*****************************************************************
W R I T I N G W O R L D
A World of Writing Information - For Writers Around the World
http://www.writing-world.com
Issue 7:03 17,300 subscribers March 1, 2007
*****************************************************************
SPECIAL NOTICE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail; any messages
sent in reply to the newsletter are deleted. See the bottom of
this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe,
or contact the editors.
*****************************************************************
CONTENTS
=================================================================
The Editor's Desk
NEWS from the World of Writing
THE INQUIRING WRITER: Writing Through Grief, by Dawn Copeman
FEATURE: Boost Your Bottom Line, by Mridu Khullar
The Write Sites -- Online Resources for Writers
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO... Interviewing, by Dawn Copeman
WHAT'S NEW at Writing World
WRITING CONTESTS with no entry fees
The Author's Bookshelf
*****************************************************************
EARN AN MFA IN WRITING through the brief-residency program at
Spalding University in Louisville, KY. Call (800) 896-8941x2423
or email mfa"at"spalding.edu and request brochure FA90. For more
info: http://www.spalding.edu/mfa
*****************************************************************
WRITERSCOLLEGE.COM has 57 online courses. Prices are low.
If you can reach our web site, you can take our courses.
http://www.WritersCollege.com
*****************************************************************
DISCOUNTED SOFTWARE FOR WRITERS -- PowerWriter, DramaticaPro,
StoryCraft, WritePro, MovieMagic, StyleWriter, plus many more.
HUGE SAVINGS! GREAT SELECTION! Save online at:
http://www.MasterFreelancer.com
*****************************************************************
WRITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS. Ever dreamed of being a published author?
Writing for children is a great place to start. Learn from
home, by mail or online, from a nationally published writer or
editor as your mentor and create potentially saleable material
from the very first assignment. Free Writing Test.
http://www.writingforchildren.com/G0879
*****************************************************************
LIVE THE CHARMED LIFE OF A PUBLISHED AUTHOR Work at home, collect
advances, royalty checks, sign a six-figure contract. Even if
you've never written a word in your life!
http://www.theromancewriterslife.com/ltc/wworlda6/
*****************************************************************
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
Business First...
-----------------
On the business side of things, we have a new e-mail! For
matters relating to advertising, submissions, link requests and
general information requests (or "omigod, your incorrect use of a
comma in your article on such-and-such spells the end of Western
civilization" e-mails), please use the following address:
editorial"at"writing-world.com
This e-mail will put you in touch with Dawn Copeman, our editor.
If you wish to speak to me personall, about some topic OTHER
than ads, submissions, links, corrections, or basic questions,
you can still reach me at editors"at"writing-world.com
A Hodgepodge Editorial
----------------------
As the date of our move approaches, "hodgepodge" seems a good
word to describe the state of my life. Last fall I had a nice
long list of projects that I confidently expected to get done
before we left; as I face the inevitable task of turning the
calendar to a new page today, that list doesn't seem to have
gotten any shorter!
At least we got to celebrate Valentine's Day the traditional
Virginia way: By shoveling snow off the front walk. Tabitha, our
year-old kitten, ventured out onto the deck and was surprised to
find that she didn't sink through the crust. Awhile later, I
ventured out onto the deck and was surprised to find that I
didn't sink through the crust either! (I'm a wee bit heavier
than Tabitha.) By the next day I couldn't even walk to my car;
if I'd wished, I could have gone skating in the back yard. (I
actually regret not trying this; it might have been fun!)
All this lovely weather, combined with the fact that my husband's
car has been stubbornly refusing to start for two weeks
(requiring him to use mine while his is at the shop), has given
me lots of time to burrow into my closets and sort out some
things that just don't need to go to England with us. Which
brings me to:
Moira's "Closet-Cleaning" Sale
------------------------------
Now that we've discovered that it's going to cost about $3 per
pound to move our worldly goods to England, I've decided it's
time to unload (ahem, ah, I mean, offer at a BARGAIN price) the
remainder of my original, hand-made photo cards. These are
absolutely gorgeous cards, and will impress anyone on your
correspondence list. Each is individually sealed in a protective
plastic wrapper, so they also make lovely gifts. I'm offering
seven sets of ten cards each, on the following subjects:
Stained glass - 2 sets
Waterlilies - 1 set
Waterlilies and roses - 1 set
Irises - 2 sets
Harvest festival - 1 set
Mixed bag (flowers, butterflies, swans, etc.) - 1 set
You can get an idea of the type of images available at
http://www.allenimages.net - however, the sets are going "as is"
(i.e., you can't request a specific image). Each set of 10 cards
(with envelopes) is available for $10, which includes shipping
within the U.S. To order, just e-mail me and let me know which
set you'd prefer.
Digging deeper into my desk drawer, I've unearthed a set of
National Geographic CDs -- the complete issues from the 1980's
and 1990's, on five CDs. These work for both Mac and PC (though
I haven't tried them with OSX), and the entire set is available
for $10 (again, US shipping included). (Note: These are OLD CDs;
they mention Windows 95 and 3.1, so you've been warned.)
Finally, I'm seeking a home for my film camera, having decided to
go digital once and for all. This is a very nice Minolta Maxxum
400si, complete with zoom lens, leather cover and instruction
book. It's in great condition but undoubtedly needs a new
battery, and is available for $50 "or best offer."
If you're interested in any of the items above, e-mail me as soon
as possible and I'll direct you to a PayPal payment page. And
now, on to a completely different topic!
Art History Majors -- Can You Help?
-----------------------------------
If anyone out there in readership land has a knowledge of art
history (particularly of European paintings from the 17th and
18th centuries), I'm hoping you can help me. In the 1930's, my
grandfather (who was an artist) began work on what I can only
assume was intended to be a set of illustrations for a book of
historic costumes. The project was never finished, and his pile
of sketches -- based on books, paintings and illustrations -- was
left to languish in a closet for about 70 years. (See? This
does, vaguely, tie into the "cleaning my closets" theme.) I'm
now trying to compile this collection into a book. In most
cases, he indicated the period and the source of his sketches,
but toward the end of the project, he became less meticulous
about record-keeping. So I'm left with a couple of drawings that
I can't place in terms of period, location or source. Based on
the progression of drawings, I'm guessing that he'd reached the
17th century by this point, and I'm also guessing that the
paintings are European but not British. Beyond that, I haven't a
clue. If you think you might be able to help me identify these,
please visit http://www.writing-world.com/costumes/index.shtml
and drop me an e-mail!
And now, back to those closets...
Moira Allen
editors"at"writing-world.com
*****************************************************************
CHILDREN'S WRITERS COMPETITIVE EDGE. 12-page monthly newsletter
of editors' current wants and needs-up to 50 each month. Plus
market studies and genre analyses loaded with editors' tips and
insights into subjects and writing styles they're looking for
right now. Free sample issue.
http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/N8147
*****************************************************************
DEADLY INK - Annual Mystery Conference for Mystery Writers and
Mystery Fans, Short Story Contest, Novel Contest, and announcing
Deadly Ink Press, a publisher of mysteries and suspense. Visit
our website http://www.deadlyink.com or email info"at"deadlyink.com
*****************************************************************
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
WRITING-WORLD.COM LISTED IN 101 BEST WRITING SITES
---------------------------------------------------
We have just received confirmation that Writing-World.com has
been listed in the Writer's Digest 2006 list of 101 Best
Websites for Writers. Thank you to everyone who recommended us!
For details and the complete list, visit
http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites/2006_index.asp
SCOTTISH BOOK CHAIN GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION
--------------------------------------------
Captital, the Edinburgh-based bookgroup that owns several famous
name high street books (Bookworld; Bargain Books and bw!) has gone
into administration and immediately closed eight of its stores.
Four more stores are to be closed within the month, leading to a
total current loss of 65 jobs. The remaining 50 stores with their
397 staff will continue to trade whilst the administrator tries
to find a buyer for the business which has a turnover of £30
million. Pressure from internet retailers and supermarkets
selling books have been cited among the reasons for the
collapse of the company. For more information visit:
http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=230422007
COLOR E-PAPER WILL BE HERE IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS
-----------------------------------------------
At an industry conference in London, Fujitsu Europe demonstrated
a prototype of a colored e-paper which will, they believe,
revolutionise the production of e-books and particularly e-zines.
Fujitsu claimed that color e-paper, which will be read on
portable e-tablets will be a reality in less than two years. For
more information visit:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story3189.shtml
(Publisher's Note: We've heard this before....)
MARIE-CLAIRE COMES TO CELLPHONES
--------------------------------
In a similar move that demonstrates the growing importance of new
media, Marie Claire Magazine has announced it will soon be
launching a cellphone version of the magazine which will be
delivered weekly to subcribers with suitable WAP enabled phones.
For more information visit:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story3187.shtml
ASSOCIATED PRESS MOVE TO USE CITIZEN JOURNALISTS
-------------------------------------------------
Associated Press has announced that it will start to use work
from citizen journalists. They have signed a deal with a citizen
journalist site, NowPublic.com, to allow AP editors to select and
use news stories, photos and videos submitted by the site's
citizen journalists. AP confirmed that they would pay for all
content they use. For more information visit:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story3185.shtml
JOURNALISTS JAILED FOR SLANDER IN BENIN
---------------------------------------
One place where citizen journalism probably won't catch on is the
tiny African country of Benin, where 8 journalists have been
jailed for slander or defamation since March 2006. In the most
recent case, four journalists were sentenced to six months
imprisonment and a heavy fine for slandering former minister Luc
Gnacadja, whom the journalists accused of embezzlement in
February 2006. For more information visit:
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=4667&Language=EN
*****************************************************************
WRITING JOURNALS, STATIONERY, AND PERSONALIZED GIFTS FOR WRITERS
Great selection and prices! Moleskine, leather, blank journals,
journal writing prompts and more! http://www.ScribeTime.com
Shop now and Save 10% - use code: WW0301 - expires 03/15/07
*****************************************************************
THE INQUIRING WRITER
=================================================================
by Dawn Copeman (DawnCopeman"at"Write-away.biz)
Last month I posted a moving question from Joan Amato on how to
write through grief. Thank you to everyone who replied. We've
never had so many responses to an Inquiring Writer question
before and I have forwarded on each of your emails to Joan. The
one thing I took from all these emails (70 in all), is that no
matter what life throws at us, no matter how dark and black
things are, humans can and do have the ability to rise above it
all and start to live and enjoy living again. As there were so
many, far too many to include them all here or even on the site,
I've decided to bring out the main points from these emails in
the hope that they might help anyone else who is grieving.
Many of the writers who contacted me wrote of the benefits of
journaling to help them get through the grieving process. Cheri
Pinner advised buying a stack of 'cheap' exercise books, and to
write in it everyday, "Write the feelings out - write and write
and write without censoring anything. Write anger and sadness
and whatever feelings are there at the moment the pen is on the
paper. Write without thinking or stopping. Write about the
friends, relations, memories good and bad or just write
gibberish. With a cheap notebook it can be burnt when you feel
it's all written out. Sometimes when writing furiously like that
another thought comes in - a positive creative thought arrives
unbidden and surprising. If you like it, make a note in the
margin. That thought can be transferred to a notebook to be
kept. And you can be joyful that these sadnesses have brought
something good, something that may be woven into work in the
future."
Molly Hill Folken said she would "urge this writer to keep a
journal of how she is feeling about these losses. Just write out
of her emotion, putting down whatever comes to mind and flows out
the end of her pen. It is so important for her to let the grief
come out and as time goes on she will begin to understand all the
ramifications of it. I recommend that she (and everyone) read
Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Practice of
Story by Christina Baldwin. It is a great explanation of the
grieving process as well as how we deal with those losses the
rest of our lives. I wish her well."
Eva Bell has been through this process herself and commented
that, "From my own experience of widowhood at 32, I can vouch
that writing is really therapeutic. As they say, 'Laugh and the
world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone.' So, writing for
me was a form of catharsis. I would pour out my emotions into my
unedited journal, rather than bore people with my tears and
invite their sympathy. This helped me get back into writing mode,
and during that year, I was able to complete the last chapters of
my first novel. I can assure you that it wasn't a morbid tale but
a touching love story."
Perle Champion is another advocate of journaling, "Write through
grief, write your book of grief - that is how. You write it
down. Pick up a copy of Julia Cameron's book, 'The Artist's Way'
and read about her 'morning pages' and do them every single day.
She had her grief, too. What we commit to the page is aired and
somehow being told, it cannot dwell in us in quite the same way.
Write the hurt, write the memory, write the good times and the
bad. Write ' I don't want to write' but write and write until you
find that you are in the flow as the gates holding on to the
grief let go."
"Write about it," advises Anna Letlaw, "Every time those thoughts
interrupt your day, write about it and cry if you must. After
you write, do one life-affirming thing for yourself. By
embracing death, you embrace life and its inevitable change. The
fact that you want to reconnect with your life is your first step
to getting there. Go forth! Be fearless! Be gentle with
yourself!"
However, others said it might still be too early for Joan to
start up writing again. Christine Weber commented that, "I've
felt as if I 'should' be able to write about the suffering I have
experienced the last four years, as if I ought to be able to put
my pain into words because I am a writer. But I've found that to
be a dangerous expectation.
"Writing can be the opposite of cathartic. It can keep you in a
state of trauma, solidify the damage of your wounds (i.e., keep
you feeling like a victim) and, therefore, be very damaging to
you as a person. For me, my experiences have taught me the
limits of language and the limits of what writing can do for me
and others.
"I've started to hire myself out as a freelance writer and editor
in areas not related to my suffering. I no longer spend the kind
of time I used to tracking my own thoughts on paper, but the work
keeps my mind and fingers nimble. Though from the outside I may
appear 'stuck', I think healing through to where you can put
yourself onto the page takes time. And some experiences are just
so beyond what words can hold."
Yet, others wrote that although it isn't always easy to write
through grief, grief, like any other emotion, is one that can
fire up the creative process. Shaunna Privatsky found that,
"Whenever you are going through tremendous loss, your creative
side seems to wither away, along with your will and determination
to write.
"The death of my Mom was the trigger that started my writing
career. Three years ago, my husband suffered a medical accident
that left him disabled with a permanent brain injury. I had just
started a writing newsletter, and that is what kept me going.
The support of friends and writers all over the world poured out,
and I knew I had to keep the newsletter going.
"I also kept a daily notebook, just for myself. I wrote down
everything, from the color of the sky to the comments from the
doctors. It was comforting to pour everything out, knowing that
I would never try to publish or share my innermost thoughts. The
main thing I learned is not to force yourself to write. Wait
until you are ready, and that could be tomorrow, or three months
from now. First you have to come to terms with your grief before
you can venture outward, into the world of writing again. My
warmest thoughts and prayers go out to you. I truly hope that
2007 will be filled with good things."
"Grief is what made me a passionate writer," wrote Chryselle. "I
was eighteen when my father died, apparently of a heart attack.
He was 45. The next few years were not easy. In a bit of a blur,
we wandered through college and then finding work. That one event
(of my father's untimely death) changed the course of my life in
terms of my work and family circumstances.
"That event also made me a writer. The grief and shock of that
day found its way onto paper. I wrote, and then wrote some more.
My tears and lumps-in-the-throat showed up in rapidly piling up
notebooks. That was the beginning of some 700 odd 'poems' (In
hindsight, most of them not fit for publication!!).
"The quality of my teen writing didn't matter then. What mattered
was being able to exhume my feelings to a safe place. So many
years later, the writing of those days still brings back a
certain poignancy that is hard to shake off. And it HAS made me a
better, more prolific writer. I empathize with Joan and say to
her: 'Grief does not completely go away; it just dulls over
time.' If writing is important to you, write about your grief.
Reliving those memories is hard, but it is a path to
acknowledging the pain. Getting things on paper is one of many
baby steps to moving on. It takes time. And with time (and
pen/paper), things do get better."
Others, like E Luke, offered some practical advice to Joan on how
to write through her grief, "One way I found (while grieving for
my husband with Alzheimer's) was to read...a lot!! Especially in
the genre chosen to write. In addition, re-read those books
dealing with self-help on characterization, plotting, theme and
whatever else is in a writer's reference bookshelves, this may
help to turn on the spigot. It's surprising how ideas, even
images, will begin to drip into that 'running river of memories'.
So keeping a writing journal close at hand while reading is a
must, for that matter a journal is a necessity for a writer. I
too, am suffering from writers block, but each day I strive
against procrastination and all the ghosts of negative thinking.
To tell the truth it's damn hard to write during these times, but
that's what writing is, work. In a book of meditations for writers
(Walking on Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers, by Susan
Shaughnessy), it says that 'It is possible to be productive when
your heart feels frozen' and 'Depressed days don't necessarily result
in depressing writing. On those very days, your writing may sing.'
Magic does happen."
Finally, Drew Silver, author of the Vampire Within Trilogy, had
this advice for Joan and for anyone else who is grieving right
now: "A new path is not always the answer to getting over grief.
Truth is, there is never closure when we lose someone we love and
deep down we will always mourn the lost. We are human after all.
I have found a way to take grief and use it to not only keep
myself moving forward, but also express my feelings that might
otherwise torment my heart for years to come.
"As a writer, I need to write. Otherwise, I feel like someone is
suffocating me and snuffing out my imagination. Grief can feel
like that and transform into writer's block. The best thing I can
do is write out my grief. I write down every emotion that I'm
feeling and expand on it. If I feel lost without the person, I
think of all the ways I'm lost. Did this person go hiking with
me, comfort me, edit my work, etc. I continue to write all the
things that I'll miss. Then, I start writing all the things they
did to enhance my life and why they were so important.
"Before long, he or she is alive in my heart and mind again. I
can incorporate them into short stories, screenplays, or novels.
I can give them eternal life by the written word and give my
heart a little peace."
This month, we have another reader question from Craig Cardimon
who wrote: "I have plenty of ideas. I have them all written down
in outline form. They burst forth in my mind, in pictures, almost
in movie format. They have a rough beginning, middle, and an end.
Then it's kind of done, but only in my own mind, if that makes
any sense. And I'm sort of bored with it and looking for the next
idea, somewhat panicked that I'll run dry of ideas. I know I won't.
How does a wanna-be-published writer pick up an old story idea
and begin writing it down freshly, and continue until it's done?
Where do I get the discipline?"
Email your responses to me with the subject title "Writing
Discipline" to editorial"at"Writing-world.com.
Till next time,
Dawn
For more advice on writing through writing block visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/index.shtml#fears
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Dawn Copeman is a freelance writer based in England. She is the
editor of http://www.newbie-writers.com, a site for new and
aspiring writers, as well as a contributing editor and columnist
at http://www.timetravel-britain.com. Visit her website at
http://www.write-away.biz
Copyright (c) 2007 by Dawn Copeman
*****************************************************************
JUST RELEASED! Copyright Companion for Writers is a clear and
concise survey of copyright law written with the rights of
writers in mind. It answers your most pressing questions about
copyright & includes forms on CD-ROM. The perfect companion to
have on your creative journey. For more information and to order
your copy, visit http://www.literarylawguide.com.
*****************************************************************
WRITE BETTER; WRITE FASTER; WRITE IT RIGHT! Discover a simple
five-step process for creating flawless written text.
Write It Right: The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like The Pros
shows you how! $17.95 + s/h.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974496626/peregrine
********************************************************************
BOOST YOUR BOTTOM LINE:
TEN IDEAS TO HELP YOU WORK SMARTER AND INCREASE YOUR WRITING INCOME
====================================================================
by Mridu Khullar
Most writer-oriented books and periodicals tell readers, "If you
write for $1 per word or higher-paying national publications, you
can earn six figures a year." But let's face it -- for a writer just
starting out, high-paying assignments from Cosmopolitan and The
New Yorker are hard to come by. Is writing for national consumer
publications or landing a three-book deal with a major New York
publisher the only way to generate a good income?
Not so, say experts. In fact, there are many ways a writer can
boost the bottom line and bring in more money. Here are a few.
Ask for more
------------
Almost every experienced freelancer I talk to negotiates as if
his life depends on it; every newbie looks at me and says,
"Really? You can do that?" The thing is, whether you're a newbie
or a polished pro, most editors expect you to negotiate.
Freelancing is a business, and editors respect writers who treat
it like one.
What's the worst that can happen when you ask for more money?
You'll probably get a "Sorry, but we're on a tight budget"
response, after which you're free to decide whether or not this
assignment is worth doing for the offered compensation. But by
asking, you make sure that there wasn't room for more. In fact,
if the editor doesn't budge on the money front, she might agree
to buy fewer rights, give you a long bio, or even print your
picture alongside the piece.
Turn it around
---------------
An idea is almost always worth more than one article. That's
because there are so many tangents just waiting to be discovered.
I usually come up with ideas in multiples of three. My query on
how busy women can keep fit won't just be sent to a women's
magazine, but to a magazine for working women (The One Minute
Fitness Program for Executives), a parenting magazine (Fitness
Tips for the Time-Crunched Mommy) and maybe a general women's
magazine (Fitness on a Stopwatch). That way, while the query
letter remains essentially the same, I've reslanted it to meet
the needs of several non-competing markets. Much better than
simultaneously submitting!
Go international
----------------
Recycling, reslanting and reselling old articles is a great way
of keeping the cash inflow steady. But to make even more money,
go international. Most magazines want first rights in their own
countries anyway, and by selling first rights in various regions
across the globe, you not only get them all to pay you their top
rates, but also achieve the status of international writer on
your resume.
But don't think that just because you're writing for the
international market, the road ahead will be easy. Far from it.
You need to research the magazine, find the editor's name and
spell it correctly, and pitch targeted stories just as you would
to a magazine in your own country.
Then there are the subtle differences. "You must open your eyes
to the cultural nuances of the country you're writing for," says
Kamala Thiagarajan, a freelance writer based in India. Don't
settle for interviewing experts your own country. Thiagarajan
says it's essential that you locate experts in the country where
the magazine is published.
Think sidebars
--------------
So you've landed a plum $2 per word assignment with a national
consumer magazine. Congratulations, you! Want to know how to add
a little extra to that paycheck? Think sidebars. In fact, it's
best to propose a couple of sidebars in your query letter itself.
By doing so, not only do you ensure that you'll earn more for the
piece if it's accepted, you also increase your chances of
actually landing the assignment. Editors love sidebars. Many
women's magazines are actually known to hire freelancers to write
sidebars for their features. Why not do the job yourself and
pocket some extra cash?
Write for the trades
--------------------
Writers talk about trade magazines a lot, but they don't submit
to them enough. For a freelance writer who wants to make more
money, trades are an underused source. Editors of the trades
aren't flooded with queries and submissions like editors in
consumer magazines and thus are hungry for talent. If you can do
a good job with your query letter, you're halfway through the
door. What's more, the trades tend to pay well, averaging $1 per
word even for medium-circulation magazines.
While getting assignments from the trades isn't half as tough as
getting assignments from national consumer magazines, they do
make tougher, and sometimes boring, assignments that you must
nevertheless approach with enthusiasm. Brush up on your research
and interview skills, too-you'll be making good use of them.
Set income goals
----------------
Set monthly, weekly, even daily income goals. And I don't mean
the all-encompassing "I'll make six figures a year" kind of goal.
I mean sensible, practical, achievable goals.
Kelly James-Enger, author of Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's
Guide to Making More Money has a tip: Let's say you reach a
figure of $30,000 as the amount of money you want to make this
year from your writing. That's $2,500 per month. Taking two weeks
off for vacations and emergencies and working a five-day week,
you need to make $600 per week or $120 per day to reach your
goal. Doesn't seem as tough now, does it?
Now you need to fix productivity goals to make sure you're
earning that daily $120. As long as you're meeting your daily
productivity limit, you'll achieve your yearly income, too.
Consider additional revenue streams
-----------------------------------
Many writers learn soon enough that they need to create
additional revenue streams from their existing products or
services. Have you written a book on organizing your workspace?
Why not teach an e-course on it, too? Sold a romance novel to
Harlequin? Get in touch with the Romance Writers of America and
offer to speak at some of their events. Are you a food writer who
has achieved considerable success in that area? Why not write an
e-book or start and e-zine?
Collaborate
------------
There are literally thousands of people who have expertise in
fields such as self-defence, nutrition, organizing homes, time
management, etc. Right now, the knowledge of these experts is in
great demand, and the huge sales figures of self-help books prove
that. But while there are many experts, not all of them are
writers. So they hire ghostwriters or co-authors. The expert
provides the research and material; the co-author writes the
book. And once the book is finished, the expert has a built-in
audience waiting, meaning that you can approach top-notch book
publishers with your proposal.
Where do you find these experts? Apart from the dozens of writing
market newsletters and job boards, also look closer to home-the
famous horse trainer who lives next door, or the organization
expert you've seen on TV who comes to the same hairdresser you
do. These are perfect candidates for a writing partnership.
Think in hours, not words
--------------------------
If one magazine editor asks you to write a 1,000-word article at
the rate of $1 per word, and another editor asks you write a
feature for the same number of words for $200, the first one is
the more lucrative assignment, right?
Not necessarily. For all you know, the editor paying $1 per word
might require three rewrites, research from ten different sources
and interviews with five experts, taking up days of your time.
Yet you might be able to whip up an article for the $200 editor
in two hours flat. Which is the lucrative assignment now?
The pay alone isn't enough to determine whether the assignment is
worthwhile. Instead, you should think in hours. How much time
will the assignment take, and how much frustration is it going to
cause?
"I've written for markets that pay anywhere from 25c to $2 per
word and more. Yet some high-paying assignments required so much
extensive background research, reporting and revising that I
actually made less per hour than I did on other 'low-paying'
assignments," says James-Enger. "Of course writers should
consider what the per word rate is, but they should also consider
how much time the assignment will take and what it's worth to
them."
Get proactive for your money
----------------------------
Writers often don't fight enough for their money because they
don't want to risk ruining a relationship or offending an editor
who could give more assignments. But just as your cell phone
company won't sit around meekly when you don't pay your bill, you
shouldn't either. Your cell phone company will charge obnoxious
interest rates and high penalty fees; the least you can do is ask
your editor for the money. The rule is simple: If you don't
respect your time and value your work, no one else is likely to,
either.
Using these tips, you can make consistent and good money from
your freelance writing. Treat it like a business. The profits
will soon follow.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Mridu Khullar is an international freelance writer with over 200
articles in print and on the Web. She has been published in
several countries including the United States, Canada, England,
Australia, India and Bahrain. Mridu's credits include articles
and essays in almost 70 publications, including ELLE, Yahoo.com,
Chicken Soup for the Soul, World & I, New Woman, Writer's Digest,
Women's Health & Fitness, ePregnancy, Girls' Life and The Times
of India. She lives and works from New Delhi, India.
Copyright 2007 Mridu Khullar
This article previously appeared in Byline magazine. Looking for
more ideas on how to boost your writing income? Check out this
link: http://www.writing-world.com/basics/fry.shtml
*****************************************************************
CAN'T GET PUBLISHED? Be a Well-Fed Self-Publisher and make a
living! Control the process and timetable. Keep the rights AND
most of the profits. Here's the step-by-step blueprint used to
create a full-time living from ONE book! By the award-winning
author of The Well-Fed Writer. http://www.wellfedsp.com.
*****************************************************************
EXPERIENCED, CERTIFIED COPYEDITOR: manuscripts; business,
government, and professional publications; newsletters;
advertisements. Basic editing, $25 per hour; substantive editing
$40 per hour. Microsoft Word markup. karen.editpro"at"gmail.com
*****************************************************************
THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
Bfi.org.uk
----------
Useful site from the British Film Institute for anyone doing
scriptwriting.
http://tinyurl.com/33nw92
Biography.com
-------------
If you need to research someone famous, try this site from the
biography channel.
http://www.biography.com/search
JudyReeveswriter.com
--------------------
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find some useful tips on
writing and writing groups.
http://www.judyreeveswriter.com/
The Playwriting Seminars
----------------------------
Comprehensive site on all aspects of playwriting.
http://www.vcu.edu/arts/playwriting/
Aaron Shepard's Kidwriting Page
--------------------------------
Great site on how to write children's books.
http://www.aaronshep.com/kidwriter/
Writers-Free-Reference.com
--------------------------
A site listing all the free reference sources you could ever
possibly need.
http://www.writers-free-reference.com/
***************************************************************
NEW AND ESTABLISHED MARKETS FOR YOUR WRITING. Up-to-date
SUBMISSION Guidelines/Leads for poetry, short prose, and book
projects. You'll receive your FREE report TODAY via email
NEWSFLASH. Call toll-free (866) 405-3003 or Click Here
http://www.wrelief.com Absolutely no subscription or purchase
necessary. We'll share our know-how with you. In our 13th Year!
*****************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED INSTANTLY. FREE EBOOK COVER AND PRESS RELEASE.
Download our free handbook and sign-up for our free 10-day trial.
See why over 500 authors have selected EbookoMatic as their
publisher of choice. No contracts. Retain all rights. Earn 75%
royalties. Visit http://www.getpublishedinstantly.com/ww now!
*****************************************************************
THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO... Interviewing
=================================================================
by Dawn Copeman
For a very long time I avoided any writing jobs that involved
interviewing people. Interviewing people meant talking to people
and these people would expect me, as the interviewer to know what
I was doing. So, because I didn't know how to interview and
because I was, quite frankly terrified of interviewing, I kept my
writing life easy and just didn't offer to write any articles
where an interview would be needed.
But, if you want to progress as a writer, then at some point you
need to stretch yourself, to go beyond your comfort zone. At
some point you will need to do an interview.
To read the rest of this column, go to:
http://www.writing-world.com/dawn/dawn14.shtml
*****************************************************************
Expand Your Network, Develop Your Skills, Nurture Your Creative
Life at the National Association of Women Writers! Membership
includes books, teleseminars, legal advice, meetings, hotel
discounts, critiques, and much more! Plus, get two free eReports:
101 BEST RESOURCES FOR WRITERS and INFOMARKET YOUR BUSINESS &
PROSPER. http://www.naww.org
*****************************************************************
WHAT'S NEW AT WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
MARCH COLUMNS:
------------------
The Beginner's Guide to... Interviewing, by Dawn Copeman
http://www.writing-world.com/dawn/dawn14.shtml
Writing for Young Readers, by Eugie Foster
The ABCs of Writing for Kids: Active, Brief, and Cut Cut Cut
http://www.writing-world.com/foster/foster08.shtml
NEW ARTICLES:
-------------
State Magazines: Ten Tips for Landing Great Features in Your
Home Area, by Sean McLachlan
http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/state.shtml
When Authors Engage in Public Speaking, by Patricia Fry
http://www.writing-world.com/promotion/pubspeaking.shtml
*****************************************************************
RECOMMENDED WRITING CLASSES
*****************************************************************
Freelancing for Newspapers, by Sue Fagalde Lick. 8 weeks, $100;
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/newspapers.shtml
Fundamentals of Fiction, by Marg Gilks. 8 weeks, $150; enroll at
any time! http://www.writing-world.com/classes/fiction.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. Unless
otherwise indicated, competitions are open to all adult writers.
For more contests, check our contests database.
http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.shtml
JOYOUS PUBLISHING CONTESTS
--------------------------
DEADLINE: March 15, 2007
GENRE: Short Stories, Nonfiction
OPEN TO: Anyone worldwide
LENGTH: Up to 10,000 words
PRIZE: $50, $30 and publication in anthology
URL: http://joyouspub.com/wst_page6.html
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR SINGLE MOMS
--------------------------------
DEADLINE: March 20, 2007
GENRE: Nonfiction
LENGTH 1,000 to 2,000 words
THEME: Must be original, positive, and based on real people and
actual events.
PRIZE: $500
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1539 Cottage Grove, OR 97424
EMAIL: wordsinger"at"aol.com
ANTHEM ESSAY CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
---------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: March 20, 2007
GENRE: Young Writers
THEME: Essays by 9th and 10th graders on the book 'Anthem' by
libertarian novelist Ayn Rand. See website for essay questions
(changes annually).
PRIZE: $2000
URL: http://tinyurl.com/36hwew
CINQUAIN POETRY
---------------
DEADLINE: March 28, 2007
GENRE: Poetry
THEME: For cinquain poems - see website for definition
PRIZE: $100
URL: http://www.fanstory.com/contests.jsp#poetrytype
BE MY VALENTINE WRITING CONTEST
-------------------------------
DEADLINE: March 31, 2007
GENRE: Short Stories, Romance
LENGTH: 1000 - 2500 words
PRIZE: $250 & publication in anthology
URL: http://www.writersunblocked.com
EMAIL: info"at"writersunblocked.com
L. RON HUBBARD'S WRITERS OF THE FUTURE CONTEST
----------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: March 31, 2007
GENRE: Short Stories
OPEN TO: Any unpublished author worldwide THEME: Fantasy, Sci-Fi
or Horror: All types of science fiction, fantasy and horror with
fantastic elements, are welcome.
LENGTH: 17,000 words max
PRIZE: $1000 each quarter, chance to win annual prize of $4000
URL: http://www.writersofthefuture.com/index2.htm
EMAIL: etoth"at"galaxypress.com
*****************************************************************
AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF: Books by Our Readers
----------------------------------------
Britain's Medieval Castles, by Lise Hull
Byzantium: An Illustrated History, by Sean McLachlan
The Great Castles of Britain and Ireland, by Lise Hull
Tracing Your Family History, by Lise Hull
Find these and more great books at
http://www.writing-world.com/books/index.shtml
Have you just had a book published? If so, let our readers know:
just click on the link below to list your book.
http://www.writing-world.com/books/listyours.shtml
*****************************************************************
ADVERTISE in WRITING WORLD or on WRITING-WORLD.COM! For details
on how to reach 60,000 writers a month with your product, service
or book title, visit
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/adrates.shtml
****************************************************************
Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
http://www.writing-world.com
Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (editors"at"writing-world.com)
Site/Newsletter Editor:
DAWN COPEMAN (editorial"at"writing-world.com)
Copyright 2007 Moira Allen
Individual articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues archived at
http://www.writing-world.com/newsletter/index.shtml
Writing World is hosted by Listbox.com - http://v2.listbox.com
*****************************************************************
Subscribers are welcome to recirculate Writing World to
friends, discussion lists, etc., as long as the ENTIRE text
of the newsletter is included and appropriate credit is given.
Writing World may not be circulated for profit purposes.
*****************************************************************
Do not reply to this message to subscribe or unsubscribe! To
subscribe to Writing World, send a blank e-mail to
subscribe-writing-world"at"v2.listbox.com. To unsubscribe, send a
blank e-mail to unsubscribe-writing-world"at"v2.listbox.com.
To change your address, please unsubscribe your old address and
subscribe your new address. You can also use the subscription
box at the top of the page at http://www.writing-world.com
Copyright © 2011 by Moira Allen. All rights reserved.
Copyright to individual articles held by authors.