Locker 01092003

Writing direction - Valuable Links - Writing Exercises -Marketing Roll Outs - This is the writing group you didn't want to join.

Just a "Writer's" Opinion: If you have time to fill a position on a board of directors, hold fund raisers, be a fight mediator, cater to the simple minded, drive in hurricane conditions to Friday night meetings, be in charge of refreshments, nag people for membership dues, and listen to fiction short stories by writers that can't sign a check - Join a writing group.

Flip Side: Writing groups can fill the infinite void for the novice writer or the beginning writer who already knows everything! It can be a rather humbling reality to meet accomplished writers with resumes and clips to envy. Their wisdom, experience and knowledge is of great value. Build relationships, listen intently, take a lot of notes, be consistent with your attendance, network and be observant. It is also a learning ground for knowing good from great works - Critique groups will try your patience. Practice patience unless you bring your Pulitzer prize with you.

Clips:

Maintain a portfolio with published magazine, newspaper, website articles, essays, photo credits, newsletters, technical writing assignments, even letters to the editor. This portfolio will become an important marketing tool when prospecting for a writing assignment, submitting a letter of intent, or interviewing for a writing position. Include clips with each submission.

Creative means to collect clips - the technical writing you may be assigned to do at your place of employment, even though it is not your primary duty. This may include the department or company newsletter, product data sheets, media announcements and ad copy. Do you write bulletins, reports, or historical data documentation for your church, volunteer groups, or community associations? Website content, inventive greeting cards and marketing flyers are also to be considered to use as clips.

Be A Writer

If you want to be a writer - write. Call yourself a writer. Live like a writer. Manage a writing schedule. Maintain a writing journal. Market your work. Walk like a writer. Talk like a writer. Be a writer.

Making The Bucks

If you wish to keep your lights on with writing proceeds - you must submit your works on a regular basis.

Regular basis means, everyday! If an article does not sell to one publication, format it for another publication and send it back out. Keep the circle going around and around.

If your story is family oriented and rejected by the parenting periodicals, become a Christian writer and format it to that market. A crafting article can be rewritten for decorating. A nautical item can be relevant to geography or travel print.

Persistence and patience will pay. The bucks will not come forth if the words don't go out. Read the publications you are submitting your work to. Yes, this takes time but the effort will be rewarded. A great number of magazines will send sample editions for free or nominal cost. Visit their websites for additional insight.

Query letters are designed to save the publisher's and writer's time. Email submissions will save postage and trips to the post office. Follow writer guidelines. If your work is irrelevant and in the wrong format, your effort will be in vain.

A Writer's Journal

All writers must maintain a journal. It can be as simple as notes in your planner or as elaborate as a formal journal with daily entries. A journal can be maintained with a hand held recorder, a tiny spiral notebook or on your desk calendar.

A writer's journal is for the thoughts that need to be remembered, world events, personal convictions, life's landmarks and oh those sappy, silly feelings. Exercise your words. Create writing assignments to use for future projects.

Expert Information

If you work full time in the field of stem cell research, rocket science, botany, child psychology, engineering, on and on - you are an expert. If you have no experience, educational background, in-house expertise, you had better do some in-depth research.

Check and re-check your facts. Let me repeat that - Check and re-check your facts. Do not be caught "naked in the wind" over information that sounded good or is actually an urban myth.

Your reputation and personal liability can fall under heavy scrutiny or legal action with information that is not factual. Research and keep detailed notes of all information sources. Verify informants credentials. Know who you are interviewing. Non-Fiction is the truth.

Book Promotion

Books do not sell themselves. Writing the great American novel is only part of the ride. If you are fortunate enough to have your book published, an agent or publisher will do little to no promotion of your work. You must develop a sales and marketing strategy. It is time consuming and takes a lot of talking and being seen.

If you are not comfortable with public speaking, join Toastmasters. Successful book promotion will consist of speaking in front of church groups, civic groups, educational forums, libraries, the ever famous writing groups, literary clubs, public readings in book stores, writing conferences, manning a booth at publishing events and on the street corners - to everyone and anyone who will listen.

Never leave your home or office without copies of your book. Make appointments with book stores. Fax media announcements to newspapers, radio stations, television stations and your church, temple or synagogue. If you have a speaking engagement - let the world know about it. The bigger the audience - the higher your sales revenue.