Doris-Maria Heilmann's Blog, page 50

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Tagged: 5 Tips for Publishing on LinkedIn, how LinkedIn can increase your readership, LinkedIn, publishing blogs with LinkedIn, Social Media Tips

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Published on May 24, 2014 04:51

#Hashtag or Not?

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Did you know: One single hashtag can increase engagement by 100%! Wikipedia explains what a hashtag is: A word or an un-spaced phrase prefixed with the number sign “#”. It is a form of metadata tag. Words in messages on micro-blogging and social networking services may be tagged by putting “#” before them. When you click on a hashtag, you’ll see a feed of what other people and pages are saying about an event or topic.

Hashtags have pretty much taken over social media by storm. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and Tumblr, all are using hashtags to organize content. However, using it improperly isn’t going to help you at all. It is not a tool to attract attention to your content. How to use hashtags in Social Media marketing:

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Organize and Find Content Easier

Don’t use it for simple and frequently used words! And not for every word in your tweet! Just because you can use more than one hashtag in a message doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Readers would see an abundance of hashtags as spam. While they can be an incredibly effective marketing tool, you may do yourself a disservice if you use them too frequently.

The true power of hash-tagging is the ability to connect your tweets and posts with various popular and incredibly visible topics, which will drive new viewers to your social media presence, as well as to give you the opportunity to engage with them. When well-crafted andused sparingly, hashtags can help increase your visibility. The more comfortable your followers feel with your brand, the more likely they will be tempted to interact with you via Social Media.

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Don’t Over-Use

For example: You don’t need to use a hashtag in every Google+ post. It’s particularly important to remember that you should not use them while responding to someone. Whether it’s a re-tweet or a reply, avoid adding these characters in when they are not needed. Using hashtags sparingly – not more than 1 or 2 per post – and wisely has shown to be an effective means of marketing your book. Send your message with the power of the hashtag!

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40 Hashtags for Writers

Daily Writing Tips compiled a list of some of the hashtags that will be of interest to writers and publishers. The list can never be exhaustive because anyone can invent a new tag at any time. Most are self-explanatory, although some need explanation:

#amediting posts from people who are editing

#amwriting posts from people who are writing

#askagent agent questions and answers

#author

Get the complete hashtag list on their site.

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More Resources:

Visit Hashtags.org to see which hashtags are trending in popularity and/or are already in use.

Using #Hashtags on Twitter

See a slideshow of #HashtagEtiquette

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,060 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: hashtag use, hashtags for writers, hashtags on Google+, hashtags on Twitter, How to use Hashtags, Social Media Tips

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Published on May 22, 2014 04:30

Invasion of the Overworld: A MINECRAFT Novel

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A MINECRAFT Novel

Parents love the anti-bullying message

This novel deals with cyber-bullying. As the self-proclaimed King of the Griefers, Gameknight starts out bullying other players, i.e. griefing them, because he is bullied at school. But as he battles through the different challenges in the story, Gameknight999 comes to learn the negative affects of his behavior on other people. In the end, Gameknight comes to learn the real meaning of sacrifice for another and the true value of friendships. And kids are turning off the computer and READING!

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172 pages – for 10 yr old’s and over - 211x 5-Star Reviews!

Invasion of the Overworld is available in print and digital format.

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A best selling Minecraft novel on Amazon

With an exciting plot, spine tingling battles, and detailed characters you come to love — this book is capturing the attention of people all over the world.

“Invasion of the Overworld” tells the story of Gameknight999 after being pulled into Minecraft…for real. He has to struggle through exciting life and death battles with zombies and creepers and spiders while he faces off against the most terrifying of monsters, Erebus, the King of the Endermen. If he can’t stop the monster horde, then they will move up through the server planes until they break into the physical world, where they will destroy everything. Can he stop the crashing wave of evil monsters from destroying everything? Can he stand up against the terrifying King of the Endermen? Only Gameknight999, the User-that-is-not-a-user, knows how to save the multitudes from certain obliteration.

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Invasion of the Overworld is something new to the landscape of Minecraft novels.

People love this book because it completely immerses them into the world of Minecraft;

They feel like they’re living this adventure with Gameknight999.
The battle strategies and crafting hints used throughout the book will give you new ideas about Minecraft.
The spine tingling battles will make your heart race and make you want to stay up late reading to the end.

Author Mark Cheverton

Mark Cheverton released the first book in his Minecraft series, Invasion of the Overworld: A Minecraft Novel, which is expected to be followed by the sequel, Battle for the Nether, in 2014.

Mark Cheverton grew up in Southern California, going through high school, and college. After college, Mark taught high school physics and math for many years. While teaching, he earned a Master’s degree in Physics and conducted research on planetary atmospherics. After moving to the east coast, he started doing research for a Fortune 100 company in the fields of machine vision and additive manufacturing. His first book, The Algae Voices of Azule, was released in 2012, followed by the sequel shortly after.

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Meet Mark Cheverton at his website: www.markcheverton.com

or on Twitter: @markcheverton1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.cheverton.94

https://www.facebook.com/invasionoftheoverworld

Goodreads: Enter to win a copy of the book:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18281341-invasion-of-the-overworld

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,060 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: author Mark Cheverton, cyber-bullying, Invasion of the Overworld, Minecraft Novel, Minecraft series, The Algae Voices of Azule

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More Resources:

http://boostblogtraffic.com/write-for-magazines/

http://money.howstuffworks.com/magazine-writing.htm

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/free-brilliant-book-marketing-to-a-million-audience/

http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Magazine-Writer-from-Scratch

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-for-magazines/

http://goinswriter.com/how-to-get-published-in-a-magazine/

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/writing-freelance-for-magazines/

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/freelance-writing-for-childrens-magazines/

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/smart-authors-get-paid-for-marketing-their-books/

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Published on May 19, 2014 03:59

Writing for Magazines – Waste of Time?

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A fiction author recently was pondering if it is worth to write magazine articles, and asked me if he should not better use his time to write for his own blog / website. My answer: “Well, it depends how many subscribers / readers your website or blog has … Should your blog have less than a million readers per month, consider to write for these magazines with enormous readership numbers, such as:

Huffington Post (43 Million/month)
Salon.com (7,7 Million / month)
Travel & Leisure 950,000 magazine readers
Delta Sky Magazine over 5 Million Readers / month

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Wikipedia provides a list of American / International magazines and their paid yearly circulation:

AARP The Magazine 21,931,184

Better Homes And Gardens 7,624,505

Reader’s Digest 5,241,484

Good Housekeeping 4,396,795

National Geographic 4,001,937

People 3,690,031

Southern Living 2,824,751

O, The Oprah Magazine 2,417,589

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The National Trust Magazine UK 2,043,876

Mathrubhoomi India 1,600,000

India Today 1,100,000

Australian Women’s Weekly 470,331

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Resource: Alliance for Audited Media

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US Newspaper’s Daily Circulation:

The Wall Street Journal with 2,378,827 in circulation; The New York Times at 1,865,318; and USA Today with 1,674,306.

If only one percent of their readership finds your article and the byline with your name, website and book info … it’s worth to write for them, one might not be able to pay their ads, but having a by-line and often even get paid for an article is worth to send a pitch to their editor.

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Best Paying: In-Flight Magazines

Travel pieces are a staple of in-flight magazines, but only when showing the culture and feel of the place. Airline publications also contain articles on technology, business, sports, and food, as well as lifestyle trends. Some in-flights feature celebrity profiles, fiction, humor and many have regular columns.

Alaska Airlines Magazine/Horizon Air Magazine
enRoute Air Canada’s magazine

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In a former blog post writers can find lots of tips how to get into the airline magazine market. Compared to consumer magazine publishers, airline magazines often pay a higher rate for freelancers. Excellent writers might earn up to $3.000 for a three page feature with photographs. Rates are typically between $0.75 – $1.00 per word. Even though, you’ll rarely get your name in the article, at least you have it in your portfolio, and you can mention it in Social Media – and at the same time mention your book(s).

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6 Helpful tips on how to pitch to magazine editors:

Get to know and understand the magazine before you query, read 10 issues back.
Make a list of editors at prestigious magazines, blogs, newspapers.
You do not have to write new articles, take what you have, re-write it a bit, add or subtract an introduction
and conclusion.
Don’t forget a catchy byline at the end of the article with two links to your book / website.
Very important: Learn how to write a query for magazines
Send your pitch to dozens of editors at suitable magazines / newspapers.
Offer your best photographs to illustrate your articles.

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Best of All:

The research for your books and often parts of your manuscript can be used for articles – in a huge variety of magazines and newspapers. You can use published articles as clips to show to potential publishers and clients in all writing areas. You will receive traffic, money and credibility as a writer, and you will get a huge audience that you could never reach with your blog and Social Media alone!

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,060 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: clever marketing, content marketing, how to pitch to magazines, Huffington Post, In-flight magazines, keywords in books, nouns in books, write for blogs and newspapers

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Published on May 16, 2014 05:58

The 10,000-Hour Rule for Writers

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Expectations? Lower them!

Ian Irvine, an Australian bestselling author wrote: “Feel free to write the most beautiful, thought-provoking words in the English language. The public will feel equally free to ignore them. Rarely, someone will write a book and get it published straight away. I was once in a roomful of writers when that question was asked, and only three writers raised their hands. Most writers work for 5-10 years before getting their first book published (my first took 9 years.)

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Remember the 10,000-hour Rule

“That’s roughly how much work and practice it takes to become accomplished in any field, whether it be sporting, creative or professional. 10,000 hours is 5 years of full time hard work. To become a virtuoso, triple that.”

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Bestseller Authors Need Years

Building up their audience takes lots of time, so it is surprising, that authors dream of their first book as a potential bestseller, and don’t realize that it takes a long time and hard work to get an audience, one reader at a time – especially if they did not do the ground work to build a huge following at Social Media, in reader forums or in real-life before they start publishing.

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Author-Publishing is Like a New Profession

And professions need to be trained! It takes years to become an excellent writer and it also takes years to become an excellent publisher. It involves lots of skills and knowledge business-wise, marketing skills, not to mention, learning constantly new internet techniques and get to know the latest changes in publishing.

Many authors have unrealistic expectations when it comes to the time required for effective book promotion and to make meaningful connections with readers. They expect wonders from a single sales campaign, and don’t understand that under-pricing or “selling” for free is not a marketing strategy.

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Take Advantage of their Knowledge

A book marketing professional has to learn years and years. Why, as an author, not take advantage of their knowledge to keep your head free for writing and interacting with readers? No one would start

catering business without learning to cook, and knowing how to present food or how to find customers. Writing a book does not make for a publisher. Take the time to build your author platform and establish a brand, it will eventually give you an advantage in the market, no matter if self-publishing or going with a trade publisher.

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Did You Learn About Your Readers?

It is staggering how few authors think about their future readers – and about their competition. Authors often do very little research – if any at all – to really understand their audience. Asking: “Who is your audience and who is your competition?” one might receive only vague answers … Topics, that are not only very important for self- publishers, but also for authors who want to go with a traditional publisher. They need to proof to the agent or publisher that they have done their homework.

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How Can You Research Your Competition?

First of all make a long list with possible keywords that readers might use to find a similar book. Check out the complete categories / genres at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Apple, Sony, Google

Books, Waterstones etc. and study all the books, that could be similar to your future work. Visit several public libraries and book stores to find similar books as the one you want to write, learn about your competition. Borrow the most interesting ones, not only to read them, but also to study the book layout and design. Read the online reviews of their books carefully!

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Can You Answer These Questions?

How many books of this topic / keywords have been published already?
Where are these books sold and for which price?
In which format are they offered: e-book, print, audio-book?
Who are the customers of these competing books?
How are these books received and which ones are bestselling?
Which categories did they choose, and which keywords?
In which categories / genres are these competitive books listed?
What cover designs have been chosen for these books?
Which author represent him/herself and their book the best?
Did you study their Amazon and Goodreads author page, their website or blog?

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More and More Competition for Authors

According to a new report from Bowker, the number of self-published titles in 2012 jumped to more than 391,000, up 59 percent over 2011. The 2012 numbers will be published soon, but they might be even much higher – which means: more and more competition for authors.

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Marathon – Not a Sprint:

Becoming an author-publisher is a long-term commitment and requires hundreds of small steps on the path to success! Before you start writing, create yourself a road map. Take your time, see your writing & publishing as a long-term project and don’t have unrealistic expectations. First create a professional looking book, do the ground work to build up your author platform, and then have fun, winning one reader at a time. Becoming an author-publisher is a marathon, not a sprint, and it will require hundreds of small steps on the path to success! Before you start writing, create yourself a road map. Bowker explains: “The most successful self-publishers don’t view themselves as writers only, but as business owners. They invest in their businesses, hiring experts to fill skill gaps and to gain more time for writing.”

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,060 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

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Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: 10000 hours is 5 years of full time hard work, a list with possible keywords, Bowker Statistics, getting their first book published, Ian Irvine, research your competition, study your competition

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Published on May 12, 2014 05:46

9 Tips to Increase ‘Newbie’ Writer Confidence

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By Wanda Octave

All writers believe in their work. Introvert or not, you write because it’s in your DNA. And when you pen your masterpiece, you know that you have developed a brilliant piece of literature that someone would love to read. But… fear keeps it hidden.

Fear of Rejection

Fear of what others will think.
Fear of writer’s poverty.
Fear of taking the leap.
Fear of sticking to it for the long haul.
Fear of whatever new reality pops into our heads at any given moment.

This has caused many bestselling manuscripts to die in the laptops and shelves of ‘the shy writer’.

Fear Holds Writers Back.

Fear, is the only thing holding good writers back from greatness. My biggest fear has always been losing my words. As a published author, I am great on paper, but I fear losing my words in a live forum. And though there are many great online marketing sources, you have to put yourself out in the open to market your work. People want to ‘hear’ from the author at some point. Fans want to meet you. And inquiry minds want to know about you. And on many levels. I have no problem with that. In fact my book is based on life lessons learnt largely from my own life, so my life is literally ‘an open book’. I am shockingly candid at times and ‘tell it like it is’ without fear of judgment. In ‘real’ life, I also love meeting people and talking about my book, about life and about their experiences. But when Cameras, microphones, and a sea of faces stare up at me, I’m suddenly afraid of losing my words.

As a newbie this is normal, but I’ve heard that it happens to established authors too. This is only my first book so my trip to OZ has been slow and rocky, I am becoming more confident as the months roll on. By this time next year, I’ll have a different article for you. In the meantime here’s what I’ve learnt and what has worked well for me:

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1. Send Interview Questions Before Hand.

Include a list of sample interview questions in your media kit so that you know what to expect and are comfortable with your answers. I used to be worried about repetition but each interviewer somehow has a different flare or twist and though the answers are the same, they are different every time. Also sometimes the interview may move in a particular direction and you get to cover a lot more than your core questions.

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2. Have a Conversation Instead of an Interview.

It is a good idea to research your interviewer so that the interview can have more of a friendly flow. Easing your book into a ‘conversation’, makes it relate-able and relevant. If time permits, it is also beneficial to have a casual chat with the interviewer, or producer with the cameras rolling. Many times you reveal a lot more interesting information then, than during the actual interview.

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3. You Will Need to Think on Your Feet.

When I sit with my thoughts, the words don’t just flow, they gush! It’s not the same when you’re the center of attention in front of a live audience. So I usually come up with a plan of a beginning, middle and end, and fill in with personal experiences in between. I understand that it is the experiences of life that connect us and I want to connect with the sea of faces in front of me. If I only have three things to remember, ‘beginning, middle and end’ then it is less difficult to ‘lose’ my words.

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4. Hide Behind Radio.

Doing Radio is like having a one on one. At first, the prospect of hundreds of people listening to me made me started having a conversation with the announcer and literally forgot that there were hundreds or thousands of people listening.

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5. Do A LOT of Book Signings

I absolutely love book signings. It is a great way to meet people. A perfect sales medium and an excellent way to build your confidence as a writer. I do book signings at books stores, malls, events, street fares, you name it! And I have met a wide spectrum of people, many of whom have helped me grow my business.

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6. Everyone Will Not Love You.

As it is in life you will get your share of critics and you will need to develop a tough skin. People will be judgmental and condescending, but if you believe in your message/story, it will be enough. Always remember why you decided to become a writer and remind yourself too of the many lives that you have changed through your work.

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7. Go to Conferences.

If you want to learn to be more effective in public, it is a good idea to go to conferences that you would like to speak at in the future. Recognize what each speaker brings to the table. Learn different presentation styles. See what you can offer that can add value to a future conference. Then write an awesome proposal and start pitching for next year. You may be a newbie this year, but hopefully a pro by next year.

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8. Make Yourself Interesting.

Connect. Connect. Connect! Keep it real. I believe that we connect with each other through our experiences. And we all have the same experiences, our circumstances are just different. Tell your story. You will be surprised how many people can relate. The most popular feedback that I get, is that the stories in my book are relevant. When a reader feels that you understand them, they become a fan.

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9. Hang Around.

I like to chat with staff at the radio and TV stations and talk to the audience after a conference or event that I attend or speak at. The bulk of my book sales come from book signings and ‘back of the room’ sales. Because my book is relatively new and I am not an established writer, I have to make a personal connection with potential readers. And being available for a chat gives me an opportunity to do one-on-one marketing, have in-depth personal conversations or sometimes a mini coaching session. I have learned that people are more likely to purchase your book when they connect with you.

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Finally, there is also a whole world of online marketing out there which I am only now starting to explore. I have to learn to put myself ‘out there’ both in the physical and virtual world. It’s nice to be at home, while out (in cyberspace) at the same time. I’m sure it’s not as easy as hiding behind my laptop though. I’ll have to gather all my self-confidence tools and start over.

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Bio: A former Marketing professional, Wanda Octave worked in the fields of banking, real estate and tourism before fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. She currently resides on the tranquil Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia with her husband Simon and daughter Kelci. Find more information at www.wandaoctave.com and her Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/dp/9769555711

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,060 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: book signings, confidence, Fear of taking the leap, Fear of what others will think, Fear of writer’s poverty, newbie writers, self-confidence tools

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Published on May 07, 2014 20:26

Do You Understand Your Publishing Contract?

ebooksinternational:

In the last two blog posts you found a lot of tips for authors what to look for in a publishing contract. Now, imagine, you found a literary agent, and he’s landed you an offer from a publishing house. You have made it! Wrong! Publishing contracts should not be signed right away, even if you have an agent. Let your own lawyer (specialized on contract law) explain you the agreements and let your agent negotiate on your behalf.

Do you really need to know all the “small print”? Yes, every bit of the contract!

And yes, even if the book project never gets off the ground. Without appropriate contract provisions, it may end you up in a legal limbo. Read more about all the important contract clauses you might encounter and get the Book Contract Checklist:

Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:

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Traditional Publishing Contracts – Part Three of a Series
Signing a “Standard” Publishing Contract can have serious consequences for authors. A publisher’s standard agreement could contain a one-sided non-competition clause that prevents the author from using material from his manuscript in day-to-day business, such as blogs posts, magazine articles, even tweets. Or a clause in the contract might state that the author is prohibited to produce another work that competes with the title under contract without prior permission of the publisher. Well, what authors do with their time is their business, isn’t it? Shouldn’t they be able to write other books, for themselves or for other publishers? Are they slaves of the publisher?

Read the examples of book contract clauses here and in number two of this series (compare

them with your own contract) and find out “what it means” to you as the author:

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Publication and Revised Editions:

View original 1,386 more words

Tagged: Advances and Royalties, agent negotiating on your behalf, Book Contract Checklist, contract clauses, Contract Lawyer, Indemnity, Minimum Wage for Authors, Out-of-Print Book, Publishing contract, Reversed rights

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Published on May 05, 2014 16:00

The Traps in Publishing Contracts

ebooksinternational:

The key to a good publishing contract is clarity. For authors, it is helpful to keep in mind that most contracts are not take-it-or-leave-it propositions. Be courteous. Be tactful. Knowing what to ask for is critical. Use an agent or attorney who understands the parameters of the typical publishing deal to negotiate your contract. Working through an agent or attorney allows the author to preserve his creative relationship with the editor or publishing house, explains Attorney Lloyd J. Jassin on his website.

Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:

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Traditional Publishing Contracts – Part Two of a Series

There should be a large neon sign that says: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER sign a contract without having your contract lawyer going over it and explaining it to you in detail – sentence for sentence. The contract clauses described here in this blog post are the “norm” in publishing. It is difficult to see how your publishing agreement will play out in the long term, what you sign today could have profound, long term consequences.

Contract attorney Ivan Hoffman explains in his blog:

“In the US, many contracts that consumers commonly sign, such as for mortgage or auto loans or to
obtain a credit card, are subject to statutory requirements for fairness, clarity, etc. If some of the clauses and drafting techniques commonly included in publishing contracts used by publishers were found in consumer contracts, those provisions would be…

View original 1,789 more words

Tagged: Advances and Royalties, basketing, Book club publication, joint accounts, Minimum Wage for Authors, Publishing contract, Publishing Deal, Reasonable Reserve, Traps in Publishing Contracts

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Published on May 04, 2014 04:36

Less than Minimum Wage for Authors?

ebooksinternational:

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Are you thinking about approaching an agent or publisher for your next book? Do you know what clauses publishing contracts usually contain? How do you read a publishing contract? What your income will be – compared to author-publishing? This blog post and the following two will help you to “take the con out of the work con-tract”.

Wikipedia explains: “A publishing contract is a legal contract between a publisher and a writer or author, to publish written material by the writer or author. This may involve a single written work, or a series of works.” And as with every legal contract, authors are faring better when consulting a lawyer that is specialized in publishing contracts – BEFORE – they sign it.

Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:

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Justicia

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Traditional Publishing Contracts – Part One of a Series

You might remember an article How Harlequin Publishing Deceives Their Authors from last summer in this blog, about the planned class action suit against the publisher. Today I stumbled about a sequel of J.A. Konrath’s blog: Harlekin Fail, Part 2, where he explains the contract practices of the trade publishers in general, and how they deceive their authors. From today on we will look more closely into these practices.

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When offered the opportunity to publish traditionally, about two-thirds of self-published authors are interested. The supposed prestige of a traditional publisher, the wide distribution a publisher can generate and help with marketing, are the reasons, cited in surveys.
However the perception of traditional publishing is often not up to date in public, as the way of book marketing (and the whole traditional publishing business) has totally…

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Tagged: author-publishing, contract duration, Contract Lawyer, less than minimum wage, out-of-print, Publishing Contracts, Reversion of rights, Rights granted by the author to the publisher, Royalties, Trade Publishing

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Published on May 01, 2014 10:58

Part 2, Grants for Writers

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Would you like a free work-vacation stay, maybe in Paris, France or in Bellagio, Italy? Sometimes even paid… as a Writer-in-Residency? Book mark these tips and links and check periodically the deadlines for grants, fellowships or writers residencies. Besides accommodation, writers often receive a stipend and travel expenses paid. A great way for writers to get out of their routine, find time to write, solitude and possibilities to advance their career. See also Part 1 of Grants for Writers.

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Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio, Italy, Residencies

Four-week residencies between March 10 and July 31, 2015. Open to composers, novelists, playwrights, poets, video/filmmakers and visual artists from around the globe, with the goal of bringing together people of diverse expertise and cultures in a thought-provoking creative environment. Spouses/life partners may accompany the resident, or may apply for a concurrent residency. The Center also offers collaborative residencies for two to four persons working on the same project.

Must demonstrate a history of significant achievement in their discipline. Individuals from developing countries and young artists with significant accomplishments — exhibitions, publications, performances — are particularly encouraged to apply. Residency provides housing and studio/work space. Residents are responsible for travel, food, and materials.

Deadline: May 1, 2014.

http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center/residency-program/arts-literary-arts-residency/overview

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Illinois Road Scholar Program

From the history of Motown to the moral tribulations of Albert Einstein, our curiosity can lead us to unexpected places. As an IHC Road Scholar, you’ll have the freedom to wander….take Illinois along with you!

Deadline May 5, 2014. http://www.prairie.org/roadscholars

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Grant / Residency California and Arizona

The Creatives selected will be awarded a one-year opportunity to engage the residents in one of two affordable housing communities in Southern California and Phoenix, AZ to ignite social change through sustainable practices and programs. The Creatives selected – individual and or collective groups, will be given housing (or a housing stipend), a working stipend, and a small budget to execute their projects.

Deadline May 23, 2014.

http://grandcentralartcenter.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/grant-residency-opportunity-a-social-practice-initiative-of-living-resources-and-grand-central-art-center/

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Hedgebrook Residency

Hedgebrook retreat for women writers is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48 acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts women writers from all over the world for residencies of two to six weeks, at no cost to the writer.

https://www.hedgebrook.org/programdetails.php?id=1

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Jentel Residency

Jentel has two sessions and two deadlines. All application materials, including contact information, resume, work sample, and reference contacts must be completed online through Submittable by September 15, 2014 for the January 15 – May 13, 2015 residencies. The Jentel Artist Residency Program lies in the Lower Piney Creek Valley with spectacular views over scoria topped hills to the majestic Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming.

Deadline Nov 15. http://www.jentelarts.org/

Mark Your Calendar for Next Year, 2015:

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Japan Residencies for Writers

The Japan Creative Artist Residencies Program awards up to five three-month residencies, each of which includes a monthly stipend of $20,000 for living expenses, housing, and professional support. Open to published U.S. poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers to live in Japan and pursue creative projects. Each residency also includes a travel grant of up to $2,000. Writers who have published a book or at least 20 poems in five or more journals or five stories or essays in two or more journals are eligible.

http://www.jusfc.gov/creative-artists-programs/

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Horned Dorset Artists & Writers Colony

Emerging and professional artists working in the fields of writing,translating, musical composition, visual arts and interdisciplinary arts will be eligible to apply for a 4-week residency in the rural town of Leondardsville, located in central New York State.

http://www.horneddorsetcolony.org

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American Library in Paris – Visiting Fellowship

The Visiting Fellowship offers writers and researchers an opportunity to pursue book projects in Paris for a month or longer while participating actively in the life of the American Library. The Fellowship award, a stipend of $5,000 is intended to cover travel and housing costs for the Visiting Fellow. He or she will be expected to present the work-in-progress to the public in a weekday evening talk at the Library and to conduct one or two workshops for Library members on a subject of common interest. Fellowship applicants should be working on a book-length project, fiction or non-fiction, which resonates with the Library’s Franco-American traditions and interests and which might benefit from an extended presence in Paris.

http://americanlibraryinparis.org/events-programs/visiting-fellowship.html

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Georgia Fee Artist/Writer Residency, Paris, France

The goal of the Georgia Fee Artist/Writer Residency in Paris is to support and invest in emerging artists and writers, to provide an opportunity for them to advance their work and explore and engage with the cultural landscape of Paris, to encourage experimentation, and to increase exposure of their work to an international audience. The Residency is open to visual artists of all mediums, art writers, critics, poets, and creative writers, 24 years or older. Recent graduates are especially encouraged to apply. Applications start in February and stay open about a month.

http://www.artslant.com/la/foundation/index

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Hambidge, GA, Residencies

Apply through April 15th for the September through December residency period. Hambidge provides a residency program that empowers talented artists to explore, develop, and express their creative voices. Situated on 600 acres in the mountains of north Georgia, Hambidge is a sanctuary of time and space that inspires artists working in a broad range of disciplines to create works of the highest caliber.

http://www.hambidge.org/program-overview.html

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For more grant offers check out these websites periodically: Mira’s List and Res Artis (can be sorted by deadlines or countries, however not all are free in this list, some are paid retreats). Read also our former posts: Get the Money! Apply! and 10 Important Steps when Applying for Grants. Don’t forget: one in three proposal is typically funded in average. Study the requirements carefully, ask for copies of grant proposals they have previously funded. Some samples can even be found on their websites or other resources available online. Write your proposal in a positive manner and language and proof-read it carefully. Explain how your project can benefit others.

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