So there I am, the young unpublished writer in his 20s working on his novel, Such Lunatic Gods. What genre am I writing in? Science fiction, of course, because that’s what I like reading about. It’s a natural progression, obviously, because I’ve sold a few articles and short stories so it’s time for a full-length piece. I finish it, send it off to publishers, and the rejection slips mount up. I try for an agent, however, and land one. Whoopee! He thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread and promises an exciting future. I start working on the follow-up book. Yet time passes with nothing happening. I’m young, impatient, expecting results. But no publisher biting. I finish with the agent, resigned that I’m a failure and done with writing. Years pass. I’m in a dead-end job one day listening to the radio. An ad comes on saying that the local commercial station, Radio Clyde seeks comedy writers for a planned new series, Six of the Best. I’m not a comedy writer and I’ve never written for radio, but the urge is still there. I dig out the typewriter. I write a sketch called The Curse of Hitler’s Moustache, and glory be, More
Review Copies, Freebies, and Author Copies: Q&A
/ 2019-12-06Think the author of a new book is entitled to unlimited copies? Think again. Here we look at author copies, review copies, and giving away freebies. What is a review copy? Often known as ARCs (advance review copies), review copies are a promotional version of the book for the trade and media. They will not always have the final cover and will be marked as “not for resale.” There may be a few things missing, such as index and pagination, and some editing often needs to be done. What are they for? They’re sent out months in advance to publications, influencers, wholesalers, and sales reps in the hopes of generating reviews and publicity. It’s always understood that the ARC is not the final version of the book. Does the author get any review copies? Not necessarily, as they are mostly for the publisher to share with their network. Hope’s publisher gives her no print ARCs but does provide ebook ARCs via NetGalley. The publisher of my short story collection typically sends out ten print ARCs to authors, with the possibility of more if needed. What’s the difference between an ARC and an author copy? Author copies are simply the agreed More
Simplify Your Writing Life
/ 2019-11-23I don’t know about you, but in my attempt to keep up with publishing changes, my stress level often rises. My email box posts roughly 200 emails daily, the majority of them telling me how to best edit, publish, market, and partner with influencers. How to work Amazon. . . how to hate Amazon. How print sales are falling. . . how they are rising. How bookstores are struggling. . . how they are surging back. I see so many writers scrambling to the next shiny thing trying to grasp the latest advice, tool, or concept. Of course books, courses, podcasts, and conferences are going to instill in you the right path to take for each venture. I recently watched a TED talk about how emotions can change the shape of your heart. Emotions can also mean stress if you listen to the speaker (or read the text online). Your heart takes a beating with stress and can literally show the signs in the shape it changes to and from. I’m a serious advocate of simplifying life. There a few indie authors I watch from afar, on one hand admiring their persistence and drive. . . on the other hand grateful I’m More
The Unseen Writer: Ghostwriting for the Corporate Sphere
/ 2019-11-16An entire world of writing exists for which you’ll never see a by-line. Welcome to the world of corporate ghostwriting, where product descriptions and press releases pay. Here’s what you’re in for, and why it’s a great writing gig any day. What You’re Writing Corporate ghostwriting is a vast field that includes product descriptions, manuals, press releases, packaging content, site blogs, reviews, newsletters, lessons and sometimes internal training content. Most ghostwriting is handled by in-house writers, but much gets outsourced to contracted copywriters or agencies. Corporates Prefer Agencies Most of my corporate ghostwriting work has been through leading copy agencies: Large companies like Coca-Cola usually prefer to hire equally large agencies. Sure, you’ll still get work as a sole writer, but join forces with a copywriting agency, and you’ll get your ‘in’ faster. Getting In Establish connections with copywriting agencies, CEOs, company marketing heads, and other “corporate types” – long-term relationships and word of mouth carry faster than ads when people are looking for writers, and it’s a good thing if your name comes up. Cold pitch: One e-mail placed right can launch a thousand jobs. “Hey, I used this writer. Try him.” Startup Companies Target smaller, startup companies with More
Owning Your Pockets of Time
/ 2019-11-01How much better is silence; the coffee cup, the table. How much better to sit by myself like the solitary sea-bird that opens its wings on the stake. Let me sit here for ever with bare things, this coffee cup, this knife, this fork, things in themselves, myself being myself. ~Virginia Woolf I’m an advocate of alone time, and nothing soothes me more than walking in nature or sitting at the keyboard composing a story. An extrovert I am not, and solitude energizes me. But when my grandson started kindergarten at a school three miles from my house, and my husband quickly volunteered the two of us to pick him up everyday, I wondered if I could afford to lose that time in my already packed schedule. Sure, we could switch off days, but still, that school line of cars meant a solid hour or more out of my day. . . with nothing productive to show for it. The first week I arrived 45 minutes ahead of schedule, parked in line, and tackled editing a manuscript that was already on a tight deadline. Before I knew it the cars started moving, and I had completed a major chunk More
Interest a Publisher with Children’s Nonfiction Ideas
/ 2019-11-01As a writer of children’s nonfiction, I’ve enjoyed a fairly steady flow of work over the years. The usual pattern is that publishers come up with ideas for new books, then approach me to write them. Occasionally though, when work is thin on the ground, I’ve had to adopt a more proactive approach by going out and selling myself as a writer for hire. I’ve found the best way of doing this is to come bearing gifts in the form of juicy new ideas for books. 1. First approach It’s important to avoid giving the impression that you’re desperate for work. A common formulation, when writing to a publisher, might be: ‘Dear X, I hope all is well with you. Just to let you know, I’m coming to the end of a big project and should be free to take on new commissions from [insert month after current one].’ You might then go on mention that you’ve got a few ideas, and suggest a meeting to discuss them. 2. Ideas? What ideas? If you don’t actually have any ideas at this stage, now would be a good time to come up with some. For inspiration, look in your local bookshop More
Squeezing the Most Out of a Writer’s Training Course
/ 2019-11-01Whether it’s a masterclass on finding a literary agent, a seminar on improving your social media skills, or a workshop on self-publishing, investing in some training can give your writing career a massive boost – so long as it’s the right training. I’ve been running training courses in copywriting for 20 years and have attended many courses for my own development, too. There are lots of things you can do to make sure that the course you’re considering is right for your needs, assuring that you receive the maximum bang for your buck. You can address a lot of my points by contacting the provider with a few questions beforehand. The way they respond will tell you a lot about whether they’re a good fit for you. Look hard at the track record of the trainer Is your trainer being an admirable practitioner of what they teach? If they’re teaching creative writing, what have they actually published themselves? If they’re offering a marketing course, what do their own promotional materials look like? Check their Amazon rankings and read reviews of their work. Talk to others who’ve done the training Personal recommendations help you understand if the course is really right More
Writing for University Publications
/ 2019-10-24Universities produce tremendous amounts of written material—magazines, newsletters, websites. These publications rarely post guidelines for interested freelancers, but some investigation can pay off. First, dive into the institution’s website. Links for “alumni” and “alumni relations” will lead to alumni magazines. To find the institution’s regularly updated news site, try “university news” or “public affairs.” Search for “development” and “donor relations” to identify publications aimed at philanthropists. Visit the specific web pages for the institution’s most highly ranked programs to see if they maintain their own publications. Look for a masthead in sample copies or on the website. The university’s staff directory often provides contact information for editors you find. Some universities hire contract writers for special projects such as time-limited fundraising campaigns. Go to the university’s careers page and search for “writer,” “public relations,” “marketing” or “content.” This will yield both on-site jobs and contract positions, if available. No matter which type of university publication you are pitching, here are a few things to keep in mind: Start with your home institution An institution will likely prioritize assigning work to its own alumni. If you have an alma mater, start there. When pitching be sure to mention your degree and More
Pantser or Plotter
/ 2019-10-24“I’m very much a writer who lets the story develop. I have no idea how the book is going to end. . .I don’t know what my characters are capable of until I spend a hundred pages with them.” David Baldacci, told to The Daily Beast I listened to a freelance editor teach an audience once about pantsers versus plotters. When dealing with a newer author, she can tell the difference in the manuscript. The pantsers tend to write long, while the plotters write lighter. I had to think about that, and after a moment realized I’ve preached something parallel for ages. Plotters (or those who outline in depth before writing the story) have mapped out the story. In my experience, outlining robs the energy from the storytelling. The author may think they’ve told their story thoroughly in the “retelling” they are doing in the manuscript, but because they are in essence retelling, the repetition often makes the author feel like they’ve already told it. The brain is a weird and tricky organ. But that is my opinion. Pantsers (or those who make up the story as they write the manuscript) are mapping as they go, so they fear leaving More
Best Practices for Working with a Producer, Agent or Manager in Film & TV
/ 2019-10-11Producers. Agents. Managers. Oh my! As a writer looking to make a living in the world of entertainment, these enigmatic creatures will be an integral part of your journey from unproduced novice to sought-after scribe du jour. Learning to work with them in a way that proves mutually beneficial means creating a winning environment for both sides, creatively and economically. (That’s why we call it “show business” and not “show show.”) And while no step-by-step guidebook exists for doing this, because no two individuals are alike, I can suggest a handful of best practices that neophyte writers should keep in mind as they find themselves seeking these useful and often necessary allies. First off, let’s clarify some basic definitions of each role so we know exactly who we’re talking about. Producer – The chief visionary of a production who hires a writer to create a story or buys and develops her already written story with the ultimate intention of filming it for mass consumption. Agent – A commission-based representative who is solely responsible for seeking out and procuring work for the writer or selling the writer’s material. Manager – A commission-based representative who is tasked with guiding a writer’s career More