Dear Anne,
My book is currently in the design phase and now they are contacting me for marketing.

I had only planned on writing the book for my daughter, but my friends thought it would be a book that many can use, so they talked me into getting it published.

Needless to say I was shocked at how much marketing can cost. What do you suggest I do to obtain the funds to market it, since I didn’t save for this? Obtain a credit card with value of matching miles for travel, hotel, etc., or find an investor or personal line of credit with a bank?


Thank you in advance for your advice!

Michele (in comments)

Hi Michele,

Congratulations on getting a book written – lots of hard work.

You don’t say how it’s published. But in a way it doesn’t matter. If you scored a trade publisher, you may have gotten a small advance. If, as I suspect, you self-published, all the marketing is on you.

I’m going to suggest you don’t spend a nickel on marketing, at least not until you buy and study two books – well darn, I’ve already got you spending money. The two books are:

• The Well-Fed Self-Publisher by Peter Bowerman – I’ve reviewed it.
• John Kremmer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Book. I’ve reviewed it too. (The cost of the two through Amazon is about $33 + shipping.)

Now, take time to study those books and figure out not just what you need to do, but what you’re willing to do.


DO NOT please, get a credit card and run up a bunch of expense to market – the truth is you’re unlikely to get it back unless you develop a plan. If your self-publishing company is pressuring you to buy a marketing package, don’t! Please don’t. They’re track record is awful when it comes to marketing. Don’t hire a book marketer, at least not until you understand how the business works, and you don’t yet.

Understanding how the business works, and those two books are better than a university course, will make you much more effective than if you don’t. Only after you’ve studied those books and perhaps found a publishing organization like the Independent Book Publishers Association and learned about the long tail of marketing and read Two Helpful Posts on Self-Publishing.

Stay in touch with your original goal – it’s a good one. Approach marketing slowly and thoughtfully and without debt. You’ll be glad you did, I promise.

Do you have a question about freelance writing? Ask Anne, The Writing Pro - that's me ;) Ask in the comments or send an email and put Q&A in the subject line so I can sort it out from spam and I'll do my best. Meanwhile, you'll find some Q&A's here: Ask Anne, The Pro Writer

Who else has experience with book marketing they’d like to share?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Okay… how did we get to Sept. 1 so fast?

Today we have 62 writing, editing, blogging, translation and etc. jobs.

Job Postings Here Are The Tip Of A Great Big Iceberg! A must-read if you’re new to freelance writing, editing, blogging or translating or new to looking for gigs online How To Find and Land Freelance Writing Gigsis an ever growing category listing articles about how to get freelance writing jobs and the article, How to land a writing job is aimed at helping you when you apply to one of the freelance writing jobs listed here.

1. Hiring Nonfiction Freelance Writers! Suite101 currently has openings for nonfiction freelance writers across all subject matters. With over 4,000 writers, 24 million monthly readers and lifelong advertising royalties, Suite101 offers a well-established platform for getting published, read and paid. Apply to write for us today.
2. Virtual Assistant With Some Writing
3. Write About Football
4. Review Websites
5. Direct Email Campaign




6. Patch.com is hiring writers and editors in a variety of location - pay unclear but it’s AOL funded
7. Legal writer for web terms & conditions
8. Translate an English video to Brazilian Portuguese
9. Help write a job description
10. Literary Agency Copy Editor
11. Comedic Sketches Needed- Comedy Sketch Show
12. Writer Needed for Faith Based Website
13. Bloggers wanted for facecrooks.com
14. C3 Writer/Trainer
15. Content writer/re-writer – amount of pay unclear
16. Grant research & writing
17. Write About Electronics
18. Tool Experts
19. Ebook for Law Firm




20. Video Game Writers
21. Health & Wellness
22. Comedy
23. Auto blogger
24. Active Trader; Writer/Marketer
25. Freelance writer, editor, researcher
26. Content Writer/Moderator
27. Seeking Screenplays
28. Screenwriter
29. TV Bloggers
30. Creative Writer
31. Writing Help
32. Grant Writer
33. Online Content Development Specialist
34. Poetry for Greeting Cards
35. Water Sport and Scuba Experts/Writers Wanted
36. Content Writer
37. Journalism/ Blogging part-time/freelance positions available
38. Copywriter / Blogger IT/ CRM
39. Weight loss copywriter
40. Need Question Writer for Quiz Game
41. Underground Culture and Politics
42. Freelance Writers – Trade Publication
43. Freelance Editor
44. Book manuscripts
45. Construction Writers – midwest
46. Copywriter with poker experience
47. Business/Finance Blogger
48. Interviewer

Low Paying Gigs:

1. Ad Factory - text ads & SEO
2. Web content

Might Be Worth Considering:

1. Screen writing – royalties only, no advance
2. Green Technology Marketing Site: Content and Social Media assistance
3. Write Children’s Books




4. Edit Children’s Books
5. Book Writers
6. Arts & entertainment (and sports) bloggers for basement startup
7. Intern for Green Social Website
8. Newswire service – revenue  share
9. Write for a wedding site
10. Solar Energy Advocate and Writer - commission only
11. Freelance Bloggers - ehow
12. Bloggers with own blog wanted

Canadian writing job seekers may find what they want at the Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs Blog.  FreelanceWritingGigs. Problogger also posts blogging jobs. John Hewitt also publishes jobs for writers.Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Hi Anne,
I’m trying to find funding to do some research for a book. It will be the first book dedicated to this subject.

So far I have the 1st chapter written, but I need advance funding to continue my research because there will be some risky travel involved.

As I only have a few pieces of short fiction & some articles published, what would be the best way for me to approach a publisher for a small advance on a book deal?

Thanks for any advice,

TV

Hi Mike,

If your book is truly the first and if the topic is timely, you may be able to get an advance through a book proposal. Book proposals can go to agents or to publisher, but not both.

As it happens, I publish an ebook on book proposals that I know has helped people sell their books.  It’s not the only good reference on the topic, but…


I’d also comment that the proposal is to sell the book, not to raise funds for travel or research. I think you could adapt the proposal but I don’t know if it’s best to sell the book and use the advance for the travel or ask for travel money, or both. Does anyone know the best way to approach a publisher for research funds?

The other approach might be a grant. Hope Clark at FundsForWriters is the expert on grants for writers.

Good luck, and let us know what works.

Do you have a question about freelance writing? Ask Anne, The Writing Pro - that's me ;) Ask in the comments or send an email and put Q&A in the subject line so I can sort it out from spam and I'll do my best. Meanwhile, you'll find some Q&A's here: Ask Anne, The Pro Writer

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Awhile back I blogged about Lists of Professional Organizations For Writers – Resource Roundup Tuesday. I’ve updated it and you’ll find more writing organizations than you can possible use.

Then I started just poking around doing some google searches and uncovered some links to blogs I found interesting and maybe valuable, including:

• The National Association of Science Writers – with links to various blogs about science I find interesting and probably wouldn’t have found any other way. Like Science Blogging, a directory of science blogs – worth bookmarking for sure.
• Association of Afghan Blog Writers - sporadic posts and a link to other Afghans who blog in English which is an amazing journey just to read through.
• LAWriter’s Group – I’ve been aware of these folks through their newsletter. It’s an outstanding example of how a writer’s group can make use of the web.




• The Page A Day Writers Group – active since 2004, these fiction writers meet monthly, right here in San Diego and I didn’t know about them! Again, for those of you not in San Diego, this could be a great model.

The take-away from this resource round up is to take a few minutes once and awhile and explore the web.

What have you found on the web recently?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Today we have 60 writing, editing, blogging, translation and etc. jobs.

Job Postings Here Are The Tip Of A Great Big Iceberg! A must-read if you’re new to freelance writing, editing, blogging or translating or new to looking for gigs online How To Find and Land Freelance Writing Gigsis an ever growing category listing articles about how to get freelance writing jobs and the article, How to land a writing job is aimed at helping you when you apply to one of the freelance writing jobs listed here.

1. Hiring Nonfiction Freelance Writers! Suite101 currently has openings for nonfiction freelance writers across all subject matters. With over 4,000 writers, 24 million monthly readers and lifelong advertising royalties, Suite101 offers a well-established platform for getting published, read and paid. Apply to write for us today.
2. SEO/Articles on Nail care and Nail products
3. White papers and e-books
4. Write general career articles
5. Education writers




6. Greek Translator
   
7. Educational Publishing: Freelance Math Assessment Item-Writers Wanted
8. Content Producer – pay not clear
9. Software Developer Resume/Cover Letter Revamp
10. Dramatic Comedy
11. Editor needed
12. Write Spanish Textbooks
13. Sales Letter Writers
14. Article Writer for Kids/Travel Website
15. Editor for quarterly newsletter – pay not clear
16. Playwright
17. Children’s Book Writer
18. Health Editor
19. Book submissions
20. Convert/embellish some ideas/plots into a story
21. Business Writing




22. Editor with architecture/interior design/ landscape or lighting design related master’s degree
23. Blog Writer – Identity Theft
24. Transcriptionist
25. Wine Writer
26. Ghost a children’s book
27. Comedy Screen Writer
28. Copywriter
29. Business Writing
30. Press release writer
31. PR articles
32. Healthcare industry magazine seeks writers
33. Copy for a doctors website
34. Management, engineering, and construction resume
35. About section for website
36. Comedy writer
37. WOW Video Content Creators
38. Science copy editor
39. Catalog Copywriter
40. Hair extension blogger
41. Blog writer
42. Bloggers who blog about Interior Design, Furniture, Home Furnishings or Home Décor
43. CasJam Design Blog is hiring writers for one-time articles and ongoing positions
44. Freelance Investing Writer
45. Freelance Writer
46. Review Video Games. Looking for people with excellent writing and reviewing skills to review video games. Only two positions left to fill. Great position for starting or fattening up a writing portfolio. Please send a sample review to the email address above for consideration. More information will be sent to those that qualify. Payment rates range from $.50 to $2.00 per review depending on quality of work and demand. job-mbfjk-1919997639@craigslist.org

Low Paying Gigs:

1. Online writing & research
2. Research & writing
3. Ways to save money dining




4. Black business articles

Might Be Worth Considering:

1. Literary Magazine
2. Humor Contest Writer
3. Graphic designer – not writing, but well paid.
4. Music Reviews – revenue share
5. Accepting Script Treatments
6. Saltwater aquarium blog
7. Divorce Stories
8. Completed scripts and or manuscripts
9. PR/Blog writer
10. Article writing

Canadian writing job seekers may find what they want at the Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs Blog.  FreelanceWritingGigs. Problogger also posts blogging jobs. John Hewitt also publishes jobs for writers.Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Lawrence Hill on writing – he doesn’t have a reader in mind.

What do you think? When writing fiction do you have a reader in mind?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

A writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.

~Burton Rascoe, found at http://www.fontayne.com/ink/quotewrite.html

So what’s outside your writing window?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Today we have 61 writing, editing, blogging, translation and etc. jobs.

Job Postings Here Are The Tip Of A Great Big Iceberg! A must-read if you’re new to freelance writing, editing, blogging or translating or new to looking for gigs online How To Find and Land Freelance Writing Gigsis an ever growing category listing articles about how to get freelance writing jobs and the article, How to land a writing job is aimed at helping you when you apply to one of the freelance writing jobs listed here.

1. Review Video Games. Looking for people with excellent writing and reviewing skills to review video games. Only two positions left to fill. Great position for starting or fattening up a writing portfolio. Please send a sample review to the email address above for consideration. More information will be sent to those that qualify. Payment rates range from $.50 to $2.00 per review depending on quality of work and demand. job-mbfjk-1919997639@craigslist.org
2. Hiring Nonfiction Freelance Writers! Suite101 currently has openings for nonfiction freelance writers across all subject matters. With over 4,000 writers, 24 million monthly readers and lifelong advertising royalties, Suite101 offers a well-established platform for getting published, read and paid. Apply to write for us today.




3. Looking for Strong Writers with Access to Genealogy Records (for any county in Alabama)
4. Need Help with article rewriting
5. Writers
6. Financial Writer
   
7. Researcher / Copywriter
8. Removed
9. Medical Authors / Teachers
10. Auto safety news release
11. Music / Band news releases
12. Video Game Walk-Throughs
13. Printing Industry Press Release
14. Write about fine lingerie
15. Home & garden writer – eHow
16. Edit a psychology paper
17. Product reviews
18. Translate written English to Italian
19. Travel writer
20. Spanish Translation
21. English / German translator
22. Religious ghostwriter
23. Need Solid Writing Experience in Business 2 Busines
24. Writers / Researchers
25. Article writing
26. Book on the history and principles of socialism
27. Copywriters




28. Sportswriter for 40+ crowd
29. Ghostwrite a book
30. Poker writer
31. Write about stock
32. Norwegian web writer
33. Tech writer
34. Writers
35. 3 min. script
36. Paper on Christian Theology and Engineering
37. Coupon writing
38. Ghost web content
39. Business Contract Writing
40. Nursing Interviews
41. Blog and article writers
42. Blog writers
43. Apple iPhone iPad tutorial blogger
44. Tech writer
45. Foreign Affairs writer
46. Associate Editor World Politics Review
47. Seeking Reporter/Editor – Lacrosse
48. Writers for HowStuffWorks
49. Copywriter

Low Paying Gigs:

1. Blog about auto insurance
2. New home building articles





3. Blog writer
4. Football writer
5. Blog about pets
6. Investor Glossary
7. Soccer writers

Might Be Worth Considering:

1. 3-4 Character dram
2. Romance film script
3. College sports writer
4. Experts 123 article writers – revenue share
5. Photo Internship with Village Voice Media

Canadian writing job seekers may find what they want at the Canadian Freelance Writing Jobs Blog.  FreelanceWritingGigs. Problogger also posts blogging jobs. John Hewitt also publishes jobs for writers.Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Hi Anne,

I’m just starting to do more freelance writing. (I have sold a few articles in the past).

You said   “send the articles out on spec (over the transom)” in your post, More Productivity or More Money? I’m just wondering - do you mean to circumvent queries and just send the whole article manuscript out on spec? Don’t most top-paying magazines require query first?

Thanks,

Pam (in comments)

Hi Pam,

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to confuse you.

When freelance writers market articles to magazines basically they have two approaches. (Once and awhile an agent or publicist will market some articles for a very well-known writer – that’s not what we’re talking about here.) The writer may:

• Submit a query – a sales letter selling both your idea and you as a writer. You’re right, most magazines want queries. Editors like them because they can quickly tell if the idea pitched and the freelancer proposing it are likely to be able to interest their audience and complete the assignment. Accepted queries result in either an assignment or, an invitation to submit the article on spec. The assignment is essentially a contract and if the magazine cancels the article the author may receive a kill fee, usually a portion of the price of the article if it had been published. The invitation is just that – but means the editor will pay close attention to the submission and, if it meets her requirements, is likely to buy and publish it.




• Submit the completed article on spec or over the transom. The idea here is that it’s easier for new writers to demonstrate their skills with the whole article. If the editor likes the article, he will probably buy it; if the new writer had sent a query instead, the editor might have decided not to take the risk. It’s NOT meant to circumvent queries; it’s a different method.

Market listings often state if a magazine prefers one or the other.

Does that help?

How do you decide to submit a query or on spec?

Do you have a question about freelance writing? Ask Anne, The Writing Pro - that's me ;) Ask in the comments or send an email and put Q&A in the subject line so I can sort it out from spam and I'll do my best. Meanwhile, you'll find some Q&A's here: Ask Anne, The Pro Writer

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.

Image from http://www.photoxpress.com/

Writing a press release is actually pretty simple, particularly when you keep the goal in mind. You or your client wants some sort of media coverage about something – often an event of some sort.

A successful press release has two elements – news and interest. Here’s what I mean:

Media thrives on news – new products, new ideas, new procedures – anything that is new for you or your client.

The news also has to be interesting to a segment of readers and that’s where the art of writing a press releases comes in. For example, a new and cheaper way to prepare food, for example, is news for people who cook. It also would be of interest to food service trade magazines. A new type of car tire has an obvious market segment. Less clear is when you or your client wins an award. Sure, it’s got some news value, but you’ll have to stretch to make it interesting in most cases – the trick here is targeting the release at the right audience.


As with all writing, think about who the reader is- and the first reader is the editor of the target publications. The editor must be interesting to their audience.

Press Release Basics

The basics of a press release are the familiar:

• Who
• What
• Where
• Why
• When

People are more interesting that things for the most part, so you usually want to start there. Obviously the what and the way are important, and where and when may also be needed, depending on who you’re addressing.

You Need A Hook

The first 10 or so words of your press release are the most important. It’s here where you grab the editor’s attention with the hook or the lead.

As a general rule, keep you lead simple; it’s those first few words that will determine if the reader (and editor) continue reading.

After your hook, simply tell your story, always in the third person, using quotes from the principle if at all possible.

Keep it short – shorter press releases are picked up more often than long ones.


Make sure the contact information is easy to spot just in case someone wants more information.

A Sample

Here’s a sample press release I did several years ago that actually got the organization some press:

Writing press releases about yourself can help bring in business; writing them for others can fatten your wallet.

Got a story about a press release you’d like to tell us?

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.