DianeStresingWrites

Is everything dead, except communication?

2012-01-28T12:56:00.000-08:00

Yes.

Can you tell I'm fed up with doomsday headlines? For heaven's sake folks, newspapers are dead, Google+ is dead, e-mail marketing is dead, Facebook's barely breathing or maybe it's just sold its soul in anticipation of a going-out-with-style IPO. Oh, and today's teens are never going to learn how to talk to each other, thanks to that damn texting fad.

Communication isn't dead, folks. A hundred years ago (or so) when I was in J-school (when we still called it J-school, and OSU's J-school was still accredited) I was taught that breaking through "the clutter" and making sure your message was carefully targeted and repeated (nine times - seriously, that's what my notes say) was the only way to communicate because we suffered from such ungodly information overload.

That was before Al Gore invented the internet. When, if you said something off-mic, but the mic was really on, it probably took, like, three days for the story to make the rounds.

Journalism is changing, like everything else, and communication isn't dead. Those who give up on communicating, however, will die. To be clear, please know that I'm talking about businesses, not people.

Decide what your message is. Figure out who needs to hear it. And share your news. Then repeat it. Nine times.

The tools have changed, but good communication really hasn't gone up in smoke.

Handy Journalism Toolbox

2012-01-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you @JournToolBox for this DIY Freedom of Information Act letter template.

http://www.splc.org/legalassistance/foiletter.asp

Carl Hiaasen talks to CJR

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hoot, Scat, Flush, Team Rodent (How Disney Devours the World), Skinny Dip, Nature Girl, Paradise Screwed. Need further introduction, dear readers? Carl Hiassen started with The Miami Herald when he was 23 years old. Three decades and about a dozen books (and three movies) later, he still writes for the paper because:

"I've always felt fortunate and privileged, first of all, to write for a newspaper I grew up reading - learned to read on, actually - and secondly, to live in the place I grew up, where my roots are, and to have a platform for expressing my opinion. ... To walk away from the column would be to walk away from the fight."- Carl Hiaasen in Columbia Journalism Review

Be still, my heart.

In case that doesn't fully expose my J-school geekiness, I'll go on. The Q&A with Hiassen was just one of the articles I savored in the January/February issue of CJR. I'll admit I should have stopped reading the next article, The Times and the Jews, to look up invidious (you too?) but I was too engrossed in that article by Neil A. Lewis. I would have looked it up when I finished the magazine, but by then The Algorithm Method had given me a headache, thanks to its too-lucid description of the frustrating ways in which measuring reading material in clicks and visits changes the course of the writing of said material. Sigh. You'll have to subscribe to read the whole thing. Which, of course, I highly recommend.*

*Subscribing. Not the headache.

Ohio's Best Journalism: the SPJ Awards

2012-01-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

This isn't news; the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Awards I'm referring to were presented last year. This is love letter, to SPJ and all the journalists that are, really and truly, professionals.

Each year when it's time to renew my SPJ membership, I have some qualms. They're fueled by feelings of inadequacy. Oh, on paper, I look pretty good. I have a journalism degree in my hip pocket, 20+ years of professional writing experience and clips a-plenty. But dare I stand shoulder to shoulder with REAL JOURNALISTS? When was the last time I made some muckety–muck quake because of one of my investigative reports? (sigh - never) And the last time I sweated a daily deadline in a newsroom? (same answer - repeat sigh.)

I renew anyway. The real journalists who produce Ohio's Best Journalism, according to Ohio SPJ, deserve my support. Plus, I get to sit back and read their winning pieces, and bask in the glow of their excellent work.

Links to a few samples of the most recently winning work are below. A complete list can be found here.

The winners' circle wasn't full of just the usual suspects, by the way. Columbus CEO picked up three awards, Angie's List was honored for its consumer reporting, and the capital's entertainment publication, The Other Paper, garnered investigative honors for Lyndsey Teter's Tarmac Transgressions. (No wonder John Kasich doesn't like pesky newspaper reporters - he's surrounded. Thank goodness.)

Best Healthcare Reporting, first place:
How Valuable is Your Child's Brain. Tom Groeschen of The Cincinnati Enquirer delves into new laws designed to protect young athletes from additional concussive injuries.

Best Investigative Reporting, first place:
A Raid at Fair Finance. Jim McKinnon, Cheryl Powell, Akron Beacon Journal. (Original article not available; read McKinnon's follow-up here.)

Best Consumer Reporting, second place:
Utility Choice: Company Promises Easy Cash. Dan Gearino, The Columbus Dispatch.

Broadcast journalists are well-represented by SPJ, and many of the honored pieces can be heard on their respective stations' websites. (Like Vivian Goodman's Dana and Desiree, which took first place in Best Minority Issues Reporting for Goodman's employer, WKSU.)

Besides being impressed with the reporters' outstanding (and important) work, I like to support SPJ because I believe it's a highly professional organization, providing clues for new journalists who want to cover the system the right way, offering scholarships and contests for blossoming young people who will no doubt reveal things about our world that may not be pretty, but should be uncovered.

Mired in my copywriting assignments and surrounded by the family commitments that I've allowed to push aside (some) career ambitions, I am not the "real journalist" I planned to become. But I'm thrilled to stand on the periphery, ever grateful those professionals are out there, doing their jobs.

Write on.

Matriculate Monday

2012-01-23T07:48:00.000-08:00

I love alliteration. As a copywriter, I'll never tire of two-fer Tuesday specials. As a parent, I've certainly worn thin my children's patience (for lots of reasons, including) by wishing them a "Terrific Tuesday/Wonderful Wednesday/Thoughtful Thursday" before school each day. So now I'm coming after you, dear reader. Why not Matriculate Monday? I propose we spend the next 45 weeks learning with The Vocabula Review's quality quizes.

Who's with me?

We can gloat about or bemoan our results in the comments section.

Here goes: http://www.vocabula.com/quiz/show.aspx?ID=VRquiz1

High School Essay Contest offers $1,000 prize

2012-01-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

Why is it important that we have news media that are independent of the government?

That's the topic for the Society of Professional Journalists' annual high school essay contest. Entries are due March 6. Rules can be found here. Inspiration and examples can be found...um, everywhere.

Publishers offer solid advice at NY SCBWI Conference

2012-01-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

I'll admit it: if you're attending the SCBWI Conference in New York next week, I'm dark-green with envy.

Now that my bias is clearly noted, I'm assuming there are oodles of (other) hopeful children's book authors who would love to be at the event, here's how to get a glimpse and pick up some practical advice from experts there: read along at the Official SCBWI Conference Blog.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm getting back to work. I only have to hear (read) that authors "should focus on writing the best book they can and getting it published" before I get the message.

Write on!

Favorite Writing Contest of 2012 (so far)

2012-01-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

I rarely enter writing contests, but let's face it, winning is nice, isn't it? (Thank you Charlie Sheen.)

If you're itching for a little competition, feeling smug - or just hopeful - there's a writing contest out there for you. Fan Story features several a day. I can't post this without a bit of advice, of course, which is: think hard before you fork over an entry fee. A couple of bucks here or there probably won't break you, but consider where the fees go and whether you want to contribute to the cause. You might feel comfortable sending money to an organization that offers scholarships, but on the other hand, want to think twice before writing a check to a company that isn't listed with the BBB. Just sayin.'

The contest's terms are also worth a few moments' consideration. The Fish Publishing Co in Ireland hosts several contests each year, none of which have a limit on the number of times you can enter. At about $15 a shot, I guess it's worth the company's time to read what you send. On the other hand, what do those rules mean for your chances? Are you pitting your prose against that of the rest of the writing world, or playing the lottery?

Here's one I really like, and - good news - you're not too old for it: the 2012 Neuroscience for Kids contest is open to writers from Kindergarten to "adult." Different rules apply to different ages. Check it out. Run by Dr. Eric Chudler at the University of Washington's Bioengineering Department, and sponsored by Neuro4Kids, it really is an interesting contest. Hurry, the deadline is February 1.

In fact, I like it so much it's my favorite contest of the year - so far.

It's hard to say what else might come along in 2012, but I'll admit it easily edged the National Peace Essay contest, for high school students, which I've touted in the past. Peace is still a worthwhile cause, and the competition a worthy exercise, though. That contest, too, has a February 1 deadline. So what are you waiting for?

Writers, start your pencils. And may the best words win!

MagPo Gets the Last Word in 2011

2011-12-30T18:06:00.000-08:00

Magpo (Magnetic Poetry, for the uninitiated) is great fun for word geeks and, well, everyone, based on a really poorly designed study of all of the guests at my house.

Magpo is one of those genius ideas that made me mad, in a why didn't I think of that/people really spend money on that? sort of way. It's so much fun to use, though, that I couldn't stay mad for long.

Concrete poem

I bought a set, then another, and... ok, one more, and darn it, I'm glad I did. This is not a paid endorsement; I'm just having fun. Imagining I'm a poet. Communicating with my refrigerator door. Whatever. Magpo makes me happy! Bonus tip: buy three sets - they'll cover so much of the surface area of your frig, you won't need to clean it again. Just the exterior, mind you, but still: whee! Magpo is a hoot!
See what I mean...

True dat.

Some writers are better than others. Some wrangle words in an attempt to seem profound. Some, well, I don't know. (See 'drunk vision, ' above.)

Write on, anyway!

Employee newsletters not just for employees

2011-12-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Done right, your company newsletter can deliver value to your employees. But if your company newsletter is just a vehicle to post sales figures, next month's target accounts, and list employee birthdays and anniversaries, you're missing the point and wasting time on your newsletter.

To make your newsletter truly valuable to your employees and create a useful tool for your organization you need to spend a few minutes in deep-think mode.

What's really important to your employees?
What makes them happy?
What makes for a bad day at the office?
What's your corporate culture? (I know that word is terribly overused, but it's important!)

Whatever the answers to those questions, you get the idea, right? Your employee newsletter should have a personality. It must be unique because your employees are, and it better sparkle if you expect them to shine.

How can you go from ho-hum-here's-this-month's-newsletter to hey! lemme see that newsletter?!

Maybe you should design it to be read by your employees' family members, even include some content for kids. How 'bout including a tongue-in-cheek humor piece (or photo) by an employee with each issue? Perhaps holding a monthly contest, like offering a prize for the person who finds the most typos in your employee handbook, would keep things interesting. (OK, that last one won't go over big in most companies, but I'd sure give it a shot!)

The bottom line is, done right, newsletters are worth your time. In fact, they can pay off big time.

Related:
26 Things to Know About Customer Newsletters
Five Reasons Client Newsletters Rock

The last word -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you bag your employee newsletter because no one was reading it? Or started one, but didn't have time to keep it up? Let me help! I offer a free consultation and brainstorming session for organizations that want to find the best way to say what they need to say, to employees and other important people. Call me ... we can get your message to those people!

Proffreading? Who needs it?

2011-12-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the headline just says it all, but when has that ever stopped me?

I recently pointed out a few typos and grammatical errors in a chiropractor's website. A half dozen or so, just on one page. The doctor said, oh, thanks. I'll add that to the list. Seems the professional firm that created and maintains the site had yet to fix a phone number the doctor had pointed out (months earlier) that was also wrong. Phone numbers, you know, are kind of a big deal, even when they're wrong "just" because a couple of digits are transposed.

Look, it's easy to make mistakes. Everybody does it. Good news: it's pretty easy to fix 'em too.

Here's the bad news: while just about everyone makes typing errors and grammar mistakes, most people don't correct them.

That's why proofreading is not going out of style, folks. If you don't catch or correct your own mistakes, you can still fix 'em by inviting a proofreader or copy editor to make you look good.

Look, I proofread and edit stuff for other people all the time. I even get paid to do it :D but guess what? I make mistakes, too. Catching and correcting them is what sets me apart.

The last word -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can fix you up! Don't send embarrassing errors along with your employee newsletters, contract renewal notices, or other business correspondence. I bet I work faster (and cheaper) than you think. Try me.

Confounding Corporate Greeting Cards

2011-12-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

Speedbump comic from the Official Site of Dave Coverly

Should you or shouldn't you?

Many small- to mid-sized organizations send Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or catch-all Season's Greetings cards, quite often simply going along with the personal preferences or habits of the company owner. Others ditch the December dilemma and send Thanksgiving or New Year's cards instead. The brave (or truly conflicted?) send no cards at all. Whatever you do, you're sending some sort of message.

I opt for Thanksgiving cards. This year, I'll admit, I'm intrigued by the idea of Haikus for Humbugs. Funny, but I'm pretty sure it won't catch on with the corporate crowd.

So let's get back to business. Should your organization spend executive brainpower (and salaries) even contemplating something as seemingly superfluous as greeting cards?

Um, have you heard of Black Friday?

Like it or not, 'tis the season to capitalize on the gift-giving tendencies of ye average shopper. Even if your business isn't affected by retail's seasonal spikes, it's hard to look the other way when a surprising number of businesses are determined to spend every last penny in their budgets before year-end. And while it's nice to demonstrate customer appreciation, there's the environment to consider.

Do corporate greeting cards spur sales? Do you risk losing customers if you don't send cards? What about e-greetings?

Robert Felber, MAS, and President of Felber & Felber Marketing, says it all comes down to relationships, and those know no season. As he explained earlier this week:

I do not think sending or not sending cards dramatically impacts your return business. Is it a nice touch, yes. Does it burn a lot of energy, paper and postage, absolutely. My real challenge is our large database. If we tried to have a touch with everyone in our database, postage alone would cost thousands. So, many opt for email. Again, the thought is nice, but does lack personalization. I recently saw a holiday email that was addressed to two people in my company, but used an "or" between the names. That was tacky. I cannot imagine anyone keeping score on who sent them a card, but perhaps some people have that kind of time.

I do like the Thanksgiving approach, as it does stand out. In the end, if you enjoy it, have the budget and time, address away. Otherwise, find as personal a way as you can to thank your clients at this time of year and all year long. Tickets to their favorite event, remembering special anniversaries or perhaps a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant would make a welcome gift. Oh, and if you want to send me a card, specify if you are expecting one back!

Sit down with Rob and find marketing at Felber & Felber Marketing. Actually, you won't catch Rob sitting down very often. In addition to running a busy firm, he's a volunteer firefighter and Relay For Life: Twinsburg/Macedonia 2012 Chair. Even when he's on the run, he's quick to return calls - if not greeting cards.

Guest Blogger or Ghost Blogger?

2011-12-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

Much has been written about the value of blogging. If there's one aspect of online marketing all the 'experts' agree on, it's that blogging has value, and lots of it.

Beyond that, the opinions are like belly buttons. Everybody seems to have one that's just a little bit different from his neighbor's. So, if you want to "prove" that ghost bloggers are the best way to use your marketing dollars, and save your staff's time, you can find plenty of experts who agree with you.

And if you want to argue that having a blog authored by none other than the CEO is the best way to go, well, ditto. You can probably even come up with a study on it.

I take most studies with a grain of salt, and on this subject especially, I listen to my gut. My gut says blogs, like belly buttons and opinions, are unique. (Or at least, they ought to be.) Meaning you probably know the answer to the question - which is better, guest blogger or ghost blogger? - and even if you don't, you can't go too far wrong... as long as your blog is up to date, on topic, and not too long.

I'm pretty sure that's my cue to stop typing.

The last word -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Need someone to help you meet your blogging goals this year? I can guest or ghost blog on a variety of topics including corporate communications, customer service, marketing, promotions and public relations. Twenty-plus years of experience and a long list of satisfied clients say I can write about almost any industry, but for the record, I've written most often for organizations offering business and legal services, and those involved in the health and medical industries, manufacturing, and technology. And oh yeah, I know a little bit about hiking and other things to do in Ohio. Need to keep your blog up to date? I can help.

What should a writer do for the holidays?

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've seen several articles listing opportunities for photographers to use their cameras for good and I thought, of course writers can do that, too. Many of us do, providing pro bono copywriting for charitable causes, not charging for author presentations at our children's schools, writing press releases for our local parks system or library levy campaigns, or simply by polishing up a friend's resume gratis.

But writing for free is a great way to make no money. And besides cheer and glad tidings (and good intentions, like doing pro bono work) the holidays bring bills. Lots of bills! So what can writers do to manage, and make good, on their good intentions while not ending up doing ALL charity work?

One solution is to put your offer in writing. If you're a professional writer and have great resume writing skills, too, a note to a friend, like this, might be very well received: "Dear Tom, I know you're looking for a job. Can I help you polish your resume this year? I'd consider it an honor, and a gift to you."

Similarly, if you'd like to do more to help out at church, but aren't able to tithe quite as much as you'd like, you might contact the church secretary with an offer to polish resumes for job-seeking church members, and suggest that those who can pay for the service should donate (your hourly rate) to the church.

Hint: I'm sure you have a big heart and all, but if your congregation is very large you should consider putting a limit on this offer, say, good for the first 10 or so folks who contact the church office.

Maybe you can start a Twitter account, manage a Facebook page, or create some Google+ buzz for a charity or one of your favorite organizations that hasn't done so yet.

What else can you do as a writer? Quite a bit of good, I bet. Words are powerful tools. I'd love to hear about how you're wielding them.

The next-to last word -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highly recommended reading; found it just before publication. Kismet!
Give back & get new business - from All Business

The last word -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add your pro bono work and charitable intentions to your business plan. Make time for it so it gets done, and so it doesn't undermine your primary business goal (whether it's to make money or finish that novel) in 2012.

Especially in Headlines and Subject Lines, Characters Matter

2011-12-06T18:16:00.001-08:00

Consider the work involved in sending an e-mail newsletter to hundreds of thousands of newsletter subscribers. Or even to a few hundred subscribers or a handful of prospects.

Besides maintaining your list, compiling the basic information, editing html tags, crafting a captivating headline, honing the copy and proofreading every word - please, tell me you proofread - do you really have to count characters? Well, no. But you DO have to consider where the line breaks might occur, especially in headlines and subject lines.

Want an example? Here's the subject line from a message that just landed in my in-box:
Help protect yourself and your assets

It's clear and relatively concise. So far so good. Unfortunately my mail program cut off the last three letters in the headline.

Guess which word (that the author never intended) I'll remember from the newsletter?

__ ___ ___ ___ __ __ ____ _ __ __

Do you need a proofreader?

Would you like some help crafting your employee newsletter, or anything you send to clients or prospects?

Let's write it, right, together.

((Contact me soon - special prices in effect for newsletters ordered through Q1 2012))

Copywriters: Good question

2011-12-02T06:26:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Bruce Felber for sharing this article. The question I focus on is not, is advertising a respected profession, but is it a profession at all? I worry about this question because I don't want to see a rush to certification programs. Sure, many certifications indicate education has taken place or experience/success has been earned, but rarely do certifications - or any letters following a person's name - tell you anything about a person's character, abilities, or professionalism.

Writers??? Please join the discussion, here or there ->Fuel Lines: Is Advertising a Respected Profession?

Guest Bloggers on the Top of My List

2011-12-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

OK folks. December is here. December, I think, makes us all writers. List writers.

Am I right? The to-do list becomes a little more pressure-laden this time of year. Any way you look at it, December 31 looks like a SERIOUS DEADLINE.

So what's on your list?

I'm a list nut. About this time of year (ok, before Thanksgiving if you must know) I start compiling all of my lists, from grocery lists to gift lists to the ever-more-complicated Christmas (or should we say Holiday?) Card list to the seemingly endless to-do lists, rediscovering that frantic feeling that seems to come, guaranteed! no purchase necessary! with the last month of the year.

But this is about writing, not my neuroses. SO, among my writerly goals this year, somewhere in-between getting 100 followers on Twitter (help?) and reading more fiction (I'm failing miserably; thanks for asking) was getting more guest posts on this blog.

Would you like to offer a post here? Please consider it, or, heck, don't think about it at all! Just raise your hand and jump in before you talk yourself out of it! Drop me a line, tweet, link up with me on LinkedIn, send up a smoke signal even, and tell me what you'd like to write...about writing. Or about writers. Or writers with neuroses. Hey, some guy even wrote a book about lists. (I'm reading it now.) I'm really open to guest blog topics. Try me.

I've been absolutely delighted with the variety of guests who've graced this blog this year, and I think my readers have been happy to have a break from me and my fascination with lists, ellipses, and other neuroses.

Well, clearly it's time for me to stop typing. And it's time for you to start! Will you be a guest blogger? Please?

Guest Post: Debbie Alferio

2011-11-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

Debbie Alferio is the award-winning author of the Forever Love fictional romance series. She writes without outlines and is quick to say she hasn’t received any formal writing training, and gushes about her crush on Country Music recording artist Chuck Wicks, the inspiration for her books' main character.

Unapologetic about her aversion to outlines and her self-published status, Debbie offers practical and encouraging advice for other writers, and reminds us how important it is to remain true to yourself.

---

You’re the Ohio rep for Authors Across America and a member of the International Writer’s Association, American Author’s Association, OhioProfessional Writers, and Writer’s Ink. So you’re obviously steeped in writerly advice. But, really, you’ve never used an outline?

I know of a lot of authors who prefer to use outlines and swear by them, and others who find them restricting. I fall into that latter group. On the few occasions I have tried to outline, I've felt like, if I didn't stick to the thing like glue, my finished product wouldn't be worth its weight in salt. When I write, I like to let the muse take control, and if the plotline or characters happen to change direction midstream, I can go with it. For me, outlining means feeling too rigid and structured with my writing. I enjoy the freedom to let the elements of the story unfold as I go along. Luckily for me, it's worked very well so far!

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Please, tell us what it’s really like working with AuthorHouse. (And don’t just say “great!”) Do you act more like an entrepreneur than author? How does the editing process work? What kind of marketing support do you get?

Am I allowed to say wonderful? How about fantastic? LOL. Seriously, my experience with Authorhouse has been very positive. The company produces a quality product, the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, and although they're one of the larger independent publishers, I've never felt like I was just a number to them. Authorhouse makes my books available through thousands of online outlets worldwide, and they can be ordered via Ingram, Bowker's, and Baker & Taylor. To be honest, I believe that all authors, regardless of the method they use to publish, are entrepreneurs of sorts. Your book is your business, and ultimately, no one can promote it the way you do. The company does offer marketing support, and the advice I've received from my Author Services Representatives over the years has been priceless in getting me to where I am now. As for editing, the company does offer this service; however, I preferred to use my own editors.

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Would you describe your editing process, then – and how you've found editors?

Let me share a little story. When it came time to edit A Forever Kind of Love, I was not in a financial position to pay for professional editing services through Authorhouse or from the private sector. Knowing enough about the process to understand editing is a must, I chose a group of close family and friends to take on the job for me. I was very grateful for their help; and while they spotted many of the more "obvious" errors like grammar and punctuation, there were a few things overlooked which ended up getting published in the book. Fortunately, those things are very minor so as not to detract from the overall quality of the story or be picked up in most cases by the reader. Do they bother me? Of course---no one wants mistakes in their work, but it does happen, and sometimes even with big-name authors.

Anyway, the second time around I guess you could say I had "lived and learned" enough to find someone with more actual editing knowledge. The lady, Arlene Towne, was one of my high school teachers. Mrs. Towne worked over my 470-page manuscript for "Waiting for Tomorrow" five times--word by word, line by line. She not only edited, she also mentored me in the proper usage of commas (I tend to be comma-happy!) as well as where dashes and semicolons can be used instead. She took the time to make sure the work was polished before it went to the printer. Her diligence paid off in one of the highest compliments I have ever gotten--actually from a friend who is a freelance writer and editor herself. She told me that "Waiting for Tomorrow" was one of the most perfectly edited works she has ever read! So, the moral of the story?

There are many ways to find a good editor; just be sure that whoever you choose actually knows what to look for. Be sure they understand the principles of sentence structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, as well as what sounds right to make the story flow. A good editor is a great asset to you and the success of your work.

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When you conduct writing workshops, what’s the most surprising thing you tell new (or old!) writers? What do you think is the “aha” moment for those listening to you?

New writers often are surprised when I tell them that I make a higher royalty per sale being independently published than some of the traditionally-published authors I know, and that they often do as much marketing as I do. There seems to be a misconception that traditional publishing houses automatically shower you with money and publicity when you land a contract. I tell them sure--if your name is Nora Roberts or Clive Cussler! LOL. Now, I'm not knocking anyone's choice on how to publish--that's a personal preference. Traditional publishing has its advantages, but in most cases for the new author, don't expect to get rich or famous overnight. You still have to work at it.

---

Promotion is a tough nut to crack for most authors. You’ve shared some very helpful, practical advice on your blog. Have you done anything sort of quirky or unusual that really paid off?

I'm not sure if it qualifies as quirky, but I've developed a knack for incorporating the phrase, "I'm an author" into just about any conversation or situation I find myself in. I've been known to tell everyone from the UPS guy to the clerk at the grocery store what I do, and in many instances, it's either resulted in a book sale or sometimes even a speaking engagement. I simply make sure to listen and watch for an appropriate window in the dialogue, make a casual mention of my art, and go from there. It helps, too, that I always carry brochures in my purse for those occasions so that I have something to offer about my work. Word of mouth is still the best way to advertise!

---

Thanks, Debbie! Your advice is helpful and I'm sure it will be appreciated by many new (and not-so-new) writers.

Now, dear reader, can you help me out? I’ve been lucky enough to post advice from Debbie, Derek Taylor Kent, Carmen Ambrosio, and Andrea Richesin so far this year and now, I’m looking for guest bloggers again. If you’re a published author or professional copywriter, and would like to share a few words of wisdom here, please contact me.

I’m also looking for guest writers for my reading blog, where you can chat up your favorite (or most disappointing) reads. I hope to hear from you soon!

Next up... what should a writer do for the holidays?

Five Book Marketing Mistakes I've Made (So Far)

2011-11-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the mistakes I've made while marketing my book, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland. These are, of course, only the mistakes I KNOW I've made. I'm still learning. (I have a funny feeling this could become a multi-part series.)

1. Did too much homework
I spent hours (hours!) learning about bookplates, their uses, where they're printed, who might print them locally, how authors have used various designs, and recommended tech specs for printing. I think bookplates are a nice-to-have item, but frankly, I over-did the research. (Translation: wasted time.)

2. Didn't do enough homework
My first set of bookplates were very pretty, and generic. In fact, they were from the first vendor I found online when I searched for "bookplates." Like, duh. After all that research to find a nearby vendor and secure a reasonable price, ultimately, the best option for me was to order from BookplateInk. Sheesh.

3. Gave too freely, gave too little, or gave the wrong thing
When the first edition of my book was published, I followed the oft-heard advice to "give a copy to all of your friends." Well, there are some problems with that. First, which friends? No matter how excited I am about my book, it's financially unwise to hand a $17 book to each of my friends (even with my author discount). So I redefined "friend," this time looking critically at my contact list to select those who appeared to be most likely to tout the book to others, or (in a few cases) buy a bunch of books for other people. In other words, I learned to give to the friends of my book, but sadly, not to all of my friends.

I haven't mastered this yet. I try to be well-organized and yes, over-prepared, for book signings and other appearances, but still I find I'm loading the car in a rush at the last minute. A couple of times I have forgotten to bring along an extra copy of the book, which would have been a nice thank-you gift for the event host. That's more time-management (and Checklist Manifesto-type stuff) than book marketing know-how. The other side of the coin is book-marketing savvy. As in, what's the right thank-you gift for a book-signing host anyway? Perhaps it's not a book (many event hosts already have one) but a photo or notecards featuring one of the trails, instead. (Any book promotion experts out there?? Speak up - just, please, go beyond 'bookmark,' ok?)

4. Spent too much time on Facebook.
I'm still struggling with this one, too. Check out my Facebook page, where I waste a lot of time I could be spending on the trail. Or not.

5. Failed to maximize my face time
As friend (and award-winning author) Debbie Alferio points out,* word of mouth is the best form of advertising. I've been too cautious about mentioning that I'm an author in the past, a habit I vow to correct before it's time to make New Year's resolutions.

I've also stumbled when promoting events. Once I lost a sale because I didn't show up early (aim to arrive at any signing at least 30 minutes in advance) and another time, I planned a GRAND event with another author... and turnout was abysmal because I didn't chat it up enough. I Facebooked** the heck out of it, though; yet another reminder the original social networking tools - your face! and your mouth! - are often more effective than newer ones.

I'm sure I'll discover many more mistakes I've made... but until I'm willing to admit them, what about you? Got any mistakes to share?

*OK, she wasn't the first to say so, but she makes the point eloquently in an upcoming guest post.

**I know it's not a verb. But you knew what I meant, didn't you?

The Scary Path to a Book Deal

2011-09-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

A ~~Guest~~ Ghost Post by Derek Taylor Kent, AKA Derek the Ghost, and author of Scary School, HarperCollins (c) 2011

My name is Derek Taylor Kent (AKA Derek the Ghost). I recently received a three-book deal for my YA series Scary School, which comes out June 21, 2011 (scaryschool.com). Sounds like a dream come true, right? Keep reading.

My story begins when I was 15 years old. It’s March 1994. For a creative writing class, I undertake writing an epic illustrated fantasy series. As I write it, I love it so much that I am 100% sure that I want to be a children’s book writer for the rest of my life.

For the next six years, I work relentlessly on this illustrated series. My mother (a well-known artist) creates sample illustrations but can’t finish an entire book.

The furthest I could ever get with it is in 2000 when I obtained a small agent based in Florida who was unable to sell it. I was confused. I was angry. I was petrified that what I believed was incredible was actually no good, or at the very least, unsellable.

Around this time, the Harry Potter series started blowing up. I was resistant to read it, as I must admit, I had an inner jealousy for her success as a children’s writer. However, I had to see what the fuss was about. As soon as I read the first book, I became JK’s biggest fan. Like her, I had been trying to create a dark, epic fantasy series, but I realized that I was misguided in trying to make them into short illustrated books. What I believed was “unique” was actually tonally confused. The illustrations suggested a six to eight year old audience, but the epic fantasy storyline suggested a nine to twelve year old audience; and worse, the themes and high language could only be appreciated by adults.

Despite pouring ten years into this series, I had to abandon it in 2004 (although my mother remains sure it will eventually be my biggest success). I realized I had to reinvent myself as a novelist if I was going to make this work, and I was so inspired by young Harry, that I just had to create my own world like JK did.

April 2005. I spend about a year writing my first novel: Scary School, Book 1: My Homework Ate my Dog. Here’s the logline from my query:
When an enchanted sheet of homework "eats" his pet beagle and disappears, a gutsy 11-year-old boy embarks on a terrifying quest to rescue his beloved pet from a greater evil than he could ever imagine.
Not bad, I think.

October 2006. After completing the first draft of My Homework Ate My Dog, I began sending out a light mailing to a few agents and publishers. All rejections.

Again confused, I started giving the manuscript to readers, and one especially helpful woman who used to work as an editor. She gave me detailed notes that would require a heavy rewrite, but also said I definitely had something that could sell. If I have one strength as I writer, it’s my willingness to not only to take, but implement notes from critique.

I spend months doing exhausting rewrites implementing all of her notes to the letter. I may not have agreed with all of her notes at first, but after incorporating them, I had to agree the book was greatly improved.

Early 2007. I felt the time was finally right to do a serious submission. But guess what? I had a day job and my spare time was filled with other projects (I was doing theater and also forming a production company).

My Homework Ate My Dog goes on the backburner as another year passes.

July 2008. There’s a brief window of time off from my day job. I decide that it’s time to go full-out toward finding an agent or a publisher. If it doesn’t happen, it will probably be the end of my YA writing aspirations.

The task before me is daunting. I have the Guide to Literary Agents and the Children’s Marketplace books. I scour all the online resources. I make a thorough list of every single agent and publisher possible who might be interested. I quickly realize it would probably take me a year to reach out to all of them, and I only have a couple weeks of free time. So, I hire an assistant. His job is to sit in my apartment for eight hours a day and do nothing but create and send out packages to every single YA lit agent in America. There are thousands. I spend my time focusing on the online querying campaign. I send out dozens of query emails per day.

The mailings and the assistant cost a lot of money – probably a couple thousand –but I ration that it’s a fraction of what I would get for a book advance, so it’s an investment. And tax deductible.

Responses start coming in. Email responses come in quickly. I’m getting bites. About one in every ten I send out is asking to read my manuscript or sample chapters. Most are rejections of course, but if you have a 10% positive response rate to your query, you know that you probably have something really good, at least in concept.

Weeks go by as the agents are reading my manuscript. Of the hundreds upon hundreds of queries and packages sent out, I continue receiving requests for the manuscript at a rate of about 10%.

Responses from agents who requested the book start coming in. I get some positive feedback but nobody “feels strongly enough” to take it on.

August 2008. Eric Myers from the Joe Spieler Agency requests sample chapters. A week later he requests the complete manuscript. On September 20, 2008, Eric Myers is my agent. He is very enthusiastic and has a great track record.

Based on Eric’s notes, I do another rewrite of the book before he sends it out. The book is improved.

December 2008. Every publisher my agent has submitted to has passed on Scary School: My Homework Ate My Dog.

There is one glimmer of hope. A junior editor at HarperCollins says that “she really likes my writing and the humor of the book, but what I was expecting from a book called Scary School: My Homework Ate My Dog was not what I got. I was hoping for a light, funny book about a Scary School for a young audience, but instead got a dark fantasy book for an older YA audience.”

She was exactly right. I had made the same mistake I had made with my illustrated series. My title was screaming: silly/funny book for the 8-9 year old audience. But I had given her an even darker Harry Potter. Had I learned nothing?

The editor concluded with: “I do feel there is a market for a Scary School book series for a younger audience should he feel inclined to write it.”

There it was. A bite from a publisher. I had a fan and she had told me exactly what she wanted. The only problem was my “bite” feels like an orca whale. I’d have to write a whole new book for her, and I’d have to write it fast so she didn’t forget about me or buy another book in the same genre. But, if there’s one thing I like it’s “challenge” writing. And I love working on it deadlines. It keeps me focused and productive.

I sequester myself over the Christmas holiday and complete the first draft of the new book series, simply titled Scary School. It’s a comedy. I laugh out loud while writing it. I’ve always been a comedy writer at heart. I should have done this before.

The first draft is done by January, 2009. I spend two months showing it to my trusted readers and editing it based on their notes. I send it to my agent in March 2009. He doesn’t like it as much as My Homework Ate My Dog. He says it reads more like a collection of short stories instead of a linear story with a main character. He thinks I should rewrite it.

I really don’t want to do this rewrite. I feel confident this is the proper format. We eventually agree to send it to HarperCollins as is.

A couple weeks later, the junior editor writes back: “This is exactly what I was hoping for. I love it! I think we really have something here!”

I dance around my apartment and weep with joy.

For the next several weeks, I work on a new draft of Scary School with the editor. She needs it to be as good as possible before showing it to the higher ups for approval. We add more of a linear storyline into it while keeping the integrity of the short story format.

It’s much better. Everyone at HarperCollins loves it.

May 2009. HarperCollins offers me a three-book deal for Scary School.

The advance is not enough to quit my day job, but it’s enough to put a down payment on a new car, create a website, hire a publicist, and print thousands of Scary School t-shirts.

As I write this, Scary School was released a couple months ago, on June 21, 2011. Yes, after all that, I had to wait another two years before it was scheduled for release.

Over that time I have self-published My Homework Ate My Dog, which is now called Rudy and the Beast: My Homework Ate My Dog! There’s still an issue with the title, but I won’t surrender it. I also self-published an illustrated book called Simon and the Solar System.

This year, I finished a new YA novel called Principal Mikey about a kid who becomes principal of his school. I think it’s the best novel I’ve written and is absolutely hilarious.

Not bites yet. Fingers crossed!

Have No Fear, Perseverance Pays Off

2011-09-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

Writers, particularly those who write children's fiction, don't know overnight success. I think perseverance is the main ingredient that separates writers from the successful (meaning published) writers.

I'm delighted to say tomorrow's guest post -- rather, it's a ghost post, from Scary School author Derek Taylor Kent -- drives home the importance of good old-fashioned hard work and perseverance. It also delivers a few surprises.

If you write for children, and have ever felt your dedication flagging, I urge you to read it. (If you write for children, and have never felt your dedication flagging, I'd be flabbergasted.)

Derek's backstory is interesting, and I think it offer a very realistic model for today's fiction writers. While he went the traditional route (lots and lots of rejection and revision before snagging a contract with a major publisher), he also self-published. AFTER getting the contract. And although he's had some help from Major Publisher, he's also doing a good bit of marketing himself.

A review of Scary School will follow ... my 2nd-grader is thoroughly enjoying the tale now. Until then, please check back tomorrow to see Derek's ghost post, and if you're looking for a very funny, spooky, seriously-engaging chapter book for elementary school readers, consider Scary School. I'm not afraid to say, Derek's hard work really has paid off - especially for his readers!

((Thanks to Derek the Ghost for the use of this image; a writer whose perseverance paid off. I guess??))

Quickie tip: on perspective and creating an elevator speech

2011-08-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Rarely does advice on voice and perspective come in such practical terms: if you're a writer, of white papers or web content or Facebook pages or flash fiction or just about anything else, I bet you'll appreciate this blog post from Jonathan Hop. (Thanks, Jonathan)

I'm looking forward to using this technique as I review and revise my (admittedly lackluster) elevator speech.

So... who wants to share their elevator speech?

Children's Writer Poetry Contest

2011-08-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

If you think you're as smart as Shel Silverstein
And your writing skills are really keen,
Go ahead and prove it -
But you better move it:
The deadline is Halloween!

And there you have it. You can enter this children's poetry writing contest with absolutely nothing to fear from me.

About the contest:
Sponsored by Children's Writer*
Free for subscribers, $15 entry fee for non-subscribers (which includes a one-year subscription to the newsletter)
Poems may be on any subject, up to 300 words, and must appeal to children
Top prize is $500 and publication
Deadline for entries: October 31, 2011
Good luck!

*Children's Writer is a newsletter of writing and publishing trends. Since I've been a subscriber, I've been impressed with its very practical advice. (Not that my children's books are winning any awards - oh wait, that's because I don't have any published children's books...yet. Well anyway, good luck!)

Bye-bye BookTour

2011-08-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

"We regret to inform you that BookTour will be shutting down on Thursday, September 1, 2011. On that date, all of our services will end and our data will be unavailable."

So begins the message from BookTour.com to users, sent today. Although I agree with the company's assessment that its basic services are well-managed by others (including Amazon's Author Central, which I mentioned in a previous post) I'm sorry to see another casualty in the publishing industry, and it was especially painful because BookTour so clearly calls out the elephant in the room: lower book marketing budgets. Duh, but ouch.

Here are the two take-aways from this little post:
1- If you have any info in a BookTour.com page, go get it, and while you're at it, clean up and replace any links to BookTour you may have on your website (or other sites) before September 1, and
2- If you're an author, you're in charge of marketing and sales.

Now Sell This

2011-08-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Now that the second edition of my hiking guide, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland, is available, I've set some pretty lofty sales goals. Dublin, Ohio-based artist and author Carmen Ambrosio kindly invited me to offer this guest post on her blog regarding my author-as-sales manager philosophy. (Thanks, Carmen!)