Writing and Publishing News

Yes, times are tough financially. We’re all experiencing job layoffs, work slowdowns, loss of customers/clients, losses in our investments and so forth. There’s no pretty picture painted in our wallets or on our bank statements. But is this any reason to set your dream aside—to skimp on your amazing book project?

I am concerned about some of my clients who seem to be bypassing important steps in order to save some money. While some are deciding not to pay to have their books edited, others are scrapping their projects altogether. It’s sad.

It has occurred to me, lately, that maybe there is something we, as citizens, can do to help ourselves, each other and the economy. Rather than holding off getting that book edited, going to the printer with it or even having your bathroom upgraded, getting that paint job on your house, having the fence built around your property or having your sofa reupholstered, do it now! Hire someone to do a small job and encourage him to hire someone to do something for him. Talk to your neighbors and family members about hiring that gardener or that dog groomer. I’m not talking so much about going down to Starbucks and paying for a cup of coffee or buying a new dining room table from a name brand store.

I’m suggesting that we help one another out at the grassroots level by hiring entrepreneurs who are running one-wo/man businesses, mom and pop stores, home-based businesses, etc. Help out that tree trimmer who has done good work for you before, the contractor who replaced your roof, the laborer who dug your leach line, the petsitter who helped you out last summer and don’t forget the editor you love.

And think of how much better you will feel after having received a service or product while also helping a fellow wo/man. You’ll really enjoy your home more when your bathroom walls are covered with fresh paint or when you drive up and see flowers instead of weeds. Think how happy you’ll be when you find a publisher for your book because it is actually ready for publication.

Maybe you’re already hiring independent workers to handle various projects for you. If you are, I’d like to know how it’s going. If not, try it and see how good you’ll feel.

If you’ve been putting off signing up for one of my courses because the economy has you frightened, let’s talk about a possible discount. Maybe there’s an aspect of the course you don’t need and I can omit it and drop my fee. Talk to me: PLFry620@yahoo.com But what I don’t want you to do is put off getting the education you need or want in order to write a successful book proposal, sell more books, start a serious freelance writing business or self-publish your book. Check out my array of courses at: http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

Do you engage in bartering? Perhaps you trade your abundance of home-grown squash for your neighbor’s profusion of tomatoes. Or maybe you watch your cousin’s kids in exchange for a haircut or home-cooked meal. I know someone who bartered with a photographer for some family photos in trade for tickets to a theme park. Last year, I traded editing work for a week at a beach house.

There are numerous bartering opportunities out there for authors, if you are willing to seek them out or create them.

Before Publication
What do you have that you could trade for editing, typing or printing services, for example? Maybe you could barter for business cards, brochures and other promo material. How about offering something in trade for a website or lessons in web design so you can create your own?

After Publication
Offer something to friends throughout the country in exchange for promoting your book in their cities, college communities, on their website, to their newsletter list, etc.

Get FREE Publicity
Write articles for key publications for free.
Be guest blogger for related blog sites.
Speak without charging, for the opportunity to sell books.

What is Your Bartering Power?
This question is what stops most people from engaging in the bartering system. They wonder, “What do I have of value to trade?” Think about this long and hard. Do you have automotive skills? Can you teach beginning quilting, skiing, dog grooming, gourmet cooking, hip hop dancing, violin or fencing?

Do you raise puppies, do sewing alterations, do catering or have a lovely home with a view? Do you have a knack for planting and growing a garden? Could you become a personal trainer for someone who wants motivation to move? Are you a super typist, proofreader or graphic artist? Do you own a restaurant, dress shop or petting zoo?

Maybe you know someone who can get you cheap airline or Broadway show tickets, who would give you a discount on a parachute jump or who operates a whale watch boat.

Times are difficult and don’t seem to be letting up. Don’t give up on your excellent, timely book due to the economy. If you can’t afford the necessities such as editing and a promotional campaign, consider bartering.

Share your bartering stories here. Just leave a comment at this blog site or contact me a PLFry620@yahoo.com.

For more about me and my work, go to: http://www.matilijapress.com

I often receive emails from authors who have read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. They start their message by thanking me for writing the book and telling me how much it helped them and then they proceed to say one of the following:

• I published my book through ______ “self-publishing” company and things aren’t going well.
• My book isn’t selling and I don’t know what to do.
• I made some mistakes by not following your advice and now I have a poorly edited, poorly designed, poorly targeted book that I can’t sell.

They ask me:

• “What can I do now?”
• “How can I promote my book?”
• “What’s the best way to promote this book?”

Now what am I supposed to do with that? The author neglects to take the steps necessary for the success of his project and now he/she wants a quick fix. What are some of the mistakes that authors make? I can think of 10!

1. They don’t bother to study the publishing industry before getting involved.
2. They slap a crummy title and a poorly designed cover on the book.
3. They don’t have their manuscript edited (BIG MISTAKE).
4. They don’t research the market for their particular book before writing it.
5. They don’t keep their readers in mind while writing it.
6. They neglect to build promotion into the book while writing it.
7. They neglect to really research their publishing options.
8. They don’t check out the reputation of their “self-publishing” company.
9. They avoid even thinking about book promotion until after the book is published.
10. They give up when promotion gets too tough.

How many of these 10 sins have you committed? If you are working on a book or are contemplating writing a book, give your book a chance by avoiding all of these mistakes. Read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and follow it to success. Order it from me (I get more of the profit) http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. Or buy it through any of the online bookstores—Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, etc.

If you have a book that is faltering in the market, order my ebook The Author’s Repair Kit. The only place you can get it is from my website at http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html.

This is the only book I know of that will help you to revive a failing book. It’s short (27 pages) and to the point and extremely insightful and useful. It’s only $5.95 (no shipping involved).

I have a few possible students for my online Book Promotion Workshop. If you need help promoting your book and can spare a couple of hours per week for the next 6 weeks, this may be a good time for you to sign up for this course. How many books have you sold during these last few months? 100? 10? 0? Are you running out of promotional ideas? Are the activities you are pursuing only minimally successful? Does your marketing plan need a shot in the arm? Could you use some new promotional ideas? Consider joining in on my Book Promotion Workshop and get individual attention to help you find new ways to sell more books. Check it out at: http://www.matilijaperss.com/course_bookpromotion.htm

Questions? Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Is writing so much a part of your core-self that you simply can’t not write? Or are you one of those people who sees an opportunity and has decided to take advantage of it by jumping on the writing/publishing bandwagon?

More people than ever are attempting to earn a few bucks by hiring out as writers, by contributing to paying magazines or by offering their services as ghostwriters or editors. Others are setting up publishing companies, promoting themselves as book shepherds and so forth. While some of these people truly enjoy what they do, others are out just for the buck. I’m sure you’ve met some of them along your writing/publishing trail.

I tend to look upon newcomers, who crash into the world of publishing with little or no experience and knowledge, as deficient imposters. But I have to say that some of us who have been in the business of writing for publication and of working with other writers and budding authors for a long time, could learn something from these career crashers.

Most of them generally do have a strong work ethic when it comes to the financial side of the business. Those of us who write for publication and who work with other writers because we love the process, sometimes short-change ourselves when it comes to fair pay for work done. We often give too much of ourselves. We’re so busy feeding our souls and sharing our hearts that we forget to take care of business. Writers and artists are famous for nurturing their inner selves and neglecting their financial health.

We’ve all heard of starving artists and starving writers. And the artist/writer typically blames the economy or the public, who just doesn’t appreciate their efforts.

I maintain that maybe we need to change our attitudes—our perspectives. Maybe we should think more like the businessman/woman who decides to make a living through the process of writing or helping others to become published. If we did, we might become more financially healthy.

Don’t you agree that it’s all in the perspective? If you believe in your work and are willing to do what is necessary in order to generate an income or build a business around it, you will succeed. If, on the other hand, you don’t have the stomach for promotion and marketing, you don’t feel that your work is worthy of a paycheck, then maybe writing for publication is not for you.

There should be no struggle involved. Either you are cut out for a writing or publishing career or you are not. Adjust your expectations and choices accordingly.

For ideas about how to make your writing pay, read some of my former blog posts. Check out those posted on January 6, 10, 24 and March 4 (2009), for example.

Don’t forget, I’m offering a free ebook to those who respond to the questions in my April 24 blog.

If you sincerely want to succeed within the world of publishing, make sure that you have armed yourself with the knowledge that you need. Purchase my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html.

Sign up for one of my online, on-demand courses:

• Book Promotion Workshop
• Self-Publishing Workshop
• How to Start and Operate a Successful Freelance Article-Writing Career
• Book Proposal Workshop

http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

If you need help with your publishing project, check out my credentials at http://www.matilijapress.com/consulting.html And contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

How has your world as a freelance writer or author changed this year? Are you noticing differences in your income, your number of clients, your number of assignments, how quickly you are being paid, the number of books you are selling, etc? Is the recession finally starting to touch you where it hurts—your livelihood, your choice of lifestyle?

The trickle-down effect is certainly beginning to trickle down, isn’t it? The magazines you write for are folding, folks aren’t buying books, the authors you edit for are not hiring editors (some have gone back to work and aren’t writing, others are giving their books a lick and a promise and are bypassing a professional editing).

So today, I would like to know the answers to two questions:

1: How is your freelance writing business, book sales or plans for a pending book being affected by the recession?
2: What are you doing about it?

Two simple questions. Respond to them either via the “comments” function of this site or email me at PLFry620@yahoo.com. Everyone who responds receives their choice of ebooks:

How to Write a Successful Book Proposal in 8 Days or Less
The Author’s Repair Kit
Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary or Extraordinary Cats
The Successful Writer’s Handbook

The responder with the best idea for the rest of us gets a FREE copy of my book in print: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.

This offer is good through May 1, 2009.