May 2012
7 posts
4 tags
1 tag
March 2012
1 post
Begin with the Trades
If you are a beginning writer and don’t know how to start your illustrious career, here is some advice from an old sage (me). I have spent the bulk of my professional life between being an editor and a writer for publications that concentrate on specific occupations, professions, industries or hobbies — the “trades.” I like writing for trade publications because the...
February 2012
10 posts
The Personal Touch of Personal Notes
Handwritten notes are inexpensive sales techniques that are invaluable to authors in promoting book sales. Notes cost you a stamp and a few minutes of your time—in other words, very little, but provide long term payoff. Best of all, personal notes don’t require a formal approach. No matter how beautiful or sloppy your handwriting your notes create a direct link to your bookseller better than any...
Market Positioning: An ongoing process
“Positioning is everything,” a published author exclaimed during a panel discussion on book marketing at a writing seminar I attended last weekend. He has a point. Over the years as I’ve moved from one interest to another, I did my best work when I confronted the question, “What is my project’s position in the marketplace?”
I see positioning as a dynamic, on-going process—not just something you...
Ask and You Shall Sell
I can’t think of a question I’ve been asked by beginning writers more than, “How do you sell magazine articles?”The tone is usually bewildered, and I sense a suspicion that they think that writers who do sell an article or two did so because they, as in my case, knew the editor. Not true. Neither is it true that editors are a high and mighty, pretentious bunch that would die before accepting an...
Enjoy Writing
Writing is enjoyable especially when what we write makes the reader laugh or makes a point so clearly and succinctly there is no doubt in meaning. There is great pleasure in transforming your voice, regardless of your audience size, shape or character into clear, concise writing. A major part of the enjoyment comes from taking pleasure in the preparation of the article. So do enjoy it. Unless you,...
Internet's Benefits for Writers
The Internet is making the world a smaller place. It’s also making a difference to the content-delivery process. The advantages to writers through the Web and Internet distribution channels are clear: You have immediate accessibility to a large, geographically dispersed audience through a Web site or Internet location. You can update and communicate new content easily. And you can effortlessly...
More Than Meets the Eye
Writing involves a lot more than meets the eye. Because we are all readers to one degree or another, we assume we know what makes books and articles readable and that readers will automatically understand our meaning clearly. But writing is actually a fairly complicated process and generally requires significant expertise to establish an idea, provide an arresting lead, present readers with a...
LTUE Writer's Conference
Last week I attended the 30-year-old, three-day “Life, the Universe and Everything” writer’s symposium sponsored by Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Many of the seminars were panel discussions packed with successful scifi and fantasy writers such as Brandon Sanderson (Elantris), David Farland, Brandon Mull (Fabelhaven) and James Dashner (Maze Runner), L.E. Modesitt Jr....
Writing is Tough Work
Over the past thirty years I have called myself a writer, editor and publisher. During this time, I’ve been a pack rat, clipping and filing almost every article I’ve ever written, countless how-to-write articles from newspapers and magazines, and learning much by watching some of the country’s best content writers and editors in action. My library also includes how-to books on writing and manuals...
Veering into the Twilight Zone
I am sitting in my home office, staring at a blank computer screen and waiting for inspiration to strike. Outside heavy snow flakes are quickly piling up on the patio and the wrought iron chairs I have forgotten to carry to the garage measure about 4” of the white stuff on the seats. The backyard cherry tree quivers in the howling wind pouring through the nearby mountain pass as my Magnavox...
