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A Monthly Zine & Online Community For Emerging Writers Published & Edited By Christina Katz |
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Writers On The Rise Inspiration, Insight and Ideas For Emerging Writers
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Dear Fellow Writers... Question: Are You Pro-active?
Most writing-for-publication problems can be solved with the answer to this four-word question: “Am I being proactive?”
Because, let’s face it, the answer to this question is sometimes, “No.”
And yet, when nothing is happening, we writers often spend time analyzing why things aren’t going the way we’d like them to, rather than simply taking more action in the direction in which we’d like to succeed.
Writers can be reluctant, afraid, and sometimes downright stubborn. I know because I’ve been all of these things and––so far, at least––I don’t seem to have developed any immunity to these three “deadlies.”
What if I want to putter, procrastinate, and do just about anything but the task at hand? What is a right-brained, easily distracted girl like me to do when spring fever strikes with a vengeance?
Historically, the best way I get past “stuck” is by kicking myself into proactive gear (which usually means giving myself a lil’ ol’ boot in the derriere). I can use just about anything that seems more fun than what I am doing as bait to keep my writer-self on task.
A beautiful day? I get to go outside AFTER my work is done. The urge to plant things? I get to garden AFTER I answer all my e-mails. Planning and shopping for Samantha’s fifth birthday? (That does sound fun!) But only AFTER I confirm a few upcoming author appearances.
What have you done for your writing career lately? I’m talking about action steps. I’m talking about energetically connecting with others in a position to assist you in achieving the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Time to spring forward. Time to launch into action. Time to dare.
In the writing spirit,
Christina Katz
P.S. My book Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids is now officially for sale, hurray! (Thank you, everyone, who pre-ordered by Valentine’s Day! The official thank you is in my blog.) What a long and educational road it’s been getting to this point; and of course, now begins part two of the journey. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, chances are good that I’ll be appearing at a bookstore or conference near you. Please check my event calendar for a complete list of appearances.
P.P.S. Two classes with Christina Katz begin on April 18th: Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff and Platform Building Basics for Writers. Classes fill, so register today if you want to reserve your space! Get the full scoop at http://www.writersontherise.com/classes.html.
Just getting started? Visit: Get Published & Prosper in 2007: The Essential Resource List Features: Agent & Editor Insights by Cindy Hudson (Lori Russell—alternate months) Platform Development 101 by Christina Katz
Ask Wendy by Wendy Burt Time Management for Writers by C. Hope Clark The Writer-preneur by Gregory Kompes The Parent-writer by Sharon Cindrich Freelancers' Phrase Book by Abigail Green Writing Conference Success by Mary Andonian Conference Confab by Pamela Kim Good Reads For Writers by Cathy Belben Green Markets To Pitch by Susan W. Clark The Copywriter's Paycheck by Elizabeth Short Shanghai Writing Adventures by Kristin Bair O'Keeffe Closing Words by Sage Cohen
WOTR-Related Announcements & Gleanings Upcoming Classes with Christina Katz Contributor Appearances & Events Support WOTR (Anytime of year!) Look for the ^ Back to Table of Contents ^ button! WOTR-RELATED ANNOUNCEMENTS & GLEANINGS...
OUR PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE MOVED & ARE NOW OPEN TO SUBSCRIBERS Now contributors and subscribers can post roars anytime throughout the month simply by leaving a "comment" on the WOTR Rising Writers Roar Board. Go there now but don't leave until you've posted an accomplishment that makes you feel proud. Learn How to Roar: http://risingwritersroarboard.wordpress.com/how-to-roar/ Don't forget to RSS subscribe so you won't miss an announcement!
WE NOW HAVE OUR OWN LISTSERV GROUP—JOIN TODAY, IT'S FREE! Keep in touch with former classmates and meet writers from other WOTR classes who are just as sincere about advancing their writing career as you are! Subscribers, new and old, can also join in! Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/writersontherisemaingroup/ and use your Yahoo ID to sign in and join our group (if you don't have a Yahoo ID, you can always get one today!). I hope you'll join us! We are currently in need of a volunteer list moderator. Please e-mail Christina to apply.
Shop at our Writer's on the Rise aStore! Every purchase on books, magazines and products featured in this and upcoming zines, supports Writers on the Rise.
Reserve your copy/copies before WM goes into a second printing! Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids is an irreplaceable career-growing tool for mom writers everywhere. If you are excited about the book’s recent release, please show your support by reserving a copy at your local independent bookseller. Locate an independent bookseller here. Writer Mama makes a great gift for you and all your writer mama friends. Or support WOTR when you order at our Amazon store!
RAFFLE-O-RAMA! Give books away, give ‘em away, give ‘em away now! That’s what Writers on the Rise is going to do all year long! No winners for February. I guess everyone was so eager to purchase WM that they forgot to enter the contest! (Wink.) But it's so easy to win, why not order a copy AND refer three friends for a chance to score an extra copy? See below for details on how to enter.
How You Can Win! Every month of 2007 we'll be giving away one copy of Writer Mama, How To Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids. This copy, signed by the author, can be yours, absolutely free, when you invite three writer friends to subscribe to Writers on the Rise. CC or BCC us a copy of the e-mail you send them at Sagewotr@earthlink.net. You will earn one chance to win in our end-of-month drawing. Invite three more and win another chance. The more (legitimate writer friends only, no spamming, please!) you share us with, the better your odds of winning. (Subscribers only please. Offer not available for WOTR columnists.) Your Publishing Questions Answered By Wendy Burt
Q: I’m thinking about self-publishing a book. What do I need to know? A: If you have a completed book, first let me say congratulations. Many writers never get to the point of completing a lengthy manuscript. Pat yourself on the back!
When considering self-publishing, here are a few things to consider:
Beware of vanity publishers. There are a lot of vanity publishers out there looking to make a buck off of naïve but productive writers. Most (but not all) will tell you how great your book is (some without even reading it!), send you a letter saying your work has been “chosen,” and then charge you ghastly sums of money to provide you with copies. In most cases, you’d be better off just going to a local printer. Choose a realistic print quantity. Most printers will give you a price break at a certain print run––say, 1,000. It may not sound like much, but take this test: Make a list now of 1,000 people you could give the book to. Tough, huh? You might be lucky to come up with 50. (And we’re talking about GIVING the book away, not selling it. That’s even MORE difficult!) Decide if you expect to pitch your book to a larger publisher someday. Some publishers are turned off by the thought of books that have been self-published. Unless you can show a huge following and prove amazing sales numbers (not just “the friends I gave it to said they really liked it!”), the general consensus among agents/publishers is that if you had to self-publish the book, it may not have been good enough to get picked up by a publisher. (This feeling is magnified if you tell the publisher that no one picked it up when you submitted the book proposal, so you self-published it!) Very few authors have succeeded in self-publishing and then getting their book picked up by a big publisher. Those who are successful in self-publishing don’t necessarily want to find another publisher, because they are usually making more money per book by selling it themselves. Know what to expect. If you expect to make money self-publishing, you’ll need a major platform. If you teach classes and can use the book as curriculum, or already have a Web site or speaking circuit where you can sell the books, go for it. Otherwise, just writing a book and expecting strangers to buy it will set you up for disappointment–and an attic full of books.
If you really want to see your book in print, a great, reputable place to start is www.booklocker.com. Click on “Publish & Sell” and read about your options for print-on-demand (POD) books. The site also offers great tips on marketing.
Articles, books, greeting cards, oh my! Wendy Burt is a successful full-time freelance writer and editor who has more than doubled her income since leaving her job as a newspaper editor just three years ago. With two women's humor books for McGraw-Hill and more than 1,000 published pieces, Wendy's typical day might including writing ad copy, greeting cards, health articles, personal profiles or her marketing column for Her Business magazine. Her work has appeared in such varied publications as Family Circle, The Writer, MSNBC.com, NewYorkTimes.com, Home Cooking Magazine and American Fitness. Wendy teaches "Breaking Into Freelance Writing" and still finds ample time to spend with her beautiful baby, Gracie. Visit www.BurtCreations.com to see books by Wendy and her award-winning dad. SPRING FORWAWRD IN YOUR WRITING CAREER—STARTING APRIL 18TH Finally, a writing workshop that fits into the busy lives of moms! The focus is on getting you into print sooner, rather than later, and without pulling all-nighters or paying a fortune in babysitter fees. You will learn how to write and publish short, easy-to-write articles before you work your way up to longer, more time-consuming articles (like features and profiles). Try your pen at tips, fillers, short interviews, list articles, how-tos, and short personal essays. Have fun in the little time you have to write and submit what you complete for publication. The best way to prove you can make money writing is to start doing it! Two detailed reviews of your drafts-in-progress are included at weeks three and six (you choose one piece each time). Busy dads and non-parents are also welcome. Class worksheets are brief and get right to the point, while providing plenty of encouragement and examples from moms who have been where you are. Two detailed reviews of your draft-in-progress are included at weeks three and six. Visit http://www.writersontherise.com/classes.html for more information.
As a new writer, I submitted articles to editors and waited impatiently for their reply. The mechanics of sending a proposal and waiting for the answer drove me crazy. Then the light came on…why was I waiting and why wasn’t I moving on?
I needed a mechanism that managed my deadlines, follow-ups and submissions so I could focus intently on future opportunities and better manage my time. My system of spreadsheets was born. Mine is called “Keep 13 in Play.” (I strive for 13 live queries or articles at all times.) Yours could be “Keep Five Alive” or “Create Eight” or “I Agree To Write Three.” The point is to find a target number of queries or articles that feels realistic for you, then name it and maintain it.
The system consists of three spreadsheets. Sheet One chronologically lists your submissions, noting the rejections and acceptances. Sheet Two alphabetically lists your submissions by publisher, keeping all articles sent to the same publisher in a group. Sheet Three lists your submissions by title so you can see how many places you’ve sent the same article.
As an Excel lover, I prefer spreadsheets, but you can substitute tables or simple lists, if you like. Here’s what the spreadsheets should look like:
Spreadsheet One – Make a table or spreadsheet with these column headers:
Use each column as follows:
Spreadsheet Two – This spreadsheet lists publishers in alphabetical order. This list warns me not to send the article to the same publisher twice or tells me the types of articles a publisher accepts based on past experience.
Spreadsheet Three – This spreadsheet lists titles in alphabetical order. Here I can look up an article and see where I’ve sent it, if it’s still outstanding or published. This way I do not accidentally send an article to several publishers at once, which can make for an embarrassing moment, believe me.
Initially, you might fear having so many queries awaiting editorial replies. Receiving all those assignments at once can be scary. So start with whatever target number works for you. Just remember that as a freelance writer, you need multiple assignments to spread your income over several months. It is unlikely that all of the editors will reply at the same time. But if they do––and they want your work––just dig in. Imagine how many writers yearn for this kind of success.
C. Hope Clark is founder and editor of FundsforWriters.com, annually recognized by Writer’s Digest in its poll of 101 Best Web Sites for Writers. She delivers four newsletters each week to thousands with her specialty being grants and income opportunities for writers of all sizes. She’s published over 200 articles on paper and online. Her magazine credits include Writer’s Digest, The Writer Magazine, ByLine Magazine, NextStep Teen, College Bound Teen, Landscape Management Magazine, TURF Magazine, and American Careers Magazine. Hope is a motivational soul known as “Freelance Hope” in many circles. Those reluctant to promote their writing cherish her trade paperback The Shy Writer: An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Success. Find more hope for your writing career at www.fundsforwriters.com & www.theshywriter.com.
<<<Tracey Ryder of Edible Communities magazines By Cindy Hudson
Tracey Ryder didn’t intend to start a national phenomenon when she created Edible Ojai magazine with business partner Carol Topalian. She just wanted to produce a magazine about something she cared about: locally grown foods and the farmers who produce them. But shortly after their publication debuted, the women were swamped with calls from people around the country wanting to print a similar publication in their own areas. To meet the demand, they created Edible Communities to license other magazines with a similar format in communities nationwide. That was in 2004. Three years and five million readers later, the company will welcome its 25th Edible magazine into the fold, and there’s still a long list of communities in the queue.
I recently talked with Tracey about the commonalities and differences among these publications as well as the various opportunities for freelance writers.
Is there a common goal for Edible magazines? Yes. We are striving to connect consumers with people in their communities who grow and produce local foods. We want to have a consistent brand in place, but we also let the local publishers have as much creative freedom as possible so the magazines don’t feel homogenized or like “cookie-cutter” publications.
Are most freelance contributors local to each magazine’s publishing area? Most of the time editors work with local freelancers who know local stories. But there are opportunities for all different levels of writers. Beginning writers can get bylines and very seasoned, experienced natural food writers who happen to live in the community also contribute. In Santa Fe for example, Deborah Madison, a well-known food writer, is a contributor. And college students who are trying to get their feet wet as food writers are also featured. It’s a nice collection of different perspectives.
If a writer has an idea for a story that would work for more than one community, whom should she approach? Writers can approach us at the headquarters level, and we always encourage them to contact the local editors as well. A lot of times we get story ideas that are specific to a region, for instance California or the Northeast, where we have clusters of magazines. So we forward those to the local publishers who decide as a group if they want to run the article(s) as regional piece(s). We’re usually able to pay a slightly higher fee to a writer who’s going to run something in multiple publications.
Are there opportunities for stories to run nationally? We have one national column now called Edible Nation that’s in all the Edibles. People like Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollan and Michael Ableman have contributed to that so far, and we’re very open to ideas for that column. Our Web site is also going through a major renovation, and it’s going to change a lot. There will be much more content that we’re creating specifically for the Web to keep that fresh and different from our printed publications. It will be a separate channel that we’ll probably begin using writers for in April or May.
What should writers know before pitching an Edible magazine on a story idea? Obviously, they need to be knowledgeable about local foods. We say our publications are narrow and deep. Our subject matter is quite narrow, because we focus on regional, local food items that are fresh and in season. And it’s deep because we want to know everything we can about those items. We also love the human-interest side of all our editorials. Let’s say the story is about a winemaker or a cheese maker or a farmer. We really want to know who that person is or who their family is or what their motivation is for doing what they’re doing.
What do you like to see in a query? Creative thinking is well rewarded. As much as we’ve done in this field, we definitely don’t know it all. And because we want to be narrow and deep and really get to know the communities we’re in, there’s so much information we can never find out ourselves. Writers who dig up ideas are our lifelines to what’s happening, and we really want to hear from them.
What’s the best way to query you? E-mail works best because we’re so spread out. I traveled about 150,000 miles last year, and I wasn’t in any one place for more than seven days.
Contact Tracey at tracey@ediblecommunities.com. Links to Web sites for all 25 Edible publications can be found at http://www.ediblecommunities.com/.
Cindy Hudson writes for national trade magazines, regional magazines, online publications and daily newspapers. Her Web site, www.motherdaughterbookclub.com, and its companion blog, www.motherdaughterbookclub.wordpress.com, publishes reading lists, book reviews, author interviews and other book club resources. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Portland, Oregon, where she writes weekly for The Oregonian. Visit her online at www.cindyhudson.com.
Brand Your Career with a Blog By Gregory A. Kompes
Web logs, "blogs" for short, started out as online teenage diaries, a way for kids to express their experiences and voices online. Over the last ten years, these teenage rant pages have evolved. From the writer's perspective, a blog is now a respected way to form a personal connection between you and your readers. Writers with panache and personality can quickly build a readership; and a large blog readership will result in more sales of your books and services. Offered in a variety of easy-to-use styles, blogs are a great way to build your writer-preneur brand.
How to get started. A basic blog is easy to create. If you're new to blogging, I recommend that you start with a free provider like Blogger (http://www.blogger.com) or WordPress (http://wordpress.com). This will give you a chance to kick the blogging tires. Both of these sites have easy account set-up procedures and user-friendly interfaces. Just click the "Sign Up" link, provide some basic information, choose a name for your blog, and select a template. In fewer than five minutes you've got your own blog.
What to post. The main reason to create a blog is to connect with and build your audience. Frequent posts––one or more a week––will keep your readers coming back. An ongoing, niche-topic commentary increases your credibility as an expert in your niche. This will build your readership and result in more book and service sales. Blogs are also the perfect place to announce events like book signings, speaking engagements and new book and product release information.
Benefits of blogging. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, copy or technical, your blog, if updated regularly, is a source for current information and ideas. Regular contact with your audience builds trust. Blogs aren't one sided; your readers can also share their comments and opinions with you. This will help you better understand your readers, which can make you a better niche writer. Having a strong Web presence increases the likelihood that new readers of your topic will quickly find you through search engines, because most blog sites automatically handle all the Search Engine Optimization of your posts. (If you don't know what that is, trust me, it's a good thing.)
It's possible to earn income directly from your blog, too. Beyond selling your own books and services, many bloggers take advantage of ad placement, click advertising, partnerships, and affiliate programs. (The possibilities and pitfalls of these will be discussed in an upcoming column.) In the meantime, why not get blogging?
Gregory A. Kompes (www.Kompes.com) is a writer, speaker, mentor and coach. He is the author of the #1 bestseller 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, The Endorsement Quest, Turning Your Writing Hobby into a Writing Career, and The Everyday Gay Activist. Gregory is the editor of The Fabulist Flash, an informative newsletter for writers, founder of LAMOO Books, and Coordinator of the Las Vegas Writer's Conference. The author holds a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, NY, and is currently a MS in Education candidate at California State University, Eastbay.
The Parent Writer: Strategies for Success Work and Play Groups By Sharon Miller Cindrich
Play groups. When my kids were little, our weeks revolved around these glorious, once-a-week get-togethers at a friend’s house for a donut, some play time and a little socialization. And it wasn’t just for the kids. In fact, most of the time, it was for my own sanity.
Writing, like parenting, can be frustrating, confusing and extremely isolating. And going it alone is never easy. Playgroups, like writing groups, can be a great resource for confidence boosting, problem solving and overall support. Whether you’re stuck at home with a nasty deadline or a child with a nasty case of croup, looking forward to connecting with fellow comrades can get you through the tough times and make you a better parent and writer.
Can you find both a writing group and a playgroup in one? All of your parent friends may not be writers and vice versa. However, finding even just one other writer mama (or papa) to connect with on everything from deadlines to diapers, writing schedules to feeding schedules and word-counts to time-outs can not only boost your attitude and your energy level, but also help you establish your network, increase your productivity and keep you focused.
Where can you find this other crazy individual or individuals, folding laundry with one hand and typing on the laptop with another? They are out there, trust me, and they need you, so don’t be shy. Try these ideas to get connected with another writer mama or papa.
Spread the word Make an announcement at the places you hang with other parents–playgroups, church groups, carpools and school hallways. It may be hard to spot a writer who is also parenting a gaggle of kids, but don’t assume you’re the only one.
Check out the library Many writers like to read, so check out places like your local bookstore or library where many writing parents can indulge their interests and keep their kids occupied as well. Ask about established writing groups, and scope out members that might be mommies or daddies, too.
Connect online This is one of my personal favorites. It doesn’t require you to even leave your house. Find a fellow writer mama or papa online like at sites like www.thewritermama.com, where you can (soon) click "WM Unite" and connect with comrades and expand your writer mama community. Plan on a once a week IM session or iChat with a fellow writer mama to check in and exchange ideas and resources.
Take a class togetherWhy not take a class with another writer mama with the intention of continuing on after the class is over? This is a terrific way to launch a writer’s group. Chose a writer-mama-only group or open your writer’s group up to non-moms according to the number of participants you’d like to have. If you need more “mompower” you can always pick up the slack online.
Cheers and Applause Writing and Publishing Success Stories
THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE MOVED. Now contributors and subscribers post roars at any time throughout the month by leaving a "comment" on the WOTR Roar Board. Go there now but don't leave until you've posted a recent accomplishment that makes you feel proud.
Success happens in clusters, writers! Keep the announcements coming and keep inspiring us!
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Agent & Editor Insights
Freelancers' Phrase Book
