Patti Ann Colt's Blog, page 2
August 12, 2013
A Damn Good Book
Do you ever step back from the struggle to create your latest book and remember why you got into this writing business? Do you remember how little you knew? Whether your first story was penned in crayon or written in pencil in a spiral notebook or typed on a computer with slick little Word auto-correcting, there was still that first moment you thrilled at knowing you created a spectacular work. (Please note I didn't say anyone else had to agree with you that it was spectacular.)
Walk down memory lane with me for a moment. I started like most everyone else -- a horrible book in hand, the vow to do better than that, and a blank screen in front of me. I knew nothing about plotting, pacing, and conflict. I could shape the 'grab two hankies' combined with the 'happy sigh affect' at the end, but the opening hook (what's that?) and the middle lacked, ummmm..., originality? My characters never talked on paper the way they coaxed and prodded me in my head. I definitely had no end goal in mind, or at least one that was based on any understanding of how publishing worked. A synopsis? A query? I have to write one of those, too? I've plugged along at this thing now for over twenty years. I had just sold my third book and felt I was still learning. (Update: Patti has published her sixth full novel and three short stories as of this posting). I suppose that if you ever think you know it all, it's time to shove away from the desk and quit because there should always be something new to learn - with every idea, with every word and paragraph, and with every completed manuscript.
For instance, with my third book, I ended up defending my manuscript and for the first time understood where my tipping point was - that point where I would walk away without selling it rather than allow something that went against the intent of my story. (My compliments to my Editor-in-Chief at the time - one smart, saavy woman - who saved the day for me.) Early on, as a newbie writer, that was not something I even considered ever having to do, let alone feeling strongly enough to take a chance with my reputation and career by doing it. You've heard the stories. So have I. Manuscripts on topics that supposedly won't sell ending up back in the writer's drawer. Titles changed by publishers to maintain a formula. Tweak this, don't do that in edits. Diva authors throwing fits in an attempt to get their way. Believe me, when I first opened my mouth, I felt like a diva author. After all, this was my publisher. What right did I have to complain?
I've had a bit of time to reflect on the problem, the steps I took, and the answers that resolved the situation and it boils down to one thing.
Write a damn good book. Then, believe you wrote a damn good book. And then find your tipping point.
There are many, many, many new opportunities evolving every day in the publishing world. The ebook market and ereaders have changed reading - for the better, in my humble opinion. That means when one door closes, another possibility opens somewhere else. Believe that. Search for that. Take the risk. Take advantage of every change in the industry and every open door that creates for your work. This situation was one of the reasons I decided to switch to indie publishing and have control over the what, how, where and when of my books and the connection to my readers.
So when you sit down to write, birth the story that's in your heart because one thing in this volatile industry will never change. It's money in the bank. It's job security. It's the motivation to continue pushing when giving up would be tremendously easier. What is that? It's simple.
Readers still want a damn good book and it's your job to give them one.
[Originally published on Happy Endings, March 2011]
July 9, 2013
Learn Your Craft
In July 2008, I had the opportunity to attend the Romance Writers of America National Conference in San Francisco. I had wanted to go for years and years and finally the opportunity presented itself. I carefully went through the conference offerings and picked out the workshops I wanted to attend. Of the three days, I attended a day and a half of workshops. Guess what I realized? As I sat there and listened to speaker after speaker, I thought to myself: “I already know this. Maybe I’m better at this writing stuff than I thought.” You see, over the years I’ve taken many, many workshops online and I’ve ordered dozens of writing books to educate myself about what I’m doing. That was my training ground, but for some reason I still believed I needed all those RWA workshops to find that one elusive thing to teach me what I thought I didn’t know – the one thing that was stopping me from being published. When I came home, I looked with new respect at my writing bookshelf and my list of online workshops. Those educational tools taught me everything I need to know to become a successful, published writer. The rest has to come from me – by implementing all the insightful, valuable information.Have you had a moment like this? I compiled a list of workshops and books that have influenced my writing. Do we have workshops and books in common? Are there ones you swear by, but that I don’t have listed? Please generously share your list and tell me if you had a moment in your writing life when you realized that you ‘got it’? What impact did it have on your writing career?WORKSHOPS:1. Margie Lawson’s “Defeat Self-Defeating Behavior” Workshop: From MargieLawson.com: Need to learn how to gain control of your writing life? Learn how to defeat your self-defeating behaviors. Challenge your thinking. Use more than the usual 12 % of your brain. Set yourself up to perform at your peak by analyzing what patterns get in your way and tweaking those patterns to make them work for you. Visit MargieLawson.com to learn more. – I hit a turning point in my writing life after taking this motivational class five years ago. I began treating myself like a professional writer and expected others to do the same. I built the habit of consistently identifying what was stopping my work production and using Margie’s strategies to get myself around those dragons. This class had a huge payoff in my attitude and my confidence. 2. Margie Lawson’s “Empowering Characters’ Emotions” WorkshopFrom MargieLawson.com: Want to add a psychological punch to your writing and editing? Want to learn how to capture the full range of body language on the page? Want to turn your work into a page-turner by powering up emotion and hooking the reader viscerally? In this class you will learn the EDITS system, basic, complex, empowered, and super empowered passages, back story management, kinesics, facial expressions, involuntary physical responses, levels of intimacy, love signals, nonverbal gender differences, back loading and much more.–This class forever changed how I thought about my characters and how I presented them on a page to my reader. I have learned how to present my characters with more heart and more emotion since taking this class. This class also introduced a powerful, yet easy technique for evaluating what you’re presented to your reader and gives you the tools to punch it up to the next level.3. Margie Lawson’s “Deep Editing: The Edits System, Rhetorical Devices, and More” WorkshopFrom MargieLawson.com: DEEP EDITING is for the writer who wants to psychologically impact the unconscious of the reader. For the writer who wants to learn fresh editing techniques. For the writer who wants to edit for power. Participants will learn the EDITS System and take it deeper. See the interplay of patterns on the page and analyze what’s needed to strengthen the scene. Learn 25 rhetorical devices and practice using them in your work. From anaphora to epistrophe, amplification to epizeuxis – learn how and when to use these techniques. Learn Deep Editing tips including Margie’s Five Q, back story management, power lines, SAPS, throw-away words, cliché twists, back loading, tautologies, and emotional hits.–This class will make you work, but it worth all the sweat and time it takes to study the techniques. It improved my edit process ten times over. After months and months of use, the instruction filtered down to my first draft process and improved that process as well. I’ve kept my lectures and notes and periodically review this great class for reminders and new ideas. The dollars you spend on this one will just keep giving back, over and over.I will pause here and say – No, Margie and I are not related, she does not pay me to promote her work, and she has no idea who I am – other than a frequent student in her classroom. 
4. Beverly Brandt’s “Plotting” Workshop – I’m not sure this class is still available to take from her, but it helped me to reorganize how I put my plot together, and updated my pacing techniques. It utilized an Excel spreadsheet to analyze the plot, to track the pacing and to help find the story stoppers. She has an article on her website that describes the process: http://www.beverlybrandt.com/spreadsheet.htm 5. Laura Baker and Robin Perini’s Discovering Storybook Magic:From DiscoveringStoryMagic.com – Writer's doldrums hitting winter lows? Need motivation? Inspiration? Simplification? More tangible methods leading to publication? Discovering Story Magic will bring you writing instruction packed with magical inspiration and concrete information to produce salable fiction. Laura Baker and Robin Perini teach a practical, three-step technique applicable to all genres and all levels of writers. Learn how to weave together character, conflict, plot, realization, and turning points from the beginning of the writing process through revision and even the synopsis.BOOKS1. Flip Dictionary by Barbara Ann KipferBook Description: You know what you want to say, but you can't think of the word. You can describe what you're thinking but you don't know the name for it. Flip Dictionary comes to the rescue! Best-selling author Barbara Ann Kipfer has created a huge reference that offers cues and clue words to lead writers to the exact phrase or specific term they need. It goes beyond the standard reverse dictionary format to offer dozens of charts and tables, listing groups by subject (such as automobiles, clothing types, plants, tools, etc.)My Description: I never write without this book at my elbow. It is an idea sparker, a wonderful editing aide, and an all-around simple-to-use resource to have at your fingertips. This reference will take your words from pedestrian to perfection. Available at: Amazon.com2. The Writer’s Brainstorming Kit by Pam McCutcheon and Michael WaiteBook Description: A recurring refrain in the writing business is that editors want fresh material something different they have not seen before. That's what The Writer's Brainstorming Kit is all about giving you the tools to jump the ruts and take flight in new, unexpected directions. Use the 50 cards and concepts in this book to: break out of your conventional mode of linear thinking, create conflict in your story, find new and unexpected plot twists, discover character motivation, trigger new associations in your mind, design a story from scratch, add depth to your characters, build your plot, define character goals, break through a block, and determine character traits.My Description: I’ve used this book to do all that is listed above. I never start a new project without this book being the first thing I refer to. Use the layout Pam McCutcheon has set up for awhile and you’ll find that soon you will be able to fill in the blanks yourself relative to the story you want to tell. It’s a fabulous fun tool and good for brainstorming, too. Available at: http://www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com/3. On Writing by Stephen KingBook Description: Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King's On Writing really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists. He gives you a whole writer's "tool kit": a reading list, writing assignments, a corrected story, and nuts-and-bolts advice on dollars and cents, plot and character, the basic building block of the paragraph, and literary models.My Description: What I like about this book is that it’s simple and straight forward. He gives an honest look at what the life of a writer is like and what kind of excellence you should strive for. It’s folksy, motivational, funny, serious, and a good read. Paperback and hardback copies are available on Amazon.com. My favorite quote from this book: “You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair—the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.I'm not asking you to come reverently or unquestioningly; I'm not asking you to be politically correct or cast aside your sense of humor (please God you have one). This isn't a popularity contest, it's not the moral Olympics, and it's not church. But it's writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business. If you can't or won't, it's time for you to close the book and do something else. Wash the car, maybe.” 4. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King -Book Description: In Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, two professional editors share their expertise and proven techniques for turning manuscripts into published works of fiction.My Description: I wish someone had given me this book to read BEFORE I started writing. It would have saved me so much time. I had it on my shelf, but I kept saying to myself that I wasn’t ready to edit. [See head thunking to desk.] This book focuses on writing/editing techniques (the mechanics of dialog, characterization, point of view, etc.) and sticks a "show and tell" style in its lively text including both good and bad examples throughout the book. Don’t make the mistake I did. Go to amazon.com and find this book and give it a read. I’m betting yours will be as highlighted as mine was. My critique group gets tired of me quoting this book when I write reviews. But if the principal applies . . . 
5. 20 Master Plots and How to Use Them by Russell TobiasBook Description: This book shows you how to take timeless storytelling structures and make them current, for fiction that’s universal in how it speaks to the reader’s heart, and contemporary in detail and impact. You’ll find lots of practical ‘how-to’ and ‘what-to-do’ advice, rather than a lengthy academic discussion of plot.My Description: My writing weakness is plotting. So many times I get stalled by mid-book blues and I hate it. Consequently, I’m always on the lookout for a good plot book or workshop and Russell Tobias is one of the best. He also has a book from Writer’s Digest on Theme and Strategy that is very good. This book is straightforward and practical, as well as an easy read and easy to implement. What more can you ask for? This one is also still available at Amazon.com.6. This one isn’t a book, so much as a tool: Pike’s Peak’s Romance Writers Plotting Board. I bury myself in sticky notes when I’m writing. Do you? Then I found the perfect solution. I love this board. It is one of the best writing/plotting tools I’ve ever found. Visit: http://www.pprw.org/plottingboards.html for details on where to get yours. Also, I found this blog with a discussion on its usage: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2008/....
[Originally published on Happy Endings, March 18, 2009]
4. Beverly Brandt’s “Plotting” Workshop – I’m not sure this class is still available to take from her, but it helped me to reorganize how I put my plot together, and updated my pacing techniques. It utilized an Excel spreadsheet to analyze the plot, to track the pacing and to help find the story stoppers. She has an article on her website that describes the process: http://www.beverlybrandt.com/spreadsheet.htm 5. Laura Baker and Robin Perini’s Discovering Storybook Magic:From DiscoveringStoryMagic.com – Writer's doldrums hitting winter lows? Need motivation? Inspiration? Simplification? More tangible methods leading to publication? Discovering Story Magic will bring you writing instruction packed with magical inspiration and concrete information to produce salable fiction. Laura Baker and Robin Perini teach a practical, three-step technique applicable to all genres and all levels of writers. Learn how to weave together character, conflict, plot, realization, and turning points from the beginning of the writing process through revision and even the synopsis.BOOKS1. Flip Dictionary by Barbara Ann KipferBook Description: You know what you want to say, but you can't think of the word. You can describe what you're thinking but you don't know the name for it. Flip Dictionary comes to the rescue! Best-selling author Barbara Ann Kipfer has created a huge reference that offers cues and clue words to lead writers to the exact phrase or specific term they need. It goes beyond the standard reverse dictionary format to offer dozens of charts and tables, listing groups by subject (such as automobiles, clothing types, plants, tools, etc.)My Description: I never write without this book at my elbow. It is an idea sparker, a wonderful editing aide, and an all-around simple-to-use resource to have at your fingertips. This reference will take your words from pedestrian to perfection. Available at: Amazon.com2. The Writer’s Brainstorming Kit by Pam McCutcheon and Michael WaiteBook Description: A recurring refrain in the writing business is that editors want fresh material something different they have not seen before. That's what The Writer's Brainstorming Kit is all about giving you the tools to jump the ruts and take flight in new, unexpected directions. Use the 50 cards and concepts in this book to: break out of your conventional mode of linear thinking, create conflict in your story, find new and unexpected plot twists, discover character motivation, trigger new associations in your mind, design a story from scratch, add depth to your characters, build your plot, define character goals, break through a block, and determine character traits.My Description: I’ve used this book to do all that is listed above. I never start a new project without this book being the first thing I refer to. Use the layout Pam McCutcheon has set up for awhile and you’ll find that soon you will be able to fill in the blanks yourself relative to the story you want to tell. It’s a fabulous fun tool and good for brainstorming, too. Available at: http://www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com/3. On Writing by Stephen KingBook Description: Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King's On Writing really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists. He gives you a whole writer's "tool kit": a reading list, writing assignments, a corrected story, and nuts-and-bolts advice on dollars and cents, plot and character, the basic building block of the paragraph, and literary models.My Description: What I like about this book is that it’s simple and straight forward. He gives an honest look at what the life of a writer is like and what kind of excellence you should strive for. It’s folksy, motivational, funny, serious, and a good read. Paperback and hardback copies are available on Amazon.com. My favorite quote from this book: “You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair—the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.I'm not asking you to come reverently or unquestioningly; I'm not asking you to be politically correct or cast aside your sense of humor (please God you have one). This isn't a popularity contest, it's not the moral Olympics, and it's not church. But it's writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business. If you can't or won't, it's time for you to close the book and do something else. Wash the car, maybe.” 4. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King -Book Description: In Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, two professional editors share their expertise and proven techniques for turning manuscripts into published works of fiction.My Description: I wish someone had given me this book to read BEFORE I started writing. It would have saved me so much time. I had it on my shelf, but I kept saying to myself that I wasn’t ready to edit. [See head thunking to desk.] This book focuses on writing/editing techniques (the mechanics of dialog, characterization, point of view, etc.) and sticks a "show and tell" style in its lively text including both good and bad examples throughout the book. Don’t make the mistake I did. Go to amazon.com and find this book and give it a read. I’m betting yours will be as highlighted as mine was. My critique group gets tired of me quoting this book when I write reviews. But if the principal applies . . . 5. 20 Master Plots and How to Use Them by Russell TobiasBook Description: This book shows you how to take timeless storytelling structures and make them current, for fiction that’s universal in how it speaks to the reader’s heart, and contemporary in detail and impact. You’ll find lots of practical ‘how-to’ and ‘what-to-do’ advice, rather than a lengthy academic discussion of plot.My Description: My writing weakness is plotting. So many times I get stalled by mid-book blues and I hate it. Consequently, I’m always on the lookout for a good plot book or workshop and Russell Tobias is one of the best. He also has a book from Writer’s Digest on Theme and Strategy that is very good. This book is straightforward and practical, as well as an easy read and easy to implement. What more can you ask for? This one is also still available at Amazon.com.6. This one isn’t a book, so much as a tool: Pike’s Peak’s Romance Writers Plotting Board. I bury myself in sticky notes when I’m writing. Do you? Then I found the perfect solution. I love this board. It is one of the best writing/plotting tools I’ve ever found. Visit: http://www.pprw.org/plottingboards.html for details on where to get yours. Also, I found this blog with a discussion on its usage: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2008/....[Originally published on Happy Endings, March 18, 2009]
June 14, 2013
Freelance Writing: A Bullet and A Life-Preserver
As I said in my last post, I've branched into freelance writing. I love fiction writing. My favorite part is connecting with readers who've identified with my story and a world that was born in my head. Indie publishing was just the icing on the cake. Fun stuff, Superman. But I also like to pay the bills. So the freelance decision falls under the category Sometimes Ya Gotta Do What Ya Gotta Do.
Hence, what better idea than to share with The Clever Writer blog that journey as a resource for other writers. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....aka Earth about fifteen years ago....the only way to successfully freelance write was to do the legwork yourself to hustle up clients. It was a risky proposition and not for the faint of heart. Don't get me wrong. A lot of writers took that step and made a success out of it. If I had been in that position, yes, I'd be job hunting along with you.
Into 2013
Step forward to today. You are a good writer. For whatever reason, you need more cash flowing into the budget. You have a diversified field of choices now. There is still a bit of risk, but with solid planning and hard work, it doesn't have to be the determining factor.
Last March, faced with the end of my alimony and not enough money coming in, I followed the advice of a friend who is an active freelancer. I visited Textbroker International. She recommended this particular service for several reasons: frequent paydays, lots of work, and minimal steps to get accepted as a writer. (She gave me two other sites, which I will be share in a later post, but I have yet to get accepted at either of those. There are also lots of other work sites available with varying degrees of pros and cons.)
The application procedure for Textbroker is simple. You write a sample on one of their suggested topics. Nothing big. 250 words. Then they review the sample and if they like what they see, they approve your application. But hold up there, Jimmy. No, you can't start work right away. You have to do IRS forms and send documentation to their Las Vegas home office. Once they log in receipt, they will clear you to work.
Four Pointers and A Word of Caution
So you are ready to jump in with both feet and start making the big bucks. Not so fast. I was under the illusion too. Once accepted, I expected it would be a simple feat to start earning enough money to bring home the bacon, so to speak. Here's what's wrong with that picture.
1. Take your time on your writing sample. Take this more serious than you took your SAT. Before you attempt the test, be sure you visit the Textbroker style guide. They follow AP Writing and Punctuation Rules. If you've been fiction writing, it'll be a tad bit different. Comma usage in this business is a deal breaker. So spend some time studying and make sure you understand. I recommend a thorough read of the Textbroker blog. I also bought the Associated Press Guide to Punctuation and AP Style Quiz Book. Take a moment and visit You Tube and watch the Textbroker Comma Video. For more information about all aspects of Textbroker, visit this you tube channel.
I did not do any of this. I thought I had a pretty good grasp of writing - active sentences, kill passive, grammar, punctuation, etc. Why was that a mistake? Because my writing sample may have gotten me accepted, but I was only cleared for 3 star content. What happened? Commas. Textbroker has a star rating system from 1-5. While you might be able to make grocery money, you cannot make a living at the 2 and 3 star level. More on that in a minute.
2. Textbrokers system is divided by Open Order, Team Orders, and Direct Orders. When you are first approved, you can work the Open Order area. Categories include business, real estate, law, home and family, internet, etc. There's a long list and that's only a few. You cruise the folders and see what needs to be written and take what interests you. If you find you can't accomplish an article you've taken, you simply release the article back into the pool with no harm, no foul. The client can accept an article or return it for revisions (you have twenty four hours to execute or it gets dumped back into the open pool). I'll talk more in length about this in another post. You cannot join Teams unless you are at the 4 level. What's the difference? Three level is 1 cent a word. For a 500 word article that's $5.00. For a 4 star level, it's 1.4. That same 500 word article is $7.50. Teams pay higher. You can assign your own rate for direct orders. Two star level is considered legible writing. Three star is considered good. Four star is excellent. Five star is professional. You can support yourself at the four level. If what I have observed over the long haul holds true to this first couple months, there is always work at the 4 level.
3. How did I get to the 4 level? I had two agonizing months working in the Open Order pool at the 3 level. While I had the writing skills, it's learning to research and to do the job the way the client has requested that takes the most time. Like any job, there is a learning curve to get the words right, follow instructions, and proofread for grammar, punctuation, and repetitive words. The clients are able to rate your articles, but the more important one is Textbroker. They continually review your work to be sure you are maintaining your assigned level of writing or move you up if you've demonstrated a higher ability. So to answer you question, I flubbed the test. I was assigned the 3 level. I was picky about my first five articles and tried to write high quality pieces. Why only five? Because Textbroker stops you at 5 written articles for a review. I was on hold for a little over a week without being able to work while they reviewed those pieces. Fingers crossed, I hoped for a 4. BOMB. Still a 3. What was the problem? Commas. Go back and review #1, because I pulled out those resources and began to study.
4. Then Textbroker - who has been exponentially increasing their available work - sends all the 3 writers an invitation to their new Textbroker University. They want to help their 3 writers get to a 4 level to help with the workload. I jumped on the opportunity. Part of that class was the comma video in #1. In the meantime, though, I'd written 15 or 20 articles on the three level and had been waiting for a new review. Part of the university work was to review the videos and then write ten articles for them to rate. Before I finished the class, my 15-20 articles were sorted through and rated. I was bumped to the 4 level. YAY! Of the rated articles, a couple were still 3. Why? Commas. Are you sensing a theme here?
My best advice, then, is don't get cocky. Even if you think you are the best writer, review commas. Then review them again. Getting assigned a 4 star level is critical if you want to make a living freelance writing for Textbroker. While I haven't worked for anyone else yet, I like Textbroker because there system is easy to learn and use and they pay on Fridays through PayPal. It can provide a life-preserver for your budget.
But....there was a silver bullet. My fiction writing took a hit as I spent copious amount of time to learn this new job. I had to significantly slash what I had intended to publish this year. I calculate I would have lost this time anyway if I had brushed off my resume and gone job hunting. At least this way, my work hours are my own. If you want an income that pays the bills, practicing a bit of self-discipline is a must - but this might be a solution for you as it was for me.
Hence, what better idea than to share with The Clever Writer blog that journey as a resource for other writers. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....aka Earth about fifteen years ago....the only way to successfully freelance write was to do the legwork yourself to hustle up clients. It was a risky proposition and not for the faint of heart. Don't get me wrong. A lot of writers took that step and made a success out of it. If I had been in that position, yes, I'd be job hunting along with you.
Into 2013
Step forward to today. You are a good writer. For whatever reason, you need more cash flowing into the budget. You have a diversified field of choices now. There is still a bit of risk, but with solid planning and hard work, it doesn't have to be the determining factor.
Last March, faced with the end of my alimony and not enough money coming in, I followed the advice of a friend who is an active freelancer. I visited Textbroker International. She recommended this particular service for several reasons: frequent paydays, lots of work, and minimal steps to get accepted as a writer. (She gave me two other sites, which I will be share in a later post, but I have yet to get accepted at either of those. There are also lots of other work sites available with varying degrees of pros and cons.)
The application procedure for Textbroker is simple. You write a sample on one of their suggested topics. Nothing big. 250 words. Then they review the sample and if they like what they see, they approve your application. But hold up there, Jimmy. No, you can't start work right away. You have to do IRS forms and send documentation to their Las Vegas home office. Once they log in receipt, they will clear you to work.
Four Pointers and A Word of Caution
So you are ready to jump in with both feet and start making the big bucks. Not so fast. I was under the illusion too. Once accepted, I expected it would be a simple feat to start earning enough money to bring home the bacon, so to speak. Here's what's wrong with that picture.
1. Take your time on your writing sample. Take this more serious than you took your SAT. Before you attempt the test, be sure you visit the Textbroker style guide. They follow AP Writing and Punctuation Rules. If you've been fiction writing, it'll be a tad bit different. Comma usage in this business is a deal breaker. So spend some time studying and make sure you understand. I recommend a thorough read of the Textbroker blog. I also bought the Associated Press Guide to Punctuation and AP Style Quiz Book. Take a moment and visit You Tube and watch the Textbroker Comma Video. For more information about all aspects of Textbroker, visit this you tube channel.
I did not do any of this. I thought I had a pretty good grasp of writing - active sentences, kill passive, grammar, punctuation, etc. Why was that a mistake? Because my writing sample may have gotten me accepted, but I was only cleared for 3 star content. What happened? Commas. Textbroker has a star rating system from 1-5. While you might be able to make grocery money, you cannot make a living at the 2 and 3 star level. More on that in a minute.
2. Textbrokers system is divided by Open Order, Team Orders, and Direct Orders. When you are first approved, you can work the Open Order area. Categories include business, real estate, law, home and family, internet, etc. There's a long list and that's only a few. You cruise the folders and see what needs to be written and take what interests you. If you find you can't accomplish an article you've taken, you simply release the article back into the pool with no harm, no foul. The client can accept an article or return it for revisions (you have twenty four hours to execute or it gets dumped back into the open pool). I'll talk more in length about this in another post. You cannot join Teams unless you are at the 4 level. What's the difference? Three level is 1 cent a word. For a 500 word article that's $5.00. For a 4 star level, it's 1.4. That same 500 word article is $7.50. Teams pay higher. You can assign your own rate for direct orders. Two star level is considered legible writing. Three star is considered good. Four star is excellent. Five star is professional. You can support yourself at the four level. If what I have observed over the long haul holds true to this first couple months, there is always work at the 4 level.
3. How did I get to the 4 level? I had two agonizing months working in the Open Order pool at the 3 level. While I had the writing skills, it's learning to research and to do the job the way the client has requested that takes the most time. Like any job, there is a learning curve to get the words right, follow instructions, and proofread for grammar, punctuation, and repetitive words. The clients are able to rate your articles, but the more important one is Textbroker. They continually review your work to be sure you are maintaining your assigned level of writing or move you up if you've demonstrated a higher ability. So to answer you question, I flubbed the test. I was assigned the 3 level. I was picky about my first five articles and tried to write high quality pieces. Why only five? Because Textbroker stops you at 5 written articles for a review. I was on hold for a little over a week without being able to work while they reviewed those pieces. Fingers crossed, I hoped for a 4. BOMB. Still a 3. What was the problem? Commas. Go back and review #1, because I pulled out those resources and began to study.
4. Then Textbroker - who has been exponentially increasing their available work - sends all the 3 writers an invitation to their new Textbroker University. They want to help their 3 writers get to a 4 level to help with the workload. I jumped on the opportunity. Part of that class was the comma video in #1. In the meantime, though, I'd written 15 or 20 articles on the three level and had been waiting for a new review. Part of the university work was to review the videos and then write ten articles for them to rate. Before I finished the class, my 15-20 articles were sorted through and rated. I was bumped to the 4 level. YAY! Of the rated articles, a couple were still 3. Why? Commas. Are you sensing a theme here?
My best advice, then, is don't get cocky. Even if you think you are the best writer, review commas. Then review them again. Getting assigned a 4 star level is critical if you want to make a living freelance writing for Textbroker. While I haven't worked for anyone else yet, I like Textbroker because there system is easy to learn and use and they pay on Fridays through PayPal. It can provide a life-preserver for your budget.
But....there was a silver bullet. My fiction writing took a hit as I spent copious amount of time to learn this new job. I had to significantly slash what I had intended to publish this year. I calculate I would have lost this time anyway if I had brushed off my resume and gone job hunting. At least this way, my work hours are my own. If you want an income that pays the bills, practicing a bit of self-discipline is a must - but this might be a solution for you as it was for me.
June 8, 2013
New Directions
Blog posting came to a standstill, didn't it? Sometimes I would give anything for a consistent personal life, but then things would get boring, right? The notes are piling up, though. You know the ones. That's a great idea for a blog post. Scribble. Scribble. Stick it in the pile. I have tons of subjects in this pile, so best get back at it.
First, I'd like to explain the absence. I love writing and being a writer. It's my profession and I'm proud of it. There are lots of ways to be a working writer. Whether you write fiction, magazine articles, freelance or blog, the act is what defines you, not the what. I've been working pretty hard for the last two years on independently publishing my books. I consider those years a success given the emotional toll of my divorce and care for my autistic grandson. I published four books and two short stories to go with the three I had previously released. I still have plans for many more and wish I could connect a Word program to my brain and just dump them out into perfect format. Don't we all. In lieu of that, I just keep plugging along. My books have performed fairly well, but not well enough that I felt comfortable. My alimony ended the first of this month and I had to feel better about my financial place in the world. Hence, mid-March I decided I had to branch into freelance writing and applied to Textbroker International to work as one of their writers and was accepted. (More on this in another blog post later this month). The last three months have been a long journey of changing habits, stretching my writing capabilities another direction, and building a writing income. My fiction writing is my first love and always will be, but I gotta pay the bills. My blogging schedule and my fiction writing took a serious hit. I knew it would. While at times I was frustrated and unhappy with the situation, I believe that good things can come from all situations if you put your best foot forward and believe in yourself.
About the same time, my business partner's health declined and she took an extended leave of absence from our publishing business - KLG Press. We had to seriously curtail our marketing and production schedule. Balance is necessary in all things and sometimes you just gotta stop and take a breath. Know Link Grow LLC will be undergoing a bit of restructure as we balance what is important to us and what parts we can't make a reality. In that vein, I've decided to combine Worth A Damn Writing posts with The Clever Writer and go forward only with this blog. At some point this month, there will be a bit of a facelift for this page and some more posts inserted into the flow from the other blog. The revamped blog means that writing, publishing and indie author information will be combined into one blog. We'll be adding a freelance writing series to help you if the need arises for you to branch out also.
With that said, welcome to summer! May yours be the best!
First, I'd like to explain the absence. I love writing and being a writer. It's my profession and I'm proud of it. There are lots of ways to be a working writer. Whether you write fiction, magazine articles, freelance or blog, the act is what defines you, not the what. I've been working pretty hard for the last two years on independently publishing my books. I consider those years a success given the emotional toll of my divorce and care for my autistic grandson. I published four books and two short stories to go with the three I had previously released. I still have plans for many more and wish I could connect a Word program to my brain and just dump them out into perfect format. Don't we all. In lieu of that, I just keep plugging along. My books have performed fairly well, but not well enough that I felt comfortable. My alimony ended the first of this month and I had to feel better about my financial place in the world. Hence, mid-March I decided I had to branch into freelance writing and applied to Textbroker International to work as one of their writers and was accepted. (More on this in another blog post later this month). The last three months have been a long journey of changing habits, stretching my writing capabilities another direction, and building a writing income. My fiction writing is my first love and always will be, but I gotta pay the bills. My blogging schedule and my fiction writing took a serious hit. I knew it would. While at times I was frustrated and unhappy with the situation, I believe that good things can come from all situations if you put your best foot forward and believe in yourself.
About the same time, my business partner's health declined and she took an extended leave of absence from our publishing business - KLG Press. We had to seriously curtail our marketing and production schedule. Balance is necessary in all things and sometimes you just gotta stop and take a breath. Know Link Grow LLC will be undergoing a bit of restructure as we balance what is important to us and what parts we can't make a reality. In that vein, I've decided to combine Worth A Damn Writing posts with The Clever Writer and go forward only with this blog. At some point this month, there will be a bit of a facelift for this page and some more posts inserted into the flow from the other blog. The revamped blog means that writing, publishing and indie author information will be combined into one blog. We'll be adding a freelance writing series to help you if the need arises for you to branch out also.
With that said, welcome to summer! May yours be the best!
May 7, 2013
10,000 Hours
I'm blog hopping these days, reading and reading more, trying to sort out the way of the future. I read a quote recently from J.A. Konrath's blog. He was talking about what works in promoting ebooks and number five was this:
" Practice makes Perfect: I'm currently reading a book that was recommended to me by my buddy Henry Perez, called Outliers: The Story of Success. It mentions the 10,000 Hour Rule. In short, no one becomes an expert at something without having invested 10,000 hours in it." Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell
Of course, this stopped me as I calculated how many hours I've worked at this writing thing to see if I'd hit the 10,000 hour mark. I figured I had because I've been writing for over twenty years, but there is nothing like math to do the convincing. I'll wait while you do the same. (Insert Jeopardy music here).
Several days later, Joe posted a guest post by Stephen Leather. Here's another quote that stopped me:
"But there is one cold hard fact that I don’t seem to see anywhere on the blogs and forums devoted to ePublishing. You probably won’t like hearing it, especially if you are one of the new wave of “Indie” writers. But I’m going to say it anyway. Here goes. The vast majority of self-published eBooks are bad. Worse than bad. Awful. There, I’ve said it.
By “bad” I don’t just been badly formatted or lacking originality. I mean badly written. Bad punctuation. Clichéd descriptions. Clunky dialogue. And here’s the thing. When I hear “Indie” writers talking about their books, all they seem to talk about is how they go about marketing their work. How they blog, how they work their Facebook contacts, how they post on the forums. I never hear them talking about how they want to improve their craft. For most of the ones I come across it’s all about the selling. I get emails all the time from “Indie” writers asking me what the secret is to selling a lot of eBooks. I don’t get any asking how they can become better writers."
Of course, when I calculated my 10,000 hours, I only used my writing time. How many hours did it take to produce this manuscript and that manuscript? I failed to consider that educating myself to become a selling author included: reading in my genre, writing and more writing and tossing those manuscripts in the drawer and writing more, belonging to a critique group and reviewing other people's work, learning to be professional in the face of criticism, workshops and more workshops, researching the market and understanding what's selling, learning to write a query and a synopsis, actually submitting and resubmitting, understanding the rejection letter, celebrating the sell, and understanding the edits/galley process. All these things go together to build that 10,000 hour education and those hours make you an expert - give you an understanding of the opportunities out there to put your stories in front of readers. (You notice I didn't include any author platform building? I didn't consider that part of the 10,000 hour expert idea.)
Randy Ingermanson (if you don't get his newsletter - ummm, why?) has always said that the best way to promote your work is to continue to improve your craft. Craft meaning all the things listed above. I believe that continuing to learn, to try new things, to read news books, take different workshops - even once you've hit that 10,000 hours - is critical. I'm a great deal more selective now than I used to be, but once a month I research all the writer education sites to see if there is something that would benefit me.
Why would a writer do that after 10,000 hours has made you an expert? Because continuing to hone your craft makes you a better storyteller and being a great storyteller attracts loyal readers - for years into the future, not just today. I never want to get to the point where I take my readers for granted, where I rest on what I know, because in this business, there is always something to learn. Do the hard work today, take the time to assess your 10,000 hour education and see how that could be expanded and improved. Your readers will love you for it.
[Originally published on Happy Endings, May, 2011]
" Practice makes Perfect: I'm currently reading a book that was recommended to me by my buddy Henry Perez, called Outliers: The Story of Success. It mentions the 10,000 Hour Rule. In short, no one becomes an expert at something without having invested 10,000 hours in it." Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell
Of course, this stopped me as I calculated how many hours I've worked at this writing thing to see if I'd hit the 10,000 hour mark. I figured I had because I've been writing for over twenty years, but there is nothing like math to do the convincing. I'll wait while you do the same. (Insert Jeopardy music here).
Several days later, Joe posted a guest post by Stephen Leather. Here's another quote that stopped me:
"But there is one cold hard fact that I don’t seem to see anywhere on the blogs and forums devoted to ePublishing. You probably won’t like hearing it, especially if you are one of the new wave of “Indie” writers. But I’m going to say it anyway. Here goes. The vast majority of self-published eBooks are bad. Worse than bad. Awful. There, I’ve said it.
By “bad” I don’t just been badly formatted or lacking originality. I mean badly written. Bad punctuation. Clichéd descriptions. Clunky dialogue. And here’s the thing. When I hear “Indie” writers talking about their books, all they seem to talk about is how they go about marketing their work. How they blog, how they work their Facebook contacts, how they post on the forums. I never hear them talking about how they want to improve their craft. For most of the ones I come across it’s all about the selling. I get emails all the time from “Indie” writers asking me what the secret is to selling a lot of eBooks. I don’t get any asking how they can become better writers."
Of course, when I calculated my 10,000 hours, I only used my writing time. How many hours did it take to produce this manuscript and that manuscript? I failed to consider that educating myself to become a selling author included: reading in my genre, writing and more writing and tossing those manuscripts in the drawer and writing more, belonging to a critique group and reviewing other people's work, learning to be professional in the face of criticism, workshops and more workshops, researching the market and understanding what's selling, learning to write a query and a synopsis, actually submitting and resubmitting, understanding the rejection letter, celebrating the sell, and understanding the edits/galley process. All these things go together to build that 10,000 hour education and those hours make you an expert - give you an understanding of the opportunities out there to put your stories in front of readers. (You notice I didn't include any author platform building? I didn't consider that part of the 10,000 hour expert idea.)
Randy Ingermanson (if you don't get his newsletter - ummm, why?) has always said that the best way to promote your work is to continue to improve your craft. Craft meaning all the things listed above. I believe that continuing to learn, to try new things, to read news books, take different workshops - even once you've hit that 10,000 hours - is critical. I'm a great deal more selective now than I used to be, but once a month I research all the writer education sites to see if there is something that would benefit me.
Why would a writer do that after 10,000 hours has made you an expert? Because continuing to hone your craft makes you a better storyteller and being a great storyteller attracts loyal readers - for years into the future, not just today. I never want to get to the point where I take my readers for granted, where I rest on what I know, because in this business, there is always something to learn. Do the hard work today, take the time to assess your 10,000 hour education and see how that could be expanded and improved. Your readers will love you for it.
[Originally published on Happy Endings, May, 2011]
April 9, 2013
How To: Write to Be Read
I have a rolling cart that slides in under my desk. On the top shelf of this cart are all the writing books I reach for frequently. (The second shelf is blank file folders and the bottom is all the mail-order catalogs I love to oogle, but never have money for the clothes shown or the place to wear them - just in case you're wondering). Top shelf is the home to my dictionary,the Flip Dictionary (absolutely the best functional dictionary known to man),The Romance Writers' Phrase Book, baby name book, Linda Goodman's Sun Signs, and two Spanish Dictionaries and a Book of Synonyms and Antonyms which I...uh... never use. Hmm. (Tossing them as you read). My favorite gem is The Writer's Little Helper by James V. Smith, Jr. Seventy-nine little articles that are designed to help you make the most out of your writing skills. It's has all sorts of charts and exercises to help you analyze your writing, is a good procrastinator if you need one, and the information won't ever go out-of-date. What more can you ask for in a writing book?
Today, I wanted to talk about three of my favorite articles: Writing to Be Understood, Reading Ease, and Use Short Words.
In the first article, "Writing to be Understood", the basic idea is comprehension. The shorter a sentence, the greater the comprehension. This might seem obvious, but probably won't come to mind as you're tearing through your first draft, desperate to get your ideas on the screen or paper. I first started applying this idea when I critiqued work for other writers. A one word sentence will result in 100% comprehension, while a hundred word sentence will result in 0% comprehension. Hence, I began looking for sentences in my crit partners' works that were over 15-20 words and made note for them to split them. Took me a bit before I had a *head smack* moment and applied the same to my own writing. His final quote: "Variety. Diversity. Rhythm. Choose your own term, but in general, write in short, direct sentences for the sake of the people who might be more willing to buy your books if they can understand what you're writing."
The second article is "Reading Ease." I use this article for lots of things. My great nephew was recently reading a book that was touted as a 9-12 year old book. We didn't think so and whipped out this article and tested it. (We were wrong.) In this article, James Smith talks about how he studied samples of novels written by best-selling writers compared to non-best-sellers, amateurs, corporate, or government writers. Best-sellers - which I presume we all want to be - use shorter sentences, shorter words, and a higher percentage of the active voice. The neat thing is that Microsoft Word will check this for you after you run spellcheck. It'll give you: Words per sentence (15 max), Characters per word (4.5 max), passive voice (5% max), Flesch Reading Ease (80% min) and Flesch-Kincaid Level (6 maximum). His final quote: "Edit your work a scene at a time until each scene achieves or surpasses every one of the five goals. When you exceed the goal s of the REI, you will be writing at a level that surpasses most work that the average writer submits to an agent or editor."
The third article is "Use Short Words." Hinted at in the above examples, this article should be a continuation of the ideas in the Reading Ease article. Once again, it's based on the same study of best-sellers. Samples from best sellers showed 4.21 characters per word. How did he get that? MS Word will tell you how many words and how many characters are in your writing - divide words into character to get the average. Why should you do this? "Best-selling novelists consistently use shorter words than non-best sellers. It's a main reason their writing reads at a faster pace then most mid-list books."
So, our lesson for today: Books that are easier to read and easier to understand get bought.
Go edit now (and buy his book because the stuff on pacing is a gem, too!)
[Originally published on Happy Endings, July 2010]
Today, I wanted to talk about three of my favorite articles: Writing to Be Understood, Reading Ease, and Use Short Words.
In the first article, "Writing to be Understood", the basic idea is comprehension. The shorter a sentence, the greater the comprehension. This might seem obvious, but probably won't come to mind as you're tearing through your first draft, desperate to get your ideas on the screen or paper. I first started applying this idea when I critiqued work for other writers. A one word sentence will result in 100% comprehension, while a hundred word sentence will result in 0% comprehension. Hence, I began looking for sentences in my crit partners' works that were over 15-20 words and made note for them to split them. Took me a bit before I had a *head smack* moment and applied the same to my own writing. His final quote: "Variety. Diversity. Rhythm. Choose your own term, but in general, write in short, direct sentences for the sake of the people who might be more willing to buy your books if they can understand what you're writing."
The second article is "Reading Ease." I use this article for lots of things. My great nephew was recently reading a book that was touted as a 9-12 year old book. We didn't think so and whipped out this article and tested it. (We were wrong.) In this article, James Smith talks about how he studied samples of novels written by best-selling writers compared to non-best-sellers, amateurs, corporate, or government writers. Best-sellers - which I presume we all want to be - use shorter sentences, shorter words, and a higher percentage of the active voice. The neat thing is that Microsoft Word will check this for you after you run spellcheck. It'll give you: Words per sentence (15 max), Characters per word (4.5 max), passive voice (5% max), Flesch Reading Ease (80% min) and Flesch-Kincaid Level (6 maximum). His final quote: "Edit your work a scene at a time until each scene achieves or surpasses every one of the five goals. When you exceed the goal s of the REI, you will be writing at a level that surpasses most work that the average writer submits to an agent or editor."
The third article is "Use Short Words." Hinted at in the above examples, this article should be a continuation of the ideas in the Reading Ease article. Once again, it's based on the same study of best-sellers. Samples from best sellers showed 4.21 characters per word. How did he get that? MS Word will tell you how many words and how many characters are in your writing - divide words into character to get the average. Why should you do this? "Best-selling novelists consistently use shorter words than non-best sellers. It's a main reason their writing reads at a faster pace then most mid-list books."
So, our lesson for today: Books that are easier to read and easier to understand get bought.
Go edit now (and buy his book because the stuff on pacing is a gem, too!)
[Originally published on Happy Endings, July 2010]
March 21, 2013
A Picture is Worth a Click to Buy
You may not want to hear this again and again, but a good book cover design for your indie title is a deal breaker. In a sea of available books, the design should be a stopper - meaning it causes a customer to stop, read your blurb (which should be stellar, too - but that's another post) and move to click the buy button. These two in combo should be a one-two punch that flushes the "gotta buy" urge to the surface. The price should be the closer, but that is another article, too.
We've all seen those fabulous covers and it is not just traditional publishing houses that can create those images. Yes, they may employ artists with enormous talent. Yes, they may be able to afford photo shoots and the expensive photo editing software. You don't need all that to create a good cover.
This cover is two separate pictures bought off Bigstock Photo. They were combined using a program you most likely already have on your computer. If you can use Word, you can use this program and create a cover like this. But I'm ahead of myself.
When I started on this indie journey, I couldn't afford a cover designer. I could barely afford to keep the roof over my head and food on the table. But I had a story to tell, a burning desire to connect with my readers, so I launched into what would turn out to be one of the most fascinating turns of my career - equal to that moment I decided to write romances. That would be creating compelling book cover designs to sell my books (and those of KLG Press).
I'm going to tell you the first secret to designing a good cover. It's the pictures. It's deciding one or two strong images that represent your story, then scouring Bigstock, iStockPhoto, Shutterstock and dozens of free image sites for the right picture and not quitting until you find it. Then it's knowing what you want your potential buyer to recognize first from the cover and making sure your eye goes to that when you do the layout. Whether picture or title, work with that.
How?
I use PowerPoint and Gimp. PowerPoint comes with your Microsoft Office Suite and Gimp is free to download on line (it's a free photo editing program). Word encompasses some of the PowerPoint structure for uploading and manipulating pictures, but not all. That's why I made the jump over to PowerPoint.
Oh gads, I can't use Powerpoint. Yeah, I'd only made slides. I learned and so can you. Need help with that? Lynda.com.
If you have the ability to read directions, you can figure out the size of your book cover, buy the appropriate picture, and embark on creating that cover that is in your imagination.
I went a couple steps further. I studied typography and color and bought a 10,000 font program to supplement Microsoft's measly offerings. I admit you probably won't develop the obsession I have with typography and spend the next two years compulsively creating, but truthfully you can design a compelling title and author brand with what you have...just please God, not Times News Roman.
If you feel you need more help than that, here's a couple places to start:
The Book Designer
Crazy Leaf
Here's a couple outstanding book designers to pay attention to:
Kit Foster
Carl Graves
Yes, the cover above is for sale ...on my newest venture - pre-made Book Covers. Visit PCOGraphicDesigns to get a look. I'm just getting started adding my designs to the site, so visit often.
And remember -- a picture is worth a thousand words.
We've all seen those fabulous covers and it is not just traditional publishing houses that can create those images. Yes, they may employ artists with enormous talent. Yes, they may be able to afford photo shoots and the expensive photo editing software. You don't need all that to create a good cover.
This cover is two separate pictures bought off Bigstock Photo. They were combined using a program you most likely already have on your computer. If you can use Word, you can use this program and create a cover like this. But I'm ahead of myself.
When I started on this indie journey, I couldn't afford a cover designer. I could barely afford to keep the roof over my head and food on the table. But I had a story to tell, a burning desire to connect with my readers, so I launched into what would turn out to be one of the most fascinating turns of my career - equal to that moment I decided to write romances. That would be creating compelling book cover designs to sell my books (and those of KLG Press).
I'm going to tell you the first secret to designing a good cover. It's the pictures. It's deciding one or two strong images that represent your story, then scouring Bigstock, iStockPhoto, Shutterstock and dozens of free image sites for the right picture and not quitting until you find it. Then it's knowing what you want your potential buyer to recognize first from the cover and making sure your eye goes to that when you do the layout. Whether picture or title, work with that.
How?
I use PowerPoint and Gimp. PowerPoint comes with your Microsoft Office Suite and Gimp is free to download on line (it's a free photo editing program). Word encompasses some of the PowerPoint structure for uploading and manipulating pictures, but not all. That's why I made the jump over to PowerPoint.
Oh gads, I can't use Powerpoint. Yeah, I'd only made slides. I learned and so can you. Need help with that? Lynda.com.
If you have the ability to read directions, you can figure out the size of your book cover, buy the appropriate picture, and embark on creating that cover that is in your imagination.
I went a couple steps further. I studied typography and color and bought a 10,000 font program to supplement Microsoft's measly offerings. I admit you probably won't develop the obsession I have with typography and spend the next two years compulsively creating, but truthfully you can design a compelling title and author brand with what you have...just please God, not Times News Roman.
If you feel you need more help than that, here's a couple places to start:
The Book Designer
Crazy Leaf
Here's a couple outstanding book designers to pay attention to:
Kit Foster
Carl Graves
Yes, the cover above is for sale ...on my newest venture - pre-made Book Covers. Visit PCOGraphicDesigns to get a look. I'm just getting started adding my designs to the site, so visit often.
And remember -- a picture is worth a thousand words.
March 17, 2013
Dear Editor--Is Publication Worth Pursuing?
Inevitably, when I return a finished project, the first question all clients ask is, “Do you think this book has a chance on the market? Is it worth pursuing publication?” This is a question I cannot answer.
Readers love to read. They love to read good stories that speak to their experience. Fundamentally, writing and reading are magical. Images in your mind become words, and those words make images in another’s head, interpreted and applied using that person’s life experience and emotions. Think about what a tremendous, abstract ability storytelling is that binds us together as humans.
Since enjoyment of story depends on individual perception, readers as a whole come across as fickle, and knowing ahead of time which books will “make it” and which will not is impossible. The megapublishers, the “Big 5,” have formulae within their marketing departments that determine what type of books are best for them to put their money behind, and yours may or may not fit into that formula today, next month, next year, in five years. The publishing market is constantly changing as the world changes.
Agents have their fingers on this pulse—they must, to stay in business, so the best publishing professional to ask if your story is marketable is an agent who works with your genre. When searching for an agent, if you choose to do so, you want to find one who “gets” your voice and shares your goals for your writing career.
When I’m asked “Did you like it?” when I know the client means “Can I sell it?” I’m sorry that all I can give is my humble opinion of whether I liked the characters, setting, and plot as an individual reader—one of the fickle millions who enjoys reading. If it helps, having read it at least twice and with much time spent editing/critiquing, I am now emotionally invested in seeing the story reach a wider audience. If the story touched me, surely it will touch others.
Small publishers, e-publishers, indie-publishers, and self-publishing are no less valid methods of reaching your audience than traditional publishing with the Big 5. If the story sells to even one person who doesn’t know you, you have triumphed as an author. You were brave and smart in pursuing professional editing for your book, so don’t lose faith and courage now. Research whom your reading audience is and where they go to find books then meet them halfway. Don’t put it back in the drawer!
------------------
Kelly Schaub edits multiple genres of both adult and YA fiction. Article first appeared on Book Editing Associates Facebook page March 8, 2013
Readers love to read. They love to read good stories that speak to their experience. Fundamentally, writing and reading are magical. Images in your mind become words, and those words make images in another’s head, interpreted and applied using that person’s life experience and emotions. Think about what a tremendous, abstract ability storytelling is that binds us together as humans.
Since enjoyment of story depends on individual perception, readers as a whole come across as fickle, and knowing ahead of time which books will “make it” and which will not is impossible. The megapublishers, the “Big 5,” have formulae within their marketing departments that determine what type of books are best for them to put their money behind, and yours may or may not fit into that formula today, next month, next year, in five years. The publishing market is constantly changing as the world changes.
Agents have their fingers on this pulse—they must, to stay in business, so the best publishing professional to ask if your story is marketable is an agent who works with your genre. When searching for an agent, if you choose to do so, you want to find one who “gets” your voice and shares your goals for your writing career.
When I’m asked “Did you like it?” when I know the client means “Can I sell it?” I’m sorry that all I can give is my humble opinion of whether I liked the characters, setting, and plot as an individual reader—one of the fickle millions who enjoys reading. If it helps, having read it at least twice and with much time spent editing/critiquing, I am now emotionally invested in seeing the story reach a wider audience. If the story touched me, surely it will touch others.
Small publishers, e-publishers, indie-publishers, and self-publishing are no less valid methods of reaching your audience than traditional publishing with the Big 5. If the story sells to even one person who doesn’t know you, you have triumphed as an author. You were brave and smart in pursuing professional editing for your book, so don’t lose faith and courage now. Research whom your reading audience is and where they go to find books then meet them halfway. Don’t put it back in the drawer!
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Kelly Schaub edits multiple genres of both adult and YA fiction. Article first appeared on Book Editing Associates Facebook page March 8, 2013
February 19, 2013
Crowdfunding and Pushing for More
Hi all!
KLG Press is running a
crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to push our publishing business to the next
level.
What is crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is a term that describes the collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the Internet,
to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations like
disaster relief, political campaigns, and support for struggling artists
and businesses. Indiegogo, a
proven platform that has also collaborated with Barack Obama and JOBS
Act, is hosting our campaign through April 13th.
Specifically, we aim to raise $6000 through this approach to fund new computer
equipment and marketing efforts to elevate our publishing business.
Visit
our campaign by clicking on the picture. Tiffany spent several days
putting together a marvelous video that I believe you will enjoy.
Indiegogo
uses a combination of contributions and Google-like traffic analytics
to assign visibility to campaigns. The higher each component, the better
chance we have of reaching the front page and connecting with
additional interested benevolent contributors. We’ve generated moderate
traffic so
far – over 300 hits and a few dollars raised since 2/13 – but need
your support to fuel additional traffic and contributions. Please help
propel our
campaign onward and upward!
How you can help:
1. Visit our campaign page.
2.
Recommend our campaign to your circle of friends.
Twitter/Facebook/Google + links are available to simply click to post
notice to your followers about our campaign.
3. Children aren't
raised without a village. Families aren't stable without parents and
grandparents and friends. Businesses don't stay in business without
good customers. That's where you come in. Contribute as you are able.
As always, we so appreciate your support. We’re also open to feedback – ideas shared are more valuable than gold!
Patti
KLG Press and Pushing for More
Hi all!
KLG Press is running a
campaign to raise funds to push our publishing business to the next
level. Specifically, we aim to raise $6000 to fund new computer
equipment, increased work hours, and marketing efforts. Indiegogo, a
proven platform that has also collaborated with Barack Obama and JOBS
Act, is hosting our campaign through April 13th.
Visit our
campaign by clicking on the picture. Tiffany spent several days
putting together a marvelous video that I believe you will enjoy.
Indiegogo
uses a combination of contributions and Google-like traffic analytics
to assign visibility to campaigns. The higher each component, the better
chance we have of reaching the front page and connecting with
additional interested contributors. We’ve generated moderate traffic so
far – almost 300 hits and a few dollars raised since 2/13 – but need
your support to fuel additional traffic and contributions. Please help
propel our
campaign onward and upward!
Asking for money is our least
favorite thing to do. However, we’ve developed valuable perks in return
for contributions, including copies of many of the 30+ books we’ve
published in the last 18 months. Although the perks are associated with
specific dollar values, contributions can be made in any amount
beginning at just $1. Every dollar counts and helps!
How you can help:
1. Visit our campaign page.
2. Recommend our campaign to your circle of friends. Auto twitter/facebook/google + feed links are available on the site to help you circulate our campaign.
3. Contribute as you are able.
As always, we so appreciate your support. We’re also open to feedback – ideas shared are more valuable than gold!
Patti
