Peggy Bechko's Blog, page 41

Holiday Gifts For Writers

As I was doing my snow shoveling this morning in a meditative state it occurred to me it's not to late to think about holiday gifts for writer friends, relatives, and even yourself.  And don't forget the other occasions that crop up during the year.
It occurred to me as shovel shushed through snow and I heaved it to the side  that money could be short.  It certainly is for a lot of people these days.
So, what to do?
Well, I just received a wonderful compliment on Twitter where one of my...

Writers Websites Wednesday - QueryTracker

Here's a great site for the writer sending his or her material out to agents and publishers.  QueryTracker. It's free to join but your success statistics are collected. Still they have a lot of agents and publishers listed and provide tools to manage your query letters It's been one of Writer's Digest 101 best Websites for four years in a row now.  Check it out. 

Writing Vision

The word Vision can be interpreted by different people in different ways so lets not get hung up on the word.  What I'm talking about is your Writing Vision, i.e. a specific goal. What you, as a writer want to accomplish, to do, to have in your life or what you expect your writing to become.

If you were a Doctor you might specialize in heart or lungs or brain.  If you were an Attorney you might focus on domestic law or educational law or litigation.

But you're not, you're a writer so you have...

Writers Websites Wednesday - Adventures in YA Publishing

Stumbled across a resource for those out there who are interested in Young Adult and Children's Publishing: Adventures in YA and Children's Publishing.  Produced by a couple of aspiring writers it offers helpful articles as they pursue publication, guest writers, links to contests and workshops and more.  A nifty little resource.

The Hunt For Writers' Guidelines

You're busy writing your heart out, but you know deep down that sooner or later you're going to have to actually find a place to which you'll submit your writing. You may have bounced into a website or two, looked for guidelines and found nothing. Well I'm going to give you a few tips to help you find that information and do a professional submission that might actually get your work sold.  With my writing time so tight I sure do hate to waste it - bet you do to.
Fist of all here are some...

Writers Websites Wednesday - Writer's resources

You might want to visit Para Publishing this week.  The site offers many resources for writers in many areas: fiction, non-fiction, promotion, publishing and more.  While you're there you might try out his free newsletter.  It was recommended by a publishing friend of mine and I've been happy to get it.  Since it is pretty broad-ranging you  might not find something every week for you, but there are enough kernels of information there each week to keep me skimming along in search of the next...

Writer Beware - Agent Scams

We writers are generally a trusting lot.  We want to believe the 'agents' out there are going to represent us, get a sale and we'll both profit. 
And, most of the time there's validity to that hope/belief.  Most agents are legit, trying to make a living, and get downright excited on  many levels when their clients succeed.
But, there are the bad apples in the lot, as there are in any industry, and it's a good idea to know what red flags to watch for. 
Here are a few I've experienced...

Introverted Writers Unite!

Seriously, writers, have you thought of how lucky us introverted types are to be writing in this age of the net?  There was the day when publishers very much preferred the author who as an extrovert.  One who got out there, hit the road, promoted his or her work with book signings, school visits, talks and more.  Writers who would get their faces out there and make of themselves, celebrities.  After all, it doesn't take a whole lot of work to promote when the writer already has a following...

Writers Websites Wednesday - GoodReads

Reader? Writer?  Have you stumbled on Good Reads yet?  Its an excellent site for both writers and readers. Readers can find great new books to read, folks to recommend them, groups to discuss them and giveaways to get free books and sometimes special deals. 
Writers get a great opportunity to connect with readers, to chat with them, to get their newest book into their hands and perhaps reviewed. A great community -take a bit of time to check it out.  
In fact, just for reading this far, I'll...

Marketing Your Novel - Tips & Insights

Come on, you know you're going to have to do it.  You're going to have to bite the bullet and put some time and, yes, money into the marketing of your novel whether you've self-published or published with a House.

When I mention money it's because in all probability you'll be putting in at least some real time appearances and will find yourself in the position of being asked for take-aways either from folks at a signing or personal appearance or from folks who put together 'goody bags' for...