I’m back

Just wanted my loyal cheering section to know I’m back up and running and should have more blogs ready in the next week.  The heart attack in November slowed me down, but I’m back.

Where’s your cheering section?

Every writer/author needs supporters. You may not feel that your wife/mother/ or husband is a logical, unbiased supporter but you need them. Granted you need the helpful critique, but sometimes, especially on a bad day, you need the folks who support your efforts no matter how poor your writing seems to be at the time. When the sixty-fourth rejection comes in on your favorite piece of writing, you need someone who believes in you. So locate that cheering section and keep them on hand for the really bad days.

Don’t be your worst enemy

A good friend of mine was shredded and left to bleed by another writer recently. As we dicussed the shredding, I explained that her way was just as good as the other writer’s way of expressing the article’s point.

Frequently when called upon to critique a fellow writer, we feel compelled to make our point or hammer home our way of doing things when the other way will work just fine.

I’ve been shredded by other writers. I know how it feels. A little compassion goes miles.
So the next time you read a piece of writing; why not remember what that shoe feels like and try a little tenderness.

THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE…OR MONEY

I haven’t been posting for about three weeks, sorry about that. Money got in the way.
To explain:
Some years ago, I published a local history book. The regular venues weren’t a possibility for sales, so I invented some new ways to sell the 1,000 books–I offered to conduct field trips for second grade classes who study local history. No, I am not insane but I have spent the last three weeks leading between 28 and 60 bright eyed 7 year-olds through old cabins and the local cemetery. It sells books. I don’t charge for the trip but ask the teachers that if any child wants my book to let me know and I’ll autograph it for them. By latest count I’ve led nearly 300 folks. (The trip is a favorite with the parents, too.) I guess you call it creative marketing. I love it but I’m tired and I’m not through yet.

It’s not just you

Continuing with last weeks thought about bad guys remember agents and editors aren’t the only ones with problems. More than a couple of publishers live on the dark side. In this Vaderesk world, if an offer is too good to be true; it probably is. Publishers who gush over your work are usually gushing because they see the money they are going to charge you. If you’re unfamiliar with the publishing house have your local library order a couple of the books so you can look at them.
1. What’s the cover like? Does it look like your four-year-old nephew drew it? Not a good sign.
2. Look at the inside pages. Does it look like a big house printed it? What is your book going to look like?
3. Are there typos, grammatical and spelling errors? What makes you think your book will be different?
If unsure, give the National Writers Association a call. We can help before you invest your book, your time, and your well-being in the wrong place.

Be aware of the Bad Guys

Sometimes we writers are so gullible. I’m not pointing fingers, I’ve made these mistakes, but it hurts when I see other’s make them too. I stumbled across this one again this week. Other than editing and critiques (from a published writer) services for writers should not cost money. A reputable agent may request postage and copying money but they don’t ask for major bucks to critique your work or represent you. If you stumble upon an agent who’s offering to critique your work for a fee, RUN very fast in the other direction. Agents make their money selling your work.

Format, format, format

It seems like such a simple thing but once again I’ve slapped in the face  by folks who seem to think their work is so excellent that format doesn’t matter.  Each type of writing–poetry, novel, screenplay, or nonfiction has a specific presentation format.  It isn’t “rocket surgery.”  If you want someone to look at your work–learn it, use it.  I’ll send you a research report for free.  Just ask in the comments section.

The tortoise beats the hare every time.

I’m ten pages from finishing my fourth novel.  This one is the novel of my heart and has taken about five years of working in-between other projects to finish.  But it’s almost there.  I persisted and made it.  So can you!  Between all sorts of distractions if you keep at it you finish.  Stay tuned for next week to see if I make it.  The story never changes.  The tortoise always wins.

Who will buy what you write?

You may want to write your heart but if you want to be published, you’ll need to write something someone wants to print.
Check possible markets before you begin your piece and if you focus the piece you’ll have an easier time selling it.

Queries are sales tools

It bears repeating.  Again, and again.  Queries are your first contact with a publisher, editor, or agent.  Your query is your way of selling your book or article.  So get that person interested in the first sentence.  Much like Avon or Mary Kay there are hundreds of other products on the market, so make yours attractive from the first sentence.  Hook your reader and keep them hooked.

This week I had an agent return a rejected manuscript to me with the comment that the author had said early in the book something like “you probably won’t like this so get a refund for your purchase.”  Well that’s not exactly a selling point.