Writers In Business

Self Employed Tax Tips from the IRS

2012-01-26T09:17:00.001-05:00

There are many benefits that come from being your own boss. If you work for yourself, as an independent contractor, or you carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, you are generally considered to be self-employed.

Here are six key points the IRS would like you to know about self-employment and self- employment taxes:

Self-employment can include work in addition to your regular full-time business activities, such as part-time work you do at home or in addition to your regular job.

If you are self-employed you generally have to pay self-employment tax as well as income tax. Self-employment tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax primarily for individuals who work for themselves. It is similar to the Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of most wage earners. You figure self-employment tax using a Form 1040 Schedule SE. Also, you can deduct half of your self-employment tax in figuring your adjusted gross income.

You file an IRS Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, or C-EZ, Net Profit from Business, with your Form 1040.

If you are self-employed you may have to make estimated tax payments. This applies even if you also have a full-time or part-time job and your employer withholds taxes from your wages. Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to withholding. If you fail to make quarterly payments you may be penalized for underpayment at the end of the tax year.

You can deduct the costs of running your business. These costs are known as business expenses. These are costs you do not have to capitalize or include in the cost of goods sold but can deduct in the current year.

To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of business. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

For more information see the Self-employment Tax Center, IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, IRS Publication 535, Business Expenses and Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, available at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS forms and publications order line at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business
Publication 535, Business Expenses
Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax
Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business and instructions
Schedule C-EZ, Net Profit from Business
Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax and instructions
Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals

Tax Time Tips from The IRS

2012-01-03T12:28:00.001-05:00

Tax Time Tips from the IRS

IRS TAX TIP 2012-01, January 03, 2012

The income tax filing season has begun and important tax documents should be arriving in your mailbox. Even though your return is not due until April, you can make tax time easier on yourself with an early start. Here are the Internal Revenue Service’s top 10 tips to ensure a smooth tax-filing process.

1. Gather your records Round up any documents you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled checks and other documents that support income or deductions you’re claiming on your return.

2. Be on the lookout W-2s and 1099s will be coming soon; you’ll need these to file your tax return.

3. Have a question? Use the Interactive Tax Assistant available on the IRS website to find answers to your tax questions about credits, deductions, general filing questions and more.

4. Use Free File Let Free File do the hard work for you with brand-name tax software or online fillable forms. It's available exclusively at www.irs.gov. Everyone can find an option to prepare their tax return and e-file it for free. If you made $57,000 or less, you qualify to use free tax software offered through a private-public partnership with manufacturers.　If you made more or are comfortable preparing your own tax return, there's Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic versions of IRS paper forms. Visit www.irs.gov/freefile to review your options.

5. Try IRS e-file IRS e-file is the　safe, easy and most common way to file a tax return.　Last year, 79 percent of taxpayers - 106 million people - used IRS e-file. Many tax preparers are now required to use e-file. If you owe taxes, you have payment options to file immediately and pay by the tax deadline. Best of all, the IRS issues refunds to 98 percent of electronic filers by direct deposit within 14 days, if there are no problems, and some may be issued in as few as 10 days.

6. Consider other filing options There are many options for filing your tax return. You can prepare it yourself or go to a tax preparer. You may be eligible for free face-to-face help at a volunteer site. Give yourself time to weigh all the options and find the one that best suits your needs.

7. Consider direct deposit If you elect to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll receive it faster than a paper check in the mail.

8. Visit the official IRS website often The IRS website at www.irs.gov is a great place to find everything you need to file your tax return: forms, publications, tips, answers to frequently asked questions and updates on tax law changes.

9. Remember this number: 17 Check out IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, on the IRS website. It’s a comprehensive resource for taxpayers, highlighting everything you’ll need to know when filing your return.

10. Review! Review! Review! Don’t rush. We all make mistakes when we rush. Mistakes slow down the processing of your return. Be sure to double check all the Social Security numbers and math calculations on your return as these are the most common errors. Don’t panic! If you run into a problem, remember the IRS is here to help. Start with www.irs.gov.

Writing for Niche Markets by John Vonhof

2011-12-11T16:15:00.009-05:00

John Vonhof from Manteca, California is a freelance writer who writes for the Christian and secular markets. He has taught at the Mt. Hermon, Florida, and Castro Valley writers’ conferences. John has self-published two booklets and four books, two of which were later picked-up by mainstream publishers. He has been published in many Christian and secular magazines, newsletters and Internet sites. His current projects include two books, three Kindle ebooks, several websites, and spin-offs from his books.

Welcome to Writers in Business. Please tell us about your books and a bit about their inspiration.

I have run marathons and ultramarathons, and fastpacked in the High Sierras. Licensed as a paramedic and orthopaedic technician, with 6+ years experience in an emergency room / trauma center, I know about the medical field. That has lead to the following publications:

- Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatment for Athletes, 5th edition, 2011
- Happy Feet! - Foot Care Advice for Walkers and Travelers
- A Parent's Guide to the Emergency Room: Managing Your Child's Crisis Without Fear

Over the years, I have served in many roles with the church body - clerk, deacon, elder, chair of many committees, youth leader, Sunday School teacher, and representative to many denominational boards. After serving as the secretary of the search team at my church, I saw the need for a resource about the pastoral search process and wrote The Pastoral Search Journey: A Guide to Finding Your Next Pastor.

My other publications include You Can Write for Niche Markets and Selling Your Book: The No Nonsense Step-by-Step Marketing & Promotion Workbook

I understand you are also a publisher.

Yes, I’m the publisher of Footwork Publications, a niche market small press that was founded in 1996. The name Footwork Publications was chosen to represent our commitment to doing the footwork—the study, research, and development of high-quality and unique resources that fill a special publishing market need. We publish specific, well thought out resources that fill a need.

I admire your wide range of non-fiction topics. You also do a lot to give back to the writing community. Your WritersConferenceGuidelines.com website and blog help writers navigate the conference submission process.

Yes, on it you’ll learn what goes into writing different parts of your submission package and how to do it right. There's information on queries, cover letters, book proposals, article and manuscript formats, genre tips, meeting with faculty, making the most of your conference, conference links, resources, a glossary, and more. Plus samples of queries, proposals, and manuscript formats. Contributors include conference faculty, editors, publishers, agents, and experienced writers.

With your comprehensive background as an author and publisher, can you share a tip with us?

Authors of nonfiction books should always consider whether their books could be released in a new edition. I have seen many nonfiction titles whose sales drop off after a few years. Out of the hundreds of nonfiction books on my home shelves, I'd estimate that less than 5% have been updated in new editions. Many of these could benefit from a new edition.

Generally, a new edition should be 10% new information. Over time, new information, statistics, research and studies, new or changed products, and new technology can provide us with content for a new edition. When a book is released in a new edition, it's like starting over. With a good marketing plan, sales usually go up.

Two of my book are in multiple editions, one in a 2nd and another in its 5th edition. These extend the value of my title and show my readers I am serious about staying current and helping them with my writing.

Thank you John! You can visit John online at the following websites.

JohnVonhof.com
FootworkPub.com
FixingYourFeet.com
PastoralSearch.org
WritersConferenceGuidelines.com

Buried Deception by Gina Conroy

2011-12-03T18:49:00.009-05:00

Today we welcome Gina Conroy to Writers in Business. She is president and founder of Writer...Interrupted where she mentors busy writers. Knowing how difficult it is to raise a family as well as a career, she also blogs at Defying Gravity where she chronicles her triumphs and trials hoping to encourage those on a similar path. She is here to announce her new release.

Welcome Gina. Tell us about your first novella.

My first novella is titled, Buried Deception and it is part of the Cherry Blossom Capers Collection. It will be released from Barbour Publishing in January 2012. This 352 page book includes three other novellas - State Secrets by Lynette Sowell, Dying for Love by Cara C. Putnam and Coffee, Tea and Danger by Frances Devine.

You must be very excited! Can you tell us about your story?

Mount Vernon archaeology intern and widow Samantha Steele wants to provide for her children without assistance from anyone. Security guard and ex-cop Nick Porter is haunted by his past and keeps his heart guarded. But when they discover an artifact at Mount Vernon is a fake, Nick and Samantha need to work together, set aside their stubbornness, and rely on each other or the results could be deadly. Will Samantha relinquish her control to a man she hardly knows? Can Nick learn to trust again? And will they both allow God to excavate their hearts so they can find new love?

How can readers order Buried Deception?

It can be preordered at Amazon.com Buried Deception.

Do you have an agent?

Yes, I’m represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary

Can you share a writing tip based on your experience?

Yes, I've learned to write really bad. I used to have a problem with editing every little thing I wrote and taking forever to get to the end. Then a writer friend gave me permission to write bad and now I do! Then, of course, I go back and fix it!

I’ve run into the same roadblock in my writing and have learned it’s better for me to ignore the rules on the first draft and just let the words flow out of me. I spent some time visiting your blogs and web site. They are all very well designed and informative. I understand you offer a monthly newsletter with updates.

Yes, readers can subscribe to the Newsletter on my web site.

Gina, I wish you all the best with your new release. How can my readers learn more about your writing?

I love to connect with readers. There are Contact pages on my blogs, you can follow me at Twitter and friend me on Facebook. My new website GinaConroy.com will be live in January 2012.

Meet Carol & Bob Bridgestock - Crime Writers Extraordinaire!

2011-11-27T15:32:00.007-05:00

Today we welcome authors Carol and Bob Bridgestock who work as co-authors under the name R C Bridgestock. They come to us from the Isle of Wight in England. These crime writers have a combined staggering 47 years of employment with the Police. Carol as a member of the Civilian Support staff and Bob as a Police Officer. Their first hand experience adds to the breadth and depth of their writing.

I understand your books have been republished recently.

Yes, our first book was ‘Deadly Focus’. This was first self-published in 2008 and received some fantastic reviews even from the best selling UK newspaper book reviewer. Having sold over 1500 we thought that we would try and get our second book published by a publisher without any cost to us and this would also give us some help with the marketing. I'm not sorry we did it this way first as it did give me a good insight into how hard marketing is and there is nothing like 'doing it yourself' to appreciate how hard those guys work!

The sequel, ‘Consequences’, was finished in November 2008 and so I sent it to an agent in London. She liked our work and we met for talks. She advised changes which we made and in spring 2010 she decided that the changes she advised didn't work and told us to send it to another agent or a publisher to see what feedback we got. As they say the rest is history.

The first publisher I sent it to was Caffeine Nights Publishing. They publish mainly crime fiction. It is a small company but the CEO is a crime writer himself. We were very privileged to be given a contract by him for ‘Consequences’. Since this was the sequel to ‘Deadly Focus’ (as well as a standalone book), he also asked if he could republish ‘Deadly Focus’ with some input from his team. We agreed. So in July 2010 we signed two contracts with them.

In May 2011 ‘Deadly Focus' was re published by Caffeine Nights with the full intention of 'Consequences' following soon after - to be honest we didn't know how much mileage there was left in Deadly Focus ... ! However, it went off like a rocket and WH Smiths Travel bought in which meant that as of July 2011 it was in 30 International Airports, Train stations and euro star in the UK. Our publishers thought it was best to hold back on 'Consequences' to let it run its course.

Now we are waiting for a hard copy of 'Consequences' which will be with us by early December and then it will go out to reviewers. It has already had one pre-publication review in August see TracyRiva.com.

Caffeine Nights has contracted the RC Bridgestock series featuring DI Jack Dylan and his partner, Jen.

Very exciting! Where can we find your books?

'Deadly Focus' is available through Amazon.co.uk and .com Amazon.co.uk and it is in ebook form, too. 'Consequences' has already been issued its ISBN numbers and covers. It will be available soon.

What advice do you have for other writers?

For book signings be prepared to become the market trader and sell. A lot of authors sit on the seat provided for them behind a desk, but you don't have to use it. Interact with the customers instead! Also, why not create your own display boards? An A5 sized board can be bought quite cheaply from stationary store. Cover the board with press cuttings, photos and advertisements of your book – even the price. These advertisement boards about you and your novel will build up in time and are well worth investing the effort as they ‘draw in’ the customer and is a good talking point.

Thank you Carol & Bob. To learn more about their writing you can visit them online at RCBridgestock.com.

New Release- Children's book, Marvin Monster's Monsterific Adventures by Tabatha Jean D´Agata

2011-11-20T13:56:00.011-05:00

Author Tabatha Jean D´Agata was a redheaded, freckled-faced kid born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. As a child, she aspired to be as heroic and skillful as Nancy Drew, a super-sleuth, but was more like Pippi Longstocking.

Tabatha's respect for characters and their creators enveloped her throughout her childhood and she realized her creative skills thrived within her own writing. Over the years, she has moved past horribly rhymed poetry to carefully plotted stories.

She continued her desire for writing by freelancing and authoring several books for children including Silent Sam, Ick The Stick, Storm Tunes and Pampered Pals. She is also a regularly featured columnist in Parent Express Newspaper.

Today, Tabatha resides in the charming town of Hooksett, NH with her family, and their two dogs. When she isn't writing, she shares her enthusiasm for inventing stories and characters with kids of all ages by visiting schools and libraries!

She is here today to announce her new release, Marvin Monster's Monsterific Adventures, and a contest. The prize is a Marvin Monster Monsterific Character Hat.

Tabatha, tell us about your new book.

Marvin Monster's Monsterific Adventures is part of a Fearless Reader Flip Book Series. It's an 82 page book recommended for children 6-9 years of age. We explore
what happens when a monster doesn't keep his word and when Marvin Monster confronts what might be the most horrific thing to ever happen to Grim Castle Elementary.
Readers join Marvin Monster and his classmates for two fearless adventures in one monster-sized edition! Read BIG DATE and then flip the book over to read TEACHER JITTERS in reverse, it's monsterific!

I admire your creativity. As a successful published author, can you share a writing tip with fellow writers?

What if? I ask myself that question whenever I'm writing a new story, especially fiction. Whether you're a new or seasoned writer, when you utilize 'what if' when building plots, characters or points-of-view the possibilities are limitless.

I also believe problems we encounter in our own daily lives are story opportunities when combined with the hypothesis 'what if'. Ask yourself: What if she had answered the door and it wasn't the mailman? What if his boss had something other than money in the safe? What if the pond in the backyard surfaced human remains? Yes, the possibilities are limitless!

I'm excited to announce the new contest you are offering to readers of my blog. How can we enter?

This contest is called Name That Movie! Here's a quote from one of my favorite movies:

"She taught me everything. About life, hope and the long journey ahead. I'll always miss her. But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it."

If you know which movie this is from, email the title to me for a chance to win a Marvin Monster Monsterific Character Hat. All correct answers will be entered in the drawing on December 4th and the winner will be notified on December 5th.

Thank you Tabatha! To learn more about Tabatha's writing, please visit her web site MarvinMonster.com and her Author Page on Amazon.com.

How to Price Your Writing Projects

2011-11-13T14:30:00.010-05:00

Today we welcome Kate Croston to Writers in Business. Kate is a freelance writer who holds a bachelors degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She writes for various clients and loves contributing internet service related topics.

As a freelance writer, I find it challenging to determine the price on some of my projects. I usually end up selling myself short. Kate is here to share her ideas with us on how to determine the correct price for our work.
How to Price Your Writing Projects
Freelance writing is a dream job for a lot of writers and bloggers out there, and with good reason – you get to basically set your own schedule and write what you want to write about. One of the biggest obstacles is figuring out how much to charge for your work – after all, you can’t be too expensive because you don’t want people to pass you by because you’re too pricey, but you can’t be too cheap either because hey, you’ve got bills to pay too! So how do you determine the right price for your writing projects?

Monthly Fees

To start, you have to determine how much money you need to survive. That means factoring in how much your rent or mortgage costs, your static monthly bills, your grocery and gas costs, and how much extra you need in case of an emergency or for some extra padding. At the end of the day, no matter what you’re fees are you have to be able to pay all of your bills otherwise freelance writing isn’t going to work out.

Experience

You’ll need to establish if you’re charging an hourly rate or if you’re charging per project – or if you’ll do a combination. Your rate per project should be loosely based off of your hourly rate anyway, so figuring that out is key when setting your rates. Be careful when charging hourly rates because you don’t want to end up in a position where you finish a project much sooner than you first thought you would and are now making less on a project then you originally thought you would. You’ll also have to take into consideration how much experience you have writing – seasoned writers with a lot of credible references and examples of work can charge more than those that are fresh out of school. If you’re moving from a salaried position to freelance writing, take a look at your current salary and see how it translates to what you’re moving into, especially if you’re leaving a full-time copywriting or writing position to freelance.

Regularly Evaluate

As your experience increases, your rates should to, so you’ll need to go through a few times a year and look at your rates, your work, and the feedback you’ve received from clients and assess if you’re still charging enough money. If you can back up higher prices with glowing accolades to a job well done, go for it. If you can’t back it up though, you’ll need to evaluate why you can’t raise your prices yet and fix it so that the next time around you can. Also, figuring out the market value of freelance writers in your area is a good way to determine if you’re charging too much or too little.

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Freelance writers, especially new ones, have a tendency to low-ball their prices and thus ask for less then they’re actually worth. If you know you have a good product, charge for it. Freelancing can be a scary world to jump into, but people will pay a good price for excellent work – don’t sell yourself short.

Kate is a regular contributor to InternetService.net and can be reached at KateCroston.croston09@gmail.com.

Inspirational Book About Living with Downs' Syndrome: How David Met Sarah by Anne Kelleher

2011-11-06T12:42:00.007-05:00

Anne Kelleher holds a degree from Johns Hopkins University and has studied English literature at the University of Connecticut. A gifted intuitive medium, Anne helps others connect to inner guidance and deceased loved ones. The mother of four and grandmother of two, Anne lives and writes in Connecticut, surrounded by a large circle of family and friends.

Her new book, How David Met Sarah, is completely different from any of her previous eleven novels. Anne’s brother, David, has Downs’ Syndrome as does the main character in this story.

Anne, welcome to Writers in Business. I understand you have written this story not only for your brother, but for developmentally challenged adults everywhere.

I wrote How David Met Sarah at my mother's suggestion when she explained that as much as David is interested in reading, it's hard to find stories he likes. He reads at approximately a third grade level but as an adult, David doesn't relate to third grade level stories. This is the first in a series of five books written for intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals.

Can you tell us about the story?

How David Met Sarah is a very special love story written from the point of view of a young man who is developmentally disabled. It includes suspense, conflict, romance, and all the appeal of an adult book while using vocabulary appropriate for those who read at an elementary level.

The National Down Syndrome Society has discovered your book.

The National Down Syndrome Society is an organization that supports developmentally delayed adults. I am thrilled to say that they have graciously agreed to help spread the word about How David Met Sarah. I will be donating 20% of the profits from this book to this organization.

Currently the book is available electronically. Any plans for a print version?

Yes, a print version and book club/reader's guide are in the works. We anticipate that both will be available shortly.

Reading specialists, special education teachers and librarians agree that there are no other titles like this available. Thank you for creating this heartwarming and insightful book.

David loves "his" story and we both hope that others will enjoy it, too. If you know and love someone like David, I hope you will check out When David Met Sarah. If you've ever wondered what it's like to live so differently-abled, I hope you will check it out, too.

To read more about the book or order a copy, please visit Amazon. You can also read more on Anne’s blog How David Met Sarah.

Crazy Mom's Everywhere & Lit Fest Magazine's Amanda Goossen - Special Feature with Giveaway!

2011-10-30T13:29:00.024-04:00

Joining us from Phoenix, Arizona is Amanda Goossen. She is blogging with Crazy Mom's Everywhere, Snooth.com and WhatsCook.in as well as working with Lit Fest Magazine and reviewing books for Publisher's Weekly. Today on Writers in Business, Amanda is announcing a short story contest, giveaway and guest blogging spots.
Welcome Amanda! Let's start with your LitFestMagazine.com. Can you tell us about it?

Lit Fest Magazine was developed about a year and a half ago after I left my position at a literary magazine and I was determined to create an online magazine that included everything I love. I had just gone to the Los Angeles Times Literary Festival at UCLA and was feeling such bliss from everything that surrounded me at this event. I named my website Lit Fest because I wanted it to encompass everything that you would find at a really phenomenal Literary Festival...Literature, Music and Food. Living in Los Angeles my husband and I had a number of friends in these fields so I put out the word of what I was doing and that I wanted people to contribute. The reaction, feedback and eventual work submitted was terrific!

Our market for Lit Fest was originally Los Angeles based but because we had a few writers spread out through the country and actually the world (I have one book reviewer who lives in Australia) I knew it would be enjoyed internationally. I recently moved to Phoenix, AZ and I large amount of our material is based on things regarding our new city and may become our target market.

Our Guest Blogs and Weekly Short Story Contest tend to be two of the most popular parts of Lit Fest. Our Guest Blogs are done by authors who are usually promoting a book and want readers to read about their work as well as get a feel for who they are. My favorites have been the month long blog author Andrew Gross did from his vacation in Napa Valley, an author who wrote about why she was a terrible judge for a dance contest and another who write about getting her life back after spending a year in front of her computer writing her first book. In about 1,000 words these authors can crack you up laughing, make you cry or at the very least introduce themselves to you in a way you would have never known them otherwise. I love reading them each time they hit my inbox.
The short story contest is something I decided to include with Lit Fest because so many people are writing and don't know how to get their work seen by others. There are an incredible amount of talented people out there that just want a few people to read what they have to say...I think there should be more arenas to have writing viewed by other writers and readers. There are a few stories I've read by aspiring writers that were so incredibly amazing that I still think about them often.

Anyone interested in the Short Story Contest can find information on LitFestMagazine.com and authors looking for a Guest Blogging spot can email me Amanda (at)LitFestMagazine (dot)com about open dates and guidelines.

I love your graphics, design and content of Crazy Mom's Everywhere. Can you share your inspiration and purpose for this new blog?

Thanks! I have spent the past year teaching myself Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and have loved everything I've learned. The 'Crazy Mom's Everywhere' graphic was developed while I was experimenting with what I learned and applying it by trying to create a logo and name for an event planning company I hope to have someday. Everything was kind of accidentally working as I went and I thought I had to use this now instead of holding on to it for a few years. So I pushed that logo aside and developed this instead.

My purpose for Crazy Moms Everywhere was originally to anonymously post the good times and bad of being a mom. I feel like sometimes us moms feel like we are going to go crazy in the mayhem of everyday. But we don't always realize how many others are in our same exact position. We are all going crazy, running here, doing this thing and then that. Trying to be perfect and never quite making it there. I had friends who would act like everything was perfect but if you asked them how they really felt they would break it down and explain all the chaos that filled their day. I wanted moms to realize we don't have to put up a front, we can be honest with each other about the good times AND the bad! Oh and I gave up on the anonymous part because I felt if we were being honest, we had to be completely honest.

The blog tends to have a lot of food based writing because food plays such a large part in my life and in our family. I have a hard time sharing some things about my kids and family because I believe in privacy and don't want my children to ever look back and think, "Oh thanks Mom" although I'm sure they will do that anyway, so instead I talk about our family through our relationship with food. I talk about how our stressful, frustrating day came through in our dinner when I burned the homemade pizzas I was so excited about but totally not relaxed enough to be preparing. Or how a certain incredible brand of breakfast items (Waffle Lady) has changed our life and the way we eat. You can say my food obsession translates to the blog in a huge way!
(<--Amanda's Fairy Cupcakes)

In the past week I have tried to vary things a bit, taking a few breaks from food discussions. Recently I started "31 Days of New Things" where every day I try something new, mostly food and cooking oriented but there will be some mommy firsts which will arise for sure! I am actually in the middle of writing one right now!

Speaking of food, I understand you are writing a new column in the Arcadia News and you are writing food and wine articles for Snooth.com and WhatsCook.in. It's interesting to learn how writers acquire these regular writing projects. Do you send out query letters with clips?

Finding new writing jobs can be a challenge, but it's also about how much time you are willing to spend searching. I spend about two hours, one night a week looking for writing jobs on various websites. I'm registered in a couple online writing groups which send out emails about jobs as well. One thing I've had to learn is to apply, apply, apply. I send out resumes (with a few writing clips) every time I see something that might be up my alley. Every time I send an email for a writing job, however, I have a sudden tinge of fear before I hit send. I have a moment of doubt which quickly dissolves and hearing back a positive response makes it all worth it. I've just convinced myself that I can't get a job if I don't put myself out there!

Also, I have an outstanding friend who I went to college with who is also a writer and we talk non-stop about our progress, what we need to do to write more, find jobs, get better at what we're doing and how to juggle our passion for motherhood with our passion for writing. Our love of reading and writing is a major part of our friendship and a plays a large role in my writing career.

On top of all of this writing, you are also a reviewer for Publisher's Weekly. I'm sure many of my readers would like to learn more about this.

Reviewing books for Publisher's Weekly has been an incredibly exciting and enjoyable experience. Since I was six years old I have been an avid reader. Books have been one of the great loves of my life and being able read for a well-known company has been an honor. I can organize my time however I need to and depending on the length of the books I can usually read about 8 books a month, only having to devote a few hours a day about five days a week. This works out well for me because I also review books for Lit Fest and gives me time to read those as well.

Before we provide the information on your new giveaway, I wanted to ask if there is anything else you would like to share with my readers.

Yes, I would love for moms to know that writing (or whatever passion they have) is totally reachable, but they have to be willing to go after it. My kids and spending as much time as I can involved in their childhood is my main priority so I spend a lot of time up late. Coffee is my friend!

Thank you Amanda! I've spent years working around my childrens' nap times, bed times and now around their school days. It's wonderful to have that flexibility while still contributing to our family finances.

To end our interview, could you tell my readers how they can register to win your contest?

I'm happy to. We offer frequent contests and giveaways through Lit Fest Magazine and Crazy Mom's Everywhere.

To be entered into this Crazy Mom's Everywhere and Lit Fest Magazine Gift Bag Giveaway readers must go to LitFestMagazine.com or Crazy Mom's Everywhere and sign up to follow by email or as a Google follower. They must also send an email to Amandagoose (at) gmail (dot) com with their name, address and email. This information will only be used to mail the winner their prize.

Contest runs from Sunday October 30, 2011 until November 5, 2011. Winner will be notified by email on November 6, 2011 as well as announced on both websites.

Gift Bag Includes:

Waffle Lady Whole Wheat Waffle Mix (The absolute best waffle mix in the world)

Leo Monster made by Allison Barum (My favorite gift to give the special kiddos in my life)

Children's Books:
Superhero Joe by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman
Mr Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer

Young Adult Books:
The first two books in John Grisham's YA Theodore Boone series
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
Theodore Boone: The Abduction

Cookbook:
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School By Kathleen Flinn

Fiction:
A Pinch of Love by Alicia Bessette
Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory

Special Addition:
The Hallows Insider: New Fiction, Facts, Maps, Murders and More in the World of Rachel Morgan By Kim Harrison (Release Date: Oct. 25, 2011….beautiful hardbound book with color pages, illustrations and more)

Understanding Business Expenses by Brigitte Thompson

2011-10-16T19:06:00.010-04:00

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that our writing expenses be ordinary and necessary in order for them to be acceptable. An ordinary expense is defined as common and accepted in our profession. A necessary expense means we need to spend this money in order to operate the business. The expenses must not be considered extravagant. They must be an essential part of doing business as a writer. It is important to differentiate between personal expenses and business expenses.

Writers are able to realize some unique deductions which may be considered personal for other taxpayers. For example, a book on the history of New Mexico used for researching my fiction manuscript based in that state could be deductible as a writer.

Other potentially deductible expenses include tickets to a ballet used to build the character of a ballerina I am writing about and an instructional DVD used to improve my public speaking skills. Most writers will call these expenses research or professional development. We need to be able to justify each expense if audited, so be sure it is legitimate and has the supporting documents to back up the claim.

Check out my book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers, to learn more about deductible expenses and how to reduce the income taxes you pay as a writer. You can read about it on my web site and on Amazon.com.

Revised - Frugal Book Promoter: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

2011-10-09T14:09:00.011-04:00

Carolyn Howard-Johnson has just released the revised, second edition of her award winning book, The Frugal Book Promoter.
Carolyn joins us today to tell us more about this updated title.

Your first edition of The Frugal Book Promoter changed the way authors view their role in marketing their titles. What can we expect in this revised edition?

The content has been expanded to include simple ways to promote books using newer technology--always considering promotion and marketing techniques that are easy on the pocketbook and frugal of time. It also includes a multitude of ways for authors and publishers to promote the so-called hard-to-promote genres.

You'll also learn to write media releases, query letters and a knock 'em dead media kit--all tools that help an author find a publisher and sell their book once it's in print.

Specific updates include:

~ The basics that make you into an on-your-own publicist or a great partner

~ Chapters on what I call the "game changers"

~ Information on using online bookstores to your benefit

~ Making your blog actually work for you

Wow... this sounds amazing! You mentioned offering suggestions on how to work with technology. Can you share some of that information?

Sure, this new edition covers how to use the e-book format to promote sales, provides information on how to use Google Alerts to their full advantage and how to put together Power Point presentations. All very timely promotional tips.

I understand you have received rave reviews for this new edition including one from self-publishing guru Dan Poynter.

Yes, here are a few.

"If you're going to read only one book to get other people to read your book, it should be this one."
~ Tim Bete, director Dayton University's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop

" Unlike other books and articles on the subject, this one is detailed--and it's chock full of ideas that even seasoned book promoters will not have tried."
~ Dallas Hodder Franklin, editor of SellWritingOnline.com

"Howard-Johnson has the comforting tone of a mentor and writes with the precision of a surgeon."
~ Francine Silverman, author and editor of Book Promotion Newsletter

"The most expensive parts of book promotion are the mistakes. This book will save you time and money."
~ Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Pubishing Manual

Carolyn, thank you for joining us today to share your exciting news! How can we order a copy of the revised book?

You can order it online through my web site Frugal Book Promoter and through Amazon.com.

You can also visit Carolyn online at HowtodoitFrugally.com. She also offers a newsletter and blog filled with useful information.

Making a Living Online as a Copywriter: Mission Impossible? by Kristine M. Smith

2011-10-01T20:22:00.010-04:00

Kristine M. Smith has been a freelance writer for more than 35 years and a professional copywriter since 2007. The author of six books, her most recent title is SERVAL SON: Spots and Stripes Forever, a cautionary true story about what it’s like to own—and be owned by—a wild cat. Endorsed by several high-profile animal advocates, SERVAL SON debuted at #2 and #4 in two categories on the day it was released at Amazon (Sept. 1, 2011). She joins us today to share her tips on making a living as a copywriter.

Making a Living Online as a Copywriter: Mission Impossible?

Back in the day—not all that long ago—it was entirely possible to hang a shingle at Elance and other online freelance websites, take a battery of tests, post a portfolio of your best work, and within months hit some semblance of a stride and begin to make a living. It happened for me that way back in 2008-2009.

Things have changed dramatically.

Even those of us with stellar ratings from clients and hundreds of projects under our belts are finding the freelance jungle a tedious, tangled tribulation these days. It seems the bigger and better-known a freelance site gets, the worse it becomes at doing what it set out to do: serve as a matchmaker between buyers and providers.
Unfortunately, at the moment Elance happens to be the best known (and best) freelance website out there (in my opinion) so until a competitor comes along that is willing to do right by its buyers and sellers again, Elance it is. I have an awfully secure feeling that they’ll get their comeuppance one day when a group of savvy Creatives gets together and decides to do it right. At that point Elance will have to straighten up, change what it’s doing wrong, or die a sadly well-deserved death.

Flashback
Just a year ago as I write this, providers (that’s what we’re called at Elance and at other sites) were able to ask questions (via a Public Message Board) of prospective “employers” (buyers) to clarify project parameters whenever a project description lacked vital details and to make sure the association would be a win-win for both parties. Not anymore.

Recently Elance decided that providers now must pay one or more connect fees (depending on the monetary value of the project) just to ask follow-up questions if a project description is incomplete! This has effectively priced the service out of most beginning providers’ ability to pay and has caused long-time providers to initiate strategies that will allow them to head for the exits as soon as practical without losing their shirts.

Charging providers to pay connect fees in every instance where project parameters need to be clarified (which is at least 50% of the time) makes about as much sense as charging job seekers to pay for the preliminary interviews they get with employers to find out what a total job entails and whether it’s a good fit. On the face of it, it’s completely ludicrous.

This new wrinkle has caused the search for good projects to take two to three times longer and to cost two to three times more in connect fees. If a project description is inadequate (which happens most of the time), all you can do to escape a connect fee is to submit a violation report that tells Elance “Insufficient detail to bid reliably” and hope that the powers-that-be will de-list it before someone else bids blind on it and lands it.

I have developed a content questionnaire, a multiple-page document of kudos from over 100 clients, and an article that instructs buyers how to write a complete project description when seeking copywriters. Whenever I find a project that intrigues me enough that I decide to pay a connect fee to bid tentatively on it until I learn more, I attach these three documents to the bid.

It’s no surprise that some potential buyers/employers balk when they see the attachments because they then understand what their part of the bargain must be in order for me to hit their project out of the ball park for them. Others are extremely appreciative that I care enough to show them what’s needed so the project can be completed to their vision in a fraction of the time it would take otherwise (and hence at less cost to them).

Incidentally, the three documents act as a great screening device. The kudos pages prove my value; the PD page educates the buyer; the content questionnaire solicits what I need to know to bid reliably and helps me discern if the buyer is someone I really want to do business with.

If a buyer isn’t willing to collaborate by filling out the questionnaire, or provide sufficient parameters so I can bid reliably, it’s a red flag and my first indication that—should I elect to take the job—I’d better charge significantly more than I would for a buyer who’s willing to do their fair share. After all, business owners know their customers, their product or service, and their USPs (unique selling propositions) like the back of their hands. If they don’t, that’s a red flag, too: the project will be more time-consuming research-wise and may require one-on-one counseling with the buyer. And if a buyer can provide testimonials as well, your job as a copywriter is that much simpler and becomes making what they offer so irresistible that only a nincompoop would go anywhere else!

Ready to Roll?
I know that what I’ve outlined here sounds discouraging, but if you’re a talented copywriter who can compete well in the space between a vast army of offshore (third world, English-as-a-second-language) and/or hobbyist writers and the handful of superstars who ask a bundle for their services, go ahead and throw your hat into the ring. In this economy, do whatever you have to do to bring home the bacon. If you can write (or edit) (or proofread) (or build websites), don’t hesitate.

I’ll be happy to send you my Content Questionnaire and the Elance article to get you started. Feel free to adapt the Content Questionnaire to make it your own. The Elance article will help you see what a complete project description (PD) should look like.

5 Quick Tips
Never bid blind. If a PD isn’t complete, report it to the website and move on unless you’re so intrigued by the partial description that it just won’t leave you alone.

Be sure your project is funded before you work on it. Grab-and-go “will you write this on spec” folks are out there ripping people off right and left. Don’t fall victim to them.

Read the buyer’s/employer’s feedback for other projects s/he has funded before bidding. Don’t risk your budding reputation on a chronically cranky character.
Take the website’s battery of pertinent tests. Don’t self-rate if given the option. Few people believe self-rated claims.

Post a portfolio at the website as soon as you can. If you don’t have anything to show at first, ask your clients whenever you get a great rating if you can post what you’ve written for them in your portfolio. (Unless they’ve asked you to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, most will be happy to let you do that.)

Thank you Kristine! You can visit Kristine online at KristineMSmith.biz. Her email address is kristine m smith AT msn DOT com (all one word).

©2011 by Kristine M. Smith. Published here with permission.

MomWriters - Outstanding Support & Encouragement

2011-09-25T13:23:00.005-04:00

MomWriters is an online group of mothers who band together to support and encourage each other. Their web site MomWriters.com provides an overview of the organization. However, the heart and soul of these women writers shines through the Yahoo online group.

Here daily conversations include requests for sources for articles, promotional & marketing suggestions, discussion regarding experiences with various publications and questions about what to charge for a writing project. In addition, since members are moms, parenting questions, goals and ideas are shared. There is no cost to join the group or dues to pay for continuing membership.
Carma Haley Shoemaker is a moderator at MomWriters. Carma, please tell us more about MomWriters.com.

There are writers out there who don't have support in any aspect in their life when it comes to their writing. They want to write -- it pains them they want it so badly. They do it in secret if they have to. They have tried to share it with their family and friends but have received feedback such as, "Why would you want to do something stupid like that?" or "You can't write -- you're not a real writer!" or maybe even, "Who do you think you are? J.K. Rowling?" Their efforts may be met with laughter, or anger, and it makes them feel that writing is not worth all of "this," so they quit, they don't write anymore.

Momwriters gives these writers a place to turn for support when no one else will support them. We offer them a place to say, "I want to write but my family says ..." and we listen, we hear them, and we know how they feel because more than one of the 1700+ of us have been there. We let them know that it is okay to write and that they CAN do it. We help them see that if they want to write -- if writing is what they really want to do -- then a non-supportive family of friends who don't understand should not stop them.

We have all been "beginners" at one time in our lives and we all know how scary it is. By offering each other support, Momwriters helps to make the whole process a little less scary.

Thank you Carma. If you are a mom who writes and is looking for support, visit MomWriters.com and sign up for the MomWriters Yahoo online group.

Brenda Whiteside's Debut Novel- Sleeping with the Lights On

2011-09-18T15:08:00.008-04:00

Today we welcome Brenda Whiteside to Writers in Business. Brenda has been writing all of her life in one way or another from the captions on her childish artwork to teenage psychedelic scrolls to her current novel. After publishing several short stories, she turned to writing novels.

Brenda, tell us about your debut novel.

My first novel, Sleeping with the Lights On, was published by Wild Rose Press in the summer of 2010.

What is it about?

Sandra Holiday thinks she’s met the man to end her years of less than perfect choices; choices that not only derailed her travel-related career plans but also left her single and broke.

Carson Holiday, a Las Vegas country crooner with swoon-inducing good looks, spent his adult life pursuing a recording contract and love, never holding on to either. After eighteen years, he drops back into Sandra’s life, reigniting an attraction he can’t deny.

When Carson reappears, Sandra must choose again. Only this time, nothing’s as it seems. A secret admirer, a redheaded stalker, and an eccentric millionaire throw her on a dangerous path, with Carson her only truth.

As life confronts her with yet another turning point, will her decisions find her eternally sleeping with the lights on – or will she finally discover a way to turn them off?

Are there any other books in the works?

Yes, An Elfin Secret will be released in November 2011 as part of an anthology (Warm Christmas Wishes); Tattoos, Leather and Studs will release in November 2011 as a short e-book; Honey On White Bread, a novel, will release in January 2012; and It Happened After Midnight, a novelette, will release in 2012.

Congratulations on the success of your writing! What inspires you?

I have two main sources of inspiration. One is real life stories of people close to me. Sometimes an event someone experienced will be a springboard for my book and other times it might be a path of discovery that person is on.

My second source of inspiration is maturity. I enjoy writing about women who are 40 plus and having an adventure of the heart or taking a new direction in their lives.

My life is also blessed with three creative soul mates; my son (a singer/song writer), my husband (an excellent photographer), and my dog, Rusty (the smartest dog in the world).

Brenda is available for book club and speaking engagements. You can find her online at BrendaWhiteside.com.

Writing Resources

2011-09-11T19:06:00.018-04:00

Writers often contact me to ask about resources. There are many options on the Internet, but which ones are reputable? Here are a few of my favorite sites.

1. Savvy Authors
Savvy Authors strives to provide the best tools, classes, and networking opportunities for authors in all stages of their writing careers, from aspiring novelists to multi-published authors.

2. Funds For Writers
Funds for Writers emphasizes finding money to make writing a realistic career. Other websites provide guidance on how to write, how to query or how to format manuscripts, but Funds for Writers gives you direction on the funding streams. They focus on markets, competitions, awards, grants, publishers, agents, and jobs for your writing abilities.

3. Christina Katz, The Writer's Workout Coach
Christina Katz is the author of three books from Writer’s Digest: The Writer’s Workout, Get Known Before the Book Deal, and Writer Mama. Through her site she teaches writers to prosper by building solid, saleable, life-long career skills via classes and training groups that work even in a rapidly evolving publishing marketplace.

4. Well-Fed Writer
Peter Bowerman is the author of several titles including The Well-Fed Writer. He offers one-on-one coaching, classes, seminars, newsletter and a blog providing information on how to succeed as a writer.

5. Carolyn Howard-Johnson-How To do It Frugally Series of Books"Author of several books on promoting & marketing your book within a budget, Carolyn offers a newsletter, seminars, workshops and ebooks.

6. Publicity Hound
Publicity expert Joan Stewart shows you how to use free publicity to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert and sell more products. Her site offers workshops, seminars, blog, and newsletter which can be used to promote your writing.

7. Para Publishing
Wherever you are in the development of your book (thinking, planning, writing, producing or promoting stage), Para Publishing has the tools to make your venture faster, easier and more successful. Dan Poynter is the author of more than 76 books and provides consulting, seminars and a variety of reports writers will find useful.

This list is by no means comprehensive, but it's a start. What are some of your favorite sites?

Marketing Your Writing Business by Brigitte Thompson

2011-09-04T13:07:00.012-04:00

There is a lot involved in establishing your business and getting that first customer, but it is only the beginning. You will need to build a solid client base for your writing business to succeed.

Consider hanging signs advertising your business on public bulletin boards with tear off phone number strips. Contact local newspapers to ask about writing a short column for readers where you can share tips on a specific topic in exchange for the publicity. For example, you may be able to write a column and instead of being paid by the newspaper, you are allowed to include your contact information and web site which acts as an advertisement for your business.

Local radio stations may be interested in your tips for their listeners as well. If you are a sport fishing writer who can offer their listeners tips on great places to fish, pitch it to the station. You can record the tips and the station can air them with your name and contact information.

A web site provides an affordable means to reach your customers 24 hours a day. Domain names are affordable and several low cost hosting sites are now available online. Business cards and signs are a great way to let people know about your business. Hanging flyers at local colleges is a great way to attract professors looking for help writing their next article or book. Be sure to include all the benefits your service will provide and how it will make a positive difference in their lives. Keep your business cards handy so you can share them with people you meet who may have an interest in your services.

Networking is very important for any new business. Look into your local Chamber of Commerce or national writing organizations for additional people you can connect with or advertise through.
The Internet offers a multitude of ways to publicize, market, and promote your services as well as being a fantastic resource for learning more about the field of writing. Connecting with organizations and other writers through the Internet is a productive way to spend a few hours each day. Many discussion groups are available to writers through Yahoo.com. If you visit, just go to their Groups link then enter “writing,” “editing” or be even more specific and search for “moms who write comedy” or “science fiction screen play writers.” You will be amazed at what will turn up.

Brigitte is an accountant and the author of several business recordkeeping books including Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers available through Amazon.com. She is a freelance writer living in Vermont with her husband, three children, two cats and three dogs. You can visit her online at Datamaster Accounting Services, LLC and Bookkeeping for Writers .

Two Vital Writing Lessons Taught by Modern Media

2011-08-28T12:08:00.005-04:00

As social media hubs like Twitter and Facebook become ever more present in our everyday lives, more and more criticism begins to surface about them.

There is no denying that social media has revolutionized the way in which our modern society lives and communicates. With much of our social existence created online, it is hard to deny that social media hasn't had some sort of positive influence on modern society. However, as it goes with anything that is highly praised, social media communication is also heavily criticized.

People often put down Facebook and Twitter for being an expression of incomplete thoughts and inadequate arguments. While this can most certainly be the case, there are several aspects of social media interaction that positively influence our ability to communicate via written word. The following two aspects of social and modern media communication can teach valuable lessons in professional and persuasive writing.

Be Concise

Modern media communication generated through Facebook, Twitter, and text messaging is often criticized for limiting discourse to 140 characters. While this argument is somewhat understandable, character limits can teach a worthwhile writing lesson. With a limited amount of space to express your thoughts, we are forced to create clear and concise sentences. Precision is key to any genre of writing.

Twitter and text messaging force users to compose clear, concise, and direct points. These general writing skills are invaluable within the professional writing world. Whether you are creating business memorandum, professional email, or technical document, every sentence must be clear and to the point. All too often, our writing becomes convoluted with drawn out sentences filled with unnecessary adjectives and complicated verbs.

Twitter and text messaging have forced us to limit our sentences and narrow our arguments. Clear concise writing creates clearer understanding and stronger discussion.

Know Your Audience

Another aspect of modern media that can translate well to strong business writing is reading and understanding your audience. A huge part of successful writing is understanding who you are writing for. Of course, reading your audience is also one of the most challenging aspects of writing to master.

In order to gain a clear perception of who you are writing to/for, you have to understand what your goal is, who you want to listen to you, what those listeners want to hear all things that are difficult to pinpoint.

Social media, however, makes it significantly easier to pinpoint your audience and cater to their interests. For example, when someone Tweets a message, they consider who will be viewing this message. Just as you would not necessarily Tweet the same thing to your boss or family that you would your friends or siblings, writers must also evaluate their audience carefully. Public discussion using writing word (such as on Facebook or Twitter) intrinsically involves evaluating your audience.

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for best online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 at gmail dot com.

2011 Mileage Deduction Rate Change

2011-06-27T20:09:00.002-04:00

IRS changes the amount we can deduct for business mileage. New rate for July 1 - December 31, 2011.

Learn more here.

Fantasy & Mystery Author A.J. Walker - Roots Run Deep

2011-05-28T22:54:00.007-04:00

Fantasy and mystery author A.J. Walker joins us today at Writers in Business. He is a new voice in genre fiction. An archaeologist and medievalist by trade, his first fantasy novel, Roots Run Deep, was recently released by Double Dragon. LL-Publications will release his mystery novella, Murder at McMurdo, in June. You can check him out at his blog, where he writes his popular Medieval Mondays posts.

Welcome! Tell us a bit about your latest book, Roots Run Deep.

It’s heroic fantasy with a new twist. The tale follows the adventures of Kip Itxaron, a goblin living in a human-dominated kingdom that treats her people as second-class citizens. Kip isn’t very heroic: she’s a semi-reformed thief, an unlucky gambler, and a mediocre sorceress. Unlike a lot of heroic fantasy, her quest doesn’t magically transform her into some superhuman (or should I say supergoblin). It makes her deal with her limitations and try to work beyond them. There’s a romantic element too. As the blurb says:

She fought her way up from a shanty town to a palace in order to change the world, but her hardest challenge was to change herself.

When a small-time goblin gambler falls in love with a deposed human king, the least of her worries is his vengeful usurper. Kip Itxaron has to follow religious visions despite having lost her faith, unite her squabbling people, find the fabled Lost Tribe of Goblinkin, overcome her fear of battle, and somehow be a leader to a people who have never had one.

But that’s nothing compared with loving someone who reminds her of every man she’s ever hated. Human men can barely be called male. Pasty skin, weak bodies. . .they don’t even have tusks! Not to mention that when he was in power he treated her people just as badly as the rest of them. Kip can see he’s changed, but has he changed enough? Can she change enough?

I've been contemplating the ebook format for several of my books. Has it been a positive experience for you?

It’s been a crazy ride. Double Dragon is a great publisher to work with. They’re very professional and helpful during every stage of the editing and publishing process. They made it easy.

The hard part comes now, when I have to promote the book. In these days of the Great Recession nobody is going to promote your book for you. Writers need to interact with their potential readership and earn name recognition. I chose the word “earn” on purpose. Simply spraying the Internet with promotional blather isn’t going to sell any books. You need to entertain and inform people for free before they’ll give you money to do the same. This is why I started the Medieval Mondays series. It’s taken off, getting lots of hits and tweets. Hopefully that will encourage readers to take a chance on my book.

This is my first virtual book tour and it’s a steep learning curve. Any free advice will be highly appreciated!

What have you learned about the business side of writing?

I’m a newcomer in the writing world so I’m not the best person to ask. I think the best advice I can give is to keep your day job. Your first epublished novel is not going to buy you beachfront property in the south of France. What it will do, assuming you promote it enough, is give you a foothold in the publishing world.

I’m amazed by people who write for a living. Sean McLachlan over at Mid-List Writer has his tenth book coming out in October and is a professional blogger as well. He works 50-hour weeks and has to hustle constantly to get contracts. Famous horror writer Brian Keene has published more than 25 novels. He took a hit last year when his regular publisher Dorchester nearly collapsed, but he recovered quickly because he’s become such a name that other publishers scrambled to sign him up. Looking at his hectic tour schedule you can see that this leading writer knows the value of self-promotion and meeting his audience.

The best business strategy for a new writer, or even an experienced one like these guys, is to keep working at your craft and your public profile constantly. It never ends!

Thank you for being with us today. Where can we find your book and how can we learn more about your writing?

Roots Run Deep is available direct from Double Dragon, from the Kindle Store, and from many other outlets that sell ebooks. You can visit me online at AuthorsDen and GenreAuthor.Blogspot.com.

Michelle Dunn's newest book, The Guide to Getting Paid

2011-05-22T09:07:00.012-04:00

Michelle Dunn is an award winning author and columnist frequently featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Forbes. She has over 24 years experience in credit and debt collection. Her newest book, "The Guide to Getting Paid, Weed Out Bad Paying Customers, Collect on Past Due Balances and Avoid Bad Debt”, was just released by Wiley Publishing and is now available on Amazon.

How big a problem is debt collection for small businesses, including writers?

Debt collection has always been a problem for small business owners but due to the economy it has become an even bigger problem that is even harder to solve.

Small business owners go into business because they are good at a particular thing, and that is what their business is usually based upon. Most small business owners are not experienced in debt collection and so when it comes up – they have a problem. A problem they don’t know how to avoid, a problem that they don’t realize is preventable and a problem they want to ignore and hope that goes away.

How do you collect the money that is owed to you?

The most effective way to collect any money that is owed to you is to make a personal visit to the person who owes you the money and ask for it. Most business owners do not want to do this – and so I offer the second most effective way to get paid, which is making a phone call.

My advice when someone owes you money:
1. Visit them and ask for it.
2. Start buying your morning coffee where they get theirs – and say good morning.
3. Call them
4. Call them again
5. Keep calling them
6. Send a collection letter
7. Put their account on hold
8. Report the debt to a credit bureau
9. Revoke their credit
10. Send a final notice in a flat rate priority mail envelope
11. Take them to court

What are the most effective/least effective tactics?

Most effective:
Personal visits
Phone calls
Revoking credit
Putting an account on hold
Collection letters sent in non-traditional ways
Offering solutions to continue having a relationship while getting paid
Credit reporting
Court

Least effective:
Ignoring the account and hoping they will pay
Not calling because you don’t want to make them mad
Not having a signed credit application
Not having specific payment terms that the customer is aware of
Not contacting the customer
Accepting their excuses and still not getting paid

These are very helpful suggestions, thank you Michelle. I understand in addition to writing and marketing your books, you are a self syndicated columnist for 10 newspapers and publications as well as an Editorial Advisor for "Collector Mentor" magazine. How can we learn more?

You can reach me online at MichelleDunn.com and Credit-and-Collections.com.

I'm offering a free e-book to your readers for a limited time. It is called "Effective Collections: A Proactive Approach to Credit Management". You can check it out and download a copy here.. You can find my new book on my web site and on Amazon.

Nicole M. Bouchard - Writer, Editor, Instructor

2011-05-14T17:45:00.013-04:00

Nicole M. Bouchard is returning to Writers in Business. She is the Editor-in-Chief of The Write Place At the Write Time an online literary magazine which was featured in our April 17th blog. She is also a prolific freelance writer, editor and creative writing instructor. She comes from a mixed background of both journalism and fiction.
Welcome back Nicole. In doing research for our earlier interview, I was inspired by all you do in the literary world and wanted to learn more.

Your published fiction ranges from literary to historical to fantasy. An excerpt of your short story
“Reaching Out to You” won a recent romantic themed writing contest. "One Untruth" a short fiction story, was published in the national literary magazine, Pen Woman. Where do you find your inspiration?

I believe that a story can come about in a myriad of ways; a phrase overheard, a simple everyday gesture, a notion, a dream or impression tugging at your sleeve in want of a form and voice. A fantasy story entitled, “The City of Amaranth” came from a dream I’d had about a golden palace of “gods” who were actually mortal. The story became an unexpected satire touching not only upon deeper spiritual themes but also certain aspects of the publishing world itself and the “gatekeepers” of it, so to speak. “One Untruth", came from a simple 1950s photograph I discovered when moving old boxes to help a friend clean out their basement. I asked about this image of a couple and their children only to find that my impressions about their life together weren’t far from the truth. The story behind the story can be very interesting.

I've seen old photographs like that and often wondered about the stories behind them. How did you get started in your writing career?

I was quite determined and quite young when I chose to be a writer. It was something I’d always wanted to do, a gift I wanted to give myself. I knew it was a ‘difficult’ field yet if not for my own passion for it, I think the field chose me- it was inevitable that we’d meet along the “road less traveled”. I always imagined that it would be good to start young. I remember writing to a male columnist that I’d always admired asking for a few words of advice. Pleasantly enough, he told me that to break into the field at my age couldn’t be done; it was impossible. It would be better if I started in tiny circles and waited. I understood that it wouldn’t be easy, but something about “impossible, can’t, no” has always been oddly motivational for me.

It was about six months later that my first story pitch was accepted and published. I was nineteen doing entertainment journalism a short time later; one of the profiles was of a Broadway actress who I got to meet in person and take a quick back-stage tour of The Phantom of the Opera set with.

To make a long story short, after building my portfolio and taking a turn as a contributing editor, I turned back to my first love of fiction. When those works started being accepted, I was also taking on additional freelance journalism at the time yet wanted more in the literary world. I set myself to thinking about all that I read and experienced in publishing and what kind of a publication I would most want myself. Notebook pages started filling with sketches of what would become The Write Place At the Write Time. Research, consulting with copyright lawyers, design, submission calls and inquiry letters for the first interviews; all were set in motion. To have an incredible team-mate to co-navigate the publication with me as Assistant Editor, I had only to look at my own mentor and creative writing inspiration who’d taught me for so many years- my mother; and so it began as a mother-daughter endeavor to re-imagine the face of online publishing.

At twenty-two, I became one of the youngest members of the NLAPW (National League of American Pen Women).

My heartfelt advice to emerging writers at any age, at any stage is to surround yourself with a support network. Most importantly, believe in yourself and your love of the craft. I was fortunate to have a family that was encouraging me at every step.

Thank you for sharing such wonderful words of encouragement. Writing is such a creative process, it can be challenging to rate the character or quality of one piece over another. That being said, do you have any preferences within your own writing portfolio?

Each piece has its own significance to the writer - closeness to the characters, affinity for theme, etc… Yet if I had to pick out a few pieces that I love most in terms of the entire process of the story, they would be “Fragile Things”, based loosely on a heart-wrenching advice column I kept in a drawer for years, thinking, ‘My God, what happened there?’, "Thief of Shadows" using a fairy tale archetype to delve into the psychology behind a newspaper headline I’d read and "The Age of Victoria" – a historic, emotive piece based on a few first sentences I had written about 9 years ago in a painting class. I hadn’t known much at all about the locale and time period when I first built the outer frame of the story; when I did the research, the elements I’d chosen, such as the protagonist’s vocation, were fittingly accurate. This is where I feel the divine inspiration comes into play.

Thank you for sharing material from your creative writing course, “Passion, Philosophy and Prose: The Power of the Pen". The information is thought-provoking and insightful. Your comments in the first paragraph caught my attention, “One of the foundations upon which I build my continually improved-upon philosophy about the craft of writing, is that often times, the 'rules' are invitations to do something entirely opposite and therefore, utterly original.” Is your goal of the course to help writers explore the inspiration for creative writing or more to learn the mechanics of it?

The first session of the course was this past winter from Feb 23rd - March 23rd. Students are still in contact and it has been such a wonderful experience to see their responses to the different course materials spread out over four sessions (four weeks). The sensory exercises, visualizations were immensely revealing about what they needed or wanted on a deeper level to do with their writing. Each has a unique talent and they rose to all occasions. It’s enlightening to teach because you fall in love with the subject all over again and learn from the perspective of your students. To know that they’ve gotten value out of the course is above and beyond all of the fun we’d had. It's truly about the creative process as opposed to the mechanics- yet it does have some helpful hints and resources for submitting work.

Are there any books you recommend related to the mechanics of writing?

Yes, I do recommend to writers the book “Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript” by Cynthia Laufenberg. It is one of the best for queries, outlines, proposals and nearly any format you would ever need. A book that deals with the mechanics and tools of the craft itself, is "The Portable MFA in Creative Writing" by the New York Writer’s Workshop. They are both, I feel, desk-top essentials in a writer’s office.

Nicole, it’s been a pleasure learning more about your writing. I’m looking forward to following your journey. Readers can learn more by visiting The Write Place at the Write Time. Are there any favorite quotes you would like to share?

Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public. ~ Winston Churchill

Science Fiction Writer Camilla Stein

2011-04-30T22:17:00.010-04:00

Camilla Stein is a science fiction writer. She has lived all over the world and is currently based in the Netherlands. She is a multilingual specialist with degrees in Humanities, Linguistics and Education. Camilla also holds a certificate in Herbal Medicine and is an apprentice in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is working on a series of short sci-fi stories, a new sci-fi novel, a non-fiction book and a war novel. Camilla also writes on other subjects such as autism and social issues, and does film reviews.

Welcome to Writers in Business. Please tell us about your current projects.

I'm working on a series of short sci-fi stories based on a selection of completed stories that I wrote in the past and a number of new sketches. The series can be divided into two parts – Flash Sci Fi stories of no more than 1,000 words that are being published on my blog , and regular science fiction short stories. An example of Flash is SUITS, a little psychological teaser. Morning Dew is the story that marks the launch of a series with a recurrent character – Ian, the bounty hunter. He is going on some exciting adventures! There’s a plan for an eBook. It will be announced on my blog and my Facebook page.

Another short sci-fi story, titled Gaia's Children, that stands apart from previously described ones has been now completed. It's a post-apocalyptic space exploration story with an intriguing twist and a time line of 1200 years. It presents challenges we might have overlooked in our current stage of development as a civilization. This story will be released in the eBook format as a bonus for the eBook of stories about Ian and his peers. The story has a customized cover art by a professional artist, to read more about this story please go to Gaia's Children. The story is currently undergoing book-to-script adaptation.

A new science fiction novel is intended to be fully developed 300 A4 pages of text. Currently, the book has been mapped, the characters have been drawn, the book’s geography has been determined (I have real star charts!) and the first chapters have been written. This novel will have it all – aliens, FTL, some amazing gadgets, and of course a love story. The book has a distinct Japanese sub-theme. Something very unusual and unpredictable is going to happen there.

The non-fiction book is an autobiographical collection of my Autism-related reflections and my own haiku. It will tell a true story.

A war novel is a project that I began in 2008 at the peak of the research I was doing on a related subject. The book is based on real events and centers around a friendship between two women who experience a modern-day war that affects their lives on many levels. It’s a story of perseverance and a deep human tragedy.

Wow... you are certainly busy - and have such a creative mind! I'm a huge sci-fi fan. I understand Morning Dew is referred to as 'cozy horror'. This is a new term to me. Can you elaborate?

'Cozy horror’ is a completely new innovative technique that is designed to disguise horror elements inside the story. At the moment, I am unaware of any standard methodology for the technique. There’s room for an experiment and a total creativity blast here. I suggest exploring the entire spectrum of tools in the English language, not limiting horror paragraphs to descriptive epithets no matter how colorful. Sometimes a surprising effect can be achieved by an unusually employed stylistic device. I like establishing an element of horror in the finalé, in or near the climax.

Speaking of Morning Dew in this context, a juxtaposition of the setting that is introduced in the very first paragraph of the story to the reality on the planetoid creates a chill that doesn’t really wear off, instead it is being reminded of in the last few lines when an artistic detail is employed to seal the effect.

There’s some speculation going on the web whether cozy horror can be classified as a subgenre or not. I think it can, but it also is a matter of personal taste, and some readers and critics might feel a hardcore horror story that only lacks a few blood stains here and there is too cozy already, while for others it is a complete elimination of graphic imagery that makes it cozy.

Camilla Stein can be reached by email and you can visit her online at CamillaStein and CamillaSteinReview.

Press Pause Moments: Essays about Life Transitions by Women Writers - Edited by Anne Witkavitch

2011-04-24T18:24:00.020-04:00

Today I'm excited to introduce Anne Witkavitch, editor of the inspirational book, Press Pause Moments.

Anne is a professional writer and editor, communications expert and speaker. Her own life transition and pursuit of her dreams were the inspiration for Press Pause Moments: Essays About Life Transitions by Women Writers.

Anne’s work has appeared in Miranda Literary Magazine, The Journal of Employee Communications Management, Time, Inc.'s Work in Progress blog and Vermont Short Bites. She is also a contributing editor and blogger for TravelingMom.com and serves as Managing Editor of the Thin Threads inspirational book series from Kiwi Publishing.

Anne teaches managerial, professional and expository writing at Western Connecticut State University, and serves as a writing mentor for the M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing Program as well as leads workshops and participates as a guest panelist at the residencies.

"Life is about change. As human beings we're always changing, growing, transforming and transitioning our lives. Whether it is our circumstances that lead us to take a new path or a desire to pursue a goal or dream, as women we learn that we have the power to choose who we want to be, what we want to do, and what kind of life we want to lead. These words introduce Press Pause Moments: Essays about Life Transitions by Women Writers, a collection of beautifully crafted tales by 36 women writers reflecting upon change, adversity and celebration."

Can you share some of the topics covered in the book?
When I decided to do an anthology about women’s life transitions it was important to me that I looked at the collection in a diverse way, both in regards to the topics covered and the ages at which the writers experienced their transitions. The natural thinking, of course, when people hear about the book is that this is an anthology about midlife; but truly it is a book that resonates with readers from 18 to 100 years old, who read it as part of a women’s studies group, a book club, or on the beach during a vacation.

For example, my personal story in the anthology is about going back to graduate school in my 40s to follow my dream to write and publish. I recount how my first experience attending the first week-long on-campus residency brought feelings of fear and self-doubt, emotions I had not felt in a very long time. Another story is about a woman whose ability to survive widowhood is tested when a possum unexpectedly “invades” her home.

Another writer dances her way to her 60th birthday. There are so many subjects and brilliant narratives about marriage, divorce, infertility, self-preservation, sexuality, obtaining dual citizenship, and changing careers. Transitions realized by catching fish, planting a garden, riding a motorcycle, learning to dance, deep sea fishing and caring for aging parents. Resilience discovered when one bravely tackles abuse, a child’s health crisis, anxiety and depression, moving a family, shopping with a mother, battling cancer, or studying SIDs.

How did you select the essays to include?
Before we talk about the selection process, the first critical step was writing guidelines that clearly described the vision of the book and the submission criteria. By doing so, it made it easier to sort incoming submissions. For example, if I received poetry or short stories, those submissions were automatically moved to the “no” folder as the guidelines clearly stated nonfiction work.

I also recruited the help of my college friend and fellow writer, Ann Zuccardy. Ann and I shared the same dream to publish our writing and also shared similar philosophies about the writing craft. I trusted her judgment and trusted her to share her comments and critiques.

I received just over 100 submissions, so having another reviewer helped tremendously. However, I faced an unexpected challenge. At the same time as the replies started to come in my oldest sister’s cancer took a turn for the worse. Having Ann’s help kept the process moving, even as I juggled the readings in between out-of-state commutes. In fact, my sister passed away during this process and it’s her image that graces the cover of Press Pause Moments.

I ultimately selected essays based on several criteria. The first was quality. The essay had to be well-written with attention to detail, professional with no typos, and in line with submission guidelines. The second was storytelling. I wanted these writers to share personal experiences in a way that other women could relate to them. Third was diversity. Again, I wanted to make sure the topics represented a wide range of transitions women go through at various stages of their lives. But what has truly been amazing to me is how, once the final stories were selected, I came to know each of the women and her story intimately.

In an interview, I explained how personal each story became to me and how I still carry a mental image from each “like one carries a photo in a wallet.” This truly evolved beyond a collection of stories to a collaborative effort among women writers. Each time I meet one of the writers for the first time, it’s like meeting a rock star!

What message would you like to convey to readers?
Transitions are a natural part of our lives whether they are planned or unexpected, easy or difficult, projected onto us or something we choose. I’ve done a lot of work in change management but I sometimes hesitate to use the word “change” because it implies that something must be left behind that is out of our control in order to move forward; there is a perceived loss, which conjures a sense of fear.

“Transition,” on the other hand, is more about evolving from one point to the next. There is a process and a way to measure the progression. We choose what to take with us, what to let go of, and how to move forward, adapt and grow.

You founded Press Pause Now as a way to help women figure out their vision and goals and attain them. What resources do you offer?
Many women know what they want to do next in their lives but don’t take the time to pause and figure out how to make it happen. They let everything else – family, friends, or work - get in the way. They need to invest time in themselves and have someone experienced facilitate their thinking and help translate their ideas into words and a plan of action. They need to move away from the emotional idea of making a change to the practical “this is how to get it done” approach.

The signature Press Pause Now retreat is a one-day interactive session where women come together to rethink, refocus and reenergize for what’s next in in their lives and begin or fine tune the plan to make it happen. We help each other articulate the vision and then figure out clearly and succinctly the strategic goals, metrics, networks, and priorities that are needed in order to achieve success on our own terms.

Press Pause™ coaching, workshops and retreats are now being expanded under the umbrella of my business, Anne W Associates, a consulting firm that focuses on communications, change and transitions management. My goal is to bring the Press Pause approach to corporations, women’s organizations, small businesses, and wellness institutions in transition and facilitate the dialogue, help them rethink the vision, goals and plan, and provide expertise to help them translate their intentions in a meaningful way with simplicity, clarity and purpose.

Can you tell us more about your workshops and retreats? What could we expect to discover or learn during our time with you?
There are four key areas I focus on in the Press Pause Now retreats and other workshops, coaching and training:

Reflect: What has worked and why? What would we have liked to have done but haven’t? Why not? What have you accomplished? How can those accomplishments and learnings help position you for achieving your goals?

Project: What do you want your life/career/organization to be in five years? What will it look like? What will it feel like? What opportunities exist now that you’d like to go after that can start taking you there?

Plan: In order to get to where we want to be, what are the short and long term priorities to focus on for the next three years? What roadblocks and obstacles stand in the way? What do we need to do more of/less of in the coming year to keep us heading in the right direction?

Promote: How do we communicate your vision and goals? How can you get buy-in from others? Who are the supporters? Who are the resisters?

Promotion and marketing are a big part of selling books. Which two methods have you found work best in promoting Press Pause Moments?

Social media and speaking have been important vehicles for getting out the word about Press Pause Moments. The idea for the book was sparked by the stories women shared at the Press Pause Now retreats. The book itself generates robust dialogue around the subject of transitions and lends itself well to online channels and speaking forums.

I’ve also been blessed to have some incredibly savvy marketing women who are contributing writers and who continuously promote Press Pause Moments along with their own work. Also, I am now working on marketing the book to women’s studies departments at colleges and universities, an audience I feel would strongly benefit from the readings.

Press Pause Moments: Essays about Life Transitions by Women Writers was released in September of 2010 and is available through Amazon and her web site PressPauseMoments.com.

You may reach Anne by email or visit her blog at TheEclecticWriter.typepad.com.

The Write Place At the Write Time with Nicole M. Bouchard

2011-04-16T22:53:00.013-04:00

Recently I was introduced to a remarkable online literary magazine which sets itself apart from the common e-zine type publications that populate the Internet. The Write Place At the Write Time is described as “an artistic venue with a warm, supportive community environment in which to explore literature and fine art.” They are “dedicated to artistic expression, learning and living the written word.” I went to visit and was impressed.

The magazine is published quarterly and includes previously unpublished writers as well as prolific well-established writers who contribute to national publications including Newsweek and The New York Times. Editor-in-Chief and founder, Nicole M. Bouchard, is at the helm of this outstanding magazine. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women. Her writing experience includes both journalism and fiction, explaining her love of both interviewing and creative storytelling. The other stellar half of this team is Assistant Editor, Denise Bouchard, who brings her sensitive insights, talents and own distinctive interviewing style to the table.

I’m pleased to welcome Nicole to Writers in Business. Nicole, can you tell us when The Write Place At the Write Time was launched and what your vision is for the publication?

Our magazine debuted in July of 2008. I remember that it was on the 3rd, just shy of the July 4th weekend and it seemed auspicious to me to be so near Independence Day; the magazine was, is, about freely expressing art and language- the freedom writers and artists live by to speak from the heart and soul.

Our vision was to create a safe haven of encouragement and warmth for creative expression. Our vision has evolved as we have; now we maintain those founding principles as well as add to them through the inspiring experiences we have with our writers and artists. We keep a personal touch to all aspects of the publication- everything from design to forming lasting friendships with contributors. We aim to inspire, educate and entertain on a profound level. Yet the aim goes far beyond that in our goal of carving out a very human visage (face) on the publishing industry.

What can we find in your magazine?

There are the staples of the magazine- fiction, poetry, "Our Stories" non-fiction, the Writers' Craft Box, interviews with best-selling authors and literary professionals in different aspects of the field, Exploration of Theme, Book Reviews, Archives of past issues, the Writers' Contest as well as fine artwork from various artists. In one issue you might find yourself in an intimate conversation with New York Times best-seller, Frances Mayes at a table in Tuscany. In another you’ll feel as though you’re walking through centuries old English castles with Michael Hirst, writer and producer of the Golden Globe-nominated series, The Tudors.

We love to do something different, extraordinary for the readership in each issue. We try to ask the less common questions in interviews so that what someone reads here, they probably haven’t read many times elsewhere; in this respect, we also want to portray our deep appreciation of the interview subjects by trying to cover new territory or give them space to present a different view on a subject. “I think the questions were great and the piece looks wonderful. Thanks for thinking of me. All best wishes"~ Alice Hoffman, best-selling author of Here on Earth (an Oprah's Book Club Selection), Practical Magic (made into the feature film), The Ice Queen, Blackbird House, and The Red Garden [Autumn 2008 Interview]

“Thanks for the lively and insightful interview! The questions were delightful and fun to answer, and your web site a perfect dream for a writer"~ Carolyn See, author of Making a Literary Life, novelist, winner of the Robert Kirsch Body of Work Award, UCLA professor and Book Editor for the Washington Post [Winter 2008 Interview]

A section that was initially an experiment and has become a staple is the “Our Stories” non-fiction. Done in very personalized memoir style, we are always swept away with how the writers open themselves in these pieces that have readers laughing, crying, relating... It is the human experience bared to the bone on the page and it might only be the length of a few paragraphs. This section was the brain-child of my Assistant editor and we’ve both watched it grow with pride, even so much so as to include graphic artwork from an incredible artist, NEWA, who has since passed away yet immortalizes his vivacious spirit through his work.

Nearly every single detail you find in the magazine, from major interview layouts to the colors of the tiny digital outlines around the photos, has been painstakingly pondered.

What is a Writers’ Craft Box?

The Writers' Craft Box is a section of our magazine dedicated to giving writers hints, tools, essays and advice. We say on our home page, “Think of it as an arts and crafts box full of colors and inspiration... or an old toy chest discovered in the attic on a rainy day.” There is a great deal of ‘writer-ly’ passion behind the essays put into it. It’s often a guiding whisper of wisdom to say, ‘I’ve been there. Here’s a lantern and let’s walk the rest of the way together.’

I understand you are offering something new this year, Professional Services. Can you tell us more about it?

We've introduced a new writer services page via the site that is separate and apart from the magazine(the magazine is, and we plan it to remain, free to the public) yet still has our same brand of personalized attention and detailed feedback. We'd had e-mails from writers asking us to look at their full-length manuscripts, colleagues interested to know if we’d consider doing the same.

As such we came up with the following at very reasonable rates for anyone in search of said services: Novel Navigators (developmental, substantive manuscript editing), Flashlight Evaluations (manuscript evaluations that sum up overall impressions and offer suggestions in a concise, written report) and Kindling the Spark 101 (where we offered our very first online writing course entitled, Power, Passion and Prose, meant to for beginning or practiced writers wishing to get past inner censors and blocks). We’d likely offer another course in the summer or autumn. The insights gleaned from the prepared exercises and the great work produced by the students made for an all-around wonderful experience.

Additionally, our newsletter subscription gives in-depth industry info, tools, tips, up-to-date articles and insights, also paired with one on one consultations.

What should writers do if they are interested in contributing to your magazine?

We warmly extend the invitation and love to see new talent! Our writers come from across the globe and have amazingly varied backgrounds. We recommend that writers visit our site for submission guidelines before submitting; this saves everyone time. In short, aim to move your audience. We do generally give a good deal of feedback on submissions. It’s astonishing and remarkably humbling, but we often get thank-you notes from authors whose work we’ve felt for one reason or another we had to reject. We look at each submission as something precious to the heart of its’ sender; if we feel it needs another home (publication catering to its subject) or a true paring down to the foundations to find its strength, we’ll respect the work enough to say so, knowing that writing is indeed subjective. We give our feedback with a dose of humility, understanding that another editor may feel differently and the writer, in the end, has to know their voice well enough to make the final decision of either beginning again, editing with/without the suggestions given or submitting elsewhere as is.

The editing process of an accepted piece looks at the story from many different angles to see if it fits into a working equation and has lasting power to leave the reader with a lingering impression. The story goes through a ‘work out’ between ourselves and the writer and is then released in its fittest form which should always maintain the writer’s ‘authentic voice’.

Where can we find you online?

Our web site is The Write Place at the Write Time and we are on Facebook offering insights, quotes, tools and updates. Our publication is listed on the Poets & Writers site (www.pw.org) under literary magazines, in Newpages.com, Every Writers Resource (EWR), Agentquery.com and P&E.

One of our contributors set up a Wikipedia page for us. We were featured in the Sabotage Review as well as Book Readers Heaven as a featured website, a review and interview. For additional information you can contact Nicole M. Bouchard,Editor-in-Chief

Margit Crane Offers Parents Help Understanding their Tweens & Teens

2011-04-10T11:40:00.016-04:00

Margit Crane, M.A., M.S., M.Ed., is The Gifted-Teen Coach and an award-winning author and speaker on family relationships, child development, and learning strategies. A former teacher and school counselor, Margit coaches families to achieve clearer communication, greater understanding, mutual respect, and a lot more FUN in their relationships.

Margit is the author of several books, including the forthcoming, How to Train Your Parents in Less Than One Week: A Teen Handbook, and the award-winning STOP THE STRUGGLE! Solutions for Parenting Gifted Tweens and Teens. She also created the CD program, Gifted With ADD/ADHD: Insider Strategies to Increase Your Child’s Success and Happiness.
Margit is passionately devoted to making growing up much easier for ADD/ADHD kids, discombobulated teens, and the stressed-out parents who love them! I’m so happy she’s stopped by to tell us about her work and her books.

As the mom of two teenagers and one tween, your web site caught my attention. The information and resources provided are comprehensive. Despite my best intentions, communication is not always as clear as I would like it to be. Can you explain the communication gap between teens and parents?

For me, this is a huge question! I teach a whole class on Talking to Teens. In a nutshell, you've got several things going on at the same time. From the parents’ point of view, they're starting to think about their kids leaving home and they're afraid. Parenting from fear never works, particularly because most teens don't operate from a place of fear. So you've got fearful parents trying to talk to fearless teens. Teens don't have the emotional maturity to fully comprehend their parents concerns. That would require them to imagine a situation happening to them that seems unimaginable.

Like college fears - parents look at their teens' work/study habits and think, "No way is she/he going to make it through college." A teen thinks "OMG, there's my mom/dad overreacting again. I'll be fine. All my friends do fine in college." Their assurance is based on several assumptions, none of which they really know anything about. Like, "I'm fine in high school; I'll be fine in college."

At the same time, it's hard for parents to find a balance between hands-off and being smothering!

How can we close this gap and open up the lines of communication with our children?

Both parents and kids have a skewed understanding of what a conversation is. No conversation should include yelling or nagging. A yelling is called an argument, not a conversation. Nagging is more like lecturing than it is a conversation.

Also, lots of encounters that start out as conversations have an ulterior motive. "I'll just warm them up for what I REALLY want to talk about!" So everyone comes with an agenda and that means that many conversations start with one or more participants on the defensive. Obviously that doesn't work.

I suggest that both teens and parents learn to talk to each other politely and calmly with no agenda. This is a good first step, for practice. Also teens and parents need to practice what I call "Fearless Listening". I call it that because it's scary to listen and not correct, judge, butt in, change the topic, or SET THEM STRAIGHT!

Fearless listening is non-correcting and non-judgmental. You don't have to like what they're saying but both parents and kids need to feel like they are heard, and both hate to be judged.

That's for starters.

Can you share two of the most common mistakes parents make with their tweens and teens?
1. Parents underestimate the importance of sleep. If your child isn't sleeping well, it's super important to get that taken care of. There are natural products (herbs and such) to help, and a variety of physical interventions. Kids who lose sleep can't focus, are forgetful, can't organize, can't concentrate, get sick quicker and more often, and are emotionally temperamental (anger, depression, anxiety). If your child has ADD or ADHD and already has trouble with these things, they'll just get worse. Sleep is more important than grades!

2. Parents tend to take one of two opposite paths when they're frustrated. Either they give up and ignore the situation or they push harder to try to force a change. Neither works, because both are based on a Control paradigm. Who's got the power? That's a painful thing for families and has long-lasting consequences for all. If you're struggling, get help! And be prepared to work. The family is a system. Your child isn't just a loose cog that needs to be tightened. The system often needs to be reworked. But if you're willing and you find good help, you will generally notice changes and gain hope pretty quickly.

Even though my children can’t imagine it, I was once a teenage girl. I would have thought that experience would help me connect with my own teenage daughter, but it’s not. If anything, we tend to have more conflicts than I do with my teenage son. Is there a negative dynamic between moms and their teenage daughters that does not exist with their sons? In your experience have you found communication with tweens & teens differ based on gender?

In my opinion, boys and girls tend to communicate differently and we parents tend to communicate differently with them as well. I've read about negative dynamics between moms and daughters, etc., but I think it has to do with the extent to which parents affirm their kids and have a trustworthy relationship with them. If I may be so bold, saying that you were a teen once and so you should be able to get along with your daughter is like saying you took Spanish so you can still speak it.

Relationships with teens are tricky because teens have changed and you haven't been a teen in a while. In order to relate well to a teen, you kind of still have to be a teen yourself - you have to be willing to FEEL that confusion and angst - but with the experience and wisdom of an adult. What I do in my practice is translate teen-speak to parents and parent-speak to teens.

I understand you offer classes on such topics as motivating your children and avoiding traps & pitfalls. You also offer teleclasses for people who can’t attend in person. I am interested in the teleclasses. Where can we find your schedule? Do we need to have special software installed on our computers to view the classes?

The teleclasses are done over the phone so they're audio. If you can't make a class, they're recorded so you can purchase the recording! You can find out about them by following me on Facebook or Twitter, following my blog, checking my website, or subscribing to my monthly parenting tips. Here's all that info:

Website, blog, and newsletter sign-up (on the right):
MargitCrane.com
Facebook: @Margit Crane: Gifted Kids, Gifted Parents
Twitter: @margitcrane

I’m eager to learn more about your forthcoming book, How to Train Your Parents in Less Than One Week: A Teen Handbook. Can you tell us some of the topics covered?

The thing I love about the book is that there are exercises for teens to do to get along better with parents and also to just improve their lives. This is really about relationships. What works for your parents will work for a boss, a teacher, or anyone else. Topics include: understanding parents and where they're coming from, types of parents, stereotypes about teens, becoming an expert on training your parents, and a huge section on effective communication. I've been getting great pre-publication reviews from teachers, parents, teens (both boys and girls), clergy, and university instructors.

Margit, this is a much needed resource which I’m looking forward to reading. Thank you for joining us today and sharing your wisdom.

Peter Bowerman - The Well-Fed Writer

2011-04-03T10:49:00.014-04:00

Award winning author Peter Bowerman is the author of The Well-Fed Writer (2000), TWFW: Back For Seconds (2005), The Well-Fed Self-Publisher (2007) and the 2010 edition of The Well-Fed Writer - which combined and heavily updated the content of both original WFW titles. The WFW books are how-to “standards” in the lucrative field of commercial freelancing – writing for businesses, large and small, and for hourly rates of $50-125+.

Welcome to Writers in Business. Peter, Can you tell us more about freelance commercial writing?

Commercial writing is writing for corporations or other business entities on a freelance basis. That means marketing brochures, ad copy, newsletters, direct mail campaigns, speeches, trade articles, video scripts and about a zillion other types of projects. Because the business world generally has a lot more money than magazines or other organizations that might hire writers, the pay is considerably higher than in those fields. Hourly rates range from $50-125, with seasoned practitioners commonly making far more than that.

That's a great niche for writers. Is commercial writing different from freelance magazine or newspaper writing?

Very different. If you're reading to this and you've done some magazine writing, you'll relate to this. Imagine the editor of a publication you've been writing for saying, "OK, for this next piece, add up all the hours you think it'll take for research, background reading, travel, brainstorming, interviewing, writing, and editing. Then multiply it by $75." You'd think he lost his mind. But, that's pretty much how it works in commercial writing. Project fees are calculated based on those hourly rates of $50-100+ and all time counts. Unlike magazine writing, it's not just these flat project fees with potentially vast, open-ended commitments of time.

What sets the Well-Fed Writer apart from other books on this topic?

Most writing books either concentrate on the craft of writing or discuss arenas of freelancing with dubious and unpredictable financial potential (i.e., magazine article writing, novels, children's books, etc.) The Well-Fed Writer focuses on the lucrative and surprisingly accessible arena of commercial writing - freelancing for Corporate America.

While The Well-Fed Writer avoids romanticizing the field (while many commercial projects are fun, interesting and creatively rich, there IS more fulfilling writing out there), it doesn’t apologize for its emphasis on writing that makes money - good, steady money - an often off-limits subject in the eyes of those who would preserve the artistic "purity" of writing.

Your success in the field is inspirational. In addition to the Well-Fed Writer series of books, you have also created companion ebook publications. This is a great idea!

Ask yourself this question: "What other information could I package and sell along with my book as a companion ebook for which people would be willing to pay an additional $5, $10, $20 $30 or more?" For example, in the case of my main book, The Well-Fed Writer, I created two ebook products: a Tool Box (full of contracts, letter/email templates, and a lot more), and a Time line with action steps for various phases of building a commercial writing business. Together, they sell for $28on top of the $20 for the book, and probably 75% of people eventually buy them. Pure profit - no costs for storage or shipping.

Peter, I understand you offer mentoring, group coaching and teleseminars. How can we learn more about your work?

You can find me online at WellFedWriter.com, WellFedSP.com and my blog.

Business Expenses for Writers by Brigitte Thompson

2011-03-20T19:17:00.002-04:00

It's tax season which, for most people, is about as welcome as a migraine. With some planning and organization, filing your tax return can become less painful.

I've compiled a list of common business expenses for writers. Of course, this does not include every possible deduction, but it offers suggestions that will help you reduce your taxable income.

The article is an excerpt from my book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers.

Expenses Related to the Business of Writing

Psychologist Gael McCarte - The Con

2011-03-20T18:42:00.006-04:00

As a psychologist Gael McCarte worked with offenders in Perth, Western Australia. She has fictionalized this experience in her book, The Con. She gives readers a ring side seat into Aussie life, working with criminals, raising kids in Australian elite private schools.

Gael is a Marriage and Family Therapist, forensic psychologist and seminar speaker who is often complimented on her unique story telling abilities, and her Celtic sense of humor.

Thank you for joining us at Writers in Business. With the combination of psychology and crime, your book sounds intriguing. I understand you have fictionalized your work with offenders, but what inspired you to bring this information out as a book?
I had 3 inspiration sources.

My first inspiration was Sandra Fleury. I mention her in the acknowledgements. Sandra's position was to convince churches, business owners and government agencies to give criminals with power tools access to their buildings to make necessary repairs. This 'community service' was part of their sentencing. She was petite to tiny. The vision of restoring the Dufken, a boat used by the first settlers who came to Australia, gripped her. She took it on as a project. Huge, gruff offenders complained, they were hot, they did not like the cramped hull, they did not want to sand. This tiny woman answered, "too bad, too sad, you owe a debt to society, and smile, this is how you get to repay it". That wooden ship rebuild was amazing. And the offenders gained valuable skills, staying at a job they did not necessarily like, being one of them.

I saw an opportunity. Former inmates could utilize their talent in the real world upon their release from prison. Sandra helped me institute the Justice Through Art program to do that. Prisons had an excellent art teacher, Jeff. He actually went into the prisons and assisted inmates to develop their art. He was willing to continue the classes once the inmates were released. Using the same artistic methods, products and style he provided a seamless transition venue from prison to the real world.

My second inspiration was that I left the department before I could add the prison tattoo element to the art. It was an itch I could not scratch. It had to be done. I did it in the book. I would very much like to do it in reality here. Prison art is sought after. The current overwhelming popularity of tattoos has catapulted them into the mainstream. From a business perspective, prison tattoo designs could be a wealth creator, among other things, for their designers. If prisons caught the vision it could not only be cost neutral but end the offending cycle thereby negating the cost of re-incarceration. Sheriff Joe, are you listening?

The third inspiration was the offenders themselves, some of whom were the most amazing people I have ever met. I have fictionalized them but the essence of their tragedies, life stories and even successes are in the book.

Did these experiences have an impact on you personally?

I could not work with this population and not have it affect me. As I portray in my book with Anna, a psychologist, it changes your language, your attitude, your world outlook and increases your cynicism and fear for your children's safety. It bleeds into every part of your life, and personal experience. The stories are the same, young parents, absent father, violence, neglect, trauma, leaving school early, crashing from one tragedy to another finally coming to rest in the arms of the law. A tsunami of broken and abused lives crashes down on you day after day.

What two promotional ideas have you used to market your book?

I advertise the book through my blogs, and Facebook. I write for an e-zine to increase my online presence. I advertise it on different Facebook sites such as Women on Writing, and through my writer's group. I am a long time 'inhabitant' of a political chat room. It is amazing how many others in the chat room are interested or employed working with offenders. I am shameless about promoting the book there as I believe in it. It has cultural and psychological integrity and is fun. I have been offered a radio interview which I am arranging now and a book signing. I will continue to write, interview and promote the book through seminars.

To learn more about Gael's work and purchase her book, The Con, please visit her online at BlogHer. You can also find her on Facebook.

Joelle Charbonneau's Skating Around the Law

2011-03-12T20:18:00.020-05:00

During the 1980s, I spent most Saturday nights at a roller skating rink with my friends. We had many fun adventures, but nothing comes close to the stories created by Joelle Charbonneau in her books; Skating Around The Law and Skating Over The Line.

Joelle, thank you for joining us. I'm curious, what was your inspiration for the setting of your two books?

The inspiration for the roller rink setting came from my mother, Jaci Charbonneau. She was an artistic roller skater who appeared on ABC's Wide World of Sports and was even pictured in the World Book Encyclopedia under "Roller Skating. I also played the role of Annie on skates when I was a child.

I enjoyed reading about your November event, Fleetwood Roller Skating Reunion and Book signing. What other creative plans are in the works for promoting your books?

The skating events have been a lot of fun. My release party was held at the Orbit Skating rink during an artistic skating reunion. We then had the November event at Fleetwood, which my husband wasn't as wild about - he fell and broke his arm. I don't know if he'll skate at the next release party, but I'm going to try to get him back on the rink.

Also, in November I was honored to have every member of the USA Artistic Roller Skating team travel to the world championships in Portugal with a copy of my book in their hand. This summer I believe I will be at the 2011 National Artistic Roller Skating Championship in Indiana to watch the skating and sign books. I'll also be starting to do appearances at Roller Derby meets and working with the local roller derby teams to promote the next book, Skating Over the Line, which will come out on Sept. 27th.

Skating Over The Line features the first appearance of the Indian Falls roller derby team and in book three they are central to the main storyline. Derby ladies are lots of fun and I can't wait to see what promotions we can come up with together.

Do you belong to any professional writing organizations? How do you benefit from membership?

The best thing I ever did for my writing career was joining a professional writing organization. The first one I joined was at the recommendation of the only published author I knew - who also happened to be a NY Times Best Seller. She told me to join Romance Writers of America and more important she told me to join my local chapter. I did both. The national organization is a great source of information about the business. They helped me be more professional in the way I approached querying agents and editors.

The local chapter was instrumental in my improving my writing. Every meeting a member (or 2) reads 20 pages of their manuscript aloud which is then critiqued by the attending members. I learn just as much when I listen to critiques of other writers' work as I do when I myself have work critiqued. I don't write romance, but the organization is happy to embrace all genres. Thank goodness for me!

I also belong to Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. They all are wonderfully supportive and provide information that always helps me keep informed about the industry. Like it or not, writing isn't just a creative endeavor. It is a business and the best way to not feel overwhelmed by the business is to learn about it. And wow, what a fascinating business it is!

What are you working on now?

I will be launching a new series next year with Berkley Prime Crime. The first book is titled Murder For Choir and is about a classical singer who turns to teaching high school show choir to make ends meet. During the end of summer regional show choir camp, she discovers a rival director strangled with a microphone cord and one of her students comes under suspicion for the murder.

I'm also blogging at Do Some Damage where I'm joined by other authors who write Crime Fiction - with a capital C. Dark noir, lots of drugs and grisly deaths are in their books. I write crime fiction with a little bitty c. My books are funny mysteries. Yes, there are dead bodies, but there are is a hat wearing ex-circus camel and a randy grandfather.

You can learn more about Joelle's writing by visiting her online at JoelleCharbonneau.net.

Raven and Lain Bower Share their Supernatural World

2011-03-05T19:26:00.012-05:00

Raven and Lain Bower are a wife and husband team of writers living in Michigan. They are avid role-players and love to design mythical and diabolical creatures, characters and fantastic worlds together. They are co-creators of Farath, a new epic fantasy world in the works.

Raven's first book, Apparitions, is a ghostly supernatural suspense story now available in paperback and as an ebook. Lain and Raven also wrote the screenplay for The Nano Effect, a dark futuristic suspense movie that is currently under production at Mad Lab Films.

What an exciting genre! Can you tell us about the next books in this series?
Yes, the next book is Wendigo. My editor, Terri, at Under The Moon contracted both Wendigo and the third book in the Apparitions series, Rags Beneath. I was really happy about this and I love working with her.

Are you planning a print book or ebook only for this title?
Both Wendigo and Rags Beneath will be released in ebook first and shortly thereafter in paperback. I'm not sure I'd be fond of the idea of hardcovers again. They're really expensive for readers to buy and as a reader myself, publishers putting out hardcovers before the more affordable paperbacks bugs me. As an author, hardcovers are definitely a harder sell, no pun intended!

The world of ebooks is certainly evolving. When you receive royalty payments from your publisher, how do your ebook sales compare to print sales?
My publisher is very organized this way so we get details on all of it. Sales wise print usually beats out the ebook sales, but I've noticed as time passes more people are purchasing the ebooks.

Congratulations on the screenplay for The Nano Effect being turned into a film. That's exciting news! When will it be released?
Thanks! It's being released by Mad Lab Films. The release date is uncertain but my husband Lain, who co-authored the script, and I are meeting with the director,Michael Baker, this spring to discuss some revisions to the script. So far he's leaning towards filming in 2011.

Have you been involved in any of the set design or casting?
Yes and it's quite an adventure. I'd have to warn, not all directors allow the writer much say in anything, but Michael is awesome that way and really likes to follow the vision.

Was it challenging to write a screenplay versus a novel?
I've written two screenplays so far and both were easier than novels. By far, actually. Storytelling wise they both follow the same general rules but a screenplay runs roughly 80-125 pages whereas a novel in my genres run upwards of 300-500 pages in manuscript form.

I understand you are the co-founder of the WLE, creators of the fantasy realm of Farath. Sounds intriguing. Can you tell us more about it?
Sure. WLE stands for White Lotus Entertainment. Lain and I co-own the company and it's our fondest (and most ambitious) dream to bring the best entertainment in books, games and eventually film to those who love our genres.

Farath is a fantasy world specifically built not only for a vivid and deep reading experience via the books, but also to eventually be a world rife with adventure for gamers and role-players. To this end, we often work with other creative minds and would like nothing better than to be able to hire people and enable them to follow their dreams with us. We haven't reached that point yet, but we're on the way.

How can we find out more about your writing?
You can visit me online at RavenBower.com and at my blog.

Can You Make a Living as a Full-Time Writer? by Robert Medak

2011-02-19T19:12:00.007-05:00

Regular followers will remember writer, Robert Medak, from an earlier post on Writers in Business. Robert is a freelance writer, editor, book reviewer and aspiring author. He has written or ghost written over 350 articles and 80 book reviews. Today he is joining us to answer one of the biggest questions facing writers.

Can You Make a Living as a Full-Time Writer?
This is a simple yet complex question, with an answer to match.

Unless your name is Bob Bly or someone as well known, please don’t quit your day job.

It takes time, effort, marketing, quality work, and referrals to become a go to person for writing. It isn’t going to happen overnight no matter how often some people tell you. They will probably try to sell you some course, program, or get you involved with PLR articles or books that you can rebrand to call your own. Others will try to get you involved with affiliates.

I don’t do any of that since I offer 100 percent original work and test it with Copyscape for and possible plagiarism questions. I have also signed an ethics pledge.

I have gone so far as to turn down work due to ethical concerns. I realize individuals will make their own decision, but you still have to face yourself in the mirror each morning and have to live with your modus operandi of business; for writing is a business, have no fear about that.

If you choose to enter the realm of freelance writing, you will need to price your services and believe that you are an entrepreneur, because you are.

When the economy slows down so do writing jobs. With the diminishing number of magazines and newspapers, the number of places that would normally take a chance of new writers also diminishes. Along with this, many companies are looking to outsource to other countries where labor is cheaper than the United States.

It is still possible to make a living as a writer depending on how hard you are willing to work at finding jobs.

The best way to find jobs is to start out locally. Check in with your local Chamber of Commerce, Church, and Civic Groups.

Build a website, blog, guest blog, use social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter) to let potential clients know you exist. If potential clients don’t know about you, they will not come to you. Build a portfolio of work that you can show to potential clients. Keep a CV/ Résumé up to date; some clients make ask for one.

Watch out for any signs of frustration that things are not happening according to the way you think they should when jobs do not come easy, you are not the only one trying for them.

Excellent ideas! Thank you Robert. You can find Robert online at the following sites.

Website, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Announcing J.M. Kelley's Digital Novel, Drew In Blue

2011-02-12T21:10:00.011-05:00

J.M. Kelley enjoys writing love stories. Her short story, Killing Me Softly, earned a first place finish in the In Other Words Competition at the 2010 Pennwriters Conference, and her non-fiction piece, Anniversary, won a second-place prize in the Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Awards at the 2010 South Carolina Writer's Workshop Conference. She is here today to tell us about her new book, Drew In Blue.

Congratulations on your new book, Drew In Blue. Can you tell us about it?

Drew In Blue is the story of a thirty-six year old loner unexpectedly saddled with the task of raising a baby while trying to sort out his mess of a life. Problem is, he just keeps making things worse for himself. It’s a running theme in Drew’s life, considering he never does anything the easy way. The River’s View, Pennsylvania gossip mill is watching each misstep as Drew juggles a price-gouging babysitter, a major case of artist’s block, and a best friend with an opinion to share on every bungled choice he makes.

Drew’s love life isn’t faring much better. Despite a long history of relationships that never really get off the ground, he falls head over heels for someone new, hoping that she might be the one to end his romantic bad luck streak. After a few abysmally bad false starts, things finally start looking up for Drew. That is, until he finds out (the hard way, naturally) that this new love interest isn’t the one for him after all. Turns out, it’s actually lifelong pal, and high school girlfriend, Kristina Moser.

Drew’s feelings for Kris intensify as he witnesses her growing bond with his son, and he finally realizes where he belongs. Now all he has to do is convince Kris he’s right… and she’s just not buying it.

I noticed your book is available as an ebook. This is one avenue I am considering for my books. Has the experience been positive?

It's definitely a positive experience. Being a debut author with a digital novel, I admit there are times I am left wondering about how to brainstorm fresh ways to promote my story, but the hands-on feeling in the process is incomparable. I love the experience of leading a person to my story, and getting their positive feedback a few days later. There's an intimacy with the readership that I wonder if I could duplicate in other publishing formats.

Lazy Day Publishing produced your book. Have you found them to be a cooperative publisher? Did you have to pay any fees as part of publication?

Lazy Day Publishing has been wonderful. They are always available to answer questions, and are supportive of the various ways in which we promote ourselves. I felt my opinion was very valued in the process of bringing Drew In Blue to publication. My personal vision regarding my cover was not only heard, but incredibly well-translated. I'm thrilled with the finished product and wouldn't want any other version. In creating trailers for our books, Lazy Day went a step beyond and tapped musician Ehron VonAllen to compose original music for each story.

And no, I've never been asked to pay any fees as part of publication. If any publisher asks you to pay a fee, that's a clear sign to run the opposite direction. I'm a very lucky author to have found Lazy Day.
How can we learn more about your writing?

My official website can be found at JMKelleyWrites.com. There, you'll find an excerpt from Drew In Blue, purchase links, reviews, my new book trailer, personal (and highly amateur) photography, and my blog. The running theme of my website is randomness at its finest, and I'm always happy to welcome a new follower to the mix. I'm also on Facebook and on Twitter as @JM_Kelley.

Thank you for joining us today on Writers in Business. I have one more question for you. Where can we find your book?

Drew In Blue can be downloaded from Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, All Romance, and Omni Lit. The book can be easily downloaded through my web site.

Poet, Writer and Teacher - Linda M. Rhinehart Neas

2011-02-05T19:26:00.016-05:00

Linda M. Rhinehart Neas is visiting us today from snowy Massachusetts. She has written extensively in various venues, publishing and performing her work throughout New England. When not writing, Linda is teaching English as a second language at the University of Massachusetts, where she received her Master’s in Education.

Linda’s first complete book of poems, Winter of the Soul, was published in February 2008. Gogo’s Dream: Discovering Swaziland, a collection of poems dedicated to those who work to aid the peoples of Swaziland was published this year. All proceeds from the sale of Gogo’s Dream go directly to Possible Dreams International.

As a published poet, journalist, blogger, freelance writer and award-winning author, you sound like a very motivated and busy woman. Can you tell us about your typical day of writing? Do you enjoy one sort of writing over another?

Good question, Brigitte. My typical day starts with a cup of tea after my walk at my desk in the corner of my kitchen looking out at my meditation garden. Usually, I begin by checking emails, writing answers to questions, responding to my queries, etc. Then, depending on what is on the calendar, I begin writing in earnest. Most days I write from around 8:30 a.m. until noon-ish, when I stop for lunch, then from around 1 p.m. until 6-6:30. Of course, there are interruptions, but for the most part, I am writing for a good six or seven hours a day.

My first love is poetry. I just relish the way words can be twisted and turned in such a short space to create amazing images. Unfortunately, as all poets know, poetry doesn’t pay the bills. Therefore, I spend most of my time now on writing for BrightHub’s Educational Channel and other freelance pursuits.

I, also, schedule time in to work on a novel I unexpectedly started from what I thought was going to be a short story, but then I fell in love with my characters, which means telling their whole story, not just a snippet.

Viewing your meditation garden in the morning sounds like a peaceful way to begin the day. I noticed you are a member of National Writers' Union, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, and National Association of Multicultural Educators. Have you found these memberships to be beneficial to your writing career?

The National Writers’ Union, I feel is beneficial in that they provide guidelines and advice when I am struggling with what to do about a contract or how I should handle a client. They have also been a great help in suggestions for marketing my work. I would recommend membership to any freelancer or writer.

The other two organizations connect to my teaching career. As an English language teacher, I do get ideas for writing from the interactions of my students. Mostly, those experiences have gone into my poetry, however.

It's good to hear about your positive experiences with the National Writers' Union. I plan to explore their web site for more information. Marketing and promotion are a big part of writing. Can you share a marketing idea that has provided positive results for you?

I have found Women on Writing (WOW) to be an excellent promotional tool. I held a blog tour through WOW for my book Gogo’s Dream: Swaziland Discovered. The tour not only allowed me to connect to other writers, and the readers of their blogs, but also helped with sales, which of course was the purpose of the promotion.

Blog tours are a great way to get your name “out there.” The team at WOW does an excellent job of setting up the tour and providing the blog writers and the guests with whatever they need.

I've heard so many great things about Women On Writing recently. I had no idea they could help with blog tours as well. I'm glad your tour was successful. Can you tell us about Gogo's Dream?

Gogo’s Dream began as a series of poems I wrote for the Poem-a-Day Challenge held by Robert Lee Brewer of Writers’ Digest. He had suggested we write the poems with a theme in mind. I was looking for a way to promote the work of Possible Dreams International, of which I am an ambassador.

Gogo is the Swazi name for grandmother. As a grandmother, myself, I took the plight of the Gogo’s personally. My relationship with them and the others in Swaziland is purely virtual. I have yet to visit Swaziland, although I hope to do so someday.

Learning about the struggles of these brave women to raise grandchildren who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, touched my heart. Many of the Gogos are raising ten or more children. They all live in small one-room huts without running water or the basics of life that we take for granted. Their stories inspired and informed my poetry.

At the end of the month, I realized I had a book, which I published using Blurb.com. I liked this because it made it easy for me to get the book out into people’s hands, immediately, that they could purchase online for the less than the cost of a pizza.

Gogos sound like amazing women who put their heart and soul into caring for children. I understand profits from this book are being donated to Possible Dreams International. What inspired this decision?

Possible Dreams International is an organization, which was co-created by my friend, Dr. Maithri Goonetilleke and one of his fellow doctors. The work they do in Swaziland is with the poorest of the poor, those people who have been devastated by poverty and disease. Most of their work is with the Gogos, who, as I said previously, are raising their grandchildren under extreme poverty. From the first time I heard about the work that Maithri, a fellow poet, was doing, I knew I wanted to be part of his team.

Writing and publishing, Gogo’s Dream, was a way to give to PDI in a manner that I would not be able to do by simply writing a check. Gogo’s Dream, not only raises much need funds for PDI, but it also educates others through the poetry to who the Gogos are, who the people of Swaziland are and what their lives are like in their beautiful, landlocked country.

Linda, I'm so very impressed with your work and the inspiration behind Gogo's Dream. How can we learn more about your writing?

First, Brigitte, let me thank you for this interview and for sharing my love of writing with your readers. To learn more about my writing, please visit
my web site, hubfolio and my blog.

I encourage visitors to leave comments on my blog, to which I will respond, promptly. Knowing that something I have written touches another’s soul or inspires someone is what brings me great joy as a writer.

Taking the Mystery Out of Business - new release by Linda Faulkner

2011-01-08T16:17:00.018-05:00

Today I'd like to introduce Linda Faulkner from Missoula, Montana. She is an entrepreneur and the founder of four businesses. Her new release, Taking the Mystery Out of Business: 9 Fundamentals for Professional Success, is destined to be a best seller.

Putting words together has been Linda's lifelong passion. In addition to writing fiction and non-fiction books, Linda is a freelance writer and has been multi-published for many years. She develops and writes career development workshops, procedures manuals, and continuing education seminars, workshops, texts, and online courses.

Linda is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

She is visting us today to share the details of her new book, Taking the Mystery Out of Business.

Linda, why do you think people consider the business world to be “mysterious?”

Most people occasionally encounter subjects about which they know little or nothing. When they bump into such topics at work, however, they tend to get frazzled and often find themselves unable to avoid or work around them. Because I’ve worked in the business world for over thirty years—as an employee, manager, and business owner/entrepreneur—I’ve run into many personalities and perspectives about what to do and how/when to do it. I believe the best way to learn or overcome gaps in knowledge is to simplify a subject (i.e., de-mystify it). That’s what Taking the Mystery Out of Business is about: taking subjects that seem to be complex, simplifying them, and sharing my business knowledge and expertise in a way that anyone can understand.

Many writers hate the business side of writing and, in fact, do not consider themselves to be business people. What advice do you have for them?

If writers want to sell their work, they either have to be business persons or hire one or more people to assume that role for them. Books don’t sell and market themselves; neither do they pay bills, acquire a following, or manage a writer’s time. Self-employed individuals (i.e., writers) need to operate from the same perspective as other businesses. Yes, adaptations are made--a writer won’t handle his or her business in the same fashion that IBM handles its business, for example--but the fundamentals are the same.
Following the advice of those who are successful in their own business endeavors is a quick and easy way for a writer to learn what techniques will and will not work. Each person has his or her own personality. Shy people tend to avoid large gatherings and speaking in public. Readers and fans, however, love to meet writers and learn more about them. Shy people should arrange marketing events that allow them to interact with people while taking advantage of their personalities. Social networking, blogging, and other types of online marketing take a great deal of time—more so than speaking in public and addressing large groups of people. Creating events that involve small groups, like book clubs, however, works well for individuals who prefer avoiding large crowds. If a shy person enjoys smaller venues, is successful at them, and doesn’t mind the extra time and effort involved—that’s what he or she should do.

Being creative is essential. Writers should read and study the successes of other business people and then use their creativity to adapt those processes so they work for themselves.

Who should read Taking the Mystery Out of Business and why should they read it?>

In this practical primer, I lay out the fundamentals of business, providing examples and tips so newcomers to the business world can easily gain an understanding of the challenges they face. Experienced professionals will benefit from a refresher on basic strategies and how to stay ahead of the competition.

Linda, your book should be on the desk of every writer who is serious about their career. Thank you for telling us more about your newest book. Readers can order a copy through her web site and through Amazon.com. Linda also offers a newsletter and blog with tips. You can learn more by visiting her web site.

Sarah Ballance: Down in Flames - Hot new release!

2010-11-07T15:36:00.010-05:00

Sarah Ballance lives a charmed life as the mother of six incredible homeschooled children, all of whom are completely adorable when they're asleep. Her husband of many years (long, long years, he calls them) is the kind of guy who could teach those heroes from the books a thing or two about romance, not that he'd readily admit it. Completely supportive of her newfound love of writing fiction, he's generously offered to help with any necessary research for "the good parts." She's never had to ask twice.

The whole boisterous lot of them live within boating distance of the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina, suspiciously close to the setting of Sarah’s second novel – a romantic suspense which gives a whole new meaning to the idea of escaping to the beach.

She joins us today to announce the exciting news of her new release, Down in Flames!

What inspired you to start writing fiction?

After writing little more than a grocery list throughout my entire adult life, I jumped into freelancing on a blind whim. I ended up making quite a bit of money through contract clients and scored a couple of national print credits to boot. One of my friends then suggested I write a novel, to which I replied “I can’t do that.” It’s one thing to write nonfiction … it can be impersonal. Fiction dives into the heart and mind of the writer and leaves pieces of the author’s soul on the page. As THE introvert, just the thought of putting myself out there like that scared me. But at the same time, I don’t like being told I can’t do anything – not even by ME – so I gave it a shot. Almost exactly a year after I typed the first words of Down in Flames, Noble Romance Publishing released it. I’m still an introvert, but I’m hooked!

As a homeschooling mom of 6, how do you find time to write? Have you created a schedule or do you work better when life is flexible?

In theory, I get up around five in the morning and spend four blissful, uninterrupted hours writing. In reality, 7:00 a.m. hits me like a boulder to the forehead and I wake up feeling totally behind and frazzled, which is a lousy way to start the day. I do my best writing in the morning, though, so it’s my goal to write early. The kids sleep in and begin their day around nine or ten and from there I’m in mom mode. I usually don’t get another chance to write until after dinner. I think overall our schedule IS “flexible,” LOL!

How did you decide on Noble for a publisher?

I did my research on a few publishers and found the buzz on Noble to be fantastic. No one had anything negative to say about them, I noticed many of their authors repeated, and the covers are stunning. You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but covers do sell books! I didn’t think for a moment they’d accept my story, but they were definitely my top choice. And my experience has far exceeded any expectations I managed to form through the shock of the contract offer. The Noble team is friendly, professional, and both supportive of and available to their authors. I’m so blessed to have wandered through their front door with my homeless manuscript!

Promotion is such a big part of being an author. What are you doing to advertise Down in Flames?

This is something I’m still experimenting with. I’ve been fortunate with the number of blog interviews I’ve been offered, and eventually I worked up enough nerve to do a couple of guest blogs (to a fantastic response!). My focus now, aside of writing more books, is to get my name out there. Pretending to be an extrovert is tough at times, LOL, but the friends and connections I’ve made are amazing. And I’ve been told my book cover has been seen “all over the place” by more than one of these friends and readers, so I feel as if my small steps are good ones. The biggest response thus far has been in site hits originating from my paid ad, but it’s too soon to know if those hits will translate to sales.

Is there anything else you would like to share with my readers?

Thanks so much for hanging out and reading through to the end! To check out the latest news, read my favorite excerpt from Down in Flames, or take a peek at my news archives – including two guest blogs readers loved – please visit my website at SarahBallance.com. All of my contact info is on the home page, so if you’d like to connect that’s the place to go to make it happen!

Sarah, thank you for visiting us at Writers in Business. We wish you all the best with your new book, Down in Flames.

Sarah can be reached at Down in Flames @ Noble Romance, Blog and Facebook.

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

2010-10-23T21:48:00.011-04:00

Laura Vanderkam. a New York City-based journalist, is the author of Grindhopping: Build a Rewarding Career without Paying Your Dues (McGraw-Hill, 2007), which the New York Post selected as one of four notable career books of 2007. She is a member of USA Today’s Board of Contributors, and her work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, Scientific American, Reader’s Digest, Reason, and other publications. A 2001 graduate of Princeton, she enjoys writing fiction, running, and singing soprano with the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus. She lives with her husband and two young boys.

Laura’s newest book, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, was released in May of 2010. Her book received promotion from Redbook (June 2010), and Parenting Magazine (July 2010). In addition, Laura has appeared on The Today Show and Fox News.

We are thrilled to welcome Laura to Writers in Business!

First, can you tell us why we should think of our time as 168 hours?

It's what you get when you multiply 24 by 7 -- there are 168 hours in a week!Thinking in terms of 168 hours gives us a more complete picture of our time. In any given day, we might not achieve the right balance. We might have to work late, or we might be late to work because the kids miss the bus. When we get caught up in looking at 24-hour blocks, we don't see spaces in our schedules. But looking at the whole 168 hours opens up a lot more possibilities. So you can't exercise every day. But if you can get up early twice during the workweek to run for 30 minutes, and then run twice on weekends, you can make real progress.
Why do you say people have more time than we think?

Some of this is just math. There are 168 hours in a week. If you work 40 and sleep 8 hours a night (56 per week) this leaves 72 hours for other things. If you work 50, this leaves 62. This is still a lot of time! In 62 hours, you can probably find 4 to exercise, 3 to volunteer, and still have time for your family and your hobbies.

That’s a good point! I’ve never looked at time that way before. Any tips to help readers get started?

Try keeping a time log. If you've ever tried to lose weight, you know that nutritionists tell you to write down what you're eating, to keep you accountable. It's the same with time. Write down what you're doing as often as you remember (you can download a spreadsheet at Time Management Spreadsheet). Think of yourself like a lawyer billing your time to different projects. At the end of the week, add it up and see if it reflects you're priorities. If not, ask what you'd like to be doing with your 168 hours, and see what you can change.

In this demanding 24/7 world, we can all use some extra time. Laura offers a treasure trove of useful information on her blog: My 168 Hours and you can order her book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders and many other bookstores.

Pat Hauldren Editor and Writer Extraordinaire

2010-10-08T19:30:00.014-04:00

Pat Hauldren, known to her friends as Alley, joins us today from Grand Prairie, Texas. She is a talented freelance writer, editor and writing teacher who wears many hats.

Through her web site AlleyPat.com , Alley offers a variety of services including full line-by-line editing, proofreading, transcription, newsletter writing and design, ghostwriting and customized social media planning. She can also design web sites and create content for them.

She is currently copyeditor at Cyberwizard Publications, editor for the newsletter of a local chapter of RWA, and freelance writer for the Examiner.com.

- What is your favorite genre?

My favorite genre is science fiction and fantasy, or as we are calling it now, speculative fiction. My first SF was unintentional. In grade school, we lived in a small town in the piney woods of East Texas. Small town meant small library, which meant, small selection of books. At the time, I was reading horse stories (you know, Flicka and all that.), but one Friday afternoon, before catching the bus for the hour ride home, I grabbed several books I assumed to be the ones I wanted. Well, I did want them, after the fact. I had selected several Heinlein’s young adult books like Have Space Suit, Will Travel & Starship Troopers. Speculative fiction has been an addiction ever since.

- Can you tell us about your new position as writer for the Sy Fy Channel at the Examiner?

I write Speculative Fiction and call myself a Mythologist because when I world-build, I have to create the legends and myths of my world. Even when writing contemporary fantasy, I delve into human history, legends, myths, and fables to weed out those intriguing nuggets that suggest gem of possibilities for a fantastical world or culture.

Please visit me at the Sy Fy Channel Examiner -- SyFy Channel read more about my world.

As if all this wasn’t keeping her busy, Alley writes for other channels at the Examiner including:

Fort Worth Writing Examiner
Fort Worth Hockey Examiner
Dallas Speculative Fiction Examiner
Dallas Women's Sports Examiner

Where can writers go online to learn more about writing and editing?

I have created, organized, and moderate several online and live writers’ workshops. Some of the online workshops are:
• DFW_Authors ~ for writers in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas
• NTRWA ~ for members of the North Texas Speculative Fiction Workshop
• SFF_Writers ~ for Science Fiction & Fantasy writers world-wide
• SFF_Texas ~ for Science Fiction & Fantasy writers in the Texas area
• Texas-Writers ~ information and networking for Texas area writers, editors, agents, publishers
• Texas Writers Classifieds ~ writers resources including freelance writing & editing jobs, publishing & marketing news, special events, booksignings, workshops, writing contests, and seminars.
• Writing & Publishing ~ for writers, editors, agents, & publishers all around the world.

Alley, you are one busy woman! I’ve enjoyed learning more about you and your writing. Having just subscribed to your SyFy channel, I’m looking forward to reading your creative writing as well.

Readers can contact Alley at EditAlley@gmail.com , Google Voice: 214.444.8916, Skype: Pat Hauldren and online at AlleyPat.com.

Mystery Writer and Readers Choice Award Nominee John Desjarlais

2010-09-25T18:37:00.007-04:00

A former producer with Wisconsin Public Radio, John Desjarlais teaches English at Kishwaukee College in northern Illinois. His first novel, The Throne of Tara (Crossway 1990, 2000), was a Christianity Today Readers Choice Award nominee, and his medieval crime novel Relics (Thomas Nelson 1993, 2009) was a Doubleday Book Club Selection.

Bleeder and Viper (Sophia Institute Press 2009 and forthcoming 2010, respectively) are the first two entries in a contemporary mystery series. A member of The Academy of American Poets and Mystery Writers of America, he is listed in Who's Who in Entertainment and Who’s Who Among America's Teachers.

John, Thank you for joining us today. It's exciting to interview such a prolific writer. With two books published, I'm eager to learn what you are working on next. Can you tell us about your latest books?

BLEEDER is a contemporary amateur-sleuth mystery where a stigmatic priest bleeds to death on Good Friday in front of horrified parishioners. A miracle? Or bloody murder? Aristotle professor Reed Stubblefield needs to find out, because police regard him as the prime ‘person of interest’ in the mysterious death. He applies Aristotle’s logic to get at the truth before he is arrested or killed by people who don’t want this mystery solved.

VIPER, the sequel due out this fall, features a minor character from BLEEDER as the protagonist. Latina insurance agent Selena De La Cruz learns that her name has been written in her parish church’s ‘Book of the Deceased’ on All Souls Day. The problem is, she’s not dead. But someone wants her to be.

These are interesting plots! I’m intrigued. How did you pick the genre you write in?

When I worked as a scriptwriter for a multimedia company in the 1980s, I produced a documentary on the history of Western Christianity and became fascinated by the Irish monastic movement. These artistic, scholarly monks saved civilization at a time when barbarians were burning their way through Europe. Saint Columba of Iona was especially interesting – a hot-headed warrior and poet with Second Sight who went to war over a disputed manuscript and, in remorse over the thousands slain, exiled himself among the Picts of Scotland where he dueled the druids, miracles versus magic. So his fictionalized biography, The Throne of Tara, was my first novel.

I learned about relics along the way and the rich trade in them (and battles over them) in the Middle Ages and that became the basis for book 2, Relics. I’d begun researching a third historical wherein Aristotle, the Father of Logic, would solve a crime. But I learned this had already been done (and well) by a British writer not long ago. So I fancied a classics professor who was familiar with Aristotle’s writing and who would apply Aristotelian logic to solving a crime that defied reason. That’s how BLEEDER began, a story of a stigmatic priest who bleeds to death on Good Friday. I always enjoyed reading mysteries and now I’m hooked on writing them.

It sounds like you enjoy the experience of researching topics and writing about them. Are there any parts of the writing process you find challenging?

You won't believe how many times you'll read your own book in the proofing process. You do want it to be perfect and avoid typos and such - but what tedious work.

Promotion and marketing are harder than writing the book, more time-consuming, and potentially a real hindrance to writing. 15 years ago, my publishers invested in my titles with advertising, solicitation of reviews and other things. We've all heard how little publishers are putting into marketing these days, backing only their top-sellers who don't need much publicity anyway. The business side of writing, the selling side, is a real challenge. There's always something you could be doing, and this can bite into the work you like most - writing.

How can my readers get in touch with you?

My email is jjdesjarlais@johndesjarlais.com – my web site is JohnDesjarlais.com – I look forward to hearing from your readers. Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you.

It’s been a pleasure to host you and to learn more about your books. Thank you for sharing your writing with us.

Great Books for Kids by author Kevin McNamee

2010-09-20T19:37:00.011-04:00

Kevin McNamee joins us today at Writers in Business. He is a writer and poet living in Yonkers, NY. He primarily writes for the children’s market. He has several children’s picture books published including If I Could Be Anything, The Sister Exchange, and The Soggy Town of Hilltop. These books are available at Guardian Angel Publishing, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble or ask your local bookstore.

When Kevin isn’t writing, he spends his time playing hide and seek, at the insistence of his five year old daughter, and at his day job, at the insistence of his wife. When time permits, Kevin also enjoys fossil hunting, home-brewing beer, and gardening. He is currently engaged in an epic battle against roving gangs of crazed squirrels who are digging up everything in sight. Kevin notes that the squirrels are winning.

Welcome, Kevin. How do you define your writing?

I discovered writing for children by accident. I was watching my nieces fight and it gave me an idea for a sibling rivalry story. I thought it would be fun to write, and it was. There was no looking back.

There seems like an endless supply of topics to write about for children. What messages would you like to convey through your books?

I think that writing for children carries a lot of responsibility and it’s a challenge that I try to rise to. The world can be a confusing enough place as it is for adults, how much more so for children? If I can help children understand the world around them and help them make sense of various situations that effect them, that would be the most rewarding thing of all, for it would be something that they could carry with them long after they have put down my book.

What can we expect when we read one of your books for the first time?

I try to entertain, and whenever possible educate. I also try to incorporate humor into my work whenever possible. My goal is to write for everybody and to create stories that adults as well as children can enjoy.

Can you describe when you realized you were a real writer?

Somewhere along the way, I stopped doubting my ability. A rejection of my manuscript ceased to be a rejection of myself. A rejection letter became an opportunity to send my manuscript somewhere else. Comments and criticism became opportunities to strengthen my story, revise something unworkable, or something to ignore altogether if it didn’t fit with my vision of the story. I was able to refer to myself as a writer without feeling self conscious and … oh yeah, someone was willing to pay me for what I wrote.

How can we learn more about your writing?

To find out more about me, please visit my website at KevinMcNamee.com or my blog. I also have a new child-friendly site with games and activities at KevsChildrensBooks.com.

My daughter is now hooked on your new web site. The Word Jumble game is her favorite. It’s been a pleasure interviewing you and we are looking forward to reading your books. Thanks for joining us today.

New Release, To Take Up the Sword, by Brynna Curry

2010-09-04T19:15:00.011-04:00

Bethany Cagle joins us today to share the exciting news of her new release, To Take Up the Sword. This new book is written under her pen name of Brynna Curry. I've enjoyed reading your first book and am excited to learn more about this one.

Thank you for having me here. To Take Up the Sword is the second book in my Elemental Magic series and already receiving rave reviews.

5 Ravens from The Black Raven's Reviews
"To Take Up the Sword is excellent. There are paranormal elements and sexual elements but neither overpowers the plot. This is a good read with enough twists and turns that you'll be rereading it just to be sure you caught everything." Lea The Black Raven's Reviews

5 Diamonds from Got Romance Reviews
"I loved this book. It has everything: well-developed characters, strong emotions, obstacles galore, villains, and a complicated plot and all in a novella-length story. " Starla Kaye Got Romance Reviews

These are wonderful reviews. Tell us about the plot for To Take Up the Sword.

After the acquittal of Gueraldi's right hand and favored killer for hire, Ashton Smythe, Special Agent Gabriel Spiller takes time away from his work with the FBI. Having failed in his mission to avenge his lost would be lover, Serena Roarke, Gabe returns to Alabama in search of the missing diamonds needed to reopen the investigation and to lay low from the death threats he's received since Smythe went free.

Almost two years after her sister's death, Leannan O'Neal feels the loss of Serena more now than ever. A secret meeting between them before she died left Lea with an ugly figurine and nothing but questions. Hang-up calls at work and a trashed house reminds her of the card Serena gave her. "If you find yourself in trouble, go to him and only him" were the last words her sister spoke to her.

With Smthye out for revenge and hot on her heels, Lea goes on the run in search of Serena's 'Angel', but how long can Gabe keep her alive, and is the cost worth more than her life?

Wow... now I'm even more excited to delve into the book!
How can we order a copy?

By visiting Lyrical Press. The book is also available through Amazon and various book vendors online.

How many books are planned?

There are five books in the Elemental Magic series. For more on each book, visit my website.

Earth Enchanted Available now

To Take Up the Sword 9-6-10

Wait for the Wind 1-2011

Sea's Sorceress 4-2011

Fire's Ice 8-2011

How can readers contact you to learn more about your writing?

At my web site . I have a page titled "Brynna's Links" and from there you can visit all my online homes including Facebook and Twitter. There's also tons of info on the series, blurbs, excerpts and news. I'd love for you to visit me there and if you have a moment sign the guestbook or shoot me an email. I love to hear from my readers!

Thanks for allowing me to join you today!

I'm looking forward to reading To Take Up the Sword as well as the other books in the series. Thank you for joining us today at Writers in Business.

Win a free copy of The Fear Within by Shelby Patrick

2010-08-29T20:06:00.008-04:00

Shelby Patrick, born and raised in southeastern Michigan, grew up watching classic horror movies of the great Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing. She turned her love of horror into the written word during her senior year in high school when she was introduced to her first writing class.

Since then Shelby has published two creative writing exercise books, Dark Recesses of the Mind and Forbidden Knowledge, as well as various articles throughout the Internet and created several e-books. She’s visiting us today at Writers in Business to announce the release of her newest publication, The Fear Within: A Short Story Collection.

Please tell us about your new book, The Fear Within.

The book contains twenty-five stories of the supernatural and alien encounters -- a romantic getaway that they can’t get away from, a virus that infects the cell phone network and only a small handful of people are uninfected while the rest of the world goes murderously insane, a prison with no bars, no walls, and no escape, dead things that don’t stay dead, a mysterious door in the basement that is to be kept locked at all times, and much more.

Where do you get your ideas?

From everywhere. I’m always in writing mode and it doesn’t take much to spark an idea. One of my stories was based on a paper route I had once; another found its title from a song I heard on the radio. It could be a conversation I overheard or a headline in the news that gives me ideas, and sometimes they just come from my dreams.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to become a writer?
When I was a kid, I loved to dream and I loved to read. I could play out whole scenes in my mind, like seeing a movie, in which I was the main character and I lived an exciting life. My imagination was my whole world. I didn’t realize how exciting it would turn out to be by penning my fantasies down, but when I was thrown into my first creative writing class, I knew what I was put on this Earth to do – write and share my minds-eye view of the worlds I created with readers. I’ve been writing ever since.

Where can readers go to learn more about your writing?

I have a website at ShelbyPatrick.com. You can join my mailing list, check out blurbs from my novels, get excerpts from my stories, or buy a signed copy of The Fear Within. I also have a blog at WritersHideaway.

I understand you are giving away free copies of The Fear Within.

Yes, I am offering a free signed copy of The Fear Within in a random drawing to anyone who comes and visits me at the following sites on my tour dates of August 29 –September 4, 2010. Please visit my Virtual Book Tour page to learn more.

We wish you all the best with your new book Shelby!

Ace Web Content Makes Your Words Shine

2010-08-09T20:09:00.010-04:00

Erum Zehra is the Head Writer for Ace Web Content and has an MBA with a major in Marketing. She has been running a web based consulting firm (BizTalk4U Consulting) for the last ten years and has written for many business websites.

Ten years of web writing experience has awarded her with the expertise required to excel in writing projects. She specializes in creating web content which is both visitor and search engine friendly.

Welcome Erum, Thank you for joining us today at Writers in Business. As writers, we know that having an online presence is essential to build our platform and generate sales. How does Ace Web Content help writers achieve this?

Writing is essential for promoting any business on the web. Writers have an edge in doing so as they are already skilled in writing. Ace Web Content advises them to proactively use their writing skills to enhance and promote their online business. Knowledge and understanding of web marketing is needed to use their writing skills in the most effective way for this purpose.

Along with writing content, I understand you also offer meta tag coding to make the web pages more visible to search engines. Can you share the importance of this with us? How does this improve our web site page rankings?

I just posted an article about this on my website:

How to Write Search Engine Friendly Meta Tags

What other services do you offer at Ace Web Content?

We offer Social media marketing, press release writing, SEO and web content writing.

Do you charge by the page or by the hour for projects?

Smaller projects are charged per page and bigger projects are charged by per hour. Estimates for projects can be requested by submitting our free quote form at Quote Form.

How can we reach you?

The fastest way is to submit the contact form on the website at
Contact Us.

Please visit Ace Web Content for your next project and consider them for search engine optimization.

The Cutting Edge: New suspense thriller from Darcia Helle

2010-07-30T13:39:00.007-04:00

Darcia Helle returns to announce the release of her new suspense title, The Cutting Edge.

Where did the idea for The Cutting Edge come from?
I was a hairstylist in a small town salon for about 15 years. A lot of crazy things happened there. The women I worked with and I were often equal parts psychologist and stylist. The things clients would tell us still amaze me! Working so closely with people - and their egos - could be difficult. And the small town atmosphere gave our clients the impression that they were allowed to pick apart our personal lives. I used to say that the craziness of our salon would make a great background for a novel. One day, Skye's character popped into my head and that salon was the perfect place for her.

How did you get into writing? Did you always want to become a writer?

I always wrote, though, for some reason, I didn’t think of writing as a career option. When I was young, I would create elaborate fantasy worlds in my head, though I never thought of turning them into books. I actually wanted to be a psychologist but, while in college, decided I couldn't handle the responsibility of coaching people on how to live their lives. I wound up going to cosmetology school and working in my mother’s hair salon. I would write short stories for my kids when they were young and lots of poetry. Then one day, I sat down with an idea in my head that wouldn’t go away and that idea turned into my first book. I haven't stopped since.

How do you approach the blank page?

I don’t think I’ve ever had an issue with a blank page. My problem is that I tend to have too many pages at once that belong to too many different stories. I call it writers’ A.D.D. I’m very character-driven and these characters will pop into my head with a story to tell. Staying focused on one character’s story long enough to complete the novel (without distraction from other novels-in-progress) is my biggest problem. And it’s one that I have yet to master.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I'm married to my pen pal! During the first Gulf War, Michael (my husband) was serving in Bosnia and Kuwait. I had a client who was running a pen pal program for military members. This was before the Internet had taken over. I was divorced and loved to write, so she brought me a few names. Michael and I wrote for almost 4 years. We met shortly after he got out of the military and were married 6 months
later.

Please visit Darcia at Quiet Fury Books to learn more about The Cutting Edge and her other titles.

Create Visibility Before Getting Published: Build Your Platform by Karen Cioffi

2010-07-21T10:50:00.014-04:00

Today we are joined by author and freelance writer, Karen Cioffi. She is a reviewer for BookPleasures.com and Muse Book Reviews, and co-moderator of a children’s critique group. Karen provides ghostwriting, editing, proofreading and critiques along with website and blogsite creation. She is our guest blogger today and shares her wisdom on the importance of building your platform.

Create Visibility Before Getting Published: Build Your Platform
By Karen Cioffi

The road to publication can be long and winding ... and filled with rejection. So, what do you do while you’re submitting your manuscript and waiting patiently? Okay, maybe not patiently, but waiting nonetheless.

That’s easy. And, it’s very important, create visibility. I don’t mean standing on the street corner singing at the top of your lungs, I mean creating an online presence that depicts who and what you are. In other words, you need to create your platform.

There are a number of writers who are reluctant to begin promoting themselves because they haven’t landed a publisher yet. Or, they’re still learning the craft. This mentality won’t cut it today. You need to begin that visibility.

First step in your platform journey is to create a blog using a blog site such as Blogger, or a website; either one is relatively simple to create, and can be free. Obviously, you will want to create your platform right from the beginning by posting to your blog with content that is in the genre you are writing.

Important Tip: Make the name of your site something that will grow with you, and your name should be part of the site name.

But wait a minute, let me backtrack. For those who aren’t sure what a platform is, it is a means to let readers know what your area of expertise is. Yes, I know, you might be shaking your head and thinking that you don’t have an area of expertise, but this is how you create it.

The next step in your journey is to create your platform and online visibility. Learn your craft and as you’re learning, write about what you learn. In other words, if your book is about cooking, blog about cooking—you will be creating your area of expertise.

Once you feel comfortable adding content to your blog, start writing articles and submitting them to article directories. Again, keep them focused on the area of expertise you are trying to create. You may not get paid for them, but they will establish an online presence. And, if your articles are beneficial or interesting to others, it will bring traffic to your site.

The publishing and marketing industry has changed. In today’s writing market publishing houses, big and small, expect you to:

1. Have and online presence (website or blog)
2. Have a platform
3. Have a following
4. Have the potential to increase that following
5. Have a marketing strategy
6. Be able to sell your book

Selling books is now a joint effort between the publishing house and the author. And, if you’re venturing into the self-publishing arena, promoting yourself is even more important. Don’t procrastinate. Start creating your online presence and platform today.

Karen Cioffi is an author and freelance writer. Stop by her site, Karen Cioffi (KarenCioffi.com), and sign up for the FREE monthly newsletter, A Writer’s World. It offers writing and marketing articles, tips and links, book reviews, resources and much more. While there, you can also pick up a free e-book about writing and/or marketing.

Writer Janet Ann Collins

2010-07-14T20:25:00.010-04:00

Janet Ann Collins is visiting us today from the beautiful Sierra foothills of Northern California. She is an award winning author of two fiction books, columnist for the Antique Auction Explorer, freelance writers, retired teacher and public speaker.

Please tell us about your books.
I have written two fiction books for children. The Peril of the Sinister Scientist is about a middle school boy who thinks he was cloned from the blood on the Shroud of Turin because a scientist who had worked on that experiment is stalking him. Secret Service Saint is a picture book about Nicholas, who discovers the fun of doing secret good deeds and eventually becomes known as Santa Claus.

What are you working on now?

I have a book for young readers and I’m working on several things, including a middle grade fantasy about a girl who can communicate with animals by thought language. I’m also spending lots of time learning how to do marketing and publicity for my published books and managing two blogs, Onwordsblog.blogspot.com and
Janet Ann Collins.

Can you describe a typical day in your writing life?
I reserve two days a week for writing and squeeze some in on other days if possible. After I check my e-mail I work on my current project for several hours. Often I’ll do the laundry the same day so when the dryer buzzes I can get up and move around for a few minutes, then get back to work. If I’m on a roll I may write more in the afternoon. Otherwise I use that time for plotting, planning, sending out submissions, and working on publicity for my books.

How do you define your writing?
My writing falls into many categories; adult, children, fiction and nonfiction, Christian and general market. My tagline, “Opening Eyes, Opening Hearts,” sums up what it all has in common.

You can learn more about Janet and her writing by visiting her online at JanetAnnCollins.com .

Chelle Korgis, Historical Writer and 30 Something Blogger

2010-07-07T20:37:00.011-04:00

Chelle Korgis is a native from Kankakee, Illinois who now resides in the state of Missouri. Her interest in writing began at an early age and her first piece was printed in The Christian County News-Journal in 2002.

Her writing has been published Digi Tall-News Media, Ozark Senior Living, U.S. Legacies Magazine, and Friends and Neighbor. Her two books, Ozark and Nixa, were published by Arcadia Publishing.

Thank you for joining us today Chelle. Tell us more about your writing.

As mentioned above, I have 2 non-fiction books published. I have also written many poems including "Lonely Old Man" and "Ole Mother Nature" which won reader awards in 2002. Today, I am writing articles based on women in their 30s focusing on how the economy continues to influence their marriages. At some point, I hope to write a 30 Something column in magazines or newspapers.

Can you share article titles and publications your work has appeared in?

- September 11, 2002: A County Remembers - (Christian County News-Journal, 2002)
- Centenarian, Irene Murphy - (Ozark Senior Living, 2002)
- A Trip Back In Time - (Ozark Senior Living, 2002)
- Inquisitive Little Minds - (Christian County News-Journal, 2002)
- A Little Prayer - (Friends and Neighbors Magazine, 2002)
- Pumpkins are the reason for planting this season - (Christian County News-Journal, 2002)
- Are our rights being violated? - (Christian County News-Journal, 2002)

What or who encouraged you to start writing?

I was first inspired to write when I was a teenager and started reading the poems written by Emily Dickinson. I also enjoyed reading books by Dean Koontz.
When I was 30, I was impressed when I discovered that my father wrote poetry.

My idea to start writing about history evolved from time spent driving around our town with my former husband taking pictures of old scenery and buildings.

What topics inspire you?

Non-fiction history continues to pique my interest; however, after talking with many friends I've started writing about everyday women who are having troubles in their marriages. After ending my 10 year marriage from Hell, I’m now a single mother and have a lot to share on this topic.

Please visit Chelle online at Chellewrites.webs.com for more information. You can order her books through her web site or through Amazon.com.

Meet Suspense Author Darcia Helle

2010-06-21T13:24:00.008-04:00

Darcía Helle says she writes because, "My head gets cluttered with characters that demand their story be written."

A suspense author, she has written five novels: Enemies and Playmates, Hit List, No Justice, Beyond Salvation, and Miami Snow. Her sixth book, The Cutting Edge, will be out in late summer. She joins us today at Writers in Business to share her experiences as a writer. Welcome Darcia.

I’ve heard wonderful things about your novel, Miami Snow. Can you share the plot?

One day Nick Donovan has it all; a beautiful, pregnant wife, a nice house, a great job. The next day he is on his own, starting from scratch with Nick flees to the opposite coast of Florida, trying to leave his ex-wife and the memories behind. But that couldn't happen. Soon Nick finds that he is tied to Shelley in a way that he hadn't expected. And, in her bitterness, she does everything she can to ensure his misery.
Brandy is Shelley's opposite; wild, sensual, free-spirited. With Brandy, Nick is able to rebel against all that Shelley stands for. Brandy quickly leads Nick into a world of sex, drugs, and cash. And now Nick finds himself caught between the two worlds, desperate to stay afloat.

Sounds like a great book! Can you tell us about your other books?

Miami Snow is my fifth book. I’m currently in the editing phase of my sixth, entitled The Cutting Edge. My first two are Enemies and Playmates and Hit List. My third and fourth, No Justice and Beyond Salvation, are the first two in the ongoing Michael Sykora series.

My first five books are suspense, with some level of mystery. My sixth is more difficult to define. The Cutting Edge combines suspense and mystery with humor. It tends to be more comical than edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting suspense. However, the main character does cross paths with a serial killer, so the suspense is definitely there! It’s also written in the first-person, which is new for me.

I understand you are working with CreateSpace. Has it been a positive experience?

CreateSpace is great to work with! They have deals with a variety of online stores, as well as libraries. My books are automatically listed in those stores and libraries can order them.

Publishing is a difficult business. The traditional method (agents and large publishing houses) is closed off for most new and/or unknown authors. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams with the small presses and self-publishing companies. CreateSpace is a fantastic option to this dilemma.

What marketing strategies have you tried? What has worked best for you?

I've tried countless methods, including Google Adwords, contests and giveaways, ads on specific book/reader groups, Twitter, and blog tours. I'm not able to do physical book tours or book signings due to health constraints from chronic, late-stage lyme disease. Therefore, my marketing is all Internet-based. I've found that what works best for me personally is interacting with readers. My Facebook page is open to everyone and I also belong to a site called Goodreads. I'm just me all the time and I welcome readers - as well as other writers - into my world. That interaction, combined with the occasional giveaways, has brought an increase in sales. I've also met some amazing people along the way.

How can our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?

I’m quite accessible! My website has all of my book information, as well as contests, a monthly newsletter on a variety of crime & punishment topics, and a bunch of other distractions. I have a blog that I update frequently. I’m on Facebook, where I share my crazy world with anyone wishing to join me there. And I’m now learning my way around Twitter.

My Website
My Blog
Facebook
Twitter

I can also be reached through email at Darcia@quietfurybooks.com. I love to hear from readers as well as aspiring writers.

Thank you Darcia!

Meet J. Aday Kennedy and Win a Prize!

2010-06-08T17:08:00.012-04:00

J. Aday Kennedy, the differently-abled writer, is an award winning multi published author of inspirational/Christian pieces and of children’s literature. Eight picture books are under contract eagerly awaiting publication. She is a ventilator dependent quadriplegic making her dreams come true a story at a time. As a speaker, Aday entertains, instructs, motivates and inspires audiences of all ages. She joins us today at Writers in Business.

Tell us about your children's books.

I have eight picture books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing Guardian Angel Publishing, They are a mixture of humorous fantasy and Christian stories. All include a teacher's guide, send a positive message and are geared to attract reluctant readers.

What other things do you write?

I write essays for Chicken Soup for the Soul. Five essays have been published in their anthologies. Christian and inspirational articles are among many of my writing credits.

What is the best advice on writing you've ever received?

When you have written something let it rest. Do not look at it for weeks before you begin the editing process. Then you can look at it with fresh eyes. Have someone read your manuscript aloud to you. I use a text reader, TextAloud from Next Up. It is a real eye opener.

Tell us about the Klutzy Kantor book series.
• Klutzy Kantor Book I
The book was just released in April. Kantor is a lovable Pegasus plagued by clumsiness. He travels to a rainbow to challenge Cobbledom McSweeney to a riddle duel. If he solves Cobbledom’s impossible riddle his wish to stop being a klutz will be granted. The book teaches children to concentrate on their strengths.

• Cobbledom’s Curse Book II
Cobbledom curses the apple’s Kantor can’t resist and he becomes a klutz again. His elf friend, Sprystar, was cursed by the devious leprechaun never to sleep again. The pair travel to Cobbledom’s rainbow and strike a bargain. They agree to wash Cobbledom’s dingy rainbow in exchange for a wish. They think each will get a wish, but Cobbledom refuses to give more than one. Kantor must make a choice. If Sprystar gets his wish, Kantor will remain a klutz. Friendship is often challenged by one’s own desires or self.

• The Iitcha Itcha Goo Goo Blues Book III
Jensen elf is recovering from the Itcha Itcha Goo Goo Disease, the equivalent to human cancer. She lost her hair from the cure. Kantor takes her to Cobbledom’s rainbow with the intention of getting a wish for her hair back. Cobbledom will grant her wish if Kantor will sacrifice his tail. Kantor must choose between himself and Jensen’s needs. A lesson in self sacrifice is taught.

Each book is geared to reluctant readers, All provide a teacher’s guide, share a positive message and are full of Kantor’s funny antics.

I understand you are offering prizes as part of your Klutzy Kantor book tour. Can you tell us how to participate?"

Yes, I have planned a giveaway at the end of the tour. The more stops visitors make and promote with blurbs on their social networks the more entries in the contest they receive. The more participants, the more prizes and winners their will be. I will let the winner(s) choose their prizes. Winner 1 gets first choice, winner 2 gets second choice and so on. Every 13 participants adds another prize. For pictures of the possible prizes and contest rules visit KlutzyKantor.blogspot.com.

You are such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your new Klutzy Kantor book series with us. To learn more about her and her writing, visit JAdayKennedy.com and JAdayKennedy Blog.

Virtual Book Tour member - Marvin Wilson

2010-05-23T16:58:00.005-04:00

I am a member of the Virtual Book Tours - Writers on the Move group and each month we interview another member. Today we meet Marvin Wilson. He is the author of three published books, I Romanced the Stone (Memoirs of a Recovering Hippie), Owen Fiddler, and Between the Storm and the Rainbow.

Marvin has had articles published in several ezines, and has been interviewed on hundreds of blogs, radio and TV shows. A prolific blogger, his internationally popular blog, Free Spirit, was voted first place in the 2008 Book Blogger Appreciation Week award contest, in the Christian/Inspirational Fiction category. His other blog, Tie Dyed Tirades, is also growing in global popularity.

Marvin is an editor with All Things That Matter Press and also does freelance editing. You can reach him though his website .

Stephen Tremp's Breakthrough

2010-04-27T10:18:00.001-04:00

Stephen Tremp's Premiere Book Breakthrough, an action suspense-thriller set in Boston, MA, and Orange County, CA, weaves together cutting edge discoveries in theoretical physics and technology with greed, murder, and mayhem. This novel addresses potential larger social issues to address if Einstein-Rosen Bridges should move beyond the realm of mere possibility. Breakthrough will appeal to fans of Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, Stephen King, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Stephen is joining us today at Writers in Business. Welcome Stephen. First, please tell us about your new book.

Breakthrough, the first book in the Adventures of Chase Manhattan series, begins with a big bang and offers the audience exciting, unique, and diverse heroes and villains. The result is a fresh suspense thriller series integrating elements of greed, betrayal, passion, lust, unconditional love, coming of age, and hope. The action is swift. There are numerous red herrings, twists and turns, that will keep the reader turning the pages and wanting more.

~ Wow… that sounds like my kind of book! Where can we purchase a copy?

Books can be purchased through my web site and through
Barnes & Noble.

~ What method are you using to track your writing income and expenses?

Through 2009, I used the shoe box method. I have receipts for all books I purchased to give as gifts, Post Office receipts, food and Starbucks receipts, and an account for mileage. I then transferred everything to an Excel spreadsheet.

Moving forward, I expect the financial aspect to become complicated and I need more sophisticated record keeping. I do know QuickBooks and will be using this software. I’m sure my accountant will appreciate the effort and make his job easier. Organization is the name of the game. If an author is organized, they position themselves for success. A disorganized author is setting themselves up for mediocrity or even failure.

~Can you share a marketing tip with us?

Exposure is everything, even at the expense of sales for an aspiring author. I’m focusing on Blog Talk Radio, expanding my blog exposure, my FaceBook exposure with my Fan Site (Fans of the Breakthrough Trilogy), and traveling to major metropolitan areas for book signings. I may or may not show a profit for 2010, but I will gain national exposure. I’m working with a number of A.M. radio talk shows and local morning TV talk shows, so hopefully I’ll be able to line up two-minute interviews and promote my book Breakthrough and my upcoming books Opening and Escalation.

~Do you use business cards?

I use business cards mainly at book signings, although I do hand a few out now and then. I need to have new ones printed using my blog rather than Web site. I released both sites about the same time and for whatever reasons, the blog took off and the Web site did not. Sign of the times, I guess.

So the new business cards will have my blog site and I’ll lose the Web site. I’m also going to include my FaceBook Fan Site (Fans of the Breakthrough Trilogy). I don’t think having three sites on a business card is a good idea. It’s too much for the recipient to look at. So the Web site will fall by the way side.

Writing has progressed from a hobby to a business for me. This is not to say I’m losing the love and passion for writing. These will forever drive me. But as the promotional and marketing aspects expand and sales increase, an author needs to take seriously the business aspects.

I love the title of your book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers. This is where I need to start, the basics. Ignorance is not bliss, its ignorant. There’s power in knowledge. And knowledge applied helps birth wisdom. I also need to look for write offs that I’m not aware of.

Thank you, Stephen. Yes, finding those write offs can be the holy grail of the recordkeeping experience. There are many deductions available for writers and my book shows readers how to harness them.

It was a pleasure to learn more about your writing and your experience as an author. To read more about Breakthrough and Stephen’s new books, please visit him at his blog and his web site .

Tom Gillispie - The Master of Simple, Powerful Words

2010-03-21T11:45:00.020-04:00

Joining us today from Rural Hall, NC is Tom Gillispie, writer and editor extraordinaire. Tom was a career newspaper writer and copy editor working at eight newspapers over a span of 30-plus years. Today, he is a freelance editor, proofreader and writer. He edits magazine articles, business letters, novels, non-fiction books and more.

Tell us about services you offer.

If you owned a business and wanted a regular company newspaper (print or online), I could take photos, write stories, lay out pages and edit copy. Except for ads, I could do it all. The last time I did that was late 2008.

I have written (and still occasionally write) newspaper, magazine and online articles, but my main thing is editing. I edit fiction and non-fiction books; I edit for writers, businessmen, lawyers or anyone who has written a resume. I have tutored writers, usually via email or chat. I offer academic editing and tutoring, although I will not write academic papers. For all writers, I don’t rewrite your work, unless it’s a mess. I try to let the client’s voice shine through. He/she might not even notice the changes if not for Track Changes in Word.

Who do you usually work with?

For 30 years, I have edited for newspapers, and I still do that one or two days a week on a freelance basis. Otherwise, I’ve edited fiction and non-fiction books, magazine articles, web-site material and even law work. People often ask if I edit their kind of writing. I probably do. Two women were uncertain if I could edit their books on spirituality. Turned out that I could. Another woman feared that I couldn’t edit her novel. I told her to send a chapter and pay me for that chapter when it was done. I worked on that novel and a second one for her. Still another woman had written an ebook on care of hands and toenails, and she seemed thrilled with the editing.

You have stated, “I tighten, focus and improve copy, and I'm good at fact-checking. Everything I edit gets a little shorter, a little tighter, and, usually, a lot better.” Can you give us an example of how you achieve this?

I cut out unnecessary modifiers like certainly and very. Do you need to say that the 7-1, 300-plus-pound Shaquille O’Neal is huge or massive? The numbers say it. Can something be very unique? Can a woman be very pregnant? Sometimes I exchange big words (exacerbate) for smaller ones (weaken, worsen) that are familiar. I look for strong verbs. I untangle long, messy sentences and paragraphs.

I often do this on my blog to show writers and editors what I’m thinking. I recently heard this on TV: There is no such thing as that which is impossible. Sounds very profound (I couldn’t resist), doesn’t it? I’d change that to Nothing is impossible. Simple. Powerful.

I find ways to use the fewest words possible. Shakespeare, for instance, wasn’t famous for being wordy. He made every word count.

You created the Yahoo group, Freelance Writers and Editors. As a member of the group, I’m impressed by the support and encouragement offered by members. There is camaraderie present and a genuine effort to share resources. Please tell us about the group. Why did you start it? What role would you like it to play in the lives of writers and editors? Can anyone join or are there criteria that must be met?

I started the group, I admit, to find work. I wanted it to be useful to writers and editors, but that was my ultimate goal. It’s turned into more than I expected. One of our members tried me hard when the group started. He wanted to see if I’d throw him out of the group. I told him he didn’t need foul language to get his ideas across; I believed he could be a valued and valuable member of the group. And he has. When he had surgery, group members got in touch with the family and followed his progress. And when his wife died, we mourned with him.

Some of us have learned about grammar, computer programs, helpful web sites and such. We’ve shared laughs and picked on each other. I won’t say the group has been family – most of the nearly 500 members never speak up – but I feel close to several people I’ve never met in person.

As for membership, I ask that potential members be a writer or an editor. If they’re selling products or they don’t use the word editor, writer or freelancer, they don’t get in. If they don’t write anything, they don’t get in.

Can you share a personal experience with us on writing vs. editing?

When I first started, I wanted to be a writer, but I had to learn how to lay out newspaper pages. When I was working at a weekly paper, the sports editor of a nearby daily called and offered me a copy-editing job. He told me that any metropolitan daily would hire me as a copy editor, but he added that no newspaper would hire me as a writer. That wasn’t true, but that newspaper tried to convert me to a full-time copy editor.

I was interviewing for another writing job, and I took their test. The sports editor said he would hire me as a copy editor but not as a writer. I told him that he’d never hire me.

I went through that at every job. I was better than most of the writers they had, but they always wanted to make me a copy editor. I knew I was probably a better editor than writer, but, dammit, I wanted to write. And I have. I’ve written for nine papers I worked for. I’ve written on a freelance basis for dozens of newspapers, The Miami Herald, Washington Post and Baltimore Sun included. I’ve written for probably 20 magazines, including The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated, on a freelance basis. And I’ve written three books and several comic-book scripts.

But I’ve come to realize that my talents are all based on copy editing. My copy editor’s “ear” makes me a better writer, and my copy editor’s “eye” makes me a better photographer and page designer.

I’ve come to terms with being a copy editor. It’s what I do best. But I write when I can.

To learn more about how Tom can help your writing reach new heights, please visit his web site. You can see more of his work at his blog and his writing blog. If you are a racing fan, don’t miss Tom’s books on the subject: Racing books.

Lisa Jackson Chats about Editing, Writing and Zombies!

2010-03-06T16:39:00.019-05:00

My guest today is Lisa Jackson who makes her home in Southern New Hampshire. She is a professional writer and editor who enjoys working with words. Lisa is the owner of Write Your Way and creates fiction under the pen name Lisa Haselton.

Can you tell us about your business, Write Your Way? What services do you offer?

Sure. I’m an independent editor and writer and my business provides writing and editing services to businesses, publishers, and individuals. I love working with folks who want to tighten their writing or get something written. I enjoy working with words, and whether I’m a ghost writer on a project, or get to take public credit, seeing a project through to successful completion is something I’m passionate about.
I have a strong business (high tech, beauty, and software industries) background, along with a strong writing background. I work with corporations, publishers, small businesses, and independent writers and authors. I’ve written and edited marketing materials, business profiles, interviews, tech and process manuals, fiction, memoir, and so on. My interests are varied and I love that – the work never gets boring.

Consulting on a project is no cost. I like to find out as much about a project as I can up front, and if I’m not the right editor or writer, I’ll make recommendations for other resources. I don’t accept a project that I don’t feel confident I can complete to the customer’s satisfaction.

If anyone contacts me for writing or editing services and mentions this blog, I will give 30% off the project fee. Every project is different, but pricing is known before any contract is made.

Your web site mentions the importance of maintaining the writer’s unique ‘voice’. Can you give us an example of this?

We all have certain ways of speaking, and that ‘voice’ comes through in our writing, whether it’s a memo, process manual, or something creative like fiction. Some voices are proper, some include humor, some are passive, some are formal, and the list goes on.

When I’m writing technical manuals, I like to make the text enjoyable to read, so I use short sentences and small words. Fiction writing, especially the narrative, varies from author to author. Stephen King’s voice is different from Dennis Lehane’s and J.K. Rowling’s. We have rhythms to our writing which create the ‘voice’.

When I edit fiction or any non-technical, non-business work, my preference is to make suggestions on sentences/phrases that can be improved upon and instead of changing the text to what I would use, I list examples and let the author rewrite the section as he or she sees fit. More and more often though, I’m having authors tell me to just make the corrections. Seems after having dealt with the manuscript for X number of iterations, they just want it polished. I can work with that, too.

I understand you have a short story in an anthology called The Zombie Cookbook. This was written under your pen name of Lisa Haselton. Please tell us about it. Where can we obtain a copy?

I saw a call last year through Writer’s Chatroom (details on this resource below) for stories and poems for an anthology called The Zombie Cookbook. I’d never written about zombies before, but the title made me laugh, so I had to try.

I came up with a poem, actually several, using names and the zombie theme. I submitted my favorite, A Zombie Named Clete, and it was accepted. After that I just felt like I wanted to write a story to go with the poem. It took quite a while for me to come up with the story, but eventually I was able to come up with the setting and it came together.

The artwork on the cover and in the book are quite, um, appropriate for the subject matter, but the stories inside range from funny to gross. And there are some zombie recipes, too. Details on the book, including ordering information, can be found at: Zombiecookbook.net. This anthology helped me land my first-ever book signing, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of it.

Please tell us about the Writer's Chatroom. It was recently awarded with the 101 Best Websites for Writers designation from Writer's Digest. How can we join?

The Writer’s Chatroom is a fantastic place for writers of any experience and any genre. I’ve been on the staff for over 2 years now and love it.

It’s easy to become involved. Just go to the site and sign up for the chat announcements to be notified of upcoming chats. There are moderated chats every Sunday night from 7-9PM EST. We host authors, agents, and publishers as well has have writing-related evenings.

Every Wednesday night from 8-11PM EST, is an “open chat”, where anyone can go for writing-related help on any subject. There is also a forum folks can join to find critiquers, get advice, find writing markets, anything they need. It’s free, and we like to help other writers. You can find Writer’s Chatroom on MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, too.

Lisa, it has been a great pleasure to learn about the services you offer. I've also enjoyed spending time in the Writer's Chatroom. What a great resource!

Thank you so much for letting me share a bit about myself. I love words; working with them and meeting others who enjoy reading and writing. My fiction can be found at Lisa Haselton and I’m Lisa Haselton on MySpace as well.

You can follow me on Twitter at LisaJJackson and visit me online at LisaJJackson.com.

What Editors Really Want (In A Query Letter) by Usha Krishnan Sliva

2010-02-08T19:17:00.008-05:00

What Editors Really Want (In A Query Letter)
from Usha Krishnan Sliva

There are a lot of reasons why a query letter may be rejected, the number one being the topic you've selected has already been published. Editors want great unpublished ideas, which translate into excellent well-written stories. Most rejection letters should not be taken personally, but if you find you're not getting anywhere despite some lightbulb moments, remember, editors hate the following:

1. Typos and errors: Check and double check to see there are no spelling or typing errors. Print out your letter and read it, or better yet get someone else to go through it before you send it out.

2. Poor formatting: Editors go through hundreds of documents on a weekly basis. Receiving one that's poorly typed up is sure to get binned. Ensure you select a standard font size (Ariel or Times Roman, point 12 usually works well) and single space the text. Try to keep it to one page- most editors won't have the time or inclination to read beyond that.

3. Long, windy sentences: Remember KISS? It's an acronym for Keep It Short & Simple. Make your point, give them clear instructions as to who you are and what you can do for them, and conclude your letter.

4. A condescending (or patronizing) attitude: Starting out with testimonials or nuggets of wisdom is never a good idea. Write in a clear and straightforward language.

5. A poorly addressed letter: Begin with a clear salutation addressed to the person who's going to be reading your letter. You can find out who it is by visiting the publication's website, looking at a current masthead, or emailing/calling their office.

6. An offer you can't back up: Don't get carried away and make claims before you can actually do research to back them up. If you are offering to interview someone, get updated statistics, or send in photographs to accompany your story, make sure you'll be able to deliver on your promises.

Freelance writer Usha Krishnan Sliva has years of article and copywriting experience. To get more free tips and writing ideas, sign up for her ezine on Getting It Write!

Chelsea Baxter Editorial Services

2010-01-30T20:35:00.016-05:00

Please welcome freelance editor and writer Chelsea Baxter to Writers in Business.

Thanks for having me Brigitte.

Give us a little background as to how and why you started your own editing and writing business.

I used to be an in-house Editor for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. I started at the bottom and worked my way up after learning a plethora of valuable information about editing and the publishing process. After seeing several coworkers take the plunge into freelancing, I started brainstorming how I'd manage a career outside the confines of a corporate office. I soon realized that most, if not all of my work could be done from home. Plus, I learned that autonomy in my workplace is very important to me. There were priorities I had a home, and a home-based business was the perfect solution.

I didn’t get started immediately. I freelanced while working other jobs for two years before I started my business. After about a year of smaller editing projects, I left my full-time job and took a part-time position so I could focus more energy on building the business. After a year at the part-time job I found several other clients and had enough work to stay at home full time.

What type of services do you offer and how can writers and publishers take advantage of them?

I work with authors and publishers to create the best product possible. My services include copy editing, developmental editing, proofreading, ghost writing, rewriting and much more. I've also done several writing assignments. I edit manuscripts, Web sites, newsletters, magazines and educational products. When I work with publishing companies I'm often on board for the entire process, so I also offer services such as cast offs, book maps, photo research and copy fitting.

I'm still in the process of creating a Web site, so if you'd like to inquire about my services you can e-mail me.

Where can we find samples of your work?
If you’d like to see a sample of a recent editing project, take a look at Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers by none other than Brigitte Thompson. You can check out a sample of my writing in Suspense Magazine. I write a column titled Tales of a Fiction Junkie that discusses fiction from a fan's point of view. I'm always willing to share more samples upon request.

The life of an in-house editor can vary greatly from a freelance editor. What are some of the differences and what tools have helped you combat any disadvantages?

Creating a routine took some time. I discovered that when I didn't set days and times to work, I would procrastinate. So I'd say an important tool is a schedule.

Another “tool” that I highly recommend is colleagues. Since you don't have a staff of editors to collaborate with, I suggest joining editing, publishing and writing groups. I found a couple on Yahoo and I remain in contact with editors from my previous jobs as well. These professionals keep me in touch with the industry and are a great source for feedback.

The other item I have is an entire bookshelf filled with style and grammar guides, dictionaries, thesauruses and any other items I've found helpful over the years.

Lastly, have a list of trusted job sources. I've found that if I apply for jobs before my current project is over it usually works out so that when one project is ending, another one begins. This limits the amount of downtime between projects (and paychecks).

What advice can you suggest to other editors who are looking to start freelancing and possibly their own business?

If possible, get your experience working as an in-house editor first. Seeing the entire publishing process from start to finish was priceless. Plus, some of those colleagues may continue to offer support and professional guidance later in your career. I suggest starting on small freelance projects while you still have the stability of a full-time job. I know it’s not an option for everyone, but it’s a great way to build your clients and resume. It can be exhausting to work all day and then come home to do more of the same, but knowing that it’s for your own business is great motivation to persevere.

I have had the pleasure of working with Chelsea and highly recommend her services. As an editor, Chelsea has a wonderful way of encouraging writers to bring out their best. As a writer, her work is amazing! Chelsea is dedicated to each project she accepts. She is efficient and produces consistently exemplary work. Please contact Chelsea through e-mail with any questions or to find out how she can help with your current or future project.

Chelsea, thank you for sharing your editorial and writing services with us.

Paranormal romance writer Bethany Cagle shares her light and dark sides of writing

2010-01-17T11:04:00.012-05:00

Please welcome Brynna Curry, also writing as Brianna Roarke, to Writers in Business.

Thank you, Brigitte. Some of you may remember Earth Enchanted as an Embrace the Shadow's clash of the cover winner. I'm the author of Gypsy Moon under the name Brianna Roarke and feed my love of books as a book reviewer for You Gotta Read Reviews. I also judge several RWA writing contests a year, including the 'Molly', 'Gotcha', Fab5 and Reveal Your Inner Vixen contests and I'm the forth member of the Frightening Journeys blog writers.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm married with three teenagers and by day I'm a secretary for a construction company. As Brynna Curry I write light paranormal romance and suspense. On the other side of the coin is my dark side, Brianna Roarke writing steamy dark paranormal romance.

What can readers expect from your new release Earth Enchanted out now from Lyrical Press?

Earth Enchanted is the first in a series of five books featuring the Corrigans from Ireland, a family with a ancestry of mages. Liv Corrigan, telepath and writer,visits her brother in the states only to find he's neck deep in a diamond smuggling ring. While there she meets ex-cop Jackson Roarke, a man with secrets still reeling from his wife's death. Here is a short blurb.

Earth Enchanted

TAG: When telepath meets ex-cop, will it be death or diamonds

BLURB: Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack's wife turns out to be after him too.

Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv's mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!

What comes next in this series and which characters will make an appearance in the upcoming books?

After Earth Enchanted, To Take Up The Sword flash forwards to the end of the trial for Ashton Smythe, Gueraldi's (the villian from EE) right hand man. When Smythe is set free, Agent Spiller (EE), convinced Serena Roarke hid more diamonds there, goes back to Alabama in search of missing evidence that would have convicted her killer. Leannan O'Neal, Serena's sister, goes into the wind after the destruction of her home and threats on her life. She meets up with Spiller and together they try to get the diamonds to safety before both are killed.

What is your writing process like?

Chaotic. Between work, three teenagers (one of whom is a cheerleader. We are in the world of endless basketball season now.), a husband and the house I'm remodeling (Yes, I'm a DIY'er), I never know how long, when, or where I'll find the time to write, but I always do. If its something you love, you make time for it. As for the process itself, I just sit down at the computer, open up and listen to the characters and try to keep them going where I want them too. Sometimes, I'll go back and read the previous scenes or write the ending first. That way I won't rush the story.

Any advice you'd give to aspiring authors?

Read. If you like to read a variety of genres, get into e-book reviewing. You'll learn alot about house style and what works. Write about what you know. Write the best story you possibly can and then edit it. Then visit the Absolute Write Water Cooler and all the helpful folks there. Join a critique group and find one whose not afraid to be brutal. Some good online yahoo groups are RWC, PNWriters and if you are a parent, ParentsInk or Momwriters. Always do your research.

You can learn more about the Elemental Magic Series and Brynna's other projects on her site or stop by one of her blogs and say hello.

Her web site, her blogs In Shadows, andFrightening Journeys.

You can also find her on Twitter as BrynnaCurry and on Facebook as Bethany Cagle.

I hope you'll drop by and visit!

Woman of Courage by David Tadlock

2010-01-03T11:33:00.007-05:00

New author, David Tadlock from Honoraville, AL joins us today at Writers in Business. He has just finished his first novel entitled, Woman of Courage, which will be published in 2010 by Around the Loop Publishing, ATL Publishing.

David, Can you provide us with a synopsis of your book?

A girl is born to a young couple in Courage, Georgia in 1956. They are your average American family. As the little girl begins to grow she learns to cook at a very young age. By the time she is 9 and 10 years old she has fully cooked meals on the table for her parents as they come home from work. . The father isn’t real abusive but he is controlling. By the time she is 15 years old she meets an 18 year old just graduating from high school. A car mechanic he gets a job and asked her to marry him. The parents agree and not long after they are married he begins to be abusive to her, verbally and physically.

The opportunity arises for her to get out of the situation and she’s thankful they didn’t have any children together. She lives with her grandmother for a short while and her grandmother teaches her many values of life that her mother never taught her, standing firm on an infallible faith in God and church. She meets another man who treats her with love and respect, he takes care of her and they have 3 children together (2 boys and a girl). She gets cancer and as it spreads throughout her body she holds fast to the faith her grandmother taught her that had sustained her for all these many years of abuse and neglect.

In the end she dies from cancer and a “Woman of Courage” scholarship and trust fund is set up in honor of her for high school students who are seeking a profession in the medical field.

Cancer has become prevalent and most of us know someone who has been touched by it. I understand inspiration for your novel came from your sister’s experience with cancer. How did this influence the direction and purpose of your book?

It wasn’t just my sister I had in mind while writing but many people that I’ve had an association with over the years and some whom I did not. After I watched the program of Farrah Fawcett’s struggle with cancer that only drove me to press ahead and finish the work. It is not only about fighting cancer but also about overcoming child and spouse abuse other issues Beverly’s had to face as well.

What do you hope to accomplish by sharing this story?

Cancer has become a word every single person in America and the world hates to bring up because everyone is affected directly or indirectly by this dreaded disease. A month has been set aside for cancer awareness. But child abuse and spouse abuse is very real too. I want to give back to what I believe has been very instrumental in the fight against cancer. I will tell anyone and everyone I am giving half of my personal profits from the sell of this novel to the American Cancer Society for it’s fight against cancer. We don’t need to find a cure one day but today. Most importantly we can learn to be positive no matter what trials we go through.

Once published, where will we be able to purchase your book?

I do have a website in the works where they can be ordered online and I’m hoping it will get picked up by some bookstores and other websites as well.

I want to thank you for the opportunity you've given me to share my novel and my story with everyone. I really appreciate it very much.

David, it was my pleasure. Best wishes for your new book.

Author Marketing Experts - Comprehensive PR for your book!

2009-12-27T12:16:00.008-05:00

Today we welcome Penny Sansevieri to Writers in Business. Penny is the CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. (AME), a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns.

Author Marketing Experts, Inc. is described as a full-service marketing and PR firm specializing in customized campaigns and Internet Marketing. Can you tell us some of the tools you utilize to create a book campaign?
Interestingly enough the biggest and most important tool is creativity. In a world where there are 1,000 books published each day in the US, you must be creative to stand apart from the crowd. The other piece is that you must know how your book benefits your readers. Readers don’t buy books they buy benefits.

AME’s clients have been featured on The View, CBS The Early Show, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, National Public Radio, Reader’s Digest, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Essence Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, MSNBC and many others.

Your company has some fantastic connections! I understand this exposure is not guaranteed, but what are the chances of a fiction or non-fiction book realizing this form of promotion through AME? What percent of your clients achieve this level of exposure?

You know it really depends, we tend to focus much more on Internet than we do traditional PR anymore – the reason? The Return on Investment (ROI) tends to be better with Internet marketing and in the end, authors want to sell books. The odds though of getting on a show tend to increase with a significant platform, what this means is that the author can’t pop out with a book and say “please feature me on your show” there has so be some “legs” to the book and the campaign before any of these shows will even consider it. As to the percentage – that’s a very tough question. If we have a solid book, meaning a book that’s got a good foothold in its market, and an author who has a great platform then the chances are very good that they’ll get major exposure, sometimes as high as 90%.

Traveling to promote our books can get expensive. Can you tell us about Virtual Author Buzz Tour?

Yes, and thanks for asking. When it comes to marketing there are two types of promotion: push and pull. Push-marketing is where you “push” your message out to the media, so you push it to radio, TV, print, etc. That’s good, but not always effective. Pull-marketing is where you “pull” readers into your site via incoming links to your website. That’s where we shine. Our Virtual Author Buzz Tour is a combination of aggressive online blog pitching, social networking, Twitter – all of the latest and hottest online venues to pull readers to your book and to your website.

AME offers extensive online resources visitors can access through the Internet at A Marketing Expert. These resources include a bi-weekly online newsletter. What topics covered in your newsletter? How can we sign up to receive it?

You can go to the site to get the newsletter and thank you for mentioning it, I love it – we get tons of compliments on it. We also have a ton of free teleclasses that we offer through our AME-University. I believe in free resources. I think authors are looking for help and guidance and frankly, an educated author makes better choices for themselves and their book and in the long run, the more you know the more money you’ll save in promoting your book!

Penny’s career in the publicity, book marketing, and literary field spans over 15 years. During that time she has been an author, freelance writer, publicist, and instructor. Her diverse background enables her to bring a multitude of talents to the table. I encourage you to visit AME A Marketing Expert to learn more about how they can create the buzz you want to get your book flying off from bookstore shelves.

Freelancer & Mommy Writer Dominique Rambert

2009-12-13T10:52:00.014-05:00

Freelance writer Dominique Rambert from New York City joins us today at Writers in Business. Dominique writes mostly about parenting and education issues, but also writes book reviews which are posted on web zine, Balancing Act. She is also the founder of Mommy Writers, a non-profit organization built to offer a community to writing mothers.

You are one busy woman! Please tell us about your web sites and blogs.

I am pretty busy. I maintain 4 different sites. The two that take up most of my time are Searching for Freelance Success - my writing blog, and Mommy Writers - the site for for writing moms support group. I also produce a web zine called Balancing Act which I started in hopes of offering opportunities to new writers to earn their first clips and begin to build their portfolio. Then, of course, there's my web page which serves mostly to promote myself as a writer.

On your Searching for Freelance Success web site, you wrote "I started this blog to chronicle my journey in the freelance writing industry, while hopefully offering some lessons from the trenches to other writers who are beginning their careers." Can you share two of these lessons with us?
The most important lesson I've learned to date is to give yourself more time than you think neccessary to complete writing jobs. I made the mistake of promising a prospective client some samples once only to find that I didn't have them. So I had to complete brand new sample newsetters in a couple days. That didn't happen and so as you can imagine I didn't get her business.

Lesson two is along the same lines. When asking for interviews make sure the bulk of your work is already done. Or at the very least be able to give the people you're interviewing a realistic deadline for the piece. I interviewed someone for a piece expecting to be finished with it in a couple weeks. It ended up taking more than double that. It's not easy wrangling interviews.

All- in-all both lessons have to do with deadlines. I've learned that dealines are a way of life for a writer.

I understand you created Mommy Writers with a goal "to foster a sense of community and sisterhood among Mommy Writers". How do writers find you? Where do you meet? What does the organization do to help mothers hone their writing skills?I participate on a lot of social networking sits like BlogHer and Mom Bloggers, so they find me there. Or occassionally I'll post an update in Yahoo Groups where I think people might be interested.

So far I've hosted two Mommy Writers events in NYC, both of which were held in the Brookyn Heights Branch Brooklyn Public Library. I will be hosting more vents in NYC in the future at different locations around NYC, and Mommy Writers members are welcome to host events in their areas.

To help mothers hone their writing skills I offer free online writing workshops. Right now the first is already in session. I use books written by writing professionals, share excerpts with the members registered for the workshop, I give assignments based on the material covered, and then we all give each other feedback on the assignments. It's a good alternative to expensive classes and using reference books with no feedback.

In the future I will be holding workshops in person and speaking engagements for our members as well.

Visit Freelancer For Hire and Mommy Writers to learn more about Dominique and how she can help your writing business.

Writers One Stop Source for Marketing with Jess Graham

2009-12-05T21:14:00.010-05:00

J. L. Graham (Jess) is an award winning Creative Media Marketing Specialist, filmographer, graphic designer, freelance writer and author. He lives with his wife and children in Western Kentucky and operates Core Media.

Jess, in reading through your web sites I understand that you build in a “preset amount of time” to complete research for the articles you write. Can you share with us how you do this research? Is it through the Internet or local libraries? Do you have favorite web sites you utilize for research? What two tips can you share with fellow writers about this integral step in the writing process?

Successful article writing, particularly for the larger corporate clients, requires more than just well-worded articles. In my opinion, there are two aspects that one has to consider when taking on the bigger literary clients. These concepts are excellence and details. When I write for a client, I spend a minimum of two hours in research, depending upon the assignment, of course. A larger article or informative writing can take up to two or three days of research. It all depends upon the subject.

As for where I get my research, I’d have to say I have three solid resources. The first two are, as you stated, the internet and my local library. The other is that of knowledgeable individuals. It’s good to have a solid group of contacts that know about the industry that you specialize in, for reference purposes. The internet is my first source, but I take it with a grain of salt. There is a lot of shallow and incorrect information on the web. You have to be very careful. The web is my resource for building up an outline. From there, I go to the more reliable sources that can verify the information that I found online.

Tell us about Core Media. What services do you provide and how can writers benefit from working with you?
Core Media is a new business owner or someone looking to grow their business’ dream. We utilize the most effective outlets and venues to bring traffic to websites, bring customers to local businesses, and basically all-around promote a business or an individual. Core Media brings out the best of all media marketing outlets. We promote businesses onsite and online via film, writing, creative graphic design, and photography. In short, we are a one-stop source for marketing needs. We provide promotional videos, company logos, keyword rich written content, brands, and much more.

As for writers that work with us, they have the world to gain. When we are partnered with or hired by other writers we bring their writing skills to life with the aforementioned outlets. We accent their work and make them invaluable to current and future clients.

You are the author of two books and your writing is part of a few anthologies. Can you share the titles with us and where we might obtain copies?
As books go, I am the author of Wheels of Mercy (fiction novel) and co-author of Modern Day Fishers of Men, a Christian guidebook written by Pastor Michael D. Putnam and myself. Wheels of Mercy and Modern Day Fishers of Men are both available through all major book outlets, Barnes & Noble, for example, as well as Amazon.com. If any bookstore doesn’t have it, they can order it for you.

The Anthology that I am most pleased with is that of Dragon’s Composed. This anthology, published by Kerlak Publishing, is a compilation of short works regarding dragons. One might think this to be an odd concept for a marketing writer to grasp, but I have a particular fascination with medieval legends. Author Jonathan Wolf and I co-wrote a story for this publication entitled, “Dragons’ Past.” This can be purchased at Kerlak Publishing (http://www.kerlak.com/dragon.html), Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and virtually any other online book source.

To learn more about his writing or the services offered through Core Media, please visit Jess at JLGraham.

He Is Just That Into You by Elisabeth Corcoran

2009-12-01T09:47:00.001-05:00

Elisabeth Corcoran is the author of the devotionals, In Search of Calm: Renewal for a Mother’s Heart (Xulon, 2005), and Calm in My Chaos: Encouragement for a Mom’s Weary Soul (Kregel, 2001); the monthly column, Moments for Mom; and for two years was the contributing editor of the “Mothering Matters” section of MOPS magazine, MomSense. She lives with her husband, Kevin, and children, Sara, 13, and Jack, 11, in Elburn, Illinois.

Welcome to Writers in Business. We are happy to have you visit us today. First, for some exciting news, I understand your newest book was just released. Can you tell us about it? Where can we get a copy?

I do! I’m excited about this book. It’s called He Is Just That Into You and it’s basically about a regular girl, me, looking for God in her daily life and be blown away by seeing Him show up so intimately and in such love and pursuit of me. It’s a collection of essays about God’s love and faithfulness, good for anyone looking for some encouragement in their own faith walk. You can purchase it through Wine Press Books.

I can easily identify with the title of your first book, Calm in My Chaos: Encouragement for a Mom’s Weary Soul . There are many demands on our time. As a mom, writer and public speaker you must be quite busy. What two tips can you share with other writers who are trying to juggle multiple responsibilities while still satisfying their desire to write?

Great question. First of all, I need to say that I’m in a different season of life than when I first started to write. I wrote my first book when my two children were both under two. And frankly, I don’t remember how I did it! I’m assuming naps and bedtime – at least, that’s what I tell people! Now, I’m in a great season of having both kids in school full time (they’re both in middle school) and I do not work outside the home anymore (I was on staff at my church over Adult Ministries for four years) so I can really focus on writing and speaking without feeling too pulled. But for those who are running in a bunch of directions, which I did for years, my best two tips would be this: write when you can…make time for it…it won’t just happen, and two, get filled up by God, as He is the source of all creativity.

Are you doing any freelance writing? If so, where might we find your work?

I pretty much work on my monthly column, Moments for Mom, which is featured on several websites; my own blog; and my next project. I’m tackling fiction at the moment…we’ll see how that goes. This doesn’t leave a lot of time for freelancing at the time being.

I’ve been reading your Moments for Mom column for several years and have been touched by much of what you have written. Where can readers find your monthly column?

You can find it on my website, along with Crosswalk.com, TheParentSite.com, and MyParentime.com among many others.

Please visit Elisabeth online at ElisabethCorcoran.com. She is kicking off her Virtual Book Tour this week and we are her first stop! You can read about the other stops list on her blog ElisabethCorcoran.blogspot.com. Elisabeth, thank you so much for sharing your exciting news with us!

Nancy Famolari's Unwelcome Guest at Fair Hill Farm

2009-12-01T09:27:00.011-05:00

Nancy Famolari lives with her husband, five horses, two dogs and five white cats on a farm in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. Her stories and poems have appeared in Long Story Short, Flash Shot, Fiction Flyer, Lyrica, Alienskin Magazine Clockwise Cat, and Matters of the Heart from the Museitup Press. She received an award from Fiction Flyer for one of her flash fiction stories.

Unwelcome Guest at Fair Hill Farm is Nancy's newest book. It is based on Nancy Famolari's fourteen years of experience in the harness racing industry: breeding, training and racing Standardbreds.

What inspired you to write this story?

When we lived in New Jersey, we raised Standardbred racehorses commercially. Both my husband and I worked full time, so it was important to have help. A Swedish couple owned the farm adjoining ours. For a few months each year, they hosted girls and boys from the Scandinavian countries to work on the farm and get to visit the U.S. One year, she had an extra girl, one who was interested in the breeding aspects of the Standardbred business, rather than the racing. She asked us if we would host the girl for a few months. We were delighted, and Malin became part of our family. She was excellent with the horses, and it gave the boys a sister. When I decided to write a young adult book about horse breeding, the interesting aspect of having a foreign visitor living on the farm seemed perfect. For several years, we had hosted exchange students from Europe and Japan in the summer. Meg's reaction to having someone new living in the house is the same reaction some of the boys had the first time we hosted a foreign student. In the end, it worked very well for everyone. The boys learned a great deal about several foreign countries and made friends.

Do you have a favorite character, if so tell us why?

That's a hard question. Both Meg and Katrina are wonderful characters. I can't say either is my favorite. Meg is a typical teenager, and Katrina is such a basically nice person. There is one other character in story that I, and everyone who's read the book, love, Nicky. His character is based on my Morgan gelding, also named Nicky, and in many respects, he's the favorite.

Tell us a little about your writing schedule. What do you find most difficult, easiest?

I try to write 2000 words a day when I'm doing a first draft. When the draft is finished I put it away for months, then send it to my critique group and finally, do revisions. The hardest part for me is after the book is published, trying to promote it.

What are your future writing plans?

I plan to write two more books in this series about Meg and Katrina. In the second book, the girls go to Arizona for two weeks on a dude ranch. In the third book, it's horse show season and Meg hates watching Cindy, her major rival, drive Nicky in the shows.

Nancy, Thank you for joining us today at Writers in Business. You can learn more about Nancy and her writing by visiting Nancy Famolari.

Looking for a publisher? Introducing Around the Loop publisher Beth Rogers from Alabama.

2009-11-22T11:35:00.008-05:00

Today Writers in Business welcomes Beth Rogers of Rutledge, AL. Beth is a writer, graphic designer and most recently a publisher. She operates Around the Loop Publishing from her home office and offers a complete line of book services for writers including establishing a marketing plan, editing, design and layout, printing and suggestions on order fulfillment.

What is the timeline to get a book publishing through Around the Loop Publishing?

I like to suggest to authors that they be prepared for a six month timeline, at least. Obviously, sometimes it may take a lot less time, but I want them to be prepared. Rushing any part of the project can make a big difference in how the final product looks.

When you think about all the things that need to be done, after the author is finished, it makes sense. When the manuscript is done, it needs to be given to someone to be read and edited. The storyline flow should make sense, spelling and grammar errors need to be corrected and verb tense needs to be consistent. Logical errors need to be corrected as well- for example, a minor character may be named Chad in chapter three, and by chapter five the name may change to Brad. (Errors like these can be easy to miss, but sometimes they leap out at readers after the book has been printed- I’ve seen whole websites dedicated to catching and publicizing these errors.) The person doing the proofreading and editing should not only be knowledgeable in grammar and writing, they need to be familiar with the author- they don’t need to change his ‘voice’. When the editor is done, the author usually has to do a rewrite, and then the editor goes through the manuscript again. This may take several times to get everything correct.

While the editing and rewriting are being done, the design for the book cover and contents should be completed. The person creating the designs should be familiar enough with the book to make sure the cover brings out part of the story, or matches the intent of the story.

Once the editing is complete and the design is ready, it’s time to ship the files to the printer. Then they have to check the files to make sure there aren’t any problems before they send the book to press. They’ll send a final quote on what they’ll charge to print the books; after they receive the go- ahead, the books are printed. We’ve been fortunate to get books printed as quickly as two weeks, but it can take longer.

Cover design is an integral part of creating a marketable book. Your web site states, “Just as the front door to your home gives visitors an idea of who you are and what your home is like, the cover should tell a very small part of your story, to intrigue potential visitors, and get them to pick it up and flip through the pages.” How do you help writers create their book covers? What pieces are important in the overall design?

The fonts, images and colors chosen all play an important part of the cover design- I can’t honestly say that one is more important than another. Any bookstore will prove this- walk through the section of mysteries and you’ll see what I mean. The cover shows something that says ‘mystery’- it may be colors that combine to jar you, or an image that is disturbing.Romantic novels use fonts with a flourish.

I like to use the book “If I Did It” by OJ Simpson as an example of one way the design can truly tell something about the book. Anyone who has ever seen it knows what I mean - the author meant one thing by the title, but the people who ended up with publishing rights had a totally different take on the story. To see what I mean, look at the cover of If I Did It. Just by looking at the way the title is presented, you know exactly how the Goldman family feels- a very simple design, but anyone seeing it has no doubt about it.

How do you charge authors for the services you provide? Is it by the hour or by the job?

I know most other publishers pay a fee to an author, and then take over the entire process for the book. They then reap the lion’s share of the profits from sales of the book. This really limits how many books get published every year, and I am sure there are lots of good books which don’t get published, simply because a publisher won’t sign a new author.

On the other hand, I work with the author to do whatever tasks are required. As a general rule, I ask for a couple of sample chapters from a prospective author. By reading his work, I can judge how much time and effort the process will take, and I prepare quotes with that in mind.

One author I’m working with now has someone who can do the editing and proofreading. My main tasks for this author will be cover and interior design. I’ll help them find a printer that fits their needs, and I’ll help write press releases, contact bookstores, newspapers, and radio and television stations, and I’ll supply the ISBN number.

They pay me for the tasks they need me to do, and when my job is finished, the book and its profits are all theirs.

To me, a book is a part of the author’s life, like a family member. That’s where it should belong.
Around the Loop Publishing provides personalized services, competitive prices, southern hospitality, hometown respect and courtesy. You can get professional results and outstanding customer service by visiting Beth at Around the Loop Publishing.

The Art of Writing by Margaret (Peggy) Fieland

2009-11-21T11:20:00.012-05:00

Born and raised in New York City, Margaret Fieland has been around art and music all her life. Daughter of a painter, she is the mother of three grown sons and an accomplished flute and piccolo player. She is an avid science fiction fan. She lives in the suburbs west of Boston, MA with her partner and seven dogs.

Her poems, articles and stories have appeared in journals and anthologies such as Main Channel Voices, Echolocation, and Twisted Tongue. Her first book, The Angry Little Boy, has been completed.

Welcome Peggy.

Thank you Brigitte, I'm happy to be here.

Tell us what you write about

I'm a professional Computer Software engineer (BA in mathematics, MS in computer science), but I've written poetry as far back as I can remember.

Who has inspired you in your writing?
Lewis Carroll. My all time favorite book is “Alice in Wonderland,” which I reread every exam time when I was in college, as I made it a habit to avoid the library during exams. I'm also very fond of Carroll's poetry. I've got several stanzas of Jabberwocky and You Are Old, Father William memorized.

What made you want to start writing?

Good question – I started and became addicted. I really love writing -- and I just plain enjoy writing poetry, rhymed and unrhymed. I've developed my own algorithm for generating rhymes, which means that I often don't have to use a rhyming dictionary at all.

Besides, if I don't write it down it stays stuck in my head.

When do you write? Do you work best when you set aside specific times?

Since I have a full time job, I write whenever the spirit moves me, and I have (or can make) the time. The nice thing about poetry is that a lot of it is short and taking a couple of minutes to jot down poetry is pretty easy to do. Waiting for appointments is a favorite time to write. I've had good luck being "inspired" by those articles you find in waiting rooms.

Do you ever have a problem with writer's block?

Not so far, thank goodness {pauses to knock wood}.

You may visit Peggy’s website at MargaretFieland.com to view some of her writing. Peggy is a member of VBT- Writers on the Move who are celebrating their anniversary this November.

Learn more about this fantastic promotional group for authors by visiting VBT-WritersontheMove.blogspot.com. Prizes are given away each day during this event.