Notes from Minnesota
Hey
Freelancer!
Have you ever wondered about the nature
of ideas?
Common sense would say that ideas flit
out of no where, perch on your shoulder, then you have to cultivate it into a full-fledged
project.
I suppose that's true,
but...
The way it works for most creative types
is that an idea flits, you start working on it, then another one flits, and another, and another, and yet another.
In other words, the more ideas you take action on, the more ideas drop on you.
Before you know it, you've got ten
projects going and new ideas flowing in so fast there's no end in sight.
That's where I'm at right now. It's a fun
place, an organizational challenge to be sure.
My point? Start working on your ideas.
Watch new ones flow in. But most importantly, have fun. :)
Have a fabulous (and profitable)
week,
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Five Reasons You Can't Sell Your Writing
Beth Ann Erickson
You slave over your
writing. You tweak it. You read books on how to improve your communication skills. You may attend classes. You
listen to teleseminars. You watch videos.
You've got a message to
share, a burning desire to write and yet... the selling part sucks. Heck, I'll be blunt. If you're like most
freelancers, selling your writing is often the most challenging aspect of this biz.
We freelancers tend
towards the beautiful, creative part of life, the writing, the imagination, the lofty hours tapping the keyboard;
often finding the baser nature of “selling” that writing to be unappealing.
We don't want to become
the slick infomercial host shilling his wares on late night television. Writers who hock their talents too
vigorously are often thought of as “sell outs.”
So here many
writers sit, in the netherworld of faithfully writing, drafting queries, and eeking out a barely sustainable
living.
What if there were a
middle ground, a place where you can write until your heart's content while maintaining your integrity as a
writer?
I think such a place
exists.
Having lived and worked on
both sides of the editorial desk, I can pinpoint 5 distinct errors most freelancers make when it comes to selling
their writing. Overcoming these errors can, in fact, make selling your writing far easier. Here they are in no
particular order of importance:
Writing Like a
Writer
This one gets me in sooo
much trouble. Whenever I approach this subject, I invariably get angry e-mails from unhappy retired English
teachers. Allow me to apologize in advance for what I'm about to say, but here goes:
If you want to sell your
writing in today's economy, you need to effectively communicate with the average reader. This means you don't write
above the 6th or
7th grade level. This
also means you write in a very oral fashion. This means you just may break a few grammar rules, occasionally use
slang, and match current ebbs and flows in communication styles.
Brilliant marketers watch
trends, match them, and instantly become a “friendly” in the eyes of their target audience.
Savvy freelancers mimic
these marketers by watching trends, ride the crest, and are always one step ahead of their “competition” because
they tweak their writing style to match the way their intended market communicates.
If you want to grow a
large readership, write to communicate. Don't write to match grammar rules.
Not Using the Right
Voice
This concept dove tails
nicely with what we just talked about.
Before you contact a
prospective editor with a query, study their communication style. Every company has a unique “voice.” Match it and
you'll have a bigger chance of making the sale. (Note: also, send your query to an actual person, not a “to whom it
may concern.”)
For example, Filbert
Publishing maintains a fairly casual communication style. When I receive a query written in too formal a style, I
know the book will probably follow suit and we won't be able to effectively sell it. Boom. Opportunity lost for the
author.
That being said, some
publishing houses maintain a very formal style.
You need to take note of
your target audience's unique voice and match it, always careful to be aware of where they stand along the “grammar
continuum.”
What I mean by “grammar
continuum” is that some publications communicate in a far more oral style than others. While grammar rules are
relaxing to a degree, how much they're relaxed is dependent upon the organization itself.
Some publications will
toss a query with a grammo in it. Others will toss queries that are too grammatically correct. It all
depends.
Talk about muddy advice,
eh?
I'll simplify. When you're
writing to a person, one reader, you're fairly safe in writing in a more oral written style. If you're writing to a
publishing house or business, tighten the belt a bit, keep an eye on the grammar rules, and match the business'
unique “voice.”
The “Who Cares”
Test
This one's rather harsh,
but it's a reality you face when you market your writing.
Whenever you pitch an idea
to an editor, make sure it passes the “who cares” test. Unless you can demonstrate a large readership on your
particular topic, the chances of your selling that piece are slim to none.
For example, many newbie
writers begin by trying to sell memoirs or personal essays. Unless these two projects move beyond your personal
experiences and will somehow interest a large enough audience, don't count on it getting
published.
For example, if you
triumphed over a deadly disease, readers may be interested in knowing how you did it. Sadly, they won't be
interested in your general life story.
I've received a number of
“growing up on a farm” queries lately, and again, the market isn't large enough for that particular subject. But if
something of note happened on that farm... well that's another story. :)
The point is to find a
hook, a reason why someone should care about what you have to say.
And how do you find that
hook?
We'll start there next
time. :)
~~~
Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert
Publishing. She’s also the author of numerous titles including “101 No Cost and Low Cost Secrets To Turbo Charge
Your Freelance Income.” Pick up your copy today at http://filbertpublishing.com/101.html She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of
Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers.
P.S. You can use this article free of charge on your own website or zine. Just don’t
make any changes and be sure to include the entire byline. Enjoy!
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I
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The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83
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-*-
http://www.WritingForDollars.com
~~~
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