and writing the article? While this will certainly help, there are other factors that come into play before a manuscript is accepted for publication. Understanding these allows you to reap rich dividends. …

What’s In A Name? By Paidra Delayno

Published on August 27, 2008

The big day finally arrived when the book I've been writing is finished. It's been re-read and edited a half dozen times. Now it's time to submit. …

Freelance Job Postings – Worth Your Time? By Rich Mintzer

Published on August 13, 2008

Complacency is rarely an option for a freelance writer. Magazines fold, smaller book publishers get swallowed up by larger publishing houses and websites run short of cash. Therefore, even with nearly 50 published non-fiction books and plenty of web content to my credit, I still find that it never hurts to pick up additional small writing assignments and, more importantly, make new contacts. With that in mind, every few months I peruse the freelance assignments on the job postings boards. Ironically, while the names and faces in the publishing business change very often, the tone and general approach of the freelance writing job sites remains the same. …

Essay Anyone? By Susan Sundwall

Published on August 6, 2008

One of my favorite parts of magazines is the section that gives me an essay. I will even, on occasion, clip the really good ones for my folder and toss the magazine. A particularly charming one was in a recent AARP Bulletin. The writer recalls his childhood habit of eavesdropping on the adults in his life and learning much about how the real world works. Funny, I used to do the same thing. I learned many a great life lesson with my ear to the door, and that essay brought it all back to me. Clever, that writer. …

I Got Scammed, Legally, by a Writing Website By Karen Carver

Published on July 30, 2008

Most of us using the internet know the ins and outs of getting scammed. I've used desktop computers since they first became available and the internet since its birthing days with bulletin boards. So I'm very aware. Unfortunately for me, I just got caught in my first - and hopefully last - snare. It will probably cost me $50 after visiting a site for at-home freelance writers. …

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