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Writing Etc. – March 1, 2006

ISSN: 1545-5580

Tips, Techniques, and Resources to Transform You From An Average Freelancer to A Highly Paid Professional.

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To subscr*ibe to Writing Etc. and receive the fr*e e-book, “Power Queries,” surf here:

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Forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends! They’ll be glad you did.

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Notes from Minnesota

Pump Up Your Prose by Shaunna Privratsky

Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

2006 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

Paying Markets

You Speak Out: Q&A

We Recommend…

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This issue is sponsored by:

While many freelance writers struggle to earn a decent wage, Bob Bly has proven again and again, year after year, that it’s not only possible to earn far more, it’s possible to to transform words into a $100,000 per year freelancing business.

And he shares all his secrets within these pages. Secrets like:

• The hidden market most freelancers overlook that can boost your income to unbelievable levels
• The “quiet” magazine market that’s easy to break into and often pays very well
• How to ask for (and get) the fees you deserve
• How to use Bob’s “positioning” techniques to set you apart from your competition
• How to write a “bullet proof” book proposal
• 22 rules for successful self promotion
• Insider secrets to effectively use the Internet to reach your income goals
• How to do more... in less time

Bly goes on to list resources... books, websites, organizations and magazines... that are designed to help you succeed as a freelance writer.

Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success is an indispensable resource for the serious freelancer. Bly’s track record is impeccable. And now he’s spilling his secrets.

Buy your copy today: http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.html

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Greetings from Minnesota!

If you’ve read my blog (http://writingetc.blogspot.com ) you’ll know that I’ve been considering adding another member to our family. Yup. Had my heart set on adopting a puppy.

Problem was, the Humane Society only had BIG dogs available. I honestly didn’t think that a big dog would enjoy my little Filbert office.

In a fit of inspiration, I eyed our huge hamster cage and decided it was time to fill it.

So last weekend, I dragged my dear husband and infinitely patient son to the pet store.

Cage number one was a bust. That hamster was one nasty critter. Biting and hissing, I didn’t think I wanted to put my fingers through the torture of taming him.

Off to cage number two. Tiny, and quite gorgeous, rodents lay sleeping blissfully. However, the minute the helpful clerk dipped her finger into the cage they awoke with a start and instantly transformed from the fuzzy, cuddly, fuzz balls into full-fledged gremlins hissing, lunging, and snapping.

“I don’t think so,” I breathed. “I need someone mellow if they’re going to live with me long term.”

The clerk smiled and said, “You want something mellow. Boy… do I ever have someone for you.”

She reached behind her and pulled out another cage. As she opened the lid, two little pink eyes gazed towards me. A sleek white body uncurled from a deep sleep.

“You’ll never find anyone more mellow than this guy,” the clerk said, “He’ll love your office.” She lifted him from the aquarium and handed him to my dear son.

Instant attraction. Love at first sight.

We forked over five bucks and carried our newest family member home.

We didn’t realize the irony until we introduced Hector our new albino rat to Lucy, our Rat Terrier Wonder Dog.

But she’s getting used to him. Hasn’t tried to eat him today… yet.

And I’m slowly but surely getting used to that long earth-worm tail of his.

To your success,

Beth

P.S. Here’s our best seller list… be sure to pick up a copy of each of these titles. They’re awesome.

1. Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments by Beth Erickson http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm

2. Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success: How to Make $100,000 a Year as a Freelance Writer and Have The Time of Your Life Doing It. http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.htm

3. Weekly Writes: Exercises in Creative Writing by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta http://filbertpublishing.com/Weekly.htm

(You’ll get a ton of free writing/freelancing tools direct from Shery at http://WeeklyWrites.com when you order this title!)

4. Writing Wide: Exercises in Creative Writing by Billie A. Williams http://filbertpublishing.com/WW.htm

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~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor’s Note: Today we’re excited to present an excerpt from Shaunna Privratsky’s “Pump Up Your Prose” http://filbertpublishing.com/pump.htm  Enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

GREETINGS AND MEETINGS     

"It is good to have an end to journey towards;

but it is the journey that matters in the end."

~ Ursula K. Le Guin ~

            Let’s talk about you.  You are a writer.  You are a writer because you were meant to be a writer.  I don’t think we choose the writing craft; it chooses us.  We merely choose to accept the burden, the joy and the fulfillment. 

            Writing is in your creative thought processes, your delight in the written word and your boundless love of language.  Something clicks in your mind, spirit or heart - call it your soul - when a particular turn of phrase catches your ear or awakens affirmation within.

            You’ve felt a whisper of excitement when you capture that perfect tone.  You feel like dancing when you finally write “the end” and know that it is just the beginning of your writing journey.

            Words clamor to be written.  Characters won’t leave you at peace until you breathe life into them on the page.  Images or dreams play out in your head until you record them on the computer or in your battered notebooks.  I know this because it happened to me and still happens when I turn on the computer or pick up a pen.

            I believe writing chooses us.  You may discover this fact early or late in life - there is no set formula.  You wouldn’t be buying this book if writing hadn’t already snagged you, hook, line and sinker.

            Non-writers don’t get the point.  An author proudly proclaiming his 100th sale or that he landed a major assignment merely bewilders them.  They find it incomprehensible that we continue to write even after being bombarded with rejections or harsh critiques.  Non-writers marvel at the long, seemingly wasted hours we scribble and scratch our way through reams of paper and pounds of ink tanks.

            You really want to get published, don’t you?  You want to make money with your writing, that’s a given, but what you truly desire is showing everyone “Yes!  I actually am a writer.”

            Vindication is a valid goal for writers.  Nothing shuts up detractors faster than a nice fat check made out to you.  Yet I will let you in on a secret.  It’s not a revolutionary idea, in fact you may have already experienced it.

            A deeper reward comes after the hoopla.  After your article, story, essay, poem, screenplay or book has been published in print or on the Internet.  After you’ve cashed the check and your moment of glory is forgotten by everyone except you and a few writer friends.

            Someone comes up to you and tells you how much your words meant to them.  Or you receive a letter or e-mail praising your work.  Wow!  That is it, the big thrill of your first “fan.”  Connecting with your readers affirms your “choice” to become a writer.  

            If any of this strikes a familiar note, you’ve found the right book.  This is a friendly field guide to everything from sprucing up your stories to selling your latest masterpiece.  All of the hints, secrets and advice contained within are backed by solid, time-tested experience.          

            It doesn’t matter what stage of your career you’re at.  Just like in a gym, you can give your words a workout, sculpt your talent, build literary muscle and cash in on those acceptance endorphins.         

            The path to publication, prestige and profits is a meandering one, with no end in sight.  It has milestones along the way and guideposts to get you where you want to be.  You may be taking your first joyful steps on the writing path, be halfway through your career or even way ahead of me.

            I can’t promise you a million-dollar assignment or a ten-book publishing contract.  [I’d like those things myself!]  What I will promise you is that I will share everything I have learned in my years as a freelance writer, no holding back.

            I’ll reveal the steps to total writing fitness and help you through the pain of rejections, writer’s block and procrastination.  Honing target areas of your writing skills will lend you a powerful edge over the competition. 

            This book is written for you.  You are my audience, my reader, and hopefully my exercise partner.  I want to inspire you, to reveal my writer within and give you that “aha” moment when something I wrote sparks a creative frenzy. 

            It is the book I wish I’d had when I was just discovering my passion for prose.  There are tips, shortcuts and formulas for all writers, no matter what genre you specialize in or what level of experience you enjoy. 

            Anyone can give his or her prose a workout.  No matter what part of the path you are on, you can pump up your prose and become a lean, mean writing machine.  The point is, that in writing, as in life, the joy is in the journey.

                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

                                                Your Personal Trainer

            “Achieving something that I thought was impossible gave me a new feeling about who I am. I have a different kind of faith in myself. I don't get as easily discouraged, because I know that with persistence, the right idea will unfold. Nothing seems beyond my reach. I know that, with courage, I can follow my heart no matter what."

                                                  ~ Marcy Basel ~

            Call me your personal trainer or a mentor.  My job is to guide you through this word workout book and leave you with solid writing skills to aid you in your search for success.  I’ll tell you a little about myself so we can get to know one another.        

            A series of apparently random events started me down the wondrously winding path of writing.  Although I had always loved the written word, I had never imagined that I could write anything worthwhile.  Then I read a truly horrible book by a famous author.  The writing was stilted, the plot unbelievable and the characters unsympathetic.  I put it aside without finishing it, the thought 'I could write better than that' ringing in my mind.              Shortly after, I saw an ad for the annual American Mothers Inc. Literature Competition, challenging writers to submit a story about their mother.  My Mom had passed away the year before, after a long courageous battle against cancer. 

            A determination grew in me to write about my Mom’s magnificent life and what she’d meant to me.  I poured out my heart, tears blurring my vision.  My grief was still raw but the wonderful memories we had shared comforted me.  The act of writing helped me begin to heal. 

            After a great deal of soul-searching I submitted “The Silk Robe”.  Much to my amazement, my essay won first place in the state competition and placed second at the national level.  Winning affirmed my belief in myself and strengthened my resolve to continue writing.  It also proclaimed my words had meaning, not just for myself but for others as well. 

            Writing became my passion.  In three months I scribbled two novels and several short stories and essays, taking the first steps down the unexplored path in my life’s journey. 

            It was not an easy path to tread.  My husband, Wade, called me crazy.  He discouraged me every time I picked up my notebook and pen.  He said writing consumed too much time and money.  He wondered why caring for our two young children, Erica and Alex and my part-time job at an interior design store weren’t enough for me. 

            I explained that writing delighted my soul.  I looked at the world with new eyes.  Eyes that noticed the exact color of the sky, ears that listened for an unusual word or turn of phrase, a nose that identified familiar or exotic aromas while my mind conjured stories, plotlines and interesting characters.

            Despite Wade’s disapproval, I joined a local writer’s group.  The first time I went I shook with fear, wondering if the other members would scoff at my writing aspirations.  To my relief, they were just like me; entranced with words and eager to pursue a writing career.

            I overcame my initial shyness and formed several new friendships.  It was so exhilarating to share an interest with others just as passionate about the written word.

            Meanwhile, my boss urged me to promote my winning essay.  After seven months of patience, hard work and a bit of bullheadedness, my booklet “The Silk Robe” was published in memory of my Mom.  The American Cancer Society sponsored “The Silk Robe” at the 2002 Relay for Life.  I donated a portion of the sales to fund cancer research and prevention.    

            Meanwhile a third novel bubbled and boiled in my mind, demanding to be written.  Fully committing to my fledging career, I convinced my husband we needed a home computer.  We found a super deal and within days I was in my element.  My novel poured onto the pages almost faster than I could type the words. 

            With access to the Internet I realized just how ignorant I was.  I absorbed anything and everything I could find about the craft of writing.  I discovered that writing the story is only half the battle.  You also have to market it: find it a home where it can be published.

            I took a leap of faith and sent out several stories and my first two novels.  Soon I began collecting rejection slips; most of them form letters telling me the editors were not interested.  Some of the letters were quite encouraging however, offering me a glimmer of hope.  I followed those glimmers for six months.  Over a dozen short stories, articles, essays and poems circulated in the marketplace, homing pigeons I did not want back.

            Despite my earlier success with “The Silk Robe”, I became disheartened.  The words that had flowed like a river slowed to a crawl, then a trickle.

            Finally I gave myself an ultimatum.  If one of my stories was not published or accepted by the end of the year, I would give up.  Banish my dreams to a dusty corner of my subconscious.  Just quit. 

            God must have known I am not a quitter at heart.  Surely it was a nudge of His divine finger that prompted the editor of E-thought Magazine to send me an e-mail message on December 31, 2001.  An e-mail praising and accepting my short story “The First Snow” for his online magazine.  He mentioned twice that he loved the piece and he was very happy to print it.  Talk about last-minute miracles!

            I have been writing full-throttle ever since.  Writing is often lonely, frustrating and unrewarding.  Sometimes the ever-mounting pile of rejection slips discourages even the most optimistic soul.  Yet it feels incredible when your words sing, when the characters you imagined come alive on the page, when the words come faster than white-hot lightning and when you are immersed in the sizzling heat of your creativity.           

            I will keep writing to fulfill my creative soul.  I will continue on this path I stumbled onto and find myself committed to more and more each day.  I will strive to comfort and touch others with my words.  Most of all I will believe in myself and the talent I am developing. 

            Will you join me?

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You’ve just read an excerpt from Shaunna Privratsky’s Pump Up Your Prose. Pick up your own copy today by clicking this link: http://filbertpublishing.com/pump.htm

~~~~~~ Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career ~~~~~~~

Learn how you can create the life of your dreams writing copy

Kelly Robbins has partnered with best-selling author and founder of Comprehensive Coaching U, Terri Levine, to create a class that will help copywriters follow their dreams and kick-start their copywriting business.

In this 10-week class, you’re going to:

• Clearly identify what niche to work in.
• Find out what is important to your target market. You’ll learn how to get to know them, how to uncover what they need from a copywriter and how to get in front of them.
• Learn what marketing methods work best for successful.
• Discover ways to get in front of your target audience and build a strong and loyal client base.
• Hear interviews with experts in the copywriting and business-building fields — experts that will help you grow your business.
• Learn how to put systems in place so your business runs smoothly and you can spend time doing what you love…copywriting.
• Hear from other business building experts like Chet Holmes, Robert Imbriale and Nancy Morris

This isn’t your traditional copywriting class. You’re going to get your hands dirty and get your business off the ground. You’ll have homework assignments that Kelly and Terri will personally give you feedback on. You’ll develop your marketing materials and create articles for publication — plus we’ll teach you how to get in front of the right person at the publications you want to write for.  You’ll have a clear vision of your business and how it will run.

Every other week of this 10-week course will include expert interviews. Experts in a field that will directly impact your ability to get the business you’ve been thinking about for so long…a business that makes well over $100,000 a year. You will take the action steps necessary to make your dream a reality.

Group sizes are understandably very limited for this roll-out program because we only want the most motivated, serious and excited among you to enroll.

This is highly specialized and serious coaching, training and interactive mentoring support. Please don't join us — unless you clearly desire to better master, develop and apply the copywriting business-building skills we will teach you.

Yes, I’m serious about making high-profits in copywriting this year and creating the business I want.

Click here to find out how.  

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2006 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

I keep harping on this but I’m almost always floored when I discover how few words the average freelancer puts to paper every day.

Just think how quickly you can shoot ahead of your competition (and believe me, you’ll encounter plenty of competition in this biz) just by writing more than the next guy. Sharpening your skills daily. Keeping your mind in the writer’s mindset.

Write daily. No matter what. Even if you don’t have any pending projects.

After all, you’re a writer. You deserve the best success always.

‘Till next time!

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Paying Markets – check ‘em out!

Canter

http://www.equinepost.com/cantermagazine/guidelines.asp

Cat Fancy

http://www.animalnetwork.com/cats/writer.asp

Cats and Kittens

http://www.petpublishing.com/catkit/guidelines.shtml

Reptiles

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/reptiles/detail.aspx?aid=6584&cid=3699

I Love Cats

http://www.iluvcats.com/i-love-cats/writguidfori.html

Bark

http://www.thebark.com/us/submissions.html

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You Speak Out: Q&A

I was wondering about Pen Names. My last name is difficult for people and I think it would be a good idea for me to use an alias when I begin to submit work.

My question is how to go about using a Pen Name. How do you submit using one and when you get paid, do you request that the payment be made to your natural name or will they automatically do it for you?

Mimi

Hey Mimi,

Thanks for your question!

If you’re planning on using a pen name you must realize you’re looking at a few significant pros and cons. Let’s take a quick look at them:

1. You’ll remain anonymous. This can be good if you’re writing something controversial and don’t want to get any flack for it. It’s bad if you’re trying to build a readership that trusts and respects you. Some less than honourable writers use a pen name to “hide” from their readership and you’ll have to contend with that reputation if you choose to use a pen name.
2. Make sure your pen name’s writing style is distinctively different from your own or you may get busted. This can get tricky if you need to write something quick to meet a deadline. If you ever decide to reveal your true identity, you want to be the person who does it, not a sharp eyed reader who has noticed a discrepancy in your writing styles.
3. Make sure your editor/publisher/whoever writes your check is aware that you’re using a pen name. I’m sure you’ll want to be able to cash your checks.
4. Don’t use too many pen names. You want to keep all your alter-egos in order so you don’t inadvertently use the wrong name on a project you’re working on.
5. Be sure to copyright anything you write in your given name. 

Bottom line: If your intent is honourable, a pen name can be a wonderful adventure. Be prepared to explain (repeatedly) why you use a pen name instead of your own. Especially to your family members who probably think the name’s fantastic.

Personally speaking, I saw your name. Loved it. Very unique. I’d consider using it and build a fab reputation based on a name you don’t have to keep track of.

Next Time: Raising Your Rates

E-mail if to Filbertpublishing(@)filbertpublishing.com with the words “Q&A” in the subject line. You just may get your question in an upcoming issue of Writing Etc.

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We Recommend:

Writing For Dollars! The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*- http://www.WritingForDollars.com

WRITERS FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from North America, Europe, Australia and other places. It's free, so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

Are your book sales in a slump? http://BethAnnErickson.com

E-Mag And Web Site Owners! Did you know that Filbert Publishing has an entire cache of articles you can use FREE. Just click the “Freebie” link to your left.

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Writing Etc.

Box 326

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© 2006 Filbert Publishing