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Writing Resources
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 Thursday, April 30, 2009
Warning: You Don't Want to Miss the Best Content of the Year
Posted by Jane
 This week marks the 1-year anniversary of this blog, There Are No Rules. I am still finding the right combination of content and perspective that will help you, so on this anniversary, I offer this invitation: - What questions, topics, and subjects do you want me to cover in the year ahead?
- What do you need the most help with?
- What has been most helpful to you in the past year, to help you advance your writing career (from anywhere!)?
- What would you like more of?
- What could you do without?
- What information do you usually remember most from this blog? Why do you read it?
Everyone who comments on this post (and includes their e-mail address), will receive, in PDF form, my presentations and handouts from my talks on how to succeed as a writer in a transformational time in publishing.
The best commenter (as judged by me!) will have a choice of a 15-minute phone consultation, a query letter critique, or a first-page critique.Now, to celebrate my best content from the past year, in case you missed it! 2 Most Popular Posts of All Time8 Articles/Posts All Writers Should Have Read in 2008
FYI, if you're a blogger, you should know by now that list posts almost always perform better than all others.
On Being One of 100,000+ People Stranded in Thailand
Of course a tale of my misadventure would do well! As the Brazen Careerist has said, it's the personal element that often brings your readers back for more. (True?)
Series PostsSave Time Tips (using Google tools and other tech solutions). After the first tip that's linked here, look for two more tips immediately after.
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (1-7)
Here's #7, with a link to the others at the bottom of the post.
10 Years in Publishing: What I've Learned (1-5)
Here's #5. Click on nearest preceding days for 1-4.
Biggest Traffic Generator in One DayMy Big Rant on Self-Publishing
Best Practical Answers/Solutions for Writers5 Questions to Ask Yourself After Hearing: We Can't Sell Enough to Justify Publishing It
Useful Google Tools You've Never Heard Of
The Essential Components of an (Unpublished) Author's Website
Best Big-Picture Views for WritersDo Writers' Futures Lie in Indie E-Publishing Platforms?
How Writers Can Start Blogging in a Meaningful Way
Fiction Writers Need Platforms, Too
The 3 Types of Writer—Which Are You?
Posts With Hidden Content You Might've MissedWD Editors' Intensive Cheat Sheet (great links to how-to-get-published, plus how to get connected)
Recap: Harriette Austin Writers Conference (red flags in first 15 pages, PDF download of my workshop on honing a great nonfiction book concept)
Get a List of All the Sites I Follow
Best FunHow Many Editors to Screw in a Lightbulb?
Time to Get a Tattoo?
Want to guest blog here? I'd like to extend an invitation to writers (whether you blog or not): If you have tips, advice, success stories, or not-so-successful stories to share, let me know privately via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter. ( You can also reach me through this portal.) I'm starting a guest series on Fridays and would love to feature all kinds of perspectives. Photo credit: Sandra
F+W Life | General | Getting Published | Industry News & Trends
Thursday, April 30, 2009 4:20:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  Trackback
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/24/09)
Posted by Jane
 I
watch
Twitter, so you don't have to. If I missed a great Tweet, leave
it in the Comments. From now on, I will run this feature on Fridays only.
Best of Twitter
Friday, April 24, 2009 5:04:18 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monthly News from Glimmer Train
Posted by Jane
 Glimmer Train has just chosen the winning stories for their February Very Short Fiction Award. This twice yearly competition is open to all writers for stories on any theme, with a word count range of 500-3,000. Monthly submission calendar may be viewed here. First placeRolaine Hochstein of New York, NY, wins $1200 for “Virtuous Woman”. Her story will be published in the Summer 2010 issue of Glimmer Train Stories, out in May 2010. Second placeAnne de Marcken of Olympia, WA, wins $500 for “Best Western”. Her story will also be published in an upcoming issue of Glimmer Train Stories, increasing her prize to $700. Third placeEvan Christopher Burton of New York, NY, wins $300 for “Levitation”. A PDF of the Top 25 winners can be found here. Also: Family Matters competition (deadline soon approaching! April 30). Glimmer Train hosts this competition quarterly, and first place is $1,200 and publication in the journal. It’s open to all writers for stories about family. Word count range 500-12,000. 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.  
General | Getting Published
Friday, April 24, 2009 10:17:37 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Avoiding Red-Flag Mistakes on Your First Page
Posted by Jane
 Yesterday, I presented a webinar on how you can critically review your manuscript (particularly the
first pages) for red flags that lead to a rejection from an editor or
agent. My thanks to the 25 participants who were courageous
enough to allow us to critique their first pages. For my blog readers, here are the common problems that we identified during the webinar: - Flashback on first page
- Too much backstory or explanation, slowing story down
- Waiting for the protagonist to appear (or unclear protagonist)
- Starting with an alarm clock or ringing phone
- Lots of characters introduced on first page
- Ordinary day stuff (getting out of bed, walking to kitchen, etc)
- Ordinary crisis moment without distinct voice or twist
- Too much telling about the story, not enough showing
- Nothing happens -- no action or problem
- Interior monologue: in character's head, just lots of thinking, no acting or interaction with anyone else
- Predictable story start or story line without a unique take
- More of a journal entry (stream of consciousness), and not a story
- Wrong starting point; not starting at a point of change
- Too confusing, not enough reason or motivation to figure out what's happening
Here are other excellent resources: Agent/Query ResearchAgentQuery.com
QueryShark
If
you attended the webinar, I hope
you found the information you were looking for. Don't forget to network
with me on Facebook, Twitter (@JaneFriedman), and LinkedIn; I regularly
post and share information of interest to writers seeking publication. Check out next online event! How to Land a Literary AgentFuture webinars also include: - The Dreaded Synopsis
- How to Get Your Poetry Published
Click here to view details on all upcoming online events.
Conferences/Events | Craft & Technique | Getting Published
Friday, April 24, 2009 9:47:33 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/23/09)
Posted by Jane
Best of Twitter
Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:07:40 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/22/09)
Posted by Jane
Best of Twitter
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 8:16:48 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/21/09)
Posted by Jane
Best of Twitter
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 8:08:48 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/20/09)
Posted by Jane
Note on Twitter tools: See this great analysis of Tweetdeck vs. Seesmic. I
watch Twitter, so you don't have to. If I missed a great Tweet today, leave it in the Comments. Today's post includes items from the weekend. Most valuable Tweet of the day:I can honestly say it was something Writer's Digest noticed (but this isn't from our site): Inside look at a NYT bestselling author's royalty statement: (if you're writing for $$, you'll be disappointed) @WritersDigest
The rest:
Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?
Best of Twitter
Monday, April 20, 2009 5:24:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Writers and the Recession: How Can You Succeed?
Posted by Jane
 I was interviewed by Tad Richards of the New York Careers Examiner. We discuss writing, publishing, recession, and how everything is changing ... and how writers need to shift strategy to succeed. A snippet: TR: With print periodicals in danger of becoming dinosaurs, what's the future there for writers?
JF: Where is journalism headed or what will happen? I have no idea.
We're in the middle of a huge transformation in the culture, and it's
nearly impossible to say how it will shake out. Clay Shirky wrote a fabulous essay on this
that I highly recommend to every writer. I do think the culture is
headed into a media environment that does not value advertising, but
has a lot of respect for content. Writers who can build a trust factor
and also specialize in reaching a particular audience should find
plenty of opportunities no matter what happens. Being online and being
engaged (the social media thing) will be essential. Everything will be
more community-driven ... but how all of this will be monetized and
provide writers/journalists with a living ... We'll see!
Click here for the full interview.
Digitization & New Technology | General | Getting Published | Industry News & Trends | Marketing & Self-Promotion
Monday, April 20, 2009 4:39:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/17/09)
Posted by Jane
Best of Twitter
Friday, April 17, 2009 4:28:41 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tools to Manage Twitter Volume (But They Don't Really #&%@* Work!!)
Posted by Jane
 I am being driven insane by the lack of effective Twitter utilities/software. Here's what I've found so far, and my experience. (A part of me hopes that I'm not using these tools correctly and someone can point out my lack of brains.) TweetdeckAt first I loved TweetDeck (Adobe Air software); it has great customization, column layout, and the ability to create groups. BUT: - If I modify any of my customized groups, I suddenly lose 99% of unseen Tweets in that group. And sometimes Tweetdeck just doesn't display all the Tweets that I haven't seen. It just randomly picks up at some point in the past.
- The information stream keeps stopping because "rate limit exceeded." Then I have to wait 20-30 minutes for new Tweets. (This is a limitation of Twitter, though. I think. I don't have this problem on Seesmic, mentioned below.)
- I can only login under one account, which is problematic for anyone who manages a personal account plus a professional account.
- After a few hours, the application gets slower ... and slower ... and slower.
TwhirlI tried Twhirl (another Adobe Air application) for 2 minutes, then stopped when I realized I couldn't create groups or create multiple columns to view simultaneously. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this.) HootSuiteHootSuite is browser-based, and allows you to manage/view multiple accounts at once, but doesn't appear to have any kind of meaningful filter or grouping capabilities. SeesmicYet another Adobe Air application, Seesmic is new and buggy, but is still almost better than Tweetdeck. The big problem is that it's sluggish and painful to use after a couple hours. It is column-based like TweetDeck, AND (hallelujah) allows you to manage multiple accounts at once—each Tweet is labeled with the account it's coming through. The group-making function isn't quite there yet: You can only add people to your group by finding a Tweet and clicking on the user to add—rather than going through a checklist of all the people you follow, like you can on Tweetdeck. (Someone tell me if I'm wrong on this.) Given that Oprah is featuring Twitter on her show today, Twitter will only become more overloaded in the weeks ahead. So, if and when I deliver you the "best tweets for writers," I have to add the caveat that they were the best tweets I could find, given the limitations with the current utilities. It frustrates me that there's valuable information and conversations on Twitter, but I can't possibly find it and manage it without having reliable applications to filter, save, and archive the information that hasn't been "seen." So far, nothing is up to the task, though maybe Seesmic, once it's developed further, will be my tool of choice. What tools do you use to keep it all under control? What tools help you make the most efficient use of your Tweeting time? 
Best of Twitter | Digitization & New Technology
Friday, April 17, 2009 3:42:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/16/09)
Posted by Jane
I watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.) If interested
in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter user.
Most valuable Tweet of the day:
6
Reasons Why No One Likes You Online: "If you... view your potential community
as a group of people to monetize, then your efforts are doomed." @glecharles
The rest:
Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?
Best of Twitter
Thursday, April 16, 2009 5:10:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
279 Days to Overnight Success
Posted by Jane
 One of the Twitter sensations right now is 279 Days to Overnight
Success by Chris Guillebeau. In less than a year, he has created a sustainable living for
himself through writing/blogging, while traveling the world. Highly recommend
you download his free PDF here.
Building Readership | General | Marketing & Self-Promotion
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 10:01:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Why NOT to Get a Creative Writing Degree
Posted by Jane
 I have a BFA in creative writing from the University of Evansville. I took a mix of literature and writing courses, got practical experience as the editor of the Evansville Review and University Crescent (and had a fabulous time doing it), and was mentored by a professor who ultimately gave me a lead into F+W for my internship (now 12 years ago!). I
recently commented to a group of friends on Facebook that if I had to
do it over again, I would not major in creative writing (though I would
never, ever change a thing about my college publications experiences). A college friend, who had also majored in writing, asked why. And now I share those reasons with you. - The most valuable lessons I've learned in my writing life never
came from my formal education in it. I've learned much more
through practice and through reading what I love. (Plus, in a nod to
Writer's Digest, I've benefited from its prescriptive, nuts-and-bolts
stuff that universities tend to eschew, but can really shave years off
the learning curve.)
- I've
also found that the writers I enjoy have some intense interest, passion, or training that influences their style and point of view and
voice. It really sets them apart.
- I was just too damn young. Lots of the writing was merely cathartic.
- I also learned much more through teaching composition to freshman.
So
what major would I choose if I had to do it over again? Since you can improve
your own writing simply by doing more of it (plus everyone gets better
with age), I'm not sure I even care. It could be any major that
provides something enriching, a different facet or perspective to my life thinking. Given
that business/marketing skills are often found in successful writers, that is a tempting choice. Sadly, most people think business/marketing
are contrary to art and creativity. But 2 things to keep in mind: - Marketing should be about a service provided to people, not something inflicted on people! (Read: May I market for you? Thanks to Guy who helped lead me to this article.)
- Business
is as much about people and psychology as it is the numbers. I always
like to quote Dana Gioia on this point, who once said the higher
you get up the food chain, the more it's about qualitative
judgment, not quantitative. Read this interview with him at the Wharton site.
That
said, getting a degree in writing can give you the time and permission
you need to focus on your writing. Plus a great mentor is invaluable. But it doesn't help you develop a writing career or help you get published (if that's what you're expecting). P.S. I still love and adore my alma mater. Photo credit: Aunt Owwee
Craft & Technique | General
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:37:21 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Best Tweets for Writers (4/15/09)
Posted by Jane
I
watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.)
If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter
user. Most valuable Tweet of the day:Three essentials of breakthrough content marketing
@copyblogger
The rest:
Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?- Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
- Become a fan at our Facebook page
- On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.
Best of Twitter
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:07:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (4/14/09)
Posted by Jane
I
watch Twitter, so you don't have to. (We'll see how long I can last.)
If interested in where I found the Tweet, I've indicated the Twitter
user. Most valuable Tweet of the day:If Only I'd Known: Writing Advice to My Younger Self: Excellent writing tips for the beginning writer
@ShaunaSweeney
The rest:
Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?- Follow us on Twitter: @writersdigest @JaneFriedman @alicepope @kmnickell @robertleebrewer
- Become a fan at our Facebook page
- On our homepage, sign up for WD's free weekly newsletter with new tips and prompts, plus after signing up, you'll get a free e-book on 70 solutions to common writing problems.
Best of Twitter
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 4:06:48 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monday, April 13, 2009 Friday, April 10, 2009
Make Waves Online to Create a Path to Print Publication
Posted by Jane
 On this blog, someone recently commented/asked:
One big concern a lot of online writers have is the issue of first rights. Does publishing even part of a novel online prevent you from getting a deal with a publishing house? So far, I have posted about 20% of mine on my blog and only just discovered this may prevent me from getting a publishing deal. I'd have thought it would be good publicity, but I guess the publishers feel they need to defend heir turf.
It's a sure thing that whenever I advise writers to use online publishing or collaboration/community tools (like Authonomy, WeBook, Smashwords, or their own site/blog), they ask if the market for their work will go away.
Three things to understand- Print and online are two different channels. You should be more worried if you write and post something online that you want to sell to an online publication or e-publisher. Even then, it's more about: Have you given the ENTIRE work away for free, or just a portion? Publishers are most worried when you give away the entire book or all of your content for free (or that it becomes somehow accessible for free through other channels) when they're trying to charge for a print edition.
- Audience/readership aren't always identical between online and print. Some people will find out about you online, and read you online; others will find you online and look for print; some will find out about you only through print channels.
- Great online exposure is more likely to lead to demand for a print product. In Japan, one writer created an online sensation with his work, but stopped right at the ending cliff-hanger, and readers who wanted the ending had to purchase the print book. (And lots of people who heard about the online fuss late in the game decided to buy the print book.)
So, posting a fiction excerpt online will almost never eliminate the publication potential for the full work. You can look to Scott Sigler as an example of someone who started online (via podcasting), gained a following, then went to print. Just because he serialized the entire book in audio form didn't mean a publisher wasn't interested in publishing his book—quite the contrary! See it as a way to make waves (if approached in a smart way). I have yet to meet an agent or a publisher who would find this to be a bad thing. Photo credit: Nate Steiner
Building Readership | Digitization & New Technology | Getting Published
Friday, April 10, 2009 4:43:42 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Thursday, April 09, 2009
Thanks to Query Letter Survivors, Plus Free Resources
Posted by Jane
Today I hosted a 90-minute session on query letters, dissecting and revising writers' queries to make the best impact on an agent, so you can get that wonderful request for your partial or full manuscript. For attendees today, as well as readers, here are a few resources to help you along your way while querying/submitting: Essential BlogsGreat Posts From the Guide to Literary Agents blog
Agents | Conferences/Events | Getting Published
Thursday, April 09, 2009 6:43:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Benefits of the BEA/WD Conference, Plus a Note on Query Letters
Posted by Jane
 Now in its seventh year, the program for the BookExpo America/Writer's Digest Books Conference is now posted! I've been involved in the event for six years; my colleague Kelly Nickell (Twitter: @kmnickell) is the Wonder Woman behind this year's stellar program. As part of the event (open to all attendees), Chuck Sambuchino is hosting what has now been called the Lawn & Garden Scotch Fest (aka the pitch slam with 66 agents and 4 editors). Bring your own scotch (or, in my case, bourbon). You can visit the program page for a full listing of agents and editors in attendance who you can pitch to from 3-5p on May 27. We've had considerable success stories coming out of this event ( see this post from agent Janet Reid), so if you have a completed novel manuscript or polished nonfiction book proposal, you could stand to benefit from quality face time with agents/editors, and get immediate feedback on your pitch. I usually present a session at the conference each year; this year I'll talk about self-publishing and DIY options for the independent-minded author. In past years, I've spoken on changes in the industry, nonfiction book proposals, and query letters. The year I did query letters (in Chicago, for those who were there), the room was packed with 200+ people. I modeled it after the "Extreme Makeover" show that was popular at time, and "gutted" and transformed letters into more sound and savvy pieces. While pitching is often the best way to get feedback on an idea, query letters are still the No. 1 way to approach an agent/editor, and there is a definite art to them. You can visit sites like QueryShark to learn how to craft a great one, and you can also get an interactive class on the topic with me. We're offering a session tomorrow afternoon focused on query letter makeovers, using query examples from writers attending. ( Click here for more info and links to register.)
Conferences/Events | Getting Published
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 12:54:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Why LOST Has Become Unwatchable (It's All About the Writing)
Posted by Jane
 [We now take a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the following rant.] I've been a devoted fan of LOST since its debut. I have watched
the first season four times; I have watched the second season three
times; I have watched the third and fourth seasons twice. I can
watch it so repeatedly only because the writing is so damn good. I love
how the audience is given credit for having a brain, that we have
to guess at what people are thinking or feeling, and that even if
people's motivations aren't apparent at the start, we sense a good
reason for their actions, and there's a payoff when the full story
(usually a back story) is revealed. It is simply compelling to watch the characters interact and develop and grow. They act like real people. And we don't have all the answers. Unfortunately,
now that we're knee-deep in season five, it feels like LOST is starting
to completely lose all the wonderful things that made it so good to
begin with. - We now get touchy-feely emotional status updates
or displays from the likes of Sawyer or Kate, as if we were watching
daytime drama. I don't want people to vomit up their emotions every
other scene! I want repression, misdirection, misunderstanding!
- We now
see characters do crazy things (that put themselves at enormous risk) that they have no reason or motivation
to do (except out of the goody-goodness of their hearts).
- Everything
is now explained to us. (Hey, sorry folks if you haven't been able to
follow the time-travel plot twists, let us break it down for you real
slow during this excruciating conversation, revealing how dumb we think you really
are.)
- Numerous plot holes opening left and right. E.g., aren't people
suspicious that Juliet has suddenly become a skilled surgeon when she
was originally working the motor pool? Hello?
I just spent about 10 minutes Googling to find sympathizers, by searching: - Lost Season 5 poor writing
- Lost Season 5 bad writing
- Lost Season 5 terrible writing
- Lost Season 5 writing
I found nothing. Am I being too tough on this show? Am I the only one? Aren't there any writers/editors watching? Does anyone agree it's quickly becoming unwatchable? (I think I may have some sympathizers over at AgentQuery due to a Tweet exchange on wanting to detonate the island.)
Craft & Technique | Fun
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 5:50:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monday, April 06, 2009
Hard-Core Tactics for Authors Developing Audience
Posted by Jane
 My previous post was a pre-answer to the following question (which appeared in the comments of this other post): Thank you for the webinar, which gave me some ideas where to begin to increase my visibility and improve my website. I have published two history/biography books. I get comments from publishers saying "a valuable book that should be published, but we cannot sell enough to justify taking it." I think I now have some tools and directions to take to increase interest in my books. Do you have any more specific suggestions for this type of book?
Questions like these are tough to answer. It's really about: - Where is your target audience/readership active?
- Are you active in those same places and do you have the credibility/authority with that audience today—or how do you get there?
- How can you provide value/benefit to this audience beyond just your book?
Authors can sometimes get fixated on how to market and promote a book (once they have one), which of course is necessary if you're trying to make a living off your writing, but it's tough (and counterproductive) to be constantly selling. It's better to be constantly serving, which leads to genuine interest in you as an expert/authority, and interest in your work. Fortunately, for nonfiction authors, there can be literally thousands of approaches or ways to twist your idea, depending on time of year, current events, evergreen questions/dilemmas, or serendipitous exchanges. Check out some of the links below to help you get started. Time to get busy reading! Photo credit: Jot.Punkt
Building Readership | Digitization & New Technology | Marketing & Self-Promotion
Monday, April 06, 2009 5:18:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Saturday, April 04, 2009
5 Questions to Ask Yourself After Hearing: We Can't Sell Enough to Justify Publishing It
Posted by Jane
 I'm often asked what to do if editors/agents love your work, but
respond with a rejection saying that the market is too small. Here are
5 questions to ask yourself. 1. Is there a smaller publisher that
would be interested because they have a lower threshold of sales to
meet? Big houses may want to sell as many as 10-20K copies in the first
year to justify publication; smaller presses may be fine with 3-5K
copies. 2. Is it possible to make your subject/topic/book more
marketable by employing a sexier hook? Many times, writers aren't
looking at their work with a marketer's eye, which is understandable,
since most of us aren't marketers. But think about how you might
interest a perfect stranger in your topic. Have you really tapped into
current trends and interests when it comes to your book project, and
are you framing it in an exciting way for a publisher (or agent)? Just
because you're fascinated by your subject doesn't mean other people
will get it. You have to know how to sell it. I heard some excellent advice from Lisa Earle McLeod at the Foothills Writers Guild workshop last weekend, which she heard at the beginning of her career: Many
talented writers will never be successful due to mediocre marketing
skills. Many mediocre writers will be successful due to marketing
talent. Need to brush up on your marketing skills and talent—in a way that's authentic and makes sense for the new media world? Look to Seth Godin and Chris Brogan.
3.
Do you have the platform to market and promote your book to the target
audience? If a publisher can be convinced that you have the power to
sell your book based on your reach to the primary readership of the
book, they'll be more likely to take you on. What does a platform
consist of? Primarily: - Your online following (via your
websites, blogs, social networks, newsletters, regular online writing
gigs, podcasts, videocasts)
- Your offline following (via
professional or personal organizations, speaking engagements, events,
classes/teaching, city/region presence)
- Your presence in
traditional media (writing that you do for newspapers/magazines, any
coverage you've received, gigs with radio/TV)
You can find out more about platform building in Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz. 4.
If the market is truly too small for a publisher to be interested, then
does it make sense to publish and market the work yourself? Especially
if you have a following or a way to reach your intended readership,
sometimes you can profit more by going this route. You can make work
available digitally through services such as Lulu and Smashwords, with little or no starting cost.
5.
Does your work really deserve book or print treatment? Some nonfiction
topics actually work better when presented on blogs, websites, or
communities/forums—where an interactivity and ability to freshen up the
content at a moment's notice has more appeal to your audience.
Traditional
houses will only become less and less likely to take on very
niche/specialized work, because producing anything in print is a
significant investment and a significant risk, without knowing there's
an audience waiting to buy. Even university presses, known for niche works, are moving their efforts to digital-only platforms.
Authors
will have to change their thinking about what it means to have a book
in print. It is not the first goal or the end goal, but merely one
channel, and not usually the best channel.
Photo credit: Zevotron
Building Readership | Digitization & New Technology | Getting Published | Marketing & Self-Promotion | Self-Publishing
Saturday, April 04, 2009 4:37:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Friday, April 03, 2009
Has Publishing Gone Nuts? Interview This Sunday
Posted by Jane
 This Sunday at 4p EST, I'll be on the air with Wordsmitten's Kate Sullivan, who interviews someone from the publishing industry each week on her radio show. You can listen here via BlogTalkRadio. (Also, stay up-to-date at Twitter: @wordsmitten)
The WordSmitten "About the Books" radio broadcast (and podcast) has been
nominated for the 2009 Gracie Awards (George Burns and Gracie Allen)
sponsored by the AWRT.org.
Recent Gracie Award-winners include Oprah's Gayle King radio broadcast.
Recent guests include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward P.
Jones, journalist and author Gay Talese (Mr. New York), National Book
Award honorees Fiona Maazel and Sana Krasikov, sportswriter Jeff
Pearlman, and author Natalie Goldberg. Last year, I spent a lovely time in the Florida area with the folks at Wordsmitten, when they hosted a one-day writing conference. When you check out the BlogTalkRadio site, you'll see the following colorful note: During
last year's visit to the WordSmitten event, and the rowdy authors
assembled for that spectacular writing conference (Connie May Fowler,
Robert Tarte, Alison Steele, Kate Sullivan, and Jane Friedman conducted
sessions), Jane Friedman came through unscathed despite flat tires, an
abundance of wine, merriment, and sassy writers.
The WordSmitten team is delighted she survived the writing conference
and authors' parties. Even more interesting, we're glad she still talks
to our editorial staff.
Hope you'll listen in -- and call-in with a question.
Conferences/Events | Fun | Getting Published | Industry News & Trends
Friday, April 03, 2009 5:38:46 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Announcing a Brand-New Market Book!
Posted by Jane
 NEW this year from Writer's Digest Books!Plagiarist's MarketISBN: 0807504041 It’s
time to turn a stereotype on its head. Plagiarism: It’s often cited as
an example of what not to do in the writing craft, but sometimes it’s
not all that bad—in fact, sometimes it’s downright lucrative. In
this new market guide, WD brings an underground trade to the forefront
of the writing community, showing you thousands of markets to pitch
other people’s work, how to make it uniquely yours, how to avoid
lawsuits and quietly settle controversies and how to break into an
often-stigmatized market that, in the end, really can break—or make—a
career. Featuring contributions and front-of-the-book craft
pieces by author Kaavya Viswanathan, former New York Times reporter
Jayson Blair, and more. $29.99 paperback, 810 pages Tip o' the hat to ingenious WD editors Zachary Petit & Brian Klems
Fun | Getting Published | New Titles From Writer's Digest
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:31:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) Trackback
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