Articles

Want to Write a Travel Guidebook? By Barbara Hudgins

Published on May 14, 2008

So you've decided to write a travel guidebook! Perhaps you are a travel writer with a sheaf of articles about your trip to Australia and you feel you have a good enough angle to support a full book. Perhaps you're a travel editor who is fed up with the books coming across your desk since you feel none of them have really brought the reality of the place home. Or you could be an outdoor editor who notices there are more and more inquiries about mountain biking in your area but there is no guidebook on the subject. Of course you may not be a writer at all... …

When Audience Questions Come From Left Field, Get Ready To Catch! By Juliann Wetz

Published on April 30, 2008

Public speaking - book talks - author readings. If you're lucky, you'll get the chance to showcase your writing in a public forum. What a thrill and boost to the ego it is to stand in front of a group of people who are hanging on your every word; people who spend their free time immersing themselves in your thoughts, ideas and expressions. …

Earn Extraordinary Income Writing Web Sites By Karen Di Prima

Published on April 23, 2008

Writers know that nothing can match the thrill of seeing your words printed and bound between the pages of a national glossy, or better yet, perched on a bookshelf in a full-color wrapper. Unfortunately, for many of us, those experiences - and the resulting financial rewards - are few and far between... …

Fill’er Up! – Paying Filler Markets By Jacquie McTaggart

Published on March 19, 2008

Does "one hour of writing time can increase your weekly income by at least $150" sound like a lyric from The Impossible Dream? Well, it isn't - not if you write fillers. Writing fillers is an excellent way for beginners to break into print, or for established writers to boost their income. …

The Mathematics of Freelancing: What’s Your Hourly Rate? By Rich Mintzer

Published on March 12, 2008

As I sat completing an article for $700, I realized that it had only taken me seven hours to write, or a hefty $100 per hour. Later that day, following an editor's notes, I completed a $100 article, which had also taken me seven hours, or a not so hefty $14.29 per hour. After reprimanding myself for taking on the assignment, I once again recalled my promise to no longer take on those poor hourly rate projects unless there was the potential of something much bigger and better to follow... …

Reading Your Work Aloud By Eric D. Goodman

Published on March 5, 2008

Reading Your Work Aloud By Eric D. Goodman

In many cases, writers tend to be introverts. We sit in solitude, our most beloved companions of the workday being our computers and coffee, laptops and latte. Our playmates are pens, pencils, and paper... …

Secret Marketing Tips for Your Book By Scott Rose

Published on February 27, 2008

If you think I'm trying to hit you over the head with sarcastic, ironic subtlety regarding the use of keywords in online book promotion, don't think again! And sometime, you'll simply have to ask me about my recipe for key(word) lime pie. Book book book. Secret secret secret... …

Magazines That Pay for Letters and More By Ann Goldberg

Published on February 20, 2008

I recently received a check for $150 for a 90-word letter and a photograph in a British magazine. It's the best payment I have ever received, for one article but I regularly receive checks for between $40 - $100 for letters and tips I send to publications... …

Why Beginning Writers Need an Editor By Rickey E. Pittman

Published on February 13, 2008

Why Beginning Writers Need an Editor By Rickey E. Pittman

One of the most satisfying moments in a new writer's life occurs when a book-length manuscript is finished. This is usually followed by a moment of tension, perhaps bordering on horror, as the writer ponders about how to get it published. …

How Writers Can Score Press Trips By Roy A. Barnes

Published on February 6, 2008

For writers, the challenge of taking trips and hoping to recoup the cost of their expenses with sales of their articles is very daunting indeed. Writers can save much if not all of their expenses (and thus, net more from their writing while getting new ideas) when they participate in group or individual press trips (also called FAM {for Familiarization} Trips), where the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of a city or region (or the Public Relations firm who handles their account) pays some or all of the writer's trip expenses, like air, hotel, attraction fees, and meals, or gets the local venues to "comp (make it complimentary)" the charges. These organizations do this to encourage writers to write about the sights and activities they are proud of and want the world to know about via the travel articles they hope to see published. …

Ghostwriting: Know Your Clients By Rich Mintzer

Published on January 16, 2008

Ghostwriting: Know Your Clients By Rich Mintzer

The concept of ghostwriting makes perfect sense. It allows for those who have expertise in an area, but are not the most proficient writers, to express themselves in well honed, well written books and articles. It also allows for writers to make money behind the strengths of well known names, since celebrities and experts can sell books based on their name recognition and, or, expertise in a field. …

AFTER THE LEAP: 10 Ideas For The New Full-Time Writer By Melanie Bowden

Published on January 9, 2008

AFTER THE LEAP: 10 Ideas For The New Full-Time Writer By Melanie Bowden

Last June, I took the plunge. After eight years of freelancing part-time, I chose to pursue a full-time writing career. Was I nervous? You bet. Has it worked out? Better than I ever hoped. The following are tips I've learned along the way, with additional advice from successful full-timers... …

Go Beyond Editorial: Make Advertorials Among Your Best-Paying Gigs! By Nicole Rollender

Published on January 2, 2008

If you're a die-hard editor, journalist or freelance writer, chances are you balk at the word "advertorial." You know what basic advertorials are - they're either a full page or half page of promotional copy facing a full-page ad or sitting over a half-page ad. You may feel like you're a sell-out if you're writing marketing or public relations copy, but guess what? Advertorial writing fees can really add up for you. …

Breaking into Business Magazines and Newspapers By John K. Borchardt

Published on December 26, 2007

How can you improve your chances breaking into highly competitive national business publications such as "Fortune," "Forbes" and "Business Week"? These magazines require their freelancers to have business writing experience. How can you get those all-important business article clips to persuade national business magazine editors to give you an assignment? Writing for local and regional business publications can enable you to get these precious clips and the needed experience. …

Do You Have a Purpose and Platform in Place? By Patricia L. Fry

Published on December 19, 2007

Do You Have a Purpose and Platform in Place? By Patricia L. Fry

Most of us, the first time around the publishing block, have a clear vision of life as an author. We see ourselves holding our new books in one hand while raking in thousands of dollars in royalties or profits with the other. What a shock to discover that your wonderful book - the manuscript into which you poured your heart and soul - isn't flying off of bookstores shelves into the hands of eager readers. The fact is that you may not even find it in bookstores at all. …

BOOK CONTESTS – IMAGE MAKERS By C. Hope Clark

Published on December 12, 2007

Contests are everywhere for short stories, poetry and essays. One almost has to wrack his brain to name others. But to a novelist or book-length author, such competitions are rare; for self-published writers they are practically nonexistent. Everyone knows that using "award-winning" after one's name may make someone take notice. But where does one find book contests? Not many people award self-publishing authors, but the few that do, do it quite well. …

Unfinished Manuscripts: Training Tips By Cyn Mobley

Published on December 5, 2007

"You're not done with that book yet?" My husband's voice was less than patient. I'd been regaling him with the difficulties of finishing The Last Casualty. I'd been working on the book for five years, on and off, and it simply refused to get written. As frustrating as it was to him to hear about my lack of progress, it was infinitely more painful for me. After all, I wasn't a novice. By that time, I'd had ten books published by major New York publishers, including a few on the USA Today bestseller list. I had four more books under contract... …

Give Thanks for your Writing By Eric D. Goodman

Published on November 20, 2007

Sometimes we become so consumed by the writing tasks we have in front of us that we forget to celebrate the jobs well done. Taking a moment to reflect on what you've accomplished isn't a time waster. In fact, a new book indicates that it can help you. …

The Easy Way to Publishing Success By Patricia Fry

Published on November 7, 2007

So you've finished your first novel (your memoir or a nonfiction or children's book) and you're seeking publication. You're ready to leave the solitude of your writing den and make yourself known in the publishing community. It shouldn't take long to snag a publisher. You've certainly worked hard on your book. And every relative and friend who has read it gives it a thumbs up. The hard part is over, right? It's down hill from here, isn't it? As the title of this article indicates, getting published is easy. Success is just a few decisions away. …

Write a book to promote a book. How’s that for irony? By Douglas Arias

Published on October 24, 2007

It is a well known and widely accepted fact that ebooks - FREE ebooks - are one of the best weapons in a viral marketing campaign arsenal. Viral marketing is a marketing technique, similar to the spread of an epidemic, that reaches others through word of mouth to increase brand consciousness. Think about how a virus spreads from one person to another. One person gets sick and just by sneezing they can give the virus to many more people. Those people get sick and share their germs with everyone they know and come into contact with. Next thing you know, it's an epidemic. That is the very concept of viral marketing. …

Your Book Promotion Plan: One Size Does Not Fit All By Patricia Fry

Published on October 17, 2007

Your Book Promotion Plan: One Size Does Not Fit All By Patricia Fry

As you enter into the world of publishing, you may ask experienced authors, "How do you promote a book?" or "What's the best way to promote a book?" When someone asks me that question, I typically answer, "It depends on the book and it depends on you." Anyone who responds differently could be leading you astray. …

That Only Happens to Other People! – When Tragedy Affects a Writer’s Livelihood By Karen Carver

Published on October 10, 2007

"What if" you were in an accident or came home from the military missing one or both hands? "What if" you were diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Parkinson's Disease, Diabetes, or Multiple Sclerosis? And what if you were a worker who made his or her living solely from writing or data entry? What if an accident or disease were to dramatically affect or possibly cut you off from doing what you love - writing? And what about that loss of income? …

Paying Hunting and Fishing Markets By David Berlin

Published on October 3, 2007

Magazines for hunters and fishermen have been around in North America for about as long as modern magazines have been around in North America, that is to say, a long time, since the 1850s-1870s or so. Hunting for whitetail, mule deer, elk, and wild turkey and fishing for trout, steelhead, bass, striper and marlin in saltwater was how landowners of that era fed their families. In the 20th century, sportfishing became popular and saltwater fly fishermen would fish for bonefish in the flats in Florida and the Caribbean. The bounty of the land has always been relatively plentiful, and many people still live off it to some degree, and a LOT of magazines cater to these folks. Learn to write for these mags and you've got some good, steady paychecks coming your way. …

Agents You Don’t Want By Melissa Mayntz

Published on September 26, 2007

Novice writers often assume that if any agent agrees to review or represent their work, they have automatically entered the harrowing yet rewarding world of publication. In fact, however, there are many unscrupulous agents who seek to take advantage of unwary writers or who simply aren't familiar enough with the publishing world to do justice to a writer's work. Every writer should be familiar with these warning signs to avoid agents that may put their work six feet under instead of in a publisher's hands. …

How to Collect From a Deadbeat Company By Ben Paid

Published on September 19, 2007

Freelancing was one of the most rewarding challenges I've faced in my career. I loved working for myself, in the comfort of my own home, where I had the advantage of selecting my own work, clients, schedule and pay rates. I'm back working for someone else now but I will always remember my freelance career with fond memories - save one... …

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