Kathleen Ewing is a writer living in Arizona. I met her in person when I spoke in her town last year. When I received my Writing For Dollars Newsletter this morning, I was surprised to find a very entertaining essay by Kathleen all about the “Big O”—no, not the one you’re thinking of—this “O” stands for “Organizing.” Whether you are strictly organized or a little off kilter when it comes to keeping your space straight, you will get a chuckle out of and maybe some comfort in reading Kathleen’s article.
Here’s the link: http://www.writingfordollars.com/2009/vol13num8.cfm
While you’re there, check out my article, “Do You Want to Write a Book? Test the Market, First.” Yes, we’re featured in the same issue of Writing For Dollars. And, if you want to write for money, consider subscribing to this newsletter.
As you can imagine, I get a variety of emails and an occasional letter with questions, requests and such. Hopeful authors want to know, “How can I get my book published?” “Would you do a quick evaluation of my manuscript?” (I still don’t know what a quick evaluation is—I guess they mean, “read it as fast as you can and tell me how good it is without charging me a whole lot of money.”) I get letters from prisoners who want some guidance in publishing their books. I also hear from some of our elderly who have no computer access and no energy or desire to promote a book, but they want to publish their memoirs or a novel. Yesterday, a gentleman sent me a check for $5 if I would list some publishers suitable for his book. I wrote him a 3-page letter with encouragement and information and included around 8 potential publishers he can approach.
I work with people from all over the U.S. and outside. Currently, I’m working with a client who lives in South Africa and another one who lives in Africa on a part-time basis. When I started writing for publication, who would have thought of the possibilities available now through the Internet. It was unheard of. In fact, I wrote my first articles in longhand and then typed them over and over and over on a manual typewriter. That was in 1973.
Do you remember the 1970s? Could you have even imagined that home computers would become as common as the landline telephone was then?
Yet, there are still people living in the dark ages without computer know-how or access and they want to enter into publishing—a world where practically everything is digital. It’s a real stretch for me to work with them. And I doubt that many of them, if any, ever get to the place where they realize their dreams of holding their published books in their hands, unless they have a family member or friend with some computer access and savvy.
Many publishers accept queries and manuscripts via email, only. They steer you to their website for their submission guidelines. Some have online forms to use in contacting them. Some even say they will NOT open any manuscripts they receive in the mail.
It does my heart good to see older folks stretch enough to get involved in computerland. My 97-year-old mom got a computer and uses it to stay in touch with family and friends (we email one another every day) and shop. She orders her groceries via the computer and many of her Christmas and birthday gifts. I know another woman in her 80s who doesn’t have a computer, yet, but she has a strong connection to her cell phone and she knows how to work a VCR, something that I haven’t mastered, yet.
Are you keeping up with technology and using it to follow your dreams and to conform to the expectations of publishers and magazine editors or are you still balking at taking the next step? If you are reading this online, you are probably well connected. If someone printed it out for you to read because you don’t have computer access, and you dream of publishing your work, you might consider becoming acquainted with modern technology—at least to the point where it will serve you and your publishing needs.
For additional information, tips, techniques and resources, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. It is available in the library system. But you’ll want to keep it close throughout the writing, publishing and marketing processes, so you really should order it here: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
It’s nearly spring—a time of new beginnings. Now is a wonderful time to sign up for one of my on-demand, online courses. Prepare yourself for your career or to meet your publishing goals: http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm