Archive for February, 2008

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Approach Publishing With An Open Mind

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

Have you ever noticed that when someone asks you a question and they don’t like the answer, they will ask you the question again—sometimes rephrasing it?

“How much are you selling your car for?”
“$10,000.”
“What will you take for it?”
“$10,000.”
“What if I give you $5,000 down?”
“$10,000.”
“Is that a firm price?”
“Yes.”
“I’d sure like to have that car, but I can’t go the ten grand. Will you work with me?”
“Not likely.”
“Will you be lowering the price anytime soon?”

I relive this sort of scenario every week. People contact me and say, “I read in your book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, that publishers don’t allow simultaneous manuscript submissions. How many copies of my manuscript can I send out at one time?”

“One.”

Or they’ll say, “My editor says that I have some spacing errors in my manuscript. I see in your book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book that you agree with her—it is now one-space after the period, question mark, etc. Does this mean I have to go back through my entire manuscript and delete the extra space after every sentence?”

“Yes.”

We want to hear what we want to hear. But, in publishing, we need to hear what we need to hear in order to experience the success we desire. This is why I say, listen to experts with an open mind, embrace those things that resonate with you, but also be willing to consider the truths that don’t feel real comfortable at first. Examine them from all angles, check them out with other publishing professionals and be flexible enough to change where and when appropriate.

If you don’t have a copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and the companion Author’s Workbook, order yours now at http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

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Shift From Wannabe Writer to “I Am a Writer!”

Friday, February 8th, 2008

Q: What’s the opposite of a wannabe writer?
A: One who is experiencing burnout.

At one end of the spectrum we have someone who says he wants to write, but who can’t discipline himself to actually sit down and write. And then there are write-a-holics—those who can’t not write—who write at every opportunity—who seek reasons TO write instead of looking for excuses not to write.

Which writer are you?

If you want to write, but you can’t find the time, can’t make the time, won’t sacrifice anything to create the time, I suggest examining your motivation. You say that you want to write, so why don’t you? What is stopping you? I know the answer to this question; you just aren’t in tune with your true motivation.

In order to shift from wannabe writer to “I am a writer,” you must get in touch with why you want to write? Once you discover your motivation for wanting to write, you will either begin to honor it by writing or you will realize that it is superficial and you’ll walk away from your writing room.

To discover your true motivation, ask yourself:
• Why do I want to write?
• What emotion would I be feeding?
• What objective, value, result, benefit do I seek?
• What deep or surface need/desire would I be acknowledging?
• What is the purpose of the book or article I want to write?
• What principle would I be honoring by writing this book/article/story?
• What stops me from writing? (Make a list of obstacles.)
• What fear keeps me from writing? Fear of failure? Success? Ridicule? Lack of confidence as a writer? (fill in the blank)

Then there are those of you who (like me) are more likely to suffer burnout than writer’s block. You love to write and do it as often as possible. Some of you, like me, do it full-time. You can get so engrossed in a writing project that you forget to eat or pick up your kids from school. If you’re really on a roll, you might write all day and night like a college student cramming for an exam. And then you crash and burn. Here are some preventative measures that work for me:
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Eat right—you know, veggies, fruits, whole grains. Go easy on the chocolate, coffee and fast food.
• Exercise regularly.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
• Take regular breaks. Stretch for 5 minutes, jog around your house once an hour, vacuum a room, take a shower, brush the dog, grab a gulp of water and a piece of fresh fruit, call your mom/sister/husband/son…, go out and get the mail, chat over the back fence with a neighbor for 10 minutes.
• Expand your creative endeavors. I garden and do needlework, for example. You’ll be amazed at how much more creative you are as a writer when you explore other creative venues.
• Acknowledge your spirituality. Attend church, read inspirational books, meditate.
• Help others. Taking time away from writing in order to do good only serves to enhance your writing. Try it.
• Get out among people often enough that you don’t forget how to use your social graces. If your public attire resembles your working attire (fluffy robe and bunny slippers or holey sweats), you spend way too much time in your home office.

Writing is a pleasure to some and a necessity for others. Writing for publication can thrill some while intimidating others. The writing process can feed the soul or drive you crazy. Use these prompts and tips to help you find your level of comfort as a writer whether you are still trying to find your motivation or you are bordering on burnout.

For more information, resources and several books on writing and publishing visit Patricia Fry’s website at http://www.matilijapress.com

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The Power of Writing

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

Have you ever thought about the power in writing? Of course, we’ve all heard the famous quote penned by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 for his play, Richelieu, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” This quote indicates the power in words, but I’m talking about the power of writing.

For some, writing is therapeutic. For others, it’s empowering—“I’m somebody.” Others view a published book as a status symbol or a statement of their worth. Just watch the demeanor of your friends, fellow writers’ club members or that neighbor who has been a closet writer for the last 3 years. When an author gets his book published, he suddenly changes. He starts carrying a briefcase. She totes a larger purse. You know there are copies of their new books inside. Newly published authors are friendlier than they were when they were writing. They become masters at bringing the conversation around to the subject of their books. New authors walk taller. They seem more confident—as if they could slay the fiercest dragon and ride the wildest bull.

It is exhilarating to hold a book of your words in your hands after spending months or even years in writing posture. For anyone over 35, a published author is still a step above the rest. So, to join that perceived private club of authors is considered prestigious, indeed.

Many of you reading this blog either are authors or plan to become authors. I’d love to hear how you felt and reacted the first time you held your newly published book in your hands. I recall being ecstatic. It was back in 1978 when A.S. Barnes published my book, Hints For the Backyard Rider. When copies arrived in the mail, I started jumping around (well, I was younger then) and squealing. I relished the feel of the books in my hands. I loved breathing in the scent of the ink as it burst forth when we opened the box. I swelled with pride as I called everyone I knew to tell them that I was officially a published author. And then I broke out the Champaign.

And yes, I’m sure I walked a little taller. I felt as though I had arrived. Little did I know that my life would be dedicated to writing and publishing and that one day I would be the author of 27 published books. What would I advise hopeful and struggling authors who want to create a career as a writer and/or author?
• Don’t quit your day job just yet.
• Never stop studying and learning.
• Be willing to do what it takes.
• Practice Persistence and Patience.
• Properly prepare yourself for the journey.
• Learn to be flexible.
• Hang in there through the ups and downs because there will be plenty of both.

Yes, writing has power which can be experienced by the reader as well as the author. Just make sure that you handle that power responsibly. Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com

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Most New Authors Struggle

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

Just when you think you have the whole publishing thing all figured out, someone comes along and bursts your bubble. It’s not a pretty picture.

This morning, a struggling author came to me using the same words I’ve heard over and over again: “I have a book, but I can’t sell it. What is a poor, out-of-work author to do?”

This author’s first mistake was to think he could support himself through the sale of his wonderful book. Where do these ideas come from? Are “self-publishing” companies giving authors false hope? Unfortunately, it is all too common for new authors to blast their way through the publishing process, spending money to fulfill their publishing dream instead of spending time learning the ropes.

And this is why I am out there trying to head them off at the pass—trying to catch them through this blog, through the SPAWN Market Update (for members of Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org and at writers’ conferences, for example. I want to catch hopeful authors before they become struggling authors and explain to them how to navigate the hugely competitive publishing industry before they start making all of the most common mistakes.

I want to tell them to study the publishing industry enough so that they understand what’s going on and so that they know their options, the ramifications of their choices and their responsibilities as a published author. I want to show them how to write a business plan for their book so it will have a greater chance at success. But I can’t stop them all from making publishing blunders, so I invented the Post-Publication Book Proposal for those I miss.

If you are struggling to sell your book, order my FREE report on the Post-Publication Book Proposal NOW. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Follow the instructions in this report and you WILL experience a greater measure of success with your book project.

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Authors Must Get Noticed

Monday, February 4th, 2008

A blog-a-day taxes the mind, but it’s fun, at least so far. I checked my blog status report and folks certainly are visiting my blog. Let’s make it a habit. I’ll promise to keep bringing you news you can use and valuable writing/publishing information, if you’ll promise to keep visiting my blog site.

Are you getting Google Alerts, yet? If you want to check on your level of exposure, keep your finger on the pulse of the publishing industry or the industry represented by your book, sign up for Google Alerts. It’s FREE. Sign up and every morning you’ll find a message from Google Alerts in your email box telling you about the most recent posts using your choice of keywords. http://www.google.com/alerts

I’m pleased to report that my blog comes up in one of my Google Alerts practically every day because of my keywords, “Publishing” “Writing” “Book Promotion.” These are the words I use in my blog titles and in the text, so Google easily finds my blog and reports it in all of the Alerts using similar keywords.

Not only do I use Google Alerts to check on the exposure I’m getting, but I often visit other sites and blogs that come up on my Google Alerts and get acquainted with the hosts/bloggers. Last week, this practice resulted in two possible reviews for my book The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Every little mention helps. Not only does it help my sales, but, when people buy and study this book, it helps them to keep from making costly and heart-breaking mistakes.

I’m going to miss a day of blogging this week. I’m taking my mother on a short trip WITHOUT my computer. I’ll write a blog entry early tomorrow before leaving, but I’m going to allow myself a day off on Wednesday. I only hope that someone out there will notice when I don’t post a fresh blog on Wednesday. Otherwise, what’s the point of my diligence?

Good question. We all sometimes feel as though we’re performing in an empty auditorium—that we’re writing books that no one is reading and promoting to the deaf and blind. We do a lot of writing and promotion without much feedback, acknowledgement or even sales. It’s the nature of the game, I’d say. And it’s the nature of people.

When is the last time you said to a fellow author, “Good job. I enjoyed reading your book?” or “Thank you for sharing your knowledge?” Or “I loved your recent blog entry?” Why not take the time to acknowledge someone today? That’s my intention this week.

I just finished reading a novel written by a local author—her first. I plan to contact her and let her know how much I enjoyed it. Over the weekend, I contacted a few clients I haven’t heard from in a while and offered a sincere “atta-boy” and expressed a genuine interest in the path of their current projects. I also visited a couple of blogs and left comments of appreciation for the information and resources they were posting.

If you want your book to be noticed, put yourself out there more. If you want to keep current with your industry (topic/genre) sign up for Google Alerts. If you want to receive accolades, do more, give more, offer more—but don’t expect everyone to say those sweet words of thanks. Most of all, when you feel appreciation for someone, you admire something that someone has accomplished, you’re grateful for something you’ve learned, don’t keep it a secret. Thank the individual personally and tell others about it, too.

Patricia Fry is the author of 27 books, including The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and the companion Author’s Workbook. Purchase this combination of books, use them, refer to them often and you will be MUCH more likely to experience the publishing success you desire.
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

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Are You Writing a Bulldozer Book?

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

There are many reasons why a book doesn’t sell:
• The author doesn’t promote it.
• The cover isn’t appealing.
• The author isn’t well-known in this topic or genre.
• There’s no audience for a book on this topic.
• It’s a bulldozer book.

What is a bulldozer book? It’s one designed to change minds. The author’s intent is to push his or her opinions or beliefs onto the reader. He hopes to influence people to change a habit, make new choices, adjust an aspect of their lives.

Doesn’t this describe the self-help book? Well, not exactly. A self-help book generally offers information and instructions in a gentle, but authoritative way. The author of a successful self-help book researches his topic, his audience and the competition and writes a book that is needed.

The authors of bulldozer books see people getting fat on fast foods, they observe more sin than they can tolerate, they have a real adversity to smoking or they’re sick of hearing about cruelty to children, for example. This author has a beef with a segment of the population—a bone to pick. He’s on a mission. And so he writes a book designed to transform fast food junkies into vegetarians. He pens a book on how sinners can find God. He produces a stop-smoking book for the hardcore smoker. Or he writes a book on parenting for druggies.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make the world a better place or for trying to help someone take better care of him or herself or their families. Where these authors fail is in their approach and in identifying their target audiences.

Over the years, I’ve certainly gone on writing missions of my own. I wanted to help save children from abusive parents and animals from cruel situations. I wrote articles designed to teach parenting skills and proper, humane pet care. And I attempted to get them published in magazines that I thought would be read by my proposed audience—those people who needed to hear my message. The gatekeepers to those audiences, however—the editors—kept my articles from them. The truth is, the readers weren’t interested in learning better ways and they wouldn’t have read my words of wisdom, anyway.

Now herein lies the reason why bulldozer books fail. Members of the targeted audience aren’t interested in changing their ways. If they were, they would go in search of a general how-to or self-help book on the topic. They are not typically going to buy a book that is trying to force feed them your perspective—your truth.

Your book designed to shame the lazy, unfriendly homeowner into cleaning up his yard and be more helpful to his neighbors, is not going to be welcomed by this audience. Your book intended to change the hearts of animal abusers, will go unnoticed, at least by this segment of readers. However, this is not to say that you shouldn’t write that book.

• Write it for children—gently and appropriately showing them the way to be responsible or how to care for animals.
• Change the focus so that it will actually attract the audience you want to reach—you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
• Go ahead and write it and then promote it to an audience who cares.

This is another excellent reason why you should always write a book proposal before you write the book—to avoid inadvertently (or purposely) writing a bulldozer book.

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How to Build on Your Book/Article Ideas

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

Yesterday, I talked about ideas—where they come from—how to come up with fresh ideas for books, articles and stories. Today, I’d like to offer you some tips for parlaying those ideas—for expanding and expounding on them.

I speak often about “spin offs.” A spin off is a by-product or a follow-up to the original. Within the context of a book, it might be a sequel or any number of other writings related to the theme of your book.

The point of a spin off is to generate more sales. Not only will you have additional items to sell, but each book, pamphlet, guide, article or list that you produce is a marketing tool for the original book. Here are some ideas:
• Follow up your novel with a book or articles featuring bed and breakfast inns in the area where your story takes place.
• Create a mystery for readers to solve based on some of the characters in your original book.
• Enhance a book of poetry by producing a pocket calendar or greeting cards highlighting some of the lines from your poems.
• Write a companion book for you historical novel profiling real people from the period.
• Design a quaint book of quotes from the time period of your historical novel.
• Produce a sequel to your original story.
• Compile a pamphlet of additional resources related to the subject of your nonfiction book. For a medical, fitness, diet, health, finance or real estate book, for example, produce a booklet with updates in this field.

Use a good article idea by writing additional articles on aspects of that topic or theme. The following article topics developed from my piece featuring family togetherness:
• Camping activities for families.
• Family spiritual activities.
• Exercise activities for families.
• How the computer can bring the family together
• Collecting family history around the Thanksgiving table.
• Play together/Stay together.

I wrote an article once on how to teach your child responsibility and that one developed into articles on:
• Teaching your child the work ethic.
• Teaching children money awareness.
• Teaching children responsibility through pet ownership.
• Encouraging a child’s independence.
• How corporations are linking with schools to prepare kids for their future in the workplace.

You’ve seen authors take their original theme (a cat that solves murders, for example) and use it over and again in subsequent books. You can do the same thing. Maybe the main character of your story has a lisp that gets him in all sorts of verbal trouble. Let him shine in new stories. You might feature this character as a librarian, a newspaper hawker, a pizza delivery guy, a tour guide, etc. You can create many new book manuscripts and short stories using the same idea for a character.

In freelance writing, first there is the idea and then those ideas should be dissected to create new ideas.

Patricia Fry is offering a 6-week online article-writing course. Sign up at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm

Additional courses include: Book Promotion Workshop at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm Write a Successful Book Proposal at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm and Self-Publishing Workshop at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_selfpub.htm

I still do not have a way that we can communicate through comments, but I welcome your comments sent to my email address: plfry620@yahoo.com

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Something to Write About

Friday, February 1st, 2008

There are two problems that many writers have in common. Either we can’t think of anything to write about or we have too many things we want to write about. Which category do you fit into? Is your head and heart overflowing with article or story ideas? Or do you often find yourself staring into a blank computer screen or looking down at a blank note pad?

For those of you with lots of ideas oozing from your brain; count yourself lucky. And be sure to keep a pen and pad handy at all times so you can jot down the ideas as they appear. You might find one of those voice prompts useful—you know, those little key ring doodads that record you saying, “Buy milk and bread.” “Stop at the dry cleaners.” Use it to store your article and story ideas.

For the rest of you—those who want to write, but can’t think of a subject, topic or theme—stay tuned.

I write a blog entry every day—have been since December 18. That’s 44 NEW blog posts in 44 days. I’ve had to come up with 44 different topics and/or slants related to writing and publishing within the last 44 days. And I have to admit that there are some mornings when I stare at the computer screen at least for a minute or two. While I have an expansive idea file (which I recommend for any writer, by the way), there are times when I just can’t connect with any of the subjects there. I want to explore something different. Most mornings, however, I’m just bubbling over with ideas or eager to present one particular topic that has been nagging at me.

As you may know, I have written articles on the topic of topics—how to come up with article ideas. Check out some of my articles at: http://www.matilijapress.com/articles.htm

In the meantime, here are some ideas for coming up with article/story ideas:
• Write about what you know well—gardening, parenting, balancing a budget, planning a class reunion, growing up as a twin, etc. For a novel or short story, use a class-reunion as a backdrop or create a story around twins.
• Write about what you want to know. Do the research necessary and write about how to pack for a trip that includes stops in opposite weather zones. Find out more about ice skating for fitness and write an article on this topic. For a short story, consider a winter Olympics theme focusing on tragedy on the ice rink.
• Look everywhere for ideas. I’ve discovered article ideas while waiting in line at the grocery store, on the Little League field, at the post office. Look for ideas while on the freeway, at the local animal shelter or homeless shelter. I know one woman who saw a piece of newspaper cart wheeling across the planks on the pier toward an old fisherman and that prompted a short story idea.
• Listen for ideas. What are people talking about in the coffee shop, in the neighborhood, at the gym and at work? Pay attention to conversations—yours and those of others. You’re bound to hear something worth expanding into an article or story.
• Keep up with the news. The media and even some radio and TV shows provide nuggets of material that can be polished into great articles or stories. Take that germ of an idea and create a human interest story or a back-story for your novel or short piece.

I could go on and on and I will if anyone is interested—let me know. I can tell you, though, that it was my cat, Max, who prompted this blog post. He was standing on my keyboard, waiting for me to lay his blanky in my lap (he hates the texture of my robe). I attempted to look past him at the blank screen (since he was blocking the keyboard) wondering what today’s blog would contain, when it occurred to me how many other writers in many time zones were also staring at their screens in anticipation of that spark of an idea. Whoolah, my idea for blog number 45, February 1, 2008.

Whether it’s 6:30 a.m. where you are or 6:30 p.m., whether you are looking out at snow, rain or a sun ball in the sky, whether you are a full-time freelance writer, author or part-time hopeful writer/author, if you’re going to write something, you must, first, have an idea.

If you need help fleshing out your idea, establishing a freelance writing business, editing your manuscript, writing a book proposal, etc., contact me at plfry620@yahoo.com.

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