Archive for June, 2011

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Make the Most of Your Respite

Monday, June 20th, 2011

If you write for publication, it is probably rare when you are not working. Whether you are a freelance writer, you contribute to magazines and ezines or you have a published book, you are (or should be) in work mode practically all of your waking hours. Some of us even work in our sleep (or when we are supposed to be sleeping). Don’t you sometimes wake up in the night with a great story idea, a new promotional plan or inspiration for how to work with a client or publisher?

Likewise, time away from the office can spur inspiration and ideas. Get-aways are recommended, and even necessary, for hardworking, serious writers and authors. But for most of us, while they can be relaxing and rejuvenating, little (and big) escapes can greatly enhance our businesses.

While traveling or even chilling on some remote beach, writers continue to write and rewrite even if only in their heads. They might come up with new ideas, become clear about a character issue they’ve been struggling with, develop an interesting new character or storyline for their novel or hatch a new way of working with a client.

Authors are ever aware of opportunities to promote their books. They might hand out business cards, postcards or brochures featuring their books everywhere they go; talk about it at every opportunity; leave cards in restrooms, airports, etc.; visit appropriate specialty stores and talk to shopkeepers about carrying their books; pick up cards and brochures for businesses or individuals they may want to follow up with; donate a book here and there and so forth.

Vacations and get-aways are good for a writer. We need to get away from the pressure, even if we love what we do. Creatives need mental and physical breaks. It is good for us to step back, gather our thoughts and let our spirit rejuvenate. This is also a great opportunity for us to regroup and refocus. It’s good for our psyche and it’s good for our projects.

I just returned from a 3-day get-away with my three daughters and one of my grown granddaughters. They whisked me away to help me celebrate my birthday in grand style. What a wonderful weekend—memorable. What did I bring back to my office after this lovely respite? Among other things, a fresh perspective and renewed energy. It’s wonderful to be excited about the work that’s waiting for you and eager to accept the work that’s coming your way.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Writing | No Comments »

Does Your Manuscript Need Proofing or Editing?

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Lately, I’ve had a couple of prospective clients contact me about proofreading their manuscripts. They claimed they did not need editing—just simple proofreading.

When I looked at their manuscripts, I noticed that they did, indeed, need editing. The manuscripts had a few problems with tense, grammar, sentence structure, spelling/typo errors, and punctuation.

One client insisted that he did not want me to do editing—“Just proofread it,” he said. I had given him a quote for editing and he wondered how much he would save if I just proofed it. How in the heck do you proof a manuscript that needs editing? Also, I wondered, where does proofreading end and editing begin (or vice versa)? This client hoped to save money by having me proof rather than edit. But I told him that I would take the same amount of time with the manuscript whether I was instructed to proof or edit and I would use the same procedure. If it needed editing, it needed editing. You can’t just proof over a bunch of mistakes.

The client thought he could save some money if I only read through the entire manuscript quickly in some sort of high speed proofing motion than if I stopped to make corrections. But I explained that it would be wasted time for me to just read the manuscript without making needed corrections.

I’m not sure what he thought proofreading would accomplish. I do know that it was important for him that I read the entire manuscript. But for what purpose? And at what cost?

I decided to check what others consider the differences between editing and proofing. Here’s what I came up with. “Proofreading means to examine text looking for spelling errors, punctuation errors, typos and obvious errors such as the unintentional use of there when it is clear the correct word is their. (Also known as proofing or line editing.)”

Editing: “to examine text with the intention of improving the flow and quality of writing. It also involves correcting grammatical errors and other unintended errors.”

(Thanks to Tamara Rice at oDesk Blog for putting these definitions in succinct form.)

If you think that you can save money by having your book proofread instead of edited, you’re probably trying to cut corners in the wrong place. I can do proofreading, which I will do on the final go-through. But if your manuscript needs editing, it needs editing. And you should hire a qualified book editor.

I’m going to be away for a few days and there will be no new blog posts until Monday, June 20. Please enjoy reading some of the posts in my vast archives. Take this opportunity to visit my websites and you may even want to download my FREE ebooklet, 50 Reasons Why You Should Publish That Book.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Posted in Editing | 1 Comment »

Publishing for the Newcomer

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

I was thinking yesterday that the world of publishing, for me, is kind of like living in a boom town. You know, it’s the concept of growing up in a small town that, due to a gold strike or major development, booms almost out of control. Suddenly there are thousands more people milling around, attending local schools, shopping, driving throughout all the neighborhoods, etc.

Almost everything changes. There are more opportunities. But there’s also more competition for parking spaces, movie tickets, jobs and so forth and many newcomers are using innovative new processes and tactics to get a parking space, movie tickets, jobs, etc.

Newcomers with little knowledge of the community and the residents set out to take leadership positions. Some have enough flamboyance and/or charisma to garner followers, even though they have only limited understanding of the place and the heart of the people.

Some of them are actually effective in what they teach and share, but others are premature in their exuberance to guide others. They don’t have enough sense of the place and what makes it work. They only know what their own limited experiences have taught them, which is valuable to a degree, but certainly not necessarily something others should base their future on.

If you are new to the world of publishing—you’ve only been involved or interested in publishing within the last ten years—you are not aware of the changes that have taken place within this industry. You are accustomed to the enormous competition; failing bookstores; growing infatuation with ebooks; HUGE array of publishing services, programs and websites and other phenomena that currently represent this industry. You haven’t seen the changes occur.

For example, when I started writing for publication, I did not know another writer. I knew about some in far off places such as New York, Baltimore, Cincinnati and even Cottonwood, Idaho because I read their articles and stories in magazines. I read their books. I read about their careers in my writers’ magazines and rare newspapers articles. But I did not personally know another writer who was publishing outside of the small local newspaper or for the church bulletin until around 1995, after I’d put in over twenty years as a freelance article writer and author.

Now practically everyone I know or meet is an author. And they are experiencing the world of publishing with fresh senses. Many of them are starting from scratch. They have opportunities, but also obstacles, that were not available to me when I began my writing journey. While I was out there with a machete clearing the path to publication with very little guidance, newcomers need only turn on their computers to find an enormous array of guides, mentors, instructors, etc. And only some of them are credible.

If you are new to the world of publishing, welcome. Now take your time and educate yourself about this vast and complex industry before getting involved. Let me know if you need a crash course in the best way to become educated about the publishing industry—what you need to learn before diving in—let me know and I’ll get that information to you.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

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Finding Your Book’s Focus

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Are you sitting on some material or an idea and you want to write a book, but you just don’t know which direction to go with it? You are not alone. I meet hopeful authors often who are in such a quandary about how to proceed that some never do get their projects off the ground. They just go round and round in their heads and stay stuck in, “I want to write a book, but will it be for children? Adults? Of regional interest or international? For teens?” “Will it be a book of fiction or nonfiction?” “Should I self-publish or find a publisher?”

There are many decisions to be made when you enter into the world of publishing. You may have enjoyed the process of writing for years. You write stories and then tuck them away somewhere. Or, perhaps, you’ve never written a thing—but you know you can do it—you want to and you see no reason why you can’t. So you glom onto a topic and either move forward so quickly that you neglect to collect the information you need to keep you from failing or you can’t seem to make necessary decisions.

This morning, I wrote this in response to a woman who can’t decide what direction to take an idea she has for a book.

I can imagine that you are overwhelmed with your project. I remember feeling the same way when I decided to write a comprehensive history of the Ojai Valley, California. My approach was to collect as much information as I could first. I interviewed old-timers about their memories and looked at their collections of letters, photos and such from their pioneer ancestors who lived here in the early years. I studied the material in the museums, read all of the old newspaper, etc. I spent a year gathering material before deciding what direction to go with my book. I realized that I had enough interesting documentation to write about every aspect of Ojai—early businesses, how the town was formed, early residents, establishment of the cemetery, first church, first school, everyday life, etc. And the book began to take shape in my head.

Next, I separated all of the material into sections—early businesses, early pioneers, churches, schools, etc. The next four years were spent (in between my daughters weddings, etc.) organizing the material in each section and going out after additional information to fill in and to respond to questions that came up—“who really was the first pioneer here in Ojai,” “what happened to the first olive orchard,” “more details about the progression of valley churches,” etc. I also wrote the book during this four-year period.

I had a reason and a purpose for this book. My reason for writing it was a desire to bring all of the vast amount of information that had been written about Ojai together under one cover for residents, pioneer families and tourists to Ojai. I had begun to realize the need for doing just this. And my purpose in doing it was that I LOVED to write, was eager to get involved in a second book project, I had the time, I enjoyed the process and I wanted to contribute something to my home town (I’m 5th generation Ojai). Also, I thought I might make a little money with this project (which I did).

It was through the research and talking to people in the community that I realized my reasons, my purpose and the needs/desires of the community.

Sure I got overwhelmed sometimes while in the organizing and writing process. I had trouble deciding which chapters to put where. But I used logic and everything came together. And the book was hugely well accepted and is still an asset to the community after 25 years.

I think that if you sit down and list the very real possibilities for the material you’ve come across, discern your reasons for wanting to do something with this information and then consider what the need is with regard to a book derived from this information, you will begin to discover the logical direction and you will stumble upon your purpose.

Do your research. And then, decide—choose and commit.

Does this help any of you out there? Does it resonate with any who have struggled to find a focus for your ideas?

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Posted in Authorship, Writing | No Comments »

Things I’ve Learned as an Editor

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

I didn’t start out as an editor. I began my writing career writing articles for magazines. And I’ve managed to support myself through my writing for many years. I am now also the author of 34 published books.

Along the way, other writers and authors often came to me asking questions about the big wide world of writing and publishing. I helped where I could. In the meantime, I became involved with SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and met even more authors and freelance writers who needed guidance. And I wrote several books in response to the most common questions they asked.

Many authors also asked me to edit their works. For years, I declined. I felt I had enough of my own work to do and I certainly knew how to generate even more work. And then one day I said, “Yes.” I thoroughly enjoyed the process of editing that first book (which I did on a hardcopy manuscript). It was a true crime. Since then, I have edited dozens of books of all types—YA fantasy; novels; nonfiction how-to, self-help and informational books; children’s story books; and others. I have edited manuals for major companies and organizations. I’ve edited and consulted with regard to numerous book proposals. And I’ve learned a few things along the way.

1: You can’t make reservations for an editing job. Most authors do not get the project to you when they say they will. So if another job comes in the meantime, you’d better take it. I once waited in earnest for an author who was days away from sending me her manuscript and missed out on two other editing jobs. As it happened, life threw her a curve and she had to stop the forward motion on her book.

2: If there is more than one author involved, get a commitment from both. Partnerships are sometimes precarious. If my fee will come from both authors, I like to communicate with both of them before starting the work. An author who personally agrees to hire you is less apt to flake on you later.

3: Not every author wants to learn writing techniques. I am a teaching editor. I write a lot of notes on my clients’ manuscripts–notes designed to help them learn how to use the apostrophe, when to capitalize words like Mom, when to use Italics and when to use quotation marks, how to use single quotes, how to punctuate dialogue, how to establish credibility with your audience, etc. Those who are eager to learn and open to learning receive a huge benefit from my way of editing. But I can tell you that I often get a second or third project to edit from clients and sometimes not one of my attempts to teach them is evident in their manuscripts.

4: Good writers are better able to appreciate good editing skills. It can be a real challenge working with someone who doesn’t have a good grasp on language, grammar and punctuation because they simply do not recognize good writing when they see it. I’ve even had clients rewrite their manuscripts after I spent hours and hours cleaning up the muddy, run-on sentences and other blatant errors. And then they hire a pay-to-publish company to produce their less than acceptable books.

5: Even authors don’t always appreciate the difference an editor can make with their projects. They would rather turn their manuscripts over to a friend with a large vocabulary or the retired English teacher who lives up the street. Sure friends and professionals can sometimes offer valuable perspectives on your book project. Some of them might discover inconsistencies that need to be addressed, errors in calculations or factual errors, for example. This is important. But you need a qualified book editor to do the final edit for your project—someone with the knowledge, experience and eye for book editing.

Sign up for Patricia Fry’s self-editing online course and fine-tune your manuscript to the best of your ability before hiring a qualified book editor.

http://www.matilijapress.com/courseself-editing.htm

Learn more about Patricia Fry here: http://www.patriciafry.com

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5 More Ways to Use Your Blog to Promote Your Book

Monday, June 13th, 2011

1: Post often—daily or at least on a regular and frequent basis. This way your readers will become accustomed to following your blog and you’re more apt to capture the interest of potential new readers if you are constantly putting new things out there.

2: Turn your blog entries into articles. Either submit them as is to appropriate sites and publications or tweak them to fit. Most of my blog entries are suitable for publishing, as I’m mindful to create stand-alone articles. Sometimes, however, a newsletter or magazine editor wants a longer piece or a more condensed version. Not a problem—I just rewrite the blog to fit their submission requirements. Of course, articles sell books. How? In a word: exposure.

• When you publish informative articles on the topic of your book, this adds to your professional credibility.
• You can usually add a few lines at the end of the article in which to promote your book and your blog.

3: Create handouts. Use specific blog entries as handouts when you promote your book through presentations, workshops or at book festivals. If yours is a local history book and your blog follows suit, your audiences would enjoy receiving those blog entries containing historical information that doesn’t appear in the book. Hand out your blog entries featuring additional tips, resources and information related to your self-help or how-to book. If you are promoting a novel or a book of poetry, delight your audience by handing out some of the short stories or new poems you post at your blog.

4: Compile a booklet of blog entries. If you’re a dedicated blogger, you could actually produce a booklet every six months or once a year and offer them free to anyone who purchases your book. Maybe you’ve written a novel featuring Americans who’ve chosen to live in the Middle East. Your blog, then, might follow some of the innovative things happening in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman and Bahrain, for example. Report on positive accounts of the people, some of the amazing historical and newer architectural sites and interesting tidbits about the culture. Wouldn’t that make an interesting promotional tool?

5: Write a book based on your best blog subjects. Review your blog entries. If you’re like me, you may occasionally hit upon a topic that would make a good book. So start writing. With thought and research, your blog on the feral kitten you rescued over the summer might become a book featuring how to successfully raise a feral cat. If your current book features an aspect of pet care, this new book would make a great spin-off product. Your blog entry on how you created curb appeal that sold your home, could become an entire book for others who want to make an excellent impression when selling their properties. And what a great companion this would be for your book on family financing.

You started blogging because you heard that blogs sell books. Use the 10 tips I’ve given you over these last two days and you’ll reach even more people and sell even more books.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Posted in Book Promotion | 1 Comment »

5 Ways to Promote Your Book Through Your Blog

Sunday, June 12th, 2011

A blog can be many things and serve many purposes. When you have a book to promote, it makes sense to turn your blog into a promotional tool. Whether your book is a historical novel, a how-to gardening book, a memoir or a book of poetry, let your blog entries spread the word and you will sell more books. Here are five ideas for using your blog to promote your book: Of course, the number one rule is to post to your blog often!

1: Stay focused on your topic. Make sure that you are providing the information your audience wants in a way that makes it palatable. Stay on track when adding to your blog so that you are always addressing your target audience.

2: Use numerous keywords. If your audience is seeking information about gardening in the northwest, continually use words in your blog entries that your potential audience would use in an internet search.

3: Participate at other blog sites. Search out blogs on your topic through Google, Google Alerts ( http://www.google.com/alerts), http://www.blogsrater.com and http://technorati.com. Leave comments, ask to be interviewed, offer articles and other information.

4: Offer freebies. Do you sometimes wonder if you’re being read? Offer free items or run contests from time to time. I know one author who offered a $100 prize to the 100th person who purchased her book. I sometimes offer a free report—something that includes information or tips that may or may not be included in the book that I’m pitching.

5: Promote your blog through your social media account—Facebook, Twitter and so forth. But as the experts say, make sure that you offer something useful to your readers.

I’ll bring you additional ways to promote your book through your blog in tomorrow’s post.

http://www.matilijapress.com

(Download a FREE ebooklet, “50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book,” from this site.) http://www.patriciafry.com

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How to Create Presentation Topics Based on Your Book

Saturday, June 11th, 2011

Do you have a repertoire of live presentations you do on behalf of your book? When you schedule a speaking engagement designed to promote your book, can you provide a list of possible speech topics? Most program organizers appreciate having choices—topics of interest to their group that they can choose from. And it would behoove you to create such a list.

Post this list at your website to demonstrate your range of possible programs for those who are seeking speakers or for those you have contacted and who want more information about you.

I go out and speak on book promotion, aspects of publishing, writing a book proposal and freelance writing. But I make it easier for a program director to choose an appropriate program by listing more specific topics and even giving the presentations titles. For example:

• Two Key Steps to Successful Publishing.
• How to Write a Killer Book Proposal.
• Book Promotion for the Bold and the Bashful.
• Get Your Book Reviewed Many Times Over.
• Promote Your Book Through Magazine Articles
• Platform-Building Tips and Techniques.
• How to Write the After-Publication Book Proposal.

I’ve recently added, “The Psychology of a Book Proposal.”

For a book on selling real estate, your list of presentations might look like this:

• How to Establish Curb Appeal for Your Home or Office Building.
• Tips for Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent.
• Understanding the Real Estate Market.
• Just What can you Expect From Your Agent?
• Simple Steps to Selling Your Home.
• When to Buy and When to Sell Locally.

For a historical fiction novel, your list of speech topics might look something like this:

• From Banker to Novelist in Five Years. (Your story.)
• How to Research for a Historical Novel.
• Little Known Historical Facts About New England.
• One Family’s Journey Out of the Darkness.
• The Real Story About Self-Publishing.
• So You Want to be a Novelist.

For nonfiction, your chapter titles and subheadings might be appropriate titles and topics for presentations. For fiction, you might tell the story of one particular character—perhaps offering some back-story that is not included in the book. Get into the psychology of why someone would behave in a certain way, as depicted in your story, for example. Do a program on some disease or dysfunction and what you learned about this during research.

You’ll book more speaking engagements if you are well-prepared with potential programs that are of interest to your reading audience. So go to work this weekend creating your topic list and then start contacting program directors for civic organizations, your local garden club, church groups, business conferences, pet trade shows, etc.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

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Posted in Book Promotion, Public Speaking | No Comments »

How to Promote a Brand New Book

Friday, June 10th, 2011

What’s the first thing you do when you hold your newly published book in your hands?

I will be experiencing this in about a month when Allworth Press releases my latest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. You can actually see the book posted at amazon.com already.

Of course, I’ve experienced this numerous times before. For those of you who are new to authorship, I have to tell you it’s always a thrill followed by a lot of work. Here’s my to-do list so far:

1: One of my first tasks will be the pleasure of announcing the new book to all of the experts and authors who contributed to it. Yes, around twenty people-in-the-know about authorship and book promotion offer their best tips and techniques throughout this amazing book.

2: I’ll contact my addressbook—friends, colleagues, customers, clients, students, those who downloaded free material from my website, conference leaders, booksellers who sell my current books, etc. and let them know about this book and how to order it.

3: I’ll make an announcement at my facebook page, twitter and here in my blog. Can’t wait to share the news with all of you as this book is going to be valuable and a real asset to your collection of publishing/promotion reference books.

4: I’ll place a member announcement in SPAWNews—by contacting our editor, Sandy, with the news.

5: I’ll post announcements in other newsletters that allow such postings.

6: I’ll add the book and ordering information to my website.

7: I’ll start setting up signings and speaking engagements. I have been speaking at meetings/conferences and attending book festivals several times each year anyway, which I will continue to do. But perhaps I can arrange to return to a many of the venues with fresh material and, of course, a new book to sell.

8: I’ll continue to write and submit articles to writing-related magazines and newsletters and add a new bio at the end which includes information about the new book.

9: I’ll solicit book reviews and ask the reviewers to post them at amazon. I’ll also post them at my website.

10: I’ll contact the most popular reviewers at amazon and attempt to get them to review the book.

And once I’ve done all of this, I’ll repeat those activities that were most successful, perhaps in different venues.

What am I forgetting? Does anyone have any ideas I have neglected to include here? We’d love it if you would share some of your best book promotion ideas.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

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Choose the Right Venue for Your Work

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Most of us, these days, write for more than just pleasure. We feel a need to justify our enjoyment of the craft. We seek validation as writers. Many more of us now than ever before write to be heard/read. And this means that more of us seek publication.

Here are some tips for getting your work published:

Locate magazines that publish material like yours. Perhaps you have some magazines in mind. Start there. And then reach out and become familiar (if not intimate) with the multitude of magazines and newsletters that currently seek submissions from writers. Writer’s Market is a great resource (about $30 at most bookstores or in the reference section at your library). The 2012 issue will debut in September. You might also take a look at the Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses by Len Fulton. Research appropriate magazines on the Internet.

Study the magazines for which you want to write. The magazine listings in Writer’s Market include contact information, type of material desired, submission requirements, word count, pay scale and so forth. But you’ll also want to locate a copy of their Guidelines for Writers at their website.

Read at least one copy of the magazine from cover to cover. This will help you determine whether or not your work is right for this publication and give you ideas for revising it to fit. Examine the stories, the editorials, letters to the editor and even the ads. Who is their target audience? Demographics are often available in their Writer’s Market listing or their Guidelines for Writers.

Research publishers for your book. Go to a mega bookstore and find books similar to yours. See who published them and contact those publishers. If you have written a true crime, for example, you’ll want to approach publishers who publish true crime books. If yours is a cookbook, you’ll need a publisher of cookbooks.

Also find publishers and their contact information listed in Writer’s Market, Literary Market Place (in the reference section at your library), Gale’s Directory of Publications (also a library reference book) or Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents.

Follow the submission instructions. Magazines and publishing companies pretty much each have their own requirements. While some magazine editors encourage article ideas from writers, others like to assign stories, for example. In this case, they will ask only for a resume. If you go ahead and send them your story, you’re just wasting time and postage. Here are some additional rules for submitting your work.

• Send only what they request.

• Consider the format when preparing an article or story for submission. While some magazines use a variety of styles, others might use only heavily researched pieces, essays, first-person stories, how-tos or question and answer articles. Adjust your piece to conform.

• Stay within the suggested word count. This will vary from magazine to magazine.

• Polish your story, article or book manuscript before submitting it. This seems like a no brainer, but I’ve talked to writers who will send something that needs extensive editing in hopes that their editorial staff will fine-tune it for them. What they’ll do is send your submission back to you in the next mail delivery.

• Don’t bug the editor. Wait an appropriate amount of time for their response. How long? Generally the response time is in their Guidelines. If you don’t hear from them by their two or three month response time, for example, email or write asking for an update on your submission. Be sure to give your full name, the title of the project, the date sent and anything else that makes it easy for them to check the status of your project.

So back to the question, what is the right venue for your work? First, ask yourself:
“What do I hope to accomplish by having my work published?” Do you want to get paid, build a portfolio, promote your published book, prove to yourself you can do it, impress friends, feel validated as a writer/poet/author?

Determine your deep down desire and your venue will become apparent. Through this process, you may discover that you simply want to put your story or collection of poetry into a form that you can hold in your hands and give as gifts. In this case you may decide to self-publish. You could design greeting cards featuring your poetry, for example. Have your book of poetry or short stories copied and bound at a business center. Or check into print on demand—where you can have only a few copies of your precious book printed and bound professionally.

Whatever you decide is the right publishing path for you, keep in mind that a magazine editor or book publisher is not going to come looking for you. It’s up to you to do the research necessary to find the right venue for your work.

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Publishing, Writing | No Comments »

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