3 Ways to Find Your Niche as a Freelance Writer

3 Ways to Find Your Niche as a Freelance Writer
by: Nick Usborne

To make a six-figure income as a freelance writer, to need to be an expert. You need your name to jump to people's lips when a particular job or challenge comes up.

"Direct mail for software? You should get in touch with Bob. That's what he does." Insert your own name and specialty where appropriate.

You can't get that kind of awareness or referral if you're someone who just writes about anything in any medium. Nobody is going to believe that you are a trusted expert in absolutely everything.

So how do you determine a viable 'niche'? You have three choices...

1. Niche by industry...

That is to say, work within a particular industry. For years I worked with pharmaceutical clients. All my clients were drug companies. I wrote direct mail, brochures, sales aids, video scripts. I wrote anything, so long as it was about pharmaceuticals. That was my niche. And my clients knew that I was knowledgeable in that area. So they came to me.

2. Niche by medium...

In this scenario, you make a particular medium your specialty. After my years with the pharmaceutical industry, I decided to specialize as a direct mail copywriter. And for that period, about 15 years, I ONLY write direct mail and associated media...like inserts, fliers, postcards etc. I was a direct response specialist. And I wrote for all kinds of different industries - financial, cable TV, magazine publishers and more.

My specialty, my niche, was as a direct response copywriter. Other writers have built their careers around writing annual reports, radio scripts, white papers etc.

3. 'Double-Niche'

When you double-niche you are making a specialty of serving a single industry through a single medium. For instance, writing direct response for the financial industry. And ONLY writing direct response for the financial industry.

In conclusion...

As I said at the beginning, you can't be an expert at everything...not within every industry, not with every medium. So you need to take some steps to find your niche.

How do you choose? First, know yourself. Know what you are good at. Know what you like.

Also, be smart. Create your niche where the money is. Find your niche where there is a strong market.

And be smart about the size of your niche. Don't go so narrow that you're forever starved of work. Don't go so broad that people view you as a Jack or Jill of all trades, a generalist.

About The Author


Nick Usborne is a freelance writer, author, speaker and advocate of good writing. For more articles and resources on making money as a freelance writer, visit his site, http://www.freelancewritingsuccess.com

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Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing


If you do not want to run ads on your blog, or you are looking for an additional way to monetize your blog, affiliate marketing is a good way to make money provided you have plenty of readers to market to.


Affiliate marketing does not have to be blatant “hey buy this” advertising, rather bloggers can subtly slip in a review or recommendation for a product and include their affiliate link in their blog.


If you can find an affiliate product that is relevant to the topic of your blog and you do a good job of slipping it in, you can stand to make some tidy profits. Affiliate marketing generally pays more per sale than you would make per click with other forms of advertising, but you have to have visitors that both click on your affiliate link and purchase the product.


The best way to make sure readers purchase the affiliate products you market is to pick products your audience will be interested in and that are relevant to your blog. If you blog about outdoor living, chances are no one will respond to your affiliate marketing attempts at selling PSP downloads.


Make sure the product you are trying sell will appeal to your readers and that you can do a good job of including it in your blog without seeming to preachy or desperate. Keep your marketing attempts natural and make sure they fit in with the flow of your blog.



There are plenty of places to go to find affiliate marketing opportunities. Many websites such as Amazon and eBay have affiliate programs. Your favorite website or company may even have an affiliate program and it can’t hurt to look, especially if they are related to your blog.


You can also find affiliate marketing opportunities on websites that specialize in connecting companies with publishers. The good thing about using one of these websites is that you have a huge list of products to choose form and the website will manage your payments and track your selling statistics. Here is a list of websites you can use to find affiliate marketing opportunities.



Clickbank – The most popular affiliate marketing website, Clickbank offers bloggers a dizzying array of products to market as an affiliate. All of their products are digital products, such as e-books and reports.


You can find things on virtually every product, arranged by category. So no matter what you blog about, chances are that you can find an affiliate product on Clickbank. Payouts range from a few dollars per sale to fifty dollars or more.



Commission Junction – This affiliate website operates in much the same way as Clickbank. Companies add their products to the Commission Junction marketplace and publishers add links to these products in their blogs. Commission junction offers a wider variety of products, however, some require visitors to buy a product for you to get paid and others require visitors to sign up for newsletters or fill out a form.



Link Share – Another affiliate website that connects affiliates with products to market. You can pick from a wide variety of products to market on your blog and like Commission Junction, you do not always have to sell something in order to get paid. Sometimes the required action is to get visitors to sign up for a newsletter or fill out a form in order to get paid.



Affiliate marketing can be a great way to make money from your blog. Remember to keep your marketing attempts natural and try not to “sell,” rather rate or inform. Most affiliate websites that connect you with products to market will keep track of your earnings and statistics which makes them very convenient.

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Guidelines For Reviewing Writing

Guidelines For Reviewing Writing
by: The StoryMaster

Writing detailed reviews is time well spent.

Reviewing itself is a writing exercise. At Writing.Com, creating detailed feedback for a fellow writer is one of the best tools available for improving your own writing. That said, if you're going to spend the time to do it, helping the author is important. There is a better chance for the ideas in a review to get through to an author if they are well presented.

Key Characteristics For Reviews

* Reviews should be honest. Helping writers improve their craft should be the mission of any reviewer. Honest opinions are what help writers improve. Giving false feedback doesn't help anyone and can lead an author down a long road to bitter disappointment.

* Reviews should be encouraging. Everyone at every level should be encouraged to continue writing! Encouraging reviews are more likely to be used by an author which means the time creating the review was well spent. Whether the author decides to use the reviewer's honest suggestions or not, the review should be motivating and encourage the author to keep writing.

* Reviews should be respectful. Regardless of an author's level of skill or talent, a reviewer should always respect that the author is an individual person. A reviewer flaunting that they are better than the author they're reviewing is not respectful and is counter productive.

* Reviews should be well rounded. While honesty is very important, a review that points out only flaws without any mention of an item's positive points is not nearly as helpful to an author as a well rounded review with both positive and negative remarks. Don't forget, the same goes for reviews that only point out positives! Even the greatest pieces of writing have room for suggestions and opinions.

* The rating should reflect the review. If you're sending a review full of corrections, it's important to consider that with your star rating selection. 5.0's shouldn't need any corrections. On the other extreme, a 1.0 should have endless errors and you couldn't possibly list them all. Offering to return and rerate the item after a round of updates makes it more likely your suggestions will be considered.

* Reviews should make good use of color, bold and italics. When reviewing, presentation is very important! Color can be used to make corrections stand out or quote small portions of the work. Emoticons can highlight important points in the review and can be creatively used to make the review feel more friendly.

The Content Of A Review

Keeping in mind the six (6) points highlighted above, a review should contain your opinion. While grammatical, typographical and other errors can be included within a review, don't forget to tell the author how the piece made you feel. Give them your thoughts about the inside of their writing, not just the outside.

Some example questions you may ask yourself about the piece to help you get your opinion across are as follows: Did the plot interest you? Were the characters believable? Did the story fit the time, place and other setting characteristics? Is there anything you would change within the story?

Incorporating these thoughts within your reviews will expand your own analytical skills allowing you to better analyze your own writing. Whether the author agrees with any of your suggestions or ideas is not relevant. You have given them another perspective on their work they would not have otherwise had. They may hear the same thoughts from a number of different people which may give them a better understanding of their readers as a whole.

Use "copied and pasted" portions of the item you are reviewing as little as possible. Posting sections of an item within your review leads to "review bloating" and takes away from the impact your comments and suggestions will have on the author.

Your Own Review Format

Developing your own format for reviewing can be a great asset. Determine what aspects of writings you like to focus on most, create a short outline to follow and start reviewing. Following this process will help keep your reviews honest and consistent. As your experience grows, you'll find ways to improve your format and your skills.

Get into the good habit of using a custom tag-line of encouragement within your reviews. Including a "Keep Writing!" or something unique and individual within your reviews goes a long way to motivating an author. We know you mean it, so don't forget to say it!

Make Reviewing a Daily Creative Writing Exercise

Remember, reviewing grows your own writing skills unlike any other writing tool. Critically analyzing and reviewing others' writings makes a writer stop and think about what works and what doesn't. Putting that into words and communicating that to another writer, ultimately helps the reviewer to improve his or her own writing skills, as well. So it's about helping others, but it's a valuable way to help ourselves!

Have Fun & Happy Reviewing!

About The Author

The StoryMaster is WebMaster @ Writing.Com ( http://www.Writing.Com/ ). Established in 2000, Writing.Com is the online community for readers and writers of all ages and interests. Whether you're a casual reader searching for a good story or a creative writer looking for the perfect place to improve your skills, Writing.Com is the site for you!

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Writing Help for College Students

Writing Help for College Students
by: Tamara Owen

Your literature professor has asked you to write a 7-page essay comparing Medieval and Renaissance poetry; your economics professor wants 15 pages on how globalization is affecting the economy in three different countries; and your mathematics professor has forgotten this is a mathematics class, and wants 5 pages on the quadratic formula. And you have been staring at the computer screen for over an hour wondering how on earth you are going to do all of this in the next four days.

This is an all-too-familiar scene to many students. Many students learn of these large assignments at the beginning of the semester when they receive their class syllabi, and immediately forget about them because November seems like years away. Other students are busy with extracurricular sports, trying to adjust to being away from home for the first time, and other events and issues. Still other students are quite frankly terrified of the writing process, believing the blank page to be worse than their worst nightmare, and so these assignments get shoved aside to remain untouched until the last minute.

It is an interesting fact of college life that all students, regardless of major or discipline, are asked to write about their subject matter -- often quite extensively. While it is certainly important that all individuals be literate, and know how to read and write in a variety of capacities, styles, and genres, it is also the case that not everyone has to be a professional academic writer (www.korepetycje.com/join_us.html). Engineers need to know how to design bridges or better towel racks; pilots need to be able to take off and land safely and smoothly; and physicians need to be able to diagnose illnesses and injuries and to prescribe the correct medical interventions. None of these people needs to know how to write a term paper.

What, then, are the options for the poor student struggling in the first paragraph? What will happen to the student who is a prodigy on the piano but is facing failure because she cannot write 10 pages on Beethoven? What will happen to the next Frank Lloyd Wright who is stuck in his psychology seminar, unable to write a series of vignettes portraying various mental illnesses?

There are a few options. Most college campuses have writing labs, where many students are helped with researching and writing their papers. Many students form study groups, where they help each other through the tough assignments. Some students write their custom essays and term papers (see: http://www.korepetycje.com/indexam.html) and then pay an editor to polish them. Still others turn to professional writing services for assistance with their assignments. This is where services such as CustomPapers.com come in. We have a large staff of professional writers who specialize in writing papers about a wide variety of disciplines ranging from economics to ecology, marketing to Mozart, Hemingway to heart murmurs. We can also assist students with related projects, such as PowerPoint Presentations. In the many years of our existence, we have found tremendous success helping students with assignments of all sizes, all levels of difficulty, and all subjects.

Regardless of what type of help you choose, the important thing is that you get through college as quickly and effectively as possible. College is a step leading up to the rest of your life -- don't let a term paper be the skateboard in your path.

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How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs?

How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs?
by: Niall Cinneide

Do you think that there is a big sign that reads, “Freelance Writing Jobs, Apply Within”? There just is not. In fact, you may have a hard time finding writing jobs of any type advertised in any employment magazine or newspaper either. So, how do you find freelance writing jobs? Let us talk about this for a moment and see if we can't find an idea or two that will work for you.

1. Begin at the beginning. Get the education you need to have. Learn what there is to know about the field in which you are looking for job vacancies. Having knowledge itself can open doors. This can help with step two as well.

2. When you do have that knowledge, do not forget to look towards the teachers you got it from for help in finding a niche to work in. They may have more resources than you realize.

3. Create a portfolio. Even if you never have any published work, you can still write, right? Write to fill your portfolio. Then, when a prospective employment opportunity arises, you’ll have something to provide in the way of samples.

4. Look online. Vast amounts of freelance writing jobs are offered there. If the work can be submitted online, why not look worldwide? Try doing a websearch for "freelance writing jobs".

5. Keeping striving to meet the needs of your clients 100%. When you make them happy, they will come back with other jobs for you. And, they will provide you with testimonials and referrals as well.

All of these things can work for you when you allow them to. You need to provide yourself with all the tools you need. Most importantly, this is writing. You must be able to meet your client’s needs and therefore will need to present your talents in the right light each time. When you are looking for freelance writing jobs you’ll find them across the world when you look in the right places.

About The Author

Niall Cinneide

Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Writing.

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The Write Habit: How to Strengthen Your Writing Muscle

The Write Habit: How to Strengthen Your Writing Muscle
by: Katey Coffing, Ph.D.

Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in shape.

I realized how true that saying is when I took what I called "a well-earned break" after I finished my first novel. The last few days of writing that novel felt as sweet as whipped cream--I was in a writing groove, humming along. I figured I'd take a little hiatus for a few days, then start my second book. No problem.

Those few days stretched into a week. Soon two more weeks wandered by and thumbed their noses at me. I felt guilty every time I passed my PowerBook. Then I began to avoid the computer altogether, a beautifully self-defeating habit.

Finally, twitching with dread after more than a month away, I sat down at the screen and began my next novel. Trying to write after that time away was torture. My neglected writing muscle had become flabby and whiny. It protested my sudden demands and resented being drafted to work.

For many people, the key to productivity is making writing a habit. Consistent writing breeds easier writing. If that's true for you, create a new habit.

Make a commitment to a certain amount of writing every day--a length of time or a number of words or pages to reach before you lift your butt off your chair. Each day when you've reached your goal, do something nice for yourself.

One of my published clients who loves email has chosen to write five pages each weekday before she can log in. She made getting her email a reward for completing her writing goals, and every time she slows down with her writing she remembers how much she wants to read her newsgroups and see her friends' replies. That spurs her to complete her pages, and she feels doubly triumphant when she hears "you've got mail!"

Is email not a good enough carrot for you? Find one that is, then earn it. Setting goals and rewards that make you want to keep writing create a great habit that's win/win.

Write away!

About The Author

Katey Coffing, Ph.D. is a novelist and book coach who helps women delight in writing (and finishing!) their books. Visit her at http://www.Women-Ink.com/.

To receive additional articles and tips for women writers, subscribe to Katey's ezine, The Write Calling, at http://www.Women-Ink.com/the-write-calling.htm.

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Have You Plotted Your Story Before Writing It?

Have You Plotted Your Story Before Writing It?
by: Nick Vernon

Creative Writing Tips –

The writer, who doesn’t have the time to plot, always finds the time to rewrite.

Sound familiar?

I’ve been guilty of this too, back in the early days of my writing apprenticeship. I was so eager to get stuck into writing my story that I wouldn’t bother with plotting.

Plotting gives you a sense of direction. It’s your map, which will lead you to write your story. Leaping into the unknown rarely works. Without a plot several things can happen….

* Our stories aren’t focused
* We lose our way
* Our characters don’t come to life because we don’t take the time to develop them
* We get stuck
* The story strays from us

And all this happens when we haven’t figured everything out first.

Your plot is the foundation of your story. It’s the skeleton, which will hold your story together. Your plot is there to work everything out first – to see if it can be worked out, and then flesh out that skeleton with other elements that make a story.

Plotting is the difference between writing a story for yourself and writing one for an audience. Writing for ourselves doesn’t require too much strain because we only have ourselves to please. It’s when we have to please our readers that the hard work begins.

If you are aiming to sell your stories, plotting is a must.

Have you plotted your story before writing it?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com

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Dont Pay for The Writers Market....In Book Form

I know its tempting to buy a new version of this book everytime it comes out, but there is a better, cheaper way.

You can buy an online subscription for the same or less than the book costs, and get instant updates. They keep the same info on the website as in the books, and its updated regularly.

No waiting until the next issue.

Go to http://www.writersmarket.com

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Freelance Job Feed Added...

I have added a Freelance Job Feed to the blog. It is on the right hand side of the blog.

Freelancing is a good way to get some extra cash while you are waiting for your book to sale. There are several people who make a living on just this alone.

Dont forget to check your local library for free information on just about anything.

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Agent Info Feed Added...

I've added a feed to the site. It is on the right. It is from a feed that focuses on Agents.

Many of you I have talked to have asked me my opinion on this and I feel like that might help those out there that are needing more information.

Don't forget to check your local library too! The library is free and although they may not have the newest book just out, there will be information you can use in your writing pursuit.

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Web Writing Tips - A Writing Tip For Every Occasion

By Cliff Posey Jr

Every webmaster--even those who have been writing for the web for awhile--can benefit from a good writing tip. The following 10 tips are guaranteed to improve your copy and make writing for the web easier. Although most of the tips are geared toward the average webmaster, they can be implemented by anyone who is writing for the web.



Webmaster Writing Tip #1: Write What You Know



Although every webmaster has already heard this writing tip, it is worth mentioning. Writing what you know is always the best policy when writing for the web. There's a lot of bad info online already--no sense in adding more.



Webmaster Writing Tip #2: Research What You Write



Since writing what you know isn't always practical when you're writing for the web, you should at least research what you write. This will help you turn fuzzy knowledge into viable facts.



Webmaster Writing Tip #3: Use Correct Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation



Using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation is really important when you're writing for the web. When in doubt, look it up.



Webmaster Writing Tip #4: Try to Answer Questions



Writing for the web is a lot like writing for a newspaper. You need to answer all of the essential questions that a user might have. Think who, what, when, where, and why.



Webmaster Writing Tip #5: Pick a Keyword



When you're writing for the web, you should pick at least one keyword or key phrase to stick with from the beginning of the article to the end. This tells search engines and human readers what your article is about.



Webmaster Writing Tip #6: Use Lots of White Space



Writing for the web is not like writing a book or a column. You should have lots of white space in between text. It makes your article appear cleaner and more appealing to readers who like to scan information.



Webmaster Writing Tip #7: Keep It Short



When it comes to writing for the web, shorter is better. Internet users have limited time and short attention spans--they don't want to sift through lengthy text. The ideal word count for a web article is between 250 and 500 words.



Webmaster Writing Tip #8: Choose a Good Title



A good title is important when you're writing for the web. Titles tell readers and search engines what articles are about. The best titles pique curiosity or give readers something they want.



Webmaster Writing Tip #9: Edit What You Write



It is easy to fall in love with what you have written, but you need to learn how to cut the fluff. This is especially true when you are writing for the web. As stated earlier, Internet users have limited time and short attention spans. In other words, they have no patience for a chatty webmaster.



Webmaster Writing Tip #10: Proofread What You Write



Writing for the web is no different than writing for any other media. You must proofread what you write. If you forget every writing tip you heard today, remember that one. It is probably the best writing tip you will ever get.



About the Author: Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates http://www.webbusinesstoolsonline.com/ . Cliff has also operated several other successful web businesses including Love Song Cards and Radio Career Consultants.



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=306529&ca=Writing

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Punctuation Help: 3 Common Mistakes and the Ultimate Solution!

By Jane Sumerset

You can consult a good punctuation guide for your writing tasks, but it's still easy to get confused about certain things. Learning good punctuation skills can go a long way to making you a better and more persuasive writer. Many people barely learn them in school and quickly forget. Yet writing is not one of those skills that you learn in school and never use in real life. Most of us have to write every day, for work, our business or social reasons. See if you make any of these common punctuation mistakes:



1. Incorrect Use of Quotation Marks



Many people use quotation marks when they mean to highlight something. This is not correct. Quotation marks are meant to indicate dialogue in fiction, as in, "Let's go to the movies," Joe said to Mary.



Another use of quotation marks is to indicate the title of a book or film. However, this is going out of style and is not necessary. You can use italics, as well as capitalizing the words, as in Star Wars, The Simpsons, or Romeo And Juliet.



Quotations are not meant to be used to stress or highlight something, as in "On Sale Today!" Use bold text, italics or larger print for this.



2. Extra Apostrophes



Apostrophes are used to indicate possession, as in John's house or Susan's car.



They also indicate contractions, as in "can't" for "cannot," or "they've" for "they have."



There is no need to use apostrophes to indicate plural, as in "Car's For Sale."



This is incorrect, though commonly done.



3. Run On Sentences



Commas, and the word "and" help to clarify sentences and break up long sentences. Long sentences can also be separated into two or more sentences.



Consider this:



"I woke up late this morning was late for the bus and got to work late and missed an important meeting."



Without commas, this sentence is awkward. It can be rewritten to read:



"I woke up late this morning, and was late for the bus. I got there late and missed an important meeting."



Remember to consult with a punctuation guide if you are unsure about something.



After getting to know the three most typical mistakes. How familiar are you with English punctuation rules? If you still think it's way to complicated, consider getting an automated checking -a software that automatically corrects your spelling, grammar and punctuation as you write.



Automatically "Enforces" Punctuation Rules



This software uses a sophisticated system called Natural Language Processing (NLP), which reads your sentences and compares them to a stored database of correctly written English texts. This enables it to correct your spelling. grammar and punctuation mistakes in a way much more sophisticated than a simple spell checker, which only reads single words.



Suggests New Words



In addition to making sure your writing is in accord with grammar and punctuation rules, and correcting your spelling, NLP software also suggests better words for you to use. If you have ever used a thesaurus, a book that lists synonyms, you can appreciate how easy it would be to have a software program to perform this function for you. In essence, you are expanding your vocabulary when you use it, as you have instant access to new words.



Improves Your Writing and Saves You Time



This software can instantly improve the quality of your writing, and make you more efficient. You can write faster and not worry about making mistakes or having to go back and proofread for grammar, spelling or punctuation errors. This will enable you to get more done, and make the work, emails, reports or term papers you send out more clear and precise.



So, if you don't want to worry about all those grammar and punctuation rules, you may want to consider this automated solution to your writing needs!



About the Author: Watch how innovative English punctuation software instantly can improve your writings on a daily basis and learn how advanced NLP technology can help you to write even better English than your English teacher. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=325624&ca=Writing

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Grammar Help - 10 Ways Grammar Tools Can Help You!

By Jane Sumerset

An online spelling, punctuation and grammar guide can be a helpful tool for anyone who does any significant amount of writing. Many people send out emails, letters and other documents without being aware of all the mistakes they are making. This can affect how people think of you, and how they respond to your messages. A grammar guide can help you in several ways:



1. No More Spelling Mistakes



You may use a spell checker, but you really need a contextual spell checker to catch many errors. There are many spelling errors that are correctly spelled words, but in the wrong context. For example, if you say, "I am going to right a letter," a regular spell checker won't catch this as a mistake, since "right" is a real word. A contextual spell checker, however, will notice this!



2. Punctuation and Grammar Check



It's easy to make errors in grammar and punctuation, especially if you have a lot of writing to do. An online grammar guide can correct your mistakes, acting as a virtual proofreader for you.



3. Style Checking Feature



This software also has a feature that goes over your sentences and suggests alternative words and phrases. This improves the style of your writing.



4. Better Sentence Structure



If you aren't sure when to end a sentence and start a new one, or when to put in commas, then you should definitely consider an online grammar guide. This will help you create smoother, more readable sentences!



5. Improves Your Efficiency



Having a built in grammar guide and proofreader can allow you to get more done in less time. You won't have to spend hours going over your writing, or worrying that you made mistakes.



These are some of the ways an online grammar guide can help you with all of your writing needs.



Another way of improving your writing skills is using grammar software that can automate many of your editing and correcting tasks as you write. There are many things such a surprisingly advanced software can do. Here are five ways it may be able to help you:



6. Cut Your Writing Time in Half



If you spend time rewriting or editing your reports or other correspondences, grammar correction software can save you a lot of time by automating these tedious tasks.



7. Raise Your Level of Communication



As you send out more grammatically correct correspondences without errors, your ability to communicate effectively will be enhanced instantly.



8. Improve Your Writing Skills



As you use this software, it can help to teach you to naturally improve your writing. It's like having a virtual writing teacher built into your computer.



9. Write More Creatively and Persuasively



Grammar correction software not only corrects your errors, it suggests alternative words and ways to phrase things. So you can write more creatively, which means you can be more persuasive.



10. English Language Tutor



If English is not your native language, or if anyone in your family or on your staff has to communicate in English when it's not their first language, this can be a real challenge. Grammar software can make someone instantly more understandable in English, and can help teach them correct usage.



If you have to do much writing, for any reason at all, grammar correction software can help you to communicate faster and more effectively!



About the Author: Watch how innovative grammar software instantly can improve your writings on a daily basis and learn how advanced NLP technology can help you to write even better English than your English teacher. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=325616&ca=Writing

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Why Your Book Isn't Selling

By Penny Sansevieri

Over the past several days I've fielded a number of calls from authors frustrated with their progress. "Nothing is happening," "Am I doing this right?" and "My book isn't selling" are some of the biggest complaints I hear when authors are marketing on their own. Especially now, when we feel the pressure to make every marketing effort count, marketing effectively is becoming more of a concern. Authors like to blame it on the downturned economy, but the truth is, books are a low dollar item and likely to sell better over the holidays than the spiffy new iPhone. So here's a little reality check, mixed with some inspiration and a few ideas to hopefully kick-start your momentum!



1) Goals: it's good to have them, but make sure they are realistic. If you're not sure, ask someone who can be objective. (We're here to help, email us at info@amarketingexpert.com if you have nowhere else to turn for an honest answer). Yesterday I was speaking to an author who was really discouraged she hadn't met her sales goal for the year. She had set herself a goal of selling 20,000 books. Now that's a great number to aspire to, but not a realistic figure. Why? Because it was her first book, because she self-published it and because she didn't have a distributor in place and didn't have a platform. All of these things are factors to consider when setting these types of goals. What's more realistic? Well, it depends on your market, but 2,000 to 5,000 - especially if you're starting out - is a much better target. Keep in mind, though, that if your book has limited distribution, this number could drop drastically.



2) What's your plan? While setting goals is important, it's equally important to have mini-goals or milestones that you can reach and check off your list. I outline my big goal, let's say it's finding a traditional publisher for my book, and then I outline the hundreds of mini-goals I need to reach before I can even be considered by a mainstream house. When you work your goal-setting this way, it will feel like you are accomplishing things because you are. So often the larger scope of what we do is comprised of micro-efforts, things that might go unnoticed and unseen if you don't write them down or somehow keep a log of them. In all the years I've worked in marketing and publicity, the single most discouraging thing is when you do a million pieces of invisible work and don't keep track of it. Make a roadmap: you would never drive from San Diego to New York and not have a map. Much like a trip from West to East, you'll need a map to keep you on track. It doesn't have to be formal, just a list of things you want to accomplish today, this week, this month and the next six months. Keeping yourself on track will keep you on the right road; if not you could end up being someplace you never planned on. Like Peoria.



3) Am I doing the right thing? No one markets well in a vacuum, so if you have questions, get answers from someone you trust. You might be doing all the right things, but it might just be a matter of timing, patience, effort, and oh, did I mention patience? The important thing is to ask someone in the industry and someone who will give you honest feedback without trying to sell you their stuff.



4) Brainstorm and get creative: again, no one works well in isolation so get out there and brainstorm with people who are in a similar situation. If that's not possible, then start attending classes whether in person or teleclasses (we offer these, they're totally free: authors@amarketingexpert.com). The point is, get out there and start those creative juices flowing or just sit with a speaker you like and get inspired. Re-ignite your campaign.



5) Reevaluate: if you keep hitting a brick wall, it's time to reevaluate your marketing. Are you hitting the right targets? Are you going after your niche market or are you shooting too wide? Are you spending time and money on things that aren't leveraging results? If so, ask yourself, why? Are you doing it because everyone else in your writing group is? Ask yourself some critical questions.



6) Stuff only works if you do a lot of it: whatever you focus on you should plan to do it consistently. If you blog, blog consistently. Radio? Same thing. Get yourself in a social networking site then be social. Don't "dabble" - someone once told me they've dabbled in this and that. Trust me, dabbling doesn't work. Diving headlong into marketing does.



7) Put a lot of lines in the water: I don't fish so I'm not sure where that analogy came from, but you get the idea. Put a lot of stuff out there. Don't just blog and expect that to be your singular source of marketing. Blog, social network, do radio if it's appropriate to your book, do talks, book events, network, and go to conferences.



8) If you do nothing, expect nothing: your book is not the field of dreams, if you write it people won't just beat a path to your door. Get yourself out there, do whatever you need to market the book. Sending postcards to your mailing list might get you a few "Hey, great to hear from you" emails but it won't sell books. Surprisingly enough, most authors don't sell but a few books to their immediate social circle. Break out of that circle. Mom can only buy so many of your books. I queried this on my Facebook page earlier and someone responded by saying that she's frustrated that her clients don't market the books they publish. Hmmmm.



9) Realism will keep you sane: the truth is that unless you get a ticket to her show, you'll probably never meet Oprah. That's ok. There are a million other things you can do instead of sitting by the phone waiting for her to call. Realism will not only keep you sane, it'll keep you on target. Having dreams is a great thing, everyone should have a dream, but realism will keep you from being discouraged and keep your marketing momentum on track.



10) Don't throw money at something just to feel like you're doing something: throwing money at a problem isn't always a good thing, in fact, sometimes it's the worst thing. If you're going to invest in your marketing (and you should), make sure you're investing your money wisely. There are great deals out there, but some of them are a waste of your time and certainly, your money. Make investments wisely. I've known authors to blow through a $5,000 marketing budget $99 at a time and still have nothing to show for their efforts. Also, while it's tempting and easy to do, don't place ads. Ads (especially online) don't work. Media blasts aren't recommended either. It's tempting, I know. Blasting thousands of media at one time with your message should result in something, right? Not always. Be smart with your marketing dollars. If you're blasting the media, ask to see the media targets first. You don't want to be pitching your romance novel to Car and Driver.



So what's the solution to all of this? Here are some guidelines to help you navigate this marketing and pr path:



1) Become part of the conversation, wherever that conversation exists. If your book is a New Age topic, go to web sites, blogs, and even consider attending some conferences. If you're following blogs, comment on those blogs, get to know the big bloggers out there. If you have a social networking site, work it, make friends, comment, be helpful.



2) Don't get into the Internet with the idea you'll make a lot of money. Get online and be helpful, the money will follow. If you do it in reverse, you'll have a very short lived time online. Offer tips, link to other blogs or web sites you find helpful. Offer guidance, insight, wisdom, inspiration, whatever works for your market.



3) Want to sell books? Then go for exposure. Repeat after me: marketing and pr doesn't sell books - it gets you exposure. Exposure gets you an audience and an audience gets you book sales. Whatever effort you're going to put into your book, understand it's for the exposure, not for sales. Much like point #2, if you attack your marketing with the idea of selling books, you'll be disappointed. If you tackle it with the idea of gaining exposure, you'll be pleasantly surprised and it's likely that book sales will follow.



4) When you make up your list of things to do to market your book, ask yourself what can give you the best exposure. That's one of the reasons I love the Internet, because the exposure is limitless. Don't go for flash in the pan marketing ideas, go for substance.



5) Having 35 social networking accounts is only a good thing when you use them all. People ask me how many social networking pages should they have, I say: how many can you manage? If you can't keep up 35 pages then start with one and go from there. Better to have one very active page than a bunch of pages that are blank.



6) Do one to five things a day to market yourself and your book. Keep on track with your marketing efforts and stay in the marketing "zone" by crafting a list that lets you chip away at your goals, one goal at a time.



7) Please, please, please get a web site. It's your 24/7 sales tool and should be one of the first things on your list of must-do marketing tasks.



8) Get help from a professional you trust. I know you're loving this "going alone" thing, but let's face it, at some point it might make sense to bring in a professional who can help you, someone you trust who will give you a straight answer and good, solid advice. Stay away from anyone offering guarantees in sales. This is a huge red flag, no one can predict this, nor can anyone predict a bestseller.



The more you can approach your marketing plan with a plan, a dash of realistic expectations and a lot of hard work, the more successful you'll be. The truth is there are hundreds of thousands of books that get published each year that end up dying a quiet death due to lack of focus, goals, and exposure. Get yourself on a path, and then find a manageable plan that will work with you, not against you!



(Originally published at Author Marketing Experts' blog and reprinted with permission of the author, Penny Sansevieri).



About the Author: Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a book marketing and media relations expert whose company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Visit AME.



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Creative Writers Can Make Money 6 Different Ways

By Deborah Owen

When there are so many creative writers out there, why is it that so relative few are published? Could it be that they don't have the self-confidence to move forward to publication? Or is it because they don't know how to get published?



Every creative writer soars when they see their first byline. Every writer should have that experience. Seeing your work in print is something that will never grow old. Call it a pride thing, if you will. Call it an ego trip. Call it self-centered. Call it what you want. Published writers call it slavery and reward, zest and zeal, salary and bonus.



So how do you get your work published? It really isn't that hard. The hard part is in your self-discipline to follow through. Try these things:



1. Go to your local newspaper and ask for a reporting job. Local papers usually have an opening for a reporter that will cover such things as Chamber of Commerce events, School Board reports, and sports functions.



2. It makes little difference whether or not you get that job. There are other ways to wiggle your way into a newspaper. Look for accidents to report. While you wait for the mess to be cleared away, interview people who saw the accident and take pictures. (The paper will give you $5 extra for each picture they use.) Ask one of the policemen which officer is in charge. Go up to that officer with all the brass in your bones and tell him you are a stringer for _________ (name of local paper). (Anyone can be a stringer.) Ask if you can see him after the accident is cleared away. At that time, he will give you the names, ages, and perhaps addresses of those involved in the accident. This is time sensitive reporting, so get it to the newspaper quick.



3. Look for people who have unusual hobbies and interview them. Turn the interview into your local newspaper, and don't forget the pictures.



4. Look for people doing weird things – like skiing down a dry street in the spring. That really happened. That was a news story waiting to be written!



5. Keep the money rolling by resubmitting the same stories to small newspapers all over the United States. The library will supply you with an extensive list of thousands of newspapers. One article regularly resubmitted can net you hundreds of dollars!



6. When you have shown your local newspaper editor that you can get the job done, and done well, go back and ask for that reporting job over and over. Fill out an application. One of these days a spot will open up and guess who he will think of first. You.



The great thing about submitting news articles is that it doesn't take much talent; beginners have a good shot at being published; and it is a great way to get your first published clippings. Newspapers pay on acceptance, too, so it is quick money. Start reporting today!



About the Author: Ms. Deb is the CEO & Founder of two writing schools. Her newest school, http://creativewritinginstitute.com, majors on tutoring.> Deborah and her husband live in an RV and tour America as they have opportunity. They have two children and four grandchildren.



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Eleven Top Notch Tips to Write Content at Turbo Speed

By Nirjara Rustom

Startling Facts:



* Unnecessary interruptions consume about 30 percent of an average knowledge worker’s working day.



* It takes about 25 minutes to get back your attention to something you have been writing about or working on, if distracted.



* Whenever an interruption ends, we wander off in another direction approximately 40% of the time.



* The Attention Span of humans has fallen to an average of 5 minutes and 7 seconds, from a record of 12 minutes about 10 years ago.



* Every time you get interrupted or distracted, your mind is getting trained to reduce your attention span.



What does all this mean? If you still haven’t figured out what these points mean, let me spell it out – “If you want to write at turbo speed, a focused, undivided, concentrated attention is the most important factor responsible than everything else, combined.”



Multitasking in the kitchen is a useful skill, but in writing, it is a huge detriment. While we cannot eliminate all the interruptions and distractions we come across our working time, it does make sense in reducing them as much as we can. So if you’re writing articles, a book, a report, or anything else, ensure that you’re fully prepared and get the maximum return for the time you have invested. Below are few tips you can implement to speed up your writing capacity:



1. Begin with a very moderately full stomach and an empty bladder. You don’t want to feel hungry or visit the loo. Heavy food intake will not only make you drowsy, your stomach will use more energy in digestion, leaving you with insufficient energy for work. Keep a water bottle at hand to maintain optimum hydration.



2. If writing means “typing on a computer screen” as in most cases today, ensure that lighting is even and sufficient in your room, without direct reflection to your eyes.



3. Your sitting arrangement should be as comfortable as possible, with the table at the right height. Ensure sufficient space to stretch without requiring to get up. Use chairs with proper arm support.



4. Switch off your mobile or give it to someone else for answering. Try not to take any phone calls and arrange to inform them you will call back later.



5. Close your outlook express (or whatever email client you use) as well as your instant messenger clients.



6. If your room is not insulated by sound and you face disturbance, use ear plugs.



7. Write only when you’re in the right frame of mind. Don’t force yourself to write just because you have deadlines – be them created by yourself or by a boss. Instead, cultivate a habit of making small notes whenever you can. These can be on paper, digital storage (text file) or even simply recording as audio. Then when you’re ready to write, just keep them at hand for ready reference. “Writer’s block” is a common problem faced by writers who write for the sake of writing, write on subjects that they’re not interested in, write in a frenzy only to reach targets, and write in the wrong frame of mind. Once you suffer from writer’s block, it could take you a few days and sometimes even a few months to recover from it.



8. Depending on your capacity, writing takes time. Sometimes you can write very fast and sometimes very slow, depending on the need to take thinking breaks and the topic of interest. Don’t let this affect you. Quality will also be important and not just quantity, so bear that in mind.



9. Let your family, friends and well wishers read what you write, regularly. Ask them for honest opinions and suggestions for improvements. Appreciation and praise is very encouraging to writers. Don’t be intimidated by negative views, instead, get a professional to verify the quality of the content in question if you have any doubts.



10. Find out what is your best time for writing in terms of quality and quantity through experience and testing, and then stick to that time. Some like to write very early in the morning when they are rested while some prefer to burn the midnight oil when it is quietest. Devote at least 2 to 4 hours at a stretch, depending on how much you’re comfortable with. It’s important to maintain the flow of thoughts with the writing.



11. If you need to refer other information resources like CDs, books and the internet, ensure that all your research material is kept handy.



If you find these tips useful and would like to learn more about writing, hop over to http://www.bharatbhasha.com/writing.php where we have hundreds of free articles dedicated to writing.



About the Author: Nirjara Rustom moderates the Writing Tips Section of http://www.bharatbhasha.com at http://www.bharatbhasha.com/writing.php - a free resource for information on writing.



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The 4 Biggest Mistakes That Professionals Make When Writing For The Web

By Yamen Shahin

Everyone makes mistakes. Even seasoned professional writers make them when writing for the web. There are four that are very common even among professional writers who do this for a living. These four are both simple and complex at the same time. Sometimes it is the simplest things that can trip a writer up and cause them to have a bad day. Why don't we take a look at the top four biggest mistakes that professionals make when writing web copy, shall we?



The first mistake and one of the biggest is fact checking. Sometimes when you have a deadline, you will push to get the article out and forget about fact checking. This is a big no-no. Be aware that things have a way of being checked and it will come back to bite you. So even if you are in a rush, take the time to fact check and save yourself a heck of a lot of embarrassment in the process by fact checking. Fact checking also includes plagiarism checks that need to be done to the article in question. This is for your own safety and that of the web site in question.



The second one is oddly enough links checking. Dead links or misspelled links are a sure way to raise the temperature of the site and make them angry at you at the same time. Take the time to really check the spelling and web addresses of all links that are in any type of article or on web copy for a site. This really makes people's blood boil when they click a link and either it doesn't work or is misspelled. Working links provides working dollars... remember that.



Number three on the list is incorrect formatting for web copy for either article directories, or placement on web pages. This is one hell of a problem even with newbies and yes even pros can get it wrong a time or two. With web copy, especially with article directories, there is only one or at the maximum two different ways of formatting copy for web usage. These depend upon where the article is to go when it is made live. When in doubt about format, then ask and refresh yourself with proper formatting procedure for web copy.



And now drum roll please NUMBER FOUR. This is the worst offender of all of them. Spelling, grammatical errors and language errors are the worst of the offenders. This is a separate detail from the number one problem. Sometimes when you are using words in another language in an English speaking context, such as Spanish, the misspelling of the word can really throw off the copy and change the entire meaning of the word in question. When transferring words from another language, check and make certain that the word is spelled correctly. This angers a lot of people who speak the language to think that the writer didn't take the time to get the proper pronunciation of the word in question.



About the Author: For more specific information about how to write for the web, visit http://www.myaboutall.com



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The Creative Writer's 16 Golden Rules of Story Writing

By Deborah Owen

Stories may differ in message, content and characters, but each one is required to have these 16 different elements. By the time you finish this article, you will be well equipped with a checklist that will be worth keeping – albeit, not necessarily written in the proper order.



·Your story must have a theme. It is the thread that runs seamlessly from beginning to end telling what the general story is about.



·It must also have a plot, which is usually encased in the central climax, or possibly in a series of events.



·All stories have an arc. This is the gradual increase of momentum and interest that builds at the beginning, reaches a fever pitch in the middle, and declines into resolutions of story conflicts at the end.



·Some stories move fast and some move slow, but all of them move at some rate of speed – usually a mixture of fast and slow. This is called pacing.



·Whether you do it mentally or by proper analysis, there is always some form of outlining that goes into storytelling.



·And all stories have resolutions at the end, which sum up all of the questions that have been raised during the story.



·Every story must begin with a good hook in the first paragraph, or you won't have a reader to worry about entertaining.



·All stories are told from a point of view; either first person, second person, third person limited or third person omniscient. Right now, editors are mostly buying third person limited.



·Every story has to do with the characters, their problems, and how they resolve their problems.



·Stories also have that little thing where people talk to one another – dialog. The trick is to write dialog that actually sounds natural. Become a good eavesdropper and you write excellent dialog.



·Every story has characters, and each character comes with their own bag and baggage of physical descriptions, emotional hoopla, and psychological concoctions.



·It would be a challenge to write a story without some degree of research. Sometimes it is only defining how insane a person can be, how irate parents can be, or how irresponsible children can be – but it is research, nonetheless.



·There is always a timeline in every story. While some authors may dwell on the same scene for a whole chapter, others will skip years in a single sentence.



·All stories call for settings – and if you're really good at writing, but if you are really good at writing, you can call them imagery.



·And every story has verbiage – like it or not. Out of every 2,500 words, you can cut 300-500 words.



·Not all stories have show, don't tell, but they absolutely should. If I told you what show, don't tell is, I would only be telling and not showing, and that is against the rules. Therefore, it will have to wait for another article.



If you have included all of these things in your story, it may not be good, but it will certainly be complete.



About the Author: Private tutoring, $185 for 8 wks. at http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com Take your classes any time in 2009. Only 15 to a class. Reserve your space now! Sale ends Jan. 31, 2009. Creative Writing Institute – the first fully mentored writing school on the Internet!



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