Writing, publishing, book marketing, all offered by experienced authors, writers, and marketers
NaNo: Pros and Cons
Above: One of my photo collages where I've manipulated the colors to look unearthly.
NaNo, National Novel Writing Month, is less than a month away. Have you ever taken part? Should you participate this year?
The goal for Nano is to write 50,000 words of a novel during the month of November. The words must be new, and you're not allowed to start writing until November first. One can, however, plan.
But first, why do it in the first place? The 50,000 word goal means 1667 or so new words every day. That's an ambitious goal, especially if, like me, you have a day job.
The first year I did NaNo was 2010, and I decided to participate solely to overcome my phobia about writing science fiction. I'm a huge fan of the genre, and I've been reading since elementary school, so I could hardly claim unfamiliarity with the conventions. But I was intimidated by the world-building. In late September of 2010, I decided to take the plunge, and spent the next month mostly engaged in world-building. I spent a short amount of time on the plot: figured out my main character, his father, the father's boss, and several other characters who went out the window when I started writing. I had a page of plot notes, most of which, again, fell by the wayside once I started to write.
So I wrote the first draft, discovered a website with an awesome editing thing for January, signed up, spent from January through June editing, and actually had the novel accepted for publication. It came out in late July. I also wrote another novel for 2011 Nano, and yet another sometime in between. I'm still editing the latter two.
So what did I learn? Well, I had a heck of a good time, and I discovered that world-building wasn't as intimidating as I thought it was. I've learned something about my writing process. And I've learned that there's an awful lot to be said for simply showing up on the page. Is it at the top of my list of ways to improve my writing? No. Will I participate this year? I'm trying not to, as I want to finish editing the two I'm working on now. Will I end up heeding the siren-call of the new novel and new character I dreamed about a couple of nights ago? Only time will tell.
Margaret Fieland is the author of Relocated, available at major online booksellers and on the publisher's website
Freelance Writing Work - The Possibilities
By Karen Cioffi
As most writers know, there isn’t much money in being an author; the money, if you can get a successful freelance writing business going, is in freelance writing work and ghostwriting.
There are so many different freelance writing and ghostwriting jobs you can do. But, to keep your target market focused and to strengthen your area of expertise, you should choose one or two specific types of writing. Offering too many varying services weakens your platform and your authoritative status.
It should be mentioned that you can also learn the copywriting ropes and create a copywriting business or simply include its techniques to enhance your own writing. But for now we’ll stick to freelance writing work, including ghostwriting, although some of the opportunities may require a bit of basic copywriting skills.
Freelance Writing Work You Can Choose From:
• Magazine freelancer - writing and submitting articles to paying magazines
• Writing for book publishers who accept freelance writers (you’ll need to query for a position)
• News reporter
• Feature writer for newspapers or magazines
• Getting work from job boards
• Editing and/or proofreading other writers’ work
• Critiquing other writers’ work
• Writing speeches
• Writing content for websites
• Writing content for newsletters
• Writing articles and blog posts
• Writing white papers or reports
• Writing books, e-books, or pamphlets
• Resume writing
• Writing product descriptions or guides
• Writing presentations
• Technical writing
• Educational writing
• Instructional writing
• Research writing
• Legal writing
The list goes on and on.
Aside from the special skills needed for copywriting, all written content has the need for a writer. And, chances are there is someone, somewhere looking for some type of freelance writing work. It’s a matter of finding the work and attracting clients.
The important thing is to have your freelance writing business visible.
I had someone contact me to write a six to ten page report as part of a job application requirement. He was busy over the weekend and wouldn’t have time to do it himself. He found me through a Google search using ‘ghostwriter’ as a keyword. I don’t do rush jobs, so had to decline.
This is another aspect of freelance writing work that you may want to consider, there are some businesses that offer very quick turn around. People pay more money for a quick turn around.
Yet another point to make is that when someone contacts you for freelance writing work, and for whatever reason, you can’t do it, try to be helpful in some way; make a lasting impression. I gave the ‘job application guy’ some tips on what to look for in a qualified freelance writer and told him if he needed help down the road to give me a call.
So, you can see that if you’re out there, doing information marketing and building a quality business, it definitely helps in finding clients and garnering freelance writing work.
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning author, ghostwriter, and author/writer online platform instructor. Get must-know writing and marketing tips at http://thewritingworld.com.
MORE ON FREELANCE WRITING
What to Include in Your Freelance Writer Resume
Why Specialize as a Writer
How to Increase Your Freelance Income
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Rejections Lessons
My
writing teacher warned me this would happen. One rejection letter after another
piled on shelves and shoved into filing cabinets. There's enough paper to cover
my office walls--and ceiling and floor and some of the hallway.
Well,
that's one solution.
There has
to be more to the rejection letter than dust collector and object of scorn.
Most writers will say that the best way to handle rejection letters is to read
them, file them, and send the rejected piece off to someone else as soon as
possible. It's not bad advice, but it's not good enough.
Take a
long, hard look at that letter. Has the editor tossed you a crumb of hope?
Given you even the slightest chance to hang on to your confidence and
self-respect?
Yes, it's
a form letter--the same terse, soulless letter they send to every writer who
doesn't make the grade--but what else? Amongst all those stiffly typed words,
is anything other than the signature handwritten? Quite likely. Editors like to
add quick notes to writers who show some promise. If you can decipher the
scrawl--editors are as inscrutable as doctors when it comes to penmanship--pay
attention to the words. If you're lucky, the editor will compliment one or more
aspects of your story--then tell you exactly where he or she thinks you went wrong.
Take the
comments seriously, but don't take them to heart--unless they all start saying
the same things. If nine out of ten editors say your ending falls flat, it
probably does. Don't sulk. Don't get angry. Fire up your computer (or uncap you
pen) and get back to the business of writing. Tuck your original version
away--just in case--and start making changes. Use the suggestions you like.
Dream up a few of your own. Throw away the rest. After all, it's still your
story. You can only make so many changes based on outside commentary before it
becomes someone else's story.
Thicken
your skin by joining a writers' workshop (either online or in person). Everyone
submits their work for critique. It won't take long for you to realize that a
single story can generate critiques that run the gamut from "this is
absolutely wonderful" to "better luck next time."
Whether
you're hearing from fellow writers or detached editors, don't take the comments
personally. Except in rare cases, critiques are aimed at the story, not at the
writer.
Finally,
accept the fact that--for most of us--the rejections will far outweigh any
successes. Writing is a subjective art form. Standards of quality shift from
person to person and from moment to moment.
Remain as
true as possible to your original vision. Somewhere amidst all those
publications is an editor who sees life as you do--or at least appreciates the
way you present your case.
===========
Betty Dobson is an
award-winning writer of short fiction, essays and poetry. She also writes
newspaper and magazine articles but is still waiting for those awards to
materialize. In the meantime, she continues to run InkSpotter Publishing, which is always open to submissions and queries.
WHAT DOES YOUR WRITING STAND FOR?
"If you hold an anti-war rally, I will not attend. If you hold a pro-peace rally, invite me."
Mother Teresa
I love this quote by Mother Teresa and think of it often during election time. I am most interested in candidates who are "for" the causes that I am passionate about rather than globally"against" issues. In my personal and professional life, I find that I am most effective when I am working toward a solution rather than fighting against negative situations.
What are you"for" in life? How can you transform something you are against into something that you stand up for? How can your writing reflect this positive change? As writers, the words we publish can influence large groups of people in a powerful way. What is the intention behind your writing? What is the unique message that you want share with the world today?
Here's a recipe for Healthy Peaceful Peach Pizza for you!
Enjoy!
Peaceful Peach Pizza
For the pizza crust:
1/2 cup transfat free margarine
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons organic honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
For the pizza topping :
8 ounces nonfat cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons organic honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh peaches, cored and diced
2 tablespoons golden raisins, seedless
1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. To make pizza crust, Combine margarine, cinnamon, sugar, honey, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Beat well. Add flour and baking powder and stir until blended.
3. Spread mixture into a 9 X 13 baking pan.
4. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until crust is lightly golden on top. Cool for about 30 minutes.
5. To make icing, combine softened cream cheese, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Spread over top of pizza crust.
6. Place peaches on top of crust. Sprinkle raisins on top of pizza. Slice into pizza triangles and Serve
Aileen McCabe-Maucher is the author of the book "The Inner Peace Diet" which was published by Penguin Books and released in December 2008. Aileen is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who has helped many people find inner peace and discover their unique life purpose. Aileen has worked for over fifteen years as a licensed psychotherapist and registered nurse providing individual and group counseling to a diverse client population. She is a graduate of West Chester University, Widener University, University of Delaware, and The Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia at Bryn Mawr College. Aileen studied yoga and the chakra system at The Yoga Lifestyle Center in Paoli, Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania and writing her third book.
For a completely free trial of The Inner Peace Diet, please visit www.theinnerpeacediet.com
Mother Teresa
I love this quote by Mother Teresa and think of it often during election time. I am most interested in candidates who are "for" the causes that I am passionate about rather than globally"against" issues. In my personal and professional life, I find that I am most effective when I am working toward a solution rather than fighting against negative situations.
What are you"for" in life? How can you transform something you are against into something that you stand up for? How can your writing reflect this positive change? As writers, the words we publish can influence large groups of people in a powerful way. What is the intention behind your writing? What is the unique message that you want share with the world today?
Here's a recipe for Healthy Peaceful Peach Pizza for you!
Enjoy!
Peaceful Peach Pizza
For the pizza crust:
1/2 cup transfat free margarine
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons organic honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
For the pizza topping :
8 ounces nonfat cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons organic honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh peaches, cored and diced
2 tablespoons golden raisins, seedless
1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. To make pizza crust, Combine margarine, cinnamon, sugar, honey, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Beat well. Add flour and baking powder and stir until blended.
3. Spread mixture into a 9 X 13 baking pan.
4. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until crust is lightly golden on top. Cool for about 30 minutes.
5. To make icing, combine softened cream cheese, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Spread over top of pizza crust.
6. Place peaches on top of crust. Sprinkle raisins on top of pizza. Slice into pizza triangles and Serve
Aileen McCabe-Maucher is the author of the book "The Inner Peace Diet" which was published by Penguin Books and released in December 2008. Aileen is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who has helped many people find inner peace and discover their unique life purpose. Aileen has worked for over fifteen years as a licensed psychotherapist and registered nurse providing individual and group counseling to a diverse client population. She is a graduate of West Chester University, Widener University, University of Delaware, and The Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia at Bryn Mawr College. Aileen studied yoga and the chakra system at The Yoga Lifestyle Center in Paoli, Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania and writing her third book.
For a completely free trial of The Inner Peace Diet, please visit www.theinnerpeacediet.com
A Balancing Act: Mother and Writer
How to Begin a Freelance Writing Career at Home When You're a Mom
You love your kids and you love to write. How can you do both?
Whether you have
small children, middle-sized children, or big children – moms have a lot on
their plates. We’re great at multi-tasking but usually it is for others and not
ourselves.
I’ve been a mom for
30 years and counting. With a 17 and 11 year old at home (and homeschooled) and
my tendency to write only when inspired, I’ve learned it is imperative to work consistently
if I am going to have a home-based, freelance writing career.
Once you have made
the decision to be purposeful in your writing and have identified your yearly
goals and weekly objectives, here are some tips for busy moms:
- · Scheduling
There’s
no doubt that the kiddos come first. But that doesn’t mean you cannot find time
to write. Even very young children
can learn to respect mom’s time. Of course, life happens and there may be
interruptions to work around. But if you do not have a designated time
scheduled for writing every day, it won’t happen. You have to have a target to
aim at or you will not hit it.
- Space
You
need a writing space. That doesn’t mean you can’t sit on the couch with your
laptop while the children are nearby. But your writing space will be one spot
to keep your supplies and a place to go when you sit down at your designated
time. It also makes you feel more professional. I fit a small desk in my
bedroom. It immediately took my writing from casual blogging to writing magazine
articles with a purpose.
- System
If
you don’t buy the groceries this week you won’t be preparing any meals! Rarely
do things go well when it’s hit or miss. This was my difficulty. I am very
organized and efficient when it comes to managing my home but the writing kept
falling through the cracks. That's because I only wrote when inspired. I
learned if I sat down at my designated time, inspiration would come.
Choose
certain days for specific tasks. For example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I check
the freelance job boards for assignments and apply. Once a week I write an
article and submit it to the 3 magazines I'm interested in. Twice a week I
research various topics I need to learn such as keywords, driving traffic to my
site, etc. The internet is bursting with free courses!
I
also bought a composition notebook and keep a "diary" of my daily
writing accomplishments. It really helped me stay encouraged when I had an off week due to
sickness, interruptions, and appointments.
- Sanity
Let’s
face it, moms are in demand! Yet, it’s alright to communicate to family and
friends that you are unavailable when you’re working from home.
If
your children are very young and an hour a day is all you can manage, make that
hour count. Plan on writing
in the morning before the children are up, during naps, or after
they go to bed. Or provide a quiet activity for your children while you write. If your children go to school then designate 2-4 hours each day and
stick with it.
If
you don’t treat your freelance writing seriously, no one else will. It’s a
business that will provide an income and that’s serious stuff.
- · Successful
Since joining an online writing group, I have learned to believe I can have a freelance
writing business from home. If you are a
stay-at-home mom, you are used to working and not getting a paycheck. To think you
can actually get paid for a writing assignment or publishing a book seems out
of reach.
I’ve got great news for you: it is
within your reach.
However, it’s going to take patience and work. Don’t
discount submitting one magazine article each week to an article directory or
taking a resume writing course and begin offering resume writing services – it all
counts. Just keep plugging away and don’t give up.
Even if you have a goal of writing a book or a becoming a regular contributor to a magazine, you have to start somewhere. Dream big, but don’t forget to make it happen with earning money from writing projects that will help develop your platform, develop your writing skills, and get you where you want to go.
Even if you have a goal of writing a book or a becoming a regular contributor to a magazine, you have to start somewhere. Dream big, but don’t forget to make it happen with earning money from writing projects that will help develop your platform, develop your writing skills, and get you where you want to go.
Do
you have any ideas to add? Please share them!
~
Kathleen Moulton lives at the foothills
of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in Upstate NY. She is a 25 year veteran
homeschooling mom, a member of the Working Writer’s Club, and monthly
contributor to Heartbeat the Magazine. You can
find her passion to encourage at "When it Hurts" - http://kathleenmoulton.com
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