Writer to Writer April 2009

Writer to Writer - April 2009
*Issue Two

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EDITORIAL:

Yeah, yeah, I know. Late again...

It's becoming a habit, but with the last issue being so late, I didn't want to crowd you.

I'm trying to be more diligent with the blog postings, and have added a new post today.

This post has been written by Tracy Falbe, who is an experienced fiction and non-fiction writer. To read Tracy's very informative post on freelance writing, go here.

Tracy wrote another guest post on a similar subject a few weeks ago, so if you haven't read that one, you might like to check it out too. You can read it here.

I am very aware that many of my more recent editorials have discussed copywriting. I want to assure you this is for a reason, and that reason is you!

Most of the emails I receive from subscribers centre around the failing economy and the lack of writing income. Copywriting is a very quick and relatively easy way to make an income from your writing, but even better is the fact you are paid much more quickly than any other forms of writing.

I generally charge 50% up front, and the balance on completion. That means I'm not waiting for weeks or even months to be paid. I have one client who prefers to pay the full amount in advance, so I don't wait for that money at all.

Works for me.

Do take the time to look around CopyWriter2Writer and read some of the articles. It could make all the difference.

Okay, time to move onto the current issue!

This issue is a little longer because there are articles from both our regular columnists this time. This is solely because of the computer issues I had last time around. Next month *should* be back to normal.

Cheryl Malandrinos' article this month Are You a Busy Bee? – Turning Busy Time into Productive Time is all about being busy vs. being productive. She provides us with some simple but effective time management tips.

Judy Bagshaw has written an article that will prove invaluable to many writers. The word count of your work determines the 'label' the story will carry. It's not easy to find the information, and therefore confusion abounds. This article will remove all the confusion.

Okay, that's it from me - time to sit back and enjoy this issue.

Til next time…

Cheryl

p.s. A new giveaway has just opened. There is a wide variety of gifts available; many I've not seen before. Go here to join. If you're anything like me and are constantly resizing images, make sure you grab the 'Easy Graphics Resizer' - it's one of the best I've used.

p.p.s. There is nothing to pay at this site unless you 'upgrade' which is totally unnecessary unless you own an online business and want to make some mon.ey. Many of those supplying gifts will make OTO's (one time offers) but you are not obligated or compelled to take them. You can grab the free.bies and run!

p.p.s.s. If you are interested in on.line marketing (that is, you want to learn how to earn an on.line in.come other than writing), then join me on my marketing website. Sign up for the newsletter because it is very relevant to IM. We're currently upgrading the site and writing some materials to help marketers earn in.come, so this is a great time to join.

Current and Past Issues:

You can also read this issue online here:

http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_2_April_2009.htm

If you missed the last issue, you'll find it here:

http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_April_2009.htm

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Read more here!

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Are You a Busy Bee? – Turning Busy Time into Productive Time

© Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

You know the busy bee. No matter what day you ask, she’s busy. If you ask how she’s doing, she’ll provide you a laundry list of things left undone that she’s working on.

Problem is, next week her laundry list will probably be the same…or worse.

Why? Because she’s busy, not productive.

Just because we have a lot to accomplish, doesn’t mean we are approaching our to-do list in a productive manner. In order to be productive, you have to make progress. Busy bees don’t. They spin their wheels, digging deeply into the same ruts until they feel so overwhelmed they procrastinate.

How can you stop the busy bee syndrome? Here are some great ways to get you started.

Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals is the first step toward turning busy time into productive time. S.M.A.R.T. goals are ones that are: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. For more information on setting S.M.A.R.T. goals you can read this article.

The reason goal setting is so important to productivity is that we need to focus on what we need to accomplish. Without a plan, you’re like a driver trying to maneuver a car without a steering wheel; you have no control over where the car is going and sooner or later you’re going to crash.

Prioritize Your Goals

Just like you wouldn’t put slacks on before your underwear, you shouldn’t try to attack your goals without prioritizing them first.

Review your goals and consider which ones you need to work on first. Some goals can be prioritized by deadline, but sometimes you have to consider if this is a new or repeat client and what the future impact might be on your career when setting your priorities.

Read the entire article here

Tired of Earning Peanuts from Your Writing?
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Whether you are a novice or experienced writer, Cheryl Wright will teach you how to boost (or start!) your income writing for magazines. Click here now to learn more.

Do You Own a Writing or Internet Marketing Related Website?

If so, please consider promoting my products. For more information, go here. Pays 50% commission on all products, as well as competitions and bonuses etc. There is an affiliate centre to grab your personalized promotional materials (banners, articles, text ads etc - not just links.) Apply now!

Subscriber News:

None this issue.

**If you have any news, please send it along.

Click here to email Cheryl

The Long and the Short of Romance Writing

© Judy Bagshaw - All Rights Reserved.

Short story, novella, novel, epic…flash fiction, short short, novelette…it can be quite confusing trying to figure out where your romance fits in the grand scheme of things. It all depends on the word count of your work. But how does one determine the word count of a document? And why is it so important to know?

To be blunt, the answer to the last question is, it really isn’t. It is important to know what length the publisher to whom you are submitting wants the work, but it only needs to be a close estimate. It’s more important for you as a writer to expend your efforts on writing the best romantic tale you can, however long it turns out to be.

There are a number of ways to determine word count. Most word processing programs have the capacity to do this for you. In MS Word, you will find it under Tools. However, not all word processors agree on what constitutes a word, and not all editors will accept the word processor’s calculation.

You can count the words—not every one, though. You count the characters in an average line, divide by six, then count the number of lines on an average page, and multiply these two numbers together. Multiply this number by the number of full pages, then round it up to the nearest hundred.

An easier method is based on using Courier-type font, 12 point, double spaced with one inch margins all around the page. You calculate that there are 250 words per page, and multiply the 250 by total number of pages, estimating for partial pages. This will give you your approximate word count.

To give a picture of what this means:

200 pages= 50,000 words

240 pages=60,000 words

280 pages = 70,000 words

…and so on…

Because required word counts can vary from publisher to publisher, it’s important that you check the posted writer’s guidelines carefully before you submit to any publisher. Some might even provide their own required “formula” for determining word count. This has happened to me in the past. Read what they want and follow the guidelines to the letter.

Read the entire article here

How Do I?

No questions this month.

If you have a writing-related question, send it here.

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