Writing and Publishing News

I spent a good portion of the morning responding to interview questions. Jennifer Minar over at Writer’s Break sent me a bunch of questions about my new book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book” and about my writing life and philosophy. It was enjoyable. I especially had fun reliving my experience last year when reorganized my office while on crutches with a broken foot.

I was going crazy after two months on crutches. I was especially feeling an uncomfortable lack of control–as though I was no longer in control of anything because I couldn’t do anything. About that time, a massive, HUGE five-drawer side-filing cabinet came into my life. I had a willing painter and willing movers, so I hobbled to Ace and picked out the brightest, warmest burnt orange color I could find. This is the sort of thing you do when your life seems a bit dull. Well, I certainly took control and gave my life some color.

Once the big “guy” was painted and in my office, I went to work. I emptied the five smaller filing cabinets I’d been using, went through all of the file folders, tossed a LOT of stuff (in the recycle bin, of course) and reorganized mountains of material ito the new filing cabinet. How did I do this with a broken foot? I scooted around the office in my office chair–sometimes sitting and sometimes on one knee like we used to do when riding a scooter or a wagon. I also rearranged all of the cabinets, shelves, desks, I could reach. Boy did I feel in control, then. I was a happy camper.

I find interviews–even when I’m the interviewee–enlightening. I interview writers from time to time and they almost always say to me, “I’m so glad you asked these questions because they made me think about things I haven’t thought about before.” Sometimes our answers surprise us and often they help us to reevaluate our goals.

Jennifer asked me , “Why do you write?” or “What motivates you to write.” I ask this question in my book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.” It’s a question for the reader to think about. Not only is it important to know what motivates, drives, inspires you to write, it is essential that you understand your underlying reasons for wanting to write/publish a book, for example, or seek writing work.

Why? Because if it is for the wrong reasons, you will fail. What are potentially wrong reasons? Fame and fortune may not be realistic reasons for writing/publishing. An author who writes just to change minds might also fail.

Do you know why you write? I write in order to earn a living and I chose writing as that method because it is my passion. It’s just a good thing that my tastes are modest and my lifestyle expectations resonable or I would not have succeeded in this profession for so many years.

If you have a book to promote, I would recommend that you seek opportunities to be interviewed. It’s fun, it’s thought-provoking and it affords you a measure of publicity/exposure. How do you discover such opportunities? Of course, I seek them at writing/publishing-related Web sites. If you have a book on parenting, visit parenting, family, children’s and general book-related Web sites. Some of them will conduct and post interviews. Maybe you have a novel. Check out general writing and fiction Web sites. Also visit those related to reading.

Of course, you can get gigs on radio and TV. And some magazine editors interview authors. I give resources for finding appropriate magazines as well as radio and TV interview opportunities my new book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.”

http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Visit Writers Break at http://www.writersbreak.com

December is supposed to be the busiest month of the year. But it can be the slowest for working writers. Sure, I can keep busy buying gifts, decorating my home, baking goodies and planning our holiday meals. I can also keep busy in my office as long as it doesn’t involve input from anyone in the outside world. Everyone else is busy buying gifts, decorating their homes, baking goodies and planning their holiday meals.

Clients say, “Let’s knock off for a few weeks.” Editors are “out of the office” throughout the holidays. Publishers don’t respond during the month of December. What’s a working freelance writer to do? Anything we want to do!

I’ll probably spend the month working on my book of cat stories because I’m having fun with it. Yesterday, I organized the stories in a logical order and worked on story titles. Some of the stories are written, some are just outlined and I’m still waiting for a couple of good stories. I want a story about a cat burglar and a really touching or humorous story about a shop cat.

This month, I’ll also work on new article ideas and submit recycled articles both for money-making purposes and to promote my upcoming book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I hope that before the month is over, I’ll be busy shipping copies of the new book all over the U.S. to eager readers. The orders are coming in at a steady pace. Of course, I’ll be promoting The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book almost every day.

December is also a good time to take inventory of ones writing business and, perhaps, reevaluate goals. I like to figure out what aspect of my business was most lucrative during the year and adjust my goals in that direction for the coming year. For example, I worked with a lot of clients this year. So I’ll probably promote my editorial business a lot in 2006. I will also be seeking (and making) opportunities to do workshops and lectures in order to promote my writing/publishing-related books. Monday, I learned about a writers’ conference in Oklahoma that sounds worth applying for. I’m waiting to receive an invitation.

It’s also a good month to check the job listings in the wide variety of writing/publishing-related newsletters produced now and writing/publishing Web sites. Locate new magazines to write for. Go in search of new publishers you may want to approach with your upcoming book project. Create a promotional brochure for your next book festival or to mail out after the first of the year. Apply for writing work at local businesses. Visit Web sites and offer to edit those that are poorly written. Likewise, you can collect business brochures and offer to rewrite those that aren’t well structured. Build or redesign your Web site.

There’s a lot of work out there and sometimes we have to get in assertive mode to locate it.

Oh, I was published this week in Writer’s Weekly—the newsletter that boasts the largest circulation of any other writing-related newsletter. That’s Angela Hoy’s newsletter. She published my new article called, Stop Writing and Start Establishing Your Promotional Credibility. The article was posted just yesterday and already I’ve received comments, inquiries and even a few book sales. You can read the article at http://www.writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/003114_11302005.html/

That’s it for today. I’m going to finish my Christmas shopping later today and need to get something done so I can leave feeling a nice sense of accomplishment.

http://www.matilijapress.com/