|
Writer to Writer - Issue 2 - November 2007 Brought to you by www.writer2writer.com
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
EDITORIAL:
This has been a great promotional lesson for me. I've learned more about 'giveaway' promotions via this site than any of the giveaways I've participated in before. Most of the previous giveaways have been a total washout. I was lucky to get even a handful of people sign up. But I've learned a lot about targeted audiences since then. (Yes, I know, I'm always rabbiting on about it!) This time around I've learned that most of the marketers involved simply flood their subscribers with emails and offers than I could ever have imagined, and also that quality (good and bad) can be seen a mile away. I've also found that many of the marketers have offered a cookbook, which of course is the purpose of the giveaway, but the products they offer after that are not even remotely related. This of course goes back to the targeted market. Because my site is a Christmas-related site, my Christmas Cookbook gift is very targeted. For those new to the list (welcome!) I own a Christmas website. (http://www.bestchristmasrecipes.com) I've earned a lot of subscribers already, and hopefully will keep them for a long time. But if I was offering a recipe book and sending people off to Writer2Writer, I'd be wasting my time. I'm sure the large majority of people participating are not interested in learning to write. The Great Cookbook Giveaway is easy to join, and you'll end up with as little or few electronic cookbooks as you want. But more importantly, you'll learn heaps about self-promotion. Here's the link to go and see what I'm talking about, and to join up if you're interested:
http://www.greatcoo
You might be aware that I've been doing quite a bit of copywriting lately. Last week I had a request from a client I've worked with once before, to do some rewrites on his website. This project will take around ten hours, and will yield around the same money I was earning in a week at a day job. (Now can you see why I am recommending copywriting as a lucrative money spinner?) As I mentioned a few issues back, he has several other projects he wants me to do down the track as well. I've also been asked by a new client to 1) write a series of SEO (search engine optimised) articles for them; 2) write and compile their soon-to-be-created monthly newsletter. Both these tasks will be quite lucrative, and the latter will bring regular income. You've got to love copywriting! (I sure do!) Last week my latest ebook was added to Resources4Writers.com This is one of many I have planned for the future - all with the sole purpose of assisting writers to earn a good income with their writing skills. This ebook is called The Low Down on Niches, and provides solid information on how writers can earn an excellent passive (or residual) income by writing for popular niches. I've made an exceptional residual income using this method - and have literally earned thousands upon thousands of dollars per year from this source alone. And I know of many other writers who have done the same thing. I highly recommend all suitably skilled writers look into this area of writing, because frankly, most of what is available in this area now is total garbage. In my opinion, anyone who can write well and can follow directions, will make a killing writing for niches.
The book is scheduled for general
release with the next issue, which is December 7.
If you'd like to get the book at no cost whatsoever, join
Resources4Writers.com now.
The price of
The Low Down on Niches
will be no less than US$12-95, which is a little more than a quarter
of the current subscriber price. (The price of the
Resources4Writers.com site will be going up very soon.) Okay, let's get onto this week's issue: Beth Morrow has written a very thought provoking article about mission statements for writers. This is something I've never given even a moment's thought to, but certainly will in the future. Judy Bagshaw has written a very informative article about press kits. When I was starting out, this was something I just couldn't get my head around. Even if you don't write romance, please read this article. It is just as relevant to non-romance writers as it is to those who write romance. Okay, time to sit back and enjoy this issue! Til next time…
Cheryl p.s. Check out my new magazine writing mini-ecourse - it's fr^ee! p.p.s. This newsletter can also be read online by going to: http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_2_November_2007.htm If you missed the last issue, you'll find it here: |
||||||||
|
To avoid non-delivery of your newsletter, please whitelist cheryl@writer2writer.com - otherwise your spa^m filters may reject any correspondence sent. |
||||||||
|
Quote of the Month:
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
by Beth Morrow Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved
Ready for a quick writer’s quiz? In one or two sentences, answer these three questions about the last piece of writing you completed (or started with the intention to complete, even if you didn’t quite get finished): Who was the intended
audience/reader of your piece? What was the single most
important point of your piece? If the reader thought about your piece one week after reading it, what do you think their dominant impression/recollection would be? Difficult, isn’t it? Having a creative mind is positive in many ways: mental flexibility, the ability to think outside the box, creative types are often more optimistic and willing to take on challenges and the level of attention to detail and observation in the creative mind is far more finely tuned than the average person. On the other hand, at times, the sense of limitless possibilities throws writers for a loop when we face the issue of narrowing ourselves, our ideas and our writing—even when it’s a necessary evil. Spending a little time, then, at the beginning of each new project to create a writer’s purpose, or mission statement, for the project you’re about to embark upon is one way to help stay motivated by focusing your imaginative mind on the initial goal you set out to accomplish. New problems and promising project ideas that seem to inevitably pop up when we’re deeply entrenched in one piece of work divert our attention and sometimes subconsciously sabotage our best efforts to remain focused on the work at hand—a curse of the creative mind. Creating a mission statement for each project can help regain—and retain—that spark of excitement that will drive us to completion of our work.
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Copyright Judy Bagshaw - All Rights Reserved
Once you have your romance novel written, you want people to buy it and read it. And in order to accomplish this, you need to get the word out that it’s available. This is where a well crafted press kit can come in handy. Basically with your press kit, you’re providing an overly inundated media with all the information they need to write a story about you, making their job easier. And you’ll want your press kit to be as professional as possible, standing out from the rest. Building your press kit doesn’t have to be intimidating. There are some essentials that the media expect, and once you have a handle on those, it’s easy. The press release is probably the most important element of your press kit. This is the piece that you will use to grab the media’s attention, and hopefully persuade them to do a story about you and your novel. There is an accepted formula for writing these, as follows: Begin with the phrase "For
Immediate Release". Underneath this write the catchy "hook" that
will explain what you are promoting eg.,
LOCAL AUTHOR TAKES A LARGE LOOK AT LOVE Beside the above,
put your contact information; name, phone number, email address Beneath your hook,
draft your headline, something that captures your book in one
sentence. Eg.,A.Z.Author has crafted a new twist on the
traditional romance, creating a sizzling story featuring a
full-figured heroine. Make sure the headline answers the
question "why should anyone care?" Write one or two
paragraphs to back this up. Answer the who? what? when? where? why?
questions including biographical information, and essential
information about your product (publisher, prices, availability) Here’s the hardest
part. Keep it brief…to one page is best. A press release must be
concise, snappy, and interesting. The biography is the section where you can be open about your accomplishments, abilities, talents and knowledge. Here you can tell how you came to where you are today. What are your credentials? What is it you are promoting at the moment? What is it that makes you special as a romance writer? For me it is the fact that I write romances that feature full-figured heroines. This is a hook that can be used to promote my books. Make sure your biography includes this kind of information. Write the biography in the third person. You’ll find it makes it easier to sing your own praises. As with the press release, however, keep it clear and concise. This is not the time to ramble.
|
||||||||
|
Resources4Writers.com - grab your discounted membership. *Save US$20 just for being a Writer to Writer subscriber! Note: the price is set to go up VERY soon. I've partnered with Mary Anne Hahn of WriteSuccess, and we plan to offer a number of our own e-courses and e-books free to members that we will be selling outright to non-members, and will possibly offer some members-only exclusives. My first report for members has already been added at no extra charge. I will be releasing it - for sale - to non-members in a couple of weeks, but for now it's exclusive to the site. *Don't let the name fool you, there's nearly 30 pages of information in my report! To secure
your place at the current discounted rate, click here now. |
||||||||
|
Subscriber News: No news this week. **If you have any news, please send it along.
|
||||||||
|
Contests: This month I've come across two contests that are specifically for Australian writers. Check out the links below for more details.
The Kathleen Mitchell Award 2008: http://www.trust.com.au/assets/contentFiles/KMitchellAward_2008Form_Nov07_A4.pdf
Fellowship of Australian Writers:
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Call for Inspiring True Stories
This is a paying market:
The bestselling A Cup of Comfort book series is now seeking submissions for these six new anthologies. Stories must be true, original, positive, narrative essays (creative nonfiction), and 1,000-2,000 words. Entrants pay no fees. Writers' guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm.
A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors <<with Redbook Magazine>>
It has been said that “stories are medicine” and that “one of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to share our stories.” This collection will include inspiring and uplifting personal essays about the experiences and emotions of living with—and living after—breast cancer. Possible story themes include but are not limited to: diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, support systems, healthy lifestyle practices, emotional healing, coping mechanisms, impact on loved ones, effect on friendships, effect on career/work, effect on romance/intimacy, life lessons learned, personal transformation, silver linings, gratitude, triumph over trials, body image, and more. All themes and writing styles considered, as long as the story is positive. Submission deadline: December 31, 2007 <<sooner is better>>
**Exclusively for the Breast Cancer Survivor volume, the Cup of Comfort publisher, Adams Media, is working in partnership with Redbook Magazine and will award a $5,000 grand prize, $5,000 donation to the Susan G. Fomen Breast Cancer Foundation in the grand prize winner’s name, and a bonus prize to each of three runner-up stories. An announcement about the Redbook/Cup of Comfort contest appears in the October 2007 issue of Redbook.**
A Cup of Comfort for Military Families
It has been said that military life is “not for the faint of heart.” But neither is it without its benefits and blessings. One thing is certain: it is an experience like no other—for both the soldiers and their families. For this book, we want positive stories about how military life affects the personal lives of service men and women (enlisted and officers), how family affects soldiers’ on the job, and how military life affects family members (primarily spouses, children, and parents but also siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts/uncles, fiancés, etc.). Any situation or subject that is significant and/or unique to military personnel and their loved ones is acceptable. Our goal is to compile a collection of inspiring or uplifting stories that cover a wide range of topics and reveal a variety of perspectives, experiences, and emotions specific to military families. Stories may be written by the service man or woman or a close family member; military service may be current, recent, or past. Submission deadline: March 1, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
Few experiences bring forth as many anxieties, blessings, challenges, wonders, and changes as having a baby—whether it’s your first child or fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing is as miraculous as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn homecoming stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various experiences, emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to one’s life and family. Potential topics include but are not limited to: nursing (or not), caring for a newborn, bonding/falling in love with infant, lack of sleep, relationship with spouse, how siblings respond, returning to work, balancing responsibilities, post-partum depression, self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons, small miracles, etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children, but the book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise, most of the stories will be written from the new mother’s perspective, but we are open to including a few stories written from the spouse’s or a very close family member’s perspective. All stories will be uplifting and positive, no matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the story might be. We do not want stories that simply recount misfortunes and sorrows and that do not clearly reveal a positive outcome or redeeming result (silver lining). Submission deadline: April 1, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families
The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences that are unique to “chosen children” and their families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adoptive children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will also likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin), close friends of the adoptive family (i.e. godparent), and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable—as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive parents or birth families that regret the adoption; there is a place for stories of that ilk, but this book is not that place. All of the stories in this collection must show a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort or joy or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them—no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be. Submission deadline: June 15, 2008 $500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of book
Copyright 2007, Adams Media Corporation, an F+W Publications Company
|
||||||||
|
How Do I? No questions this month. If you have a writing-related question,
send it here. |
||||||||
|
FEEDBACK: If you have any feedback about this newsletter; comments, criticisms, (praise!) sections you'd like to see added, tell me Submissions: We are a paying market. Full guidelines are available here, along with current needs. *Note: We are again open for submissions. Disclaimer: Inclusion of a market, contest, anthology or similar is not necessarily an endorsement. It is strongly suggested that you do your own legwork in checking out any markets etc you decide to approach. If you feel wary or uncomfortable, there's probably a reason! Advertising: Guidelines for advertising, and ad rates can be found here Legal stuff: This ezine is commercial in nature, and by subscribing you consent to receiving the advertisements contained herein, and any additional 'solo' advertisements that may be forwarded to you. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed - it is never sent unsolicited. My privacy statement: I will never, ever, (even under torture, threat of eating seafood or having my chocolate supply revoked) give-away, sell or divulge your details. All portions of this newsletter are copyrighted, but should you wish to reproduce any article/s, please contact the appropriate author/s for details. Subscribe & Unsubscribe: Please feel free to forward "Writer to Writer" to your friends, associates, even enemies, provided it is forwarded intact. If you have received this email because someone has forwarded it to you, and you would like to receive your own copy each month, go to http://www.writer2writer.com to painlessly subscribe. (And grab your free gifts) To change your email address, you will need to unsubscribe, then re-subscribe with the correct details. |
||||||||
|
