The aphorism "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" is typically attributed to Charles Caleb Colton. If Colton studied law, clearly he was absent the day "Copyright Law" was discussed. When it comes to writing, imitation is frowned upon and there are many traps and obstacles for the unwary "fan fiction" author.…
Sometimes a story is jinxed. I learned this disheartening truth after a 340-word humorous piece I submitted, describing my eldest son Henry's take on his mother's writing life, was accepted not once, not twice, but thrice by three separate magazines which, ultimately, folded before the story could ever appear in print.…
My book is being sold by an online bookstore, which also offers a publishing service. So, they are not only my online bookstore, but my publisher as well. There's certainly more efficiency in having the online bookstore create the books it sells. However, there's also the potential for fraud.…
If you have teaching credentials, or years in the classroom, use these skills to write for…
My fingers trembled as I hammered out a first-person story on a manual typewriter at my…
In today's high-tech and uber-connected society, times have sure changed. You are now more likely to find details on a breaking news story on Twitter well before one of the major networks breaks it. Digital media has taken over newspapers and magazines, and long gone are the days of only the select few authors hand-picked by publishers getting book deals. Nowadays, just about anybody can self-publish in digital and/or print format.…
As a corporate blogger, I am always on the hunt for new ways to find potential clients. Have you heard about PRWeb? It's a highly visible press release service that allows companies to publish their news releases to the web.…
The agencies we work for tell clients we want to hear their ideas, even though these ideas are often (bleep). But, let's remember two things. First, the client probably feels like their idea is amazing and they're likely proud of it. Second, they're the ones paying the invoice. Hurting their feelings means hurting the project and your reputation. …
Writing essays for publications that publish strictly according to specific themes or theme lists can be…
LinkedIn is a great resource for potential writing client contacts. However, it often goes untapped.…
The next-best thing to getting cash for your writing is receiving something you otherwise would have paid for. In addition to cash, I have been paid with food, massages, auto maintenance and much more. I am a mystery shopper.…
An intense love for writing can certainly breed openness to receiving ideas. Inspiration often comes out of nowhere-music, dreams, and maybe even from people-watching. The influx of ideas could be so great at times that honing in on just one may be a problem. In fact, I'd been guilty of pushing a story idea away, putting one off as if it weren't as "worthy" as the rest of them. The problem is, sometimes that shelved idea could be the one that may start it all.…
Writing from personal perspectives can be a powerful way to connect to an audience that is familiar with your story. Since writing creative nonfiction is a combination of journalistic skills and storytelling abilities, there are vast opportunities to publish your work. This involves personal memoirs, cultural criticism, documentaries, poems and literary journals.…
For more than a decade, I had put off writing my business book. I knew I had compelling ideas and techniques that would fill a void in the marketplace, but the prospect of taking on the daunting task of what could end up being a multi-year endeavor dissuaded me from even attempting to capture any of my ideas in book form. If I was going to do it at all, I needed to find a way to get it done fast. But how? I had exactly zero experience as an author, so how might I ramp up the learning curve quickly, on the first attempt?…
I’m on the recliner in my family room, crouched over my laptop, taking advantage of those…
Writer overboard, writer overboard! Which scalawag turned him into a fish? It wasn't anyone in the crew, you say? Then who the devil thought the poor lad made a better anchor than a sailor? Ah, the compass points to the three biggest obstacles of writing income, also known as the three devils of writing. They are the most terrifying monsters to haunt the seven seas of writing and stop many a talented writer from earning the income he deserves.…
Many writers need planning to be easy, expedient, and effective, or else it just won’t get done. Microplanning is the solution ...…
Six months after our initial conversation, I finally got a "complimentary" copy of the book in my hands, and couldn't wait to curl up with it and a good cup of herbal tea. When I opened the book and started to skim through it, my heart sank. Though the stories were interesting, diverse and truly moving, what captured my attention was not the quality of the essays, but the shabby presentation. …
It's important to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from stalking and harassment. There have been documented cases of stalkers who have showed up on writers' doorsteps, called them at work, and even physically assaulted them. …
When training was complete, the editors bragged about how much money I could make. I would have to be available for weekly meetings with the editors where we would discuss upcoming articles. My writing would have to stay above par ...…
A couple of days ago I published my 100th erotica story and, this month, I received my biggest check yet - for a little over $10,000! ...…
I devised a plan to supply my services to lessen these bloggers' loads while maintaining their sanity. As an “idea person” with endless energy (not to mention a few “Top Blogging” honors for my creativity), I decided to pitch a few fellow bloggers and small business owners to help them generate ideas and keep them on track by formulating Editorial Calendars ...…
When you think of writing gigs, crowdfunding campaigns probably don’t come to mind. However, the crowdfunding scene is a market largely untapped by writers. If you can break into it, you can make a nice profit, and help others at the same time ...…
Could you, not your publisher, get sued for your book? What about fair use? How many ways can an author get sued???…
As writers, we notice copy. We notice it everywhere. Sometimes, we notice it because it appeals to and inspires us. But most of the time, as professionals with a great appreciation for the effective written word, we notice it because it's mediocre, or just plain bad. However, in these moments when you find yourself rewriting poorly worded copy in your head…
Most writers have business cards to pass out to interested readers and writers, but what about business postcards? A writer is in business, after all, not only to let others know about their latest book but to sell it as well. Investing your money in postcards becomes valuable the minute you hand one to a potential reader ...…
With these eight strategies you can boost your freelance career by utilizing the most effective websites and online services to become more accessible, more marketable, more widely read and with a greater chance of landing new clients to generate more money than ever before!…
"Walk the plank!" Those are the commonly damning words of the wealthy merchant to the melancholy writer. As sad a fate as any for a writer to encounter upon the seven seas. Argh! However, what if I told you that Ol' Captain Matt Gallus had the secret to getting the prices you deserve? And why not? You worked your grammar, clarity, flow and other writing skills to the bone. You sharpened your main sword, but every pirate who has lived to tell the tale knows that it's the dagger in the dark that you have to watch out for. What seemingly unrelated skill will give writers the edge?…
As a freelance writer, you may have given up on traditional budgeting advice. Personally, I've been supporting myself as a freelance writer and editor since 1998. I've written 23 books and countless articles, blog posts, and website copy. I don't have difficulty finding work, and yet, I often have had difficulty paying my bills.…
"We'll have a check for you tomorrow," the editor told me. The next day, I returned to the newspaper's office only to find the office completely vacated. …
If you're not writing blogs or working in social media, you're missing out. Is that blunt enough for you?…
Here are eight ways to imagine markets for your writing...and fatten your bank account too.…
It happened again today. Inside the pile of mail I hauled to my kitchen to sort, I received an unsolicited book from an author who hoped I'd review it for my 250-plus newspaper and magazine clients...…
