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 Friday, September 26, 2008
Pie Day at F+W
Posted by Jane
 Yesterday, my creative team at F+W had the honor of organizing and hosting Pie Day. And I had the added supreme honor of judging the pie bake-off, along with my colleague, Jamie Markle (Publisher, North Light Books) and my manager, Sara Domville (President, F+W Book Division). To read the full update, visit the very new Farmers + Writers blog.
F+W Life | Fun
9/26/2008 3:44:05 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  Trackback
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What Would You Like to See in Writer's Digest magazine?
Posted by Jane
 We're in the midst of planning the 2009 editorial calendar for Writer's
Digest magazine, and I'd love to have your ideas and opinions on what you want to see in the coming year. Writer's Digest editors
from across the brand gathered earlier this week to brainstorm of list
of potential ideas. Feel free to e-mail me directly or use the comments area of this post to give us your feedback. Craft & Technique Topics- A comprehensive guide to starting or finishing your novel
- A step-by-step guide to revision and self-editing (all genres)
- How to write a successful memoir (for the non-celebrity)
- The art and craft of timeless storytelling; how to hook your readers
- How to be a successful critique partner and how to incorporate feedback into your work
- How to make poetry a part of everyday life (even if you're not a poet)
- A crash schedule for getting a first draft of your book done in 4 weekends
- Master plots that work time and time again
Business Topics & Timely Topics- Everything you need to know about self-publishing, and how the self-publishing game is changing
- Why and how to get known before the book deal (to attract editor and agent interest, to ensure book sales)
- The changing role of the gatekeepers—editors and agents—and how it changes your steps to publication and beyond
- The new economic model of publishing/media: how it impacts your career and what you need to change today to remain relevant
- How to make a sustainable living with your writing (in tough times)—a freelancer's ultimate guide
- The most effective technological tools for marketing and promoting yourself
- How to use social networking to reach readers and avoid a waste of time/effort
- Negotiating contracts and payments with editors in a digital age; what are digital rights worth and when should you keep them?
- How bookstores work, both online and offline, and what the future of bookselling looks like
- How to get the most out of writers conferences, both business-wise and craft-wise
New Department/Column Ideas
- How I Write: Spotlights a celebrity author in his/her writing space, talking about necessary practices/objects/environment
- Popular
Fiction Report: Special reports, news, tips, and marketing information
in today's hottest genres, including romance, mystery/crime,
thriller/suspense, horror, and science fiction/fantasy
- What's
Selling and Why: A visual list of top-selling books (according to
Nielsen Bookscan reports), why or how they made the top of the list,
and insider info from authors-agents-editors on how the books came to
life
What would you add to our list of ideas?
General
9/26/2008 2:41:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monday, September 22, 2008
Serfitt & Cloye Gift Catalog
Posted by Jane
 The Serfitt & Cloye Gift Catalog now has an online home, with an opportunity to join Serfitt & Cloye's Highest Society. What's the Highest Society, you may ask? The world at large may venerate and aspire to the Serfitt & Cloye
brand, but very, very few people actually are or ever will become Serfitt & Cloye
customers. It was designed that way, they like it that way. And,
thankfully, enduring patrician inbreeding should permit Serfitt & Cloye to stay that
course indefinitely. Of course, such an intentionally restricted
customer base means that those who do purchase Serfitt & Cloye's superlative
super-luxury products and services are tremendously important, even
precious. Consequently, the essential objective of Serfitt & Cloye is to
overindulge and overfulfill each rarefied heir and Forbes 'Richest'
List-aire they serve.
Which is precisely why Serfitt & Cloye created The Highest Society. Those who join The Highest Society are
eligible to receive private electronic mail updates regarding the
latest Serfitt & Cloye news, products, events, secret societies,
lobbying efforts, snubbings, blackballings and much more. Membership is
free. (Optional Dolce & Gabbana-designed platinum membership shield
with name inlaid in ivory: $250,000.).
But
don't delay. Enrollment is limited to the first person to sign up.
Because, as you know, any group worth joining is worth excluding
everyone else from. Visit this page and complete the form to see if it's you who will
be received into The Highest Society.
New Titles From F+W
9/22/2008 4:15:21 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Friday, September 19, 2008
Talk Like a Pirate Day (Piratical Team Photo!)
Posted by Jane
 September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and since Writer's Digest is the publisher of the ever-popular Pirate Primer, we always have a hearty celebration. In the words of marketing manager Scott Francis (pictured far left): "Aye! Hoist er up the yard arm! Fly the colors Laughhhren!"
F+W Life | Fun
9/19/2008 4:40:42 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
A (New) Writing Life Survey: What Are Your Online Habits?
Posted by Jane
Writer's Digest has a new, broad survey related to writing and your writing life, particularly your online/Internet habits. Your response will help us develop new products and resources. Give us your feedback here!If you complete the survey, you'll receive a special discount code that
you can use in the writing section of our F+W bookstore. This code will
allow you to take 25% off
anything you find there.
General
9/18/2008 4:17:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Update on the Cincinnati Ike-Strike Situation
Posted by Jane
Well, folks: To all who have expressed their personal and public concern for my welfare, thank you. But—like nearly 50% or more of the Cincy population—I still do not have power at my apartment building. (I must say, though, everyone in my building has found caring friends and family to take them in during the outage, including myself.) A few interesting news items from Cincinnati-area blogs:
F+W Life
9/17/2008 9:14:16 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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My New Role at Writer's Digest
Posted by Jane
An exciting announcement today: I have a new role at F+W Media. I am now Publisher & Editorial Director of the F+W writing communities, which includes these properties under the Writer's Digest brand: This is part of a larger F+W mission to achieve greater growth by focusing on communities. Our goal is to better serve our customers, and better manage our brands, in their entirety—regardless of platform—in an integrated fashion across books, magazines, events, digital media, and eMedia. In doing this, F+W has shown itself to be one of the most progressive media companies that I'm aware of—to have the foresight, initiative, and boldness to reorganize in this fashion. It has elements of risk, but it's a risk we must take to keep Writer's Digest a growing and valuable brand. We now have an incredible opportunity to be at the very forefront of what it means to be a media company in a networked era. I am incredibly fortunate to work with a wonderful team of content creators, marketers, and salespeople who are all very passionate about the community surrounding Writer's Digest. We're here because we believe in it, and because we're proud of its history. In my new role, here's what I hope to accomplish: - We're going to develop a strong, single, consistent brand identity that encompasses all properties and products.
- We're going to aggressively develop online content and product to serve writers better, and in new, exciting ways.
- We're going to develop a cohesive and integrated editorial and marketing approach that offers a special experience to each writer we come into contact with.
Writer's Digest already has a strong presence in the writing community, and this reorganization allows us to expand our reach and develop more innovative content. As the brand leader for Writer's Digest, I will be actively seeking your input into how we can do a better job delivering the most valuable community, information, and experience that helps you achieve your writing goals.
F+W Life | General
9/17/2008 4:38:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Day Three of No Power
Posted by Jane
 So far there's been modest improvement in the power situation in
the Cincinnati region. My apartment still doesn't have power, and many
traffic lights at busy intersections are still out; one news report claims 30% of traffic signals don't work, and based on my drive-about yesterday, I'd say they're the most critical ones (i.e., traffic lights coming off exit ramps). Yesterday I was on
a quest for a bottle of roasted red peppers. A quick summary of this
quest: - Stop at Whole Foods in Mason (northern suburb). Store
looks strangely barren. Think to self: Did they just open this store? What's going on?
- Stop at Fresh Market in Kenwood. Before I can
walk in the door, I'm informed by a store manager they're taking only
cash and check, plus: "We've sold out in the produce and deli, no bulk foods either, and well, everything else is gone too."
- Stop by Kroger in Hyde Park (one of the biggest and busiest in the city). Closed.
- Stop by Fresh Market in Oakley. Closed.
- Stop by Whole Foods in Hyde Park. Closed.
- Stop
by Meijer in Oakley. Open! And mobbed! Many things are out of stock and bare shelves abound
(especially in deli items and prepared foods). Fortunately I am the only Cincinnati citizen looking for roasted red peppers. Success.
Most
gas stations I drove by were closed, which resulted in mass hysteria
at all open gas stations. (See photo above from Joe Wessels. Check out his stuff here.) And I-71 has been reduced to one lane in the
northern section, due to a water main break that has caused the
interstate to buckle.
F+W Life
9/16/2008 4:19:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monthly News from Glimmer Train
Posted by Jane
 Glimmer Train just announced the winners of their July Family Matters competition. All winners will be published in an upcoming issue of Glimmer Train Stories. First place ($1,200)Nellie Hermann (Brooklyn, NY) “Can We Let the Baby Go?" Second place ($500)Stefanie Freele (Healdsburg, CA) “Us Hungarians” Third place ($300)Rolf Yngve (Coronado, CA) “Going Back for His Brother” A PDF of the top 25 winners can be found here. This quarterly competition is open to all writers for stories about family (word count range is 1,200–12,000). Submissions may be sent for the October Family Matters using the Glimmer Train online submissions system at www.glimmertrain.org. Also: Fiction Open contest (deadline soon approaching! September 30)
Glimmer Train hosts this contest four times a year, and first place is $2,000 plus publication in the journal. It’s open to all writers and all themes, with a word count range of 2,000–20,000. Click here for complete guidelines.
If
you didn't know, Writer's Digest partnered with Glimmer Train to
publish two compilation volumes of the best stuff from their Writers Ask newsletter. Be sure to check them out.  
Conferences/Events | General
9/16/2008 3:57:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monday, September 15, 2008
F+W Cincinnati Office Closed (No Power!)
Posted by Jane
 Cincinnati was hit with devastating winds from Ike yesterday, which has caused the largest power outage in the history of the southwestern Ohio region (at least according to news outlets). I read that as many as 90% of Duke Energy customers are/were without power. My apartment hasn't had power since yesterday evening, and the F+W office (20 minutes away) also is without power. Apparently, it could take days (or weeks?!) to restore power to some areas. The photo above was taken in my neighborhood of Over the Rhine, where the historic Findlay Market experienced some damage; flying debris hit transformers, causing sparks that set fire to nearby buildings. You can watch a related Cincinnati news video here.One of my favorite watering holes, Grammer's, also caught on fire. It's not clear yet from news reports the extent of the damage. Cincinnati reporter Joe Wessels has posted photos on Flickr.
Unwisely, I was traveling by car during the high winds yesterday, not realizing how dangerous it was, and I witnessed: - A metal ladder in the middle of I-75
- An entire tree (probably 100 years old) completely uprooted and lying across Central Parkway
- Landscaping materials, roofing materials, and other objects caught in trees
- Trees completely broken in half, often with branches hanging precariously over busy roads
- Majority of intersections without working lights
I was out this morning and very little has improved; the damage and debris is far too widespread for the city's resources to handle. Will be interesting to watch progress.
F+W Life
9/15/2008 10:09:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Friday, September 12, 2008
10 Years in Publishing: What I've Learned (#5)
Posted by Jane
 Instead of a photo of myself today, I'm offering a glimpse of my
current workspace. The photo doesn't really capture it all
(particularly not the laden bookcases off to the right), but it's a
fairly good representation of the environment. What I've learned
(#5): Here I will mercilessly steal the words of poet and businessman
Dana Gioia (who just stepped down as head of the NEA): With
each promotion at General Foods, I found that my background in the arts
and humanities was more relevant. The higher you get in a corporation,
the more you're dealing with qualitative issues. By the time I was in
senior management, I was very effective in rebuilding businesses
because I had good creative judgment—I had kept parts alive that most
business executives did not.
( This comes from an article in Fast Company.) Although I spend a
lot of time on this blog (and in my workshops) talking about the
importance of sales, marketing, promotion, and the
numbers-numbers-numbers, I've found that making the right decision is
almost never about looking at the numbers and instead about this
creative judgment, usually critical thinking combined with grandiose, technicolor vision. This is what fuels, I would argue, the
best businesses (and projects) in publishing today. Related point: Numbers and money follow, they do not lead. If you manage by spreadsheet, with no regard to the fact that our work relies mostly on humans, you've made a grave mistake. Humans lead. Numbers follow.
F+W Life | General
9/12/2008 3:51:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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When a Production Coordinator Demands the Job Be Done Right
Posted by Jane
Earlier this week I shared a little production coordinator humor from Mark G. Today we were delighted by a new note, on a bundle of page proofs, from the inimitable Greg N. 
F+W Life | Fun
9/12/2008 3:03:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
10 Years in Publishing: What I've Learned (#4)
Posted by Jane
 Today's photo is from the 2003 Midwest Writers Workshop in Muncie, Ind.
There I met George Plimpton (pictured), who was the keynote speaker, and I wrote a
personal essay about the experience that was published here. What I've learned #4: It's all about target audience.
Lots
of writers/authors say their audience is everyone—and life forms yet
to be discovered. But you can succeed far more effectively and
quickly, at least in the beginning of your career, by identifying and marketing to a
target audience. Plus, if you have any knowledge of the Long Tail
phenomenon, then you know that the media world is becoming more
vertical (specialized information, niche audience) and less horizontal
(general information, broad audience). Bo Sacks frames it perfectly in his piece for Publishing Executive magazine, "5 Easy Steps to Publishing Nirvana."- Who is my target audience?
- Where is my targeted audience?
- What is the real value of my edit (information) to that audience?
- What is the most efficient method to reach the maximum targeted audience?
- How do I keep my information valuable and fresh for my targeted audience?
He
says, "These may seem like simple concepts on the surface, but they are
not. They constitute a complex, Zen-like formula. Success is measured
by the antique term called profit. And to achieve the Zen-like state of
profit, you must follow the Bo-formula to publishing nirvana (in the
box above). On the atomic level, it can all be distilled down to the
simple equation of RV = RP or, for the laymen, real value equals real
profit." One of the biggest problems I encounter—both
internally at F+W, as well as externally with authors—is a lack of
research into the audience or market for a book or product. The focus
is all too often on what the author wants to achieve or express—rather
than focusing on what benefit they bring to a readership. If an author can make
this fundamental paradigm shift in his/her approach, that author becomes instantly more attractive to
editors and agents.
Building Readership | F+W Life | Getting Published
9/11/2008 2:45:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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How Many Editors to Screw in Lightbulb?
Posted by Jane
Discovered this fabulous piece by Leon Ogroske at Writers' Journal: "How Many to Screw in a Lightbulb?" Q: How many copy editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: I can’t tell whether you mean ‘change a light bulb’ or ‘have sex in a light bulb.’ Can we reword it to remove the ambiguity? Q: How many editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: Only one. But first they have to rewire the entire building. Q: How many managing editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: You were supposed to have changed that light bulb last week!
Q: How many art directors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: Does it HAVE to be a light bulb?
Q: How many copy editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: The last time this question was asked, it involved art directors. Is the difference intentional? Should one or the other instance be changed? It seems inconsistent. Q: How many marketing directors does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: It isn’t too late to make this neon instead, is it? Q: How many proofreaders does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: Proofreaders aren’t supposed to change light bulbs. They should just query them.
Q: How many writers does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: But why do we have to CHANGE it?
Q: How many publishers does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: Three. One to screw it in, and two to hold down the author. Q: How many booksellers does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: Only one, and they’ll be glad to do it too, except no one shipped them any. ——— Inspired by this list, my brilliant team (primarily Amy Schell and Grace Ring) created the following: Q: How many production coordinators does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: The 80 watt light bulb was too expensive, so we’re switching to 60 watt. Q: How many production coordinators does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: You’ll need to submit a spec change to change that light bulb.
Q: How many production coordinators does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: No, you can’t change it.
F+W Life | Fun
9/11/2008 1:28:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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A Book Proposal Is Like a Business Plan
Posted by Jane
One of my posts earlier this week (that argued most prescriptive nonfiction books have great info, not great writing) sparked a wonderful comment from Deborah that I wanted to bring to everyone's attention—because, as she says, this might be the most important point of all: This explains why I have so many personal rejection letters that
compliment my writing and my organization -- and some even end with, "I
hope to work with you in the future," but I still don't have a book
credit.
The real gem of this post is within the parentheses of the last
sentence -- a book proposal is like a business plan for a book idea.
I've recently asked a couple of published friends if I could see their
proposals, and I was left with my chin on my chest in awe over their
marketing plans. After reading them, I realized that my little
page-long marketing plans seemed really vague and incomplete compared
to their plans, which were three for four pages long and filled with
VERY detailed information (names of contact people, venues for
speaking, etc). When I read this post, it clicked that they had written
a business plan for their books.
Put another way: The No. 1 thing an agent or editor looks for in your book proposal: why your book will sell (turn a profit) and why you're the perfect person to market (sell) it. Many thanks to Deborah for her insight!
Getting Published | Industry News & Trends
9/11/2008 9:17:59 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10 Years in Publishing: What I've Learned (#3)
Posted by Jane
 Today's photo was taken at EPICon 2003, where I participated on a publishing industry panel with author Piers Anthony. The three-member panel was titled "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Pros and Cons of E-Publishing." We noticed that Piers seemed to be the "good," I seemed to be the "bad," and the poor third panelist seemed to be the … ugly. What I've learned #3: I used to think (and the general public thinks) that editors read (or edit). People who meet me for the first time, upon learning I work as an editor say, "Wow, it must be great to read all day."
Instead of thinking of editors as people who read your work (and insert commas), think of them as the people who champion an author's work throughout the weeks and months leading to publication, throughout countless meetings and interactions with internal staff, and continue to champion that author when sales have flagged or the book has become a backlist title.
It falls on your editor to create and maintain in-house interest in a project. She’s the one responsible for ensuring a book doesn’t get overlooked by sales and marketing. This includes things like catalog copy and placement, publicity, and book packaging/treatment. Bottom line, your editor is the one who will push to make sure your book is just right, before-during-after publication. So, for fun, here's a snapshot of my week thus far. This is a typical week. A lot of these tasks are interspersed with one another (especially when it comes to e-mail), but for clarity, I'm not showing the multi-tasking. Also keep in mind that answering e-mail also involves manipulating various files in
some way to deliver information between departments. Monday9-10. Answer e-mails/questions from internal staff, authors, agents. 10-12. Send out contract addendums to cover e-book rights. Lunch. Discuss digital product plans with a colleague. 1-2. Meeting to discuss process for getting books on the Kindle. 2-3. Catch up on e-mail. 3-4. Maintain WritersDigest.com site (books homepage), as well as blog. 4-5. Start analyzing Fall 2008 Forecast for finance. 5-6. Finish responding to outstanding e-mails, read industry news. Tuesday9-10. Answer e-mails/questions from internal staff, authors, agents. 10-11. Editorial and design weekly team meeting. 11-12. Collect and funnel files for WRITING LIFE POETIC to Melissa (our dear assistant editor) for page make-up. Take care of queries, details associated with it. Lunch. Catch up on industry reading. 1-3. Send out contract addendums to cover e-book rights. Blog. 3-4. Cover meeting (to discuss design of book covers). 4-6. Catch up on e-mail. Wednesday9-10. Prepare for and have an impromptu meeting with my boss. 10-12. F+W Town Hall Meeting with the CEO. Lunch. Meet with a colleague over lunch. 1-2. Answer e-mails/questions from internal staff, authors, agents. 2-3. Discuss digital product plans and marketing with a colleague. 3-4. Title/design meeting (where we finalize the titles of upcoming books). 4-5. Catch up on industry reading, blog. 5-6. Continue Fall 2008 Forecast analysis. While I'm in a position (editorial director) that doesn't involve much personal editing responsibility, the editors on my team have similar schedules that allow limited time for manuscript review. Their time is occupied by digital product efforts, online community efforts, responding and communicating with our business partners (and keeping internal staff informed about authors/books), putting the books together in InDesign, and keeping the wheels in motion.
F+W Life | Getting Published
9/10/2008 4:49:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008
When a Book Cover Needs to Be Rushed
Posted by Jane
At F+W, we route color proofs of book covers for approval, and sometimes they can get "stuck" in someone's inbox. Our production coordinator extraordinaire (Mark G.) included a note on a recent cover to avoid any delays … 
F+W Life | Fun
9/9/2008 3:20:27 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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10 Years in Publishing: What I've Learned (#2)
Posted by Jane
 Today's photo features me as a F+W intern (summer 1997) at a photoshoot
for North Light's first decorative painting book by Donna Dewberry.
Editor Kathy Kipp acted as photographer, and there I am in the background—acting as the
light-switcher-on-and-offer (and shot list keeper). And now for the second installment of what I've learned: Crappy writing is the norm in prescriptive (or informative) nonfiction.
Put another way—a nicer way: great ideas rule. Whether you're looking to: - lose weight
- make money
- find love
- (or … even write better!)
You're
probably not seeking great literature. Rather, you're looking for
clear, authoritative, and compelling information that improves your
life, enriches your life, or makes life easier. You want a solid benefit, so the
book succeeds if it delivers on its promise, not if it is beautifully
written. People inside the industry—editors, salespeople,
marketing managers—all of them are looking for a great selling handle
backed up by great content. Why? The great selling handle gets the book sold into stores, in large quantities.
Great content makes sure the book sells through the register, into readers' hands.
A
successful book needs both of these things, at minimum. But it does NOT need great
writing. Most people who specialize in great information or
helpful advice, and have the authority to dispense it (whether we're
talking about parenting, money, sex, etc)—these people do not typically have any writing skill (or even the desire to write). But most readers will not notice, or care. That's
why most nonfiction books are sold on the basis of a proposal (which is
like a business plan for a book idea), not on an actual manuscript.
F+W Life | Getting Published
9/9/2008 2:50:18 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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How to Fail at Publishing in a Whole New Way
Posted by Jane
 Today at Maud Newton, John Warner (creative director of TOW Books), summarizes the new strategy of the TOW Books line: Now, after two years of, let’s call it, non-success, I understand that
the problem is at least as much about publicity and distribution as it
is about quality. (At least I hope that’s the problem.) So I’m here to
announce that if TOW Books is going to fail at publishing, we are going
to fail in our own spectacularly new way.
How badly are we struggling? Well, we’ve released four books. Their Amazon rankings at the time of this typing are:
170,374
388,165
706,198
1,033,377
The most distressing part is that last number belongs to a book I wrote, So You Want to Be President?
— a book that should have been especially relevant and timely given
that it’s a guide to running for office when totally unqualified. I
hope it’s in Governor Palin’s briefing materials.
Read the full post here.
Building Readership | General | Getting Published | Industry News & Trends | Marketing & Self-Promotion
9/9/2008 2:31:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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