A quote from my review of "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published, 5th ed."

Here's a link to the full review of The Complete Idiot's guide to Getting Published, 5th ed. by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifr Basye Sander  on the book review page of this blog:
http://releaseyourwriting.blogspot.com/p/book-reviews-for-writers-by-writers.html

One important quote strikes me as so relevant for your 2012 publishing achievement goals. Remember, It's hard work.
Here's the quote:

Writing a book is an art

Self-publishing a book is a business.

2012 Writer's Calendar

Still time to buy your 2012 writer's calendar...

Bylines Calendar for writers is running late this year but now you can view and purchase the 2012 edition of their spiral-bound calendar dedicated to writers. Here's the link: http://bylinescalendar.com.
Great holiday gift!

I decided a few years ago that I needed a paper calendar specifically for tracking my writing. Between assignments, submission deadlines, and those floating ideas that need to be organized somewhere, using an online calendar or Outlook just doesn't have the flexibility you can get with Bylines Calendar for 2012. The publisher was not able to produce a 2011 edition, due to a family medical problem, so I purchased a different one, and really missed my Bylines.

HAPPILY, it's back and you can order it as a gift to yourself, or for a friend, here.
I even have an essay in it this year, so I'll be even more excited to receive my copy.
Helen

We blog because...

 "Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since
no one was listening, everything must be said again."    Andre Gide

Thanks to Jan Phillips, visionary thought leader, for sharing this quote, along with her MuseLetter this morning.

Jan is the author of Marry Your Muse, one of my all-time favorite books.

Give Thanks for Brain Food for Writers

Thanks to Writer's Relief for these brain food suggestions for your holiday weekend. Thanksgiving is a perfect time for inspiration, with time away from the computer, family fun, comfort food and holiday memories. So eat well, tell stories, and listen ... the inspiration for your next essay or article might be passed around the table.

Brain Food For Writers:
What To Eat To Support A Creative Mind

By Writers Relief Staff On November 21, 2011 ·

We all know certain foods contribute positively to your physical health, and some foods contribute positively (in inches) to your waistline. But did you know that some foods can support brain function—and maybe even make you a better writer?
You might even see some of them on the table this Thanksgiving!

Antioxidants, like those found in fruits and vegetables, offer disease- and age-fighting power to keep your creative impulses firing at top speed. Blueberries are said to be especially powerful.

Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil and flax) are said to boost your brain’s gray matter. That’s like building muscle in your mind. Prepare to do some heavy mental lifting…or just impress people with your mental calisthenics.

Choline is a nutrient found in egg yolk or milk that can help ward off senility. Choline also keeps your memory going strong, so you can actually remember whether your character was wearing a red shirt twenty pages ago or a blue one!

Folic acid: One study found that adults taking regular folic acid supplements demonstrated better cognitive function, especially in memory and critical thinking. So if you’re really having trouble getting past a problematic plot point, it may be time to supplement!

Chocolate lovers rejoice! According to WebMD: “A study by food scientists found that the antioxidant concentration in a cup of hot cocoa was higher than that found in either red wine or green tea.” Of course, getting your antioxidants from veggies (sans whipped cream, fat, and added sugar) may be a better bet. But next time your spouse gives you “that look” for drinking hot chocolate, you can say “I’m doing it for my brain!”

Green tea is good for your brain. People who drink green tea regularly fare better mentally when it comes to aging. This is happy news for writers—especially if you’re the type who stays up into the wee hours working on a manuscript; your green tea can multitask by keeping you both awake AND young! Plus, moderate amounts of caffeine are said to boost concentration as long as you don’t overdo it.

There's lots more. Read full article here:  Brain Foods for Creative Writer

Write today - it's a writer's holiday

Today is I Love to Write Day.
I never heard of this holiday until I saw it on SheWrites.com this morning.


In fact, it is the 10th anniversary of the event - so write something for yourself, and then read more about the history of the event here.

The true steps to self-pub success detailed here

Jane Friedman, as many of you know, continues to evolve after her long career with Writer's Digest. 
In one of her blog posts she advises a writer about whether to update a book with the current publisher, or because of her following, issue it on her own, for far greater royalties on sales.

Read the full piece here if you wish, but note these salient points made by Jane. These illustrate exactly what you need for publishing success, especially if you plan to self-publish:

• A strong e-mail list with a good open rate (25%+)
• Well-established social media network that can help spread word of mouth
• The right contacts to help place guest articles/posts on the right sites/blogs that target the book’s target audience
• An existing website that can be quickly adjusted on the fly to focus on the re-release
• A nice backlog of content connected to the book—or re-purposed from the book—that can be excerpted across sites/blogs interested in your work
• Resources to hire a good publicist for the first 3 months of relaunch
• Resources to hire a good cover designer

I know you’re business savvy enough to do this on your own and earn quite a bit of money doing it. The big questions for me would be:

1. Do you have the time & energy to spend on it?
2. Do you have the resources to hire help as needed?
   

Memoir - Essay contest

So if NANOWRIMO doesn't suit your style, how about a fabulous Essay - Memoir contest? This is sponsored by The Writer  magazine and Gotham Writer's Workshop. 
Here are the details.

Entry fee is just $10 and the judge is Lee Gutkind, founder and editor of Creative Non-Fiction.  Ready???

NANOWRIMO launches today

Today is the beginning of National Novel Writers Month. If you're new to the concept of NANOWRIMO, a gigantic month of speed writing, visit nanowrimo.org and you’ll see this is for real. A month dedicated to starting or working on an existing writing project. It doesn’t have to be a novel, but a commitment to write every day for the month of November.

By signing up (free) at NANOWRIMO, you’ll be able to log in daily and track the words you’ve written. The goal, of course, is to write a draft of a novel in 30 days, approximately 50,000 words. Think its impossible? You’re wrong. And the motivation is nearly irresistible. You’re accountable only to yourself, and by logging in to track your words, you are setting a goal for yourself to at least try to write every day for the whole month.  You write on your own computer, not online, so your work stays private.
Thousands of participants have enjoyed this worldwide event, making it great fun. Sign up, log in when you write, and the system tracks your word count toward your goal.


So if you need a kick in the keyboard, get going. This is your month to make a difference.

Helen

Tweet like you mean business.

While Twitter doesn't lend itself to deep conversations, there are still ways you can create a good impression and get results with it.

MediaBistro.com has a article on seven ways to network more effectively on Twitter. The full article is here.
Of course, it all starts with following the right people. Two other helpful suggestions are to retweet useful information, which I've mentioned here before, and to ask questions. It is an effective tool for peer opinions and to let people know what you're thinking about or working on.

I'm at twitter.com#cclarity if you want to follow me.

Helen

A new twist: Perseus to offer self-publilshed book production, if you work through agent.

While there are many ebook production services, quite affordable to independent authors, the Bookseller now reports:

US independent publisher Perseus Books Group has launched a distribution and marketing service for authors wanting to self-publish their own e-books, offering a 70% royalty rate to the author.
Called Argo Navis Author Services, it will be offered to authors represented by agencies that have signed an agreement with Perseus, with Janklow & Nesbit Associates the first to have done so.

More details at original post
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/perseus-launches-self-publishing-e-book-service.html

Sweetest Book Mobile ever

Possibly the sweetest book mobile in the world!

source: “Biblioburro,” Luis Soriano Bohorquez, La Gloria, Colombia.

(click to enlarge)

"Platform" continues to be the operative word in success for writers

I stress the importance of platform when speaking with writers, especially those trying to attract the attention of an agent and publisher. A strong, polished presence on Facebook, a good blog, and lots of friends on Twitter and now also Google+ seems t be the minimum requirement for the foundation of a solid platform.

Now today, I saw an ad for freelance writer/bloggers for a health/fitness site, and their platform request went beyond the basics to this:

"... Send us 3 pithy, information-packed sentences about yourself, along with your CV (cut and paste, no attachments), 3-5 links to your best published work, and at least 2 links to your social profiles
(Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon etc.) "

The hiring firm produces an organic healthy food and lifestyle magazine. By requiring you to prove the strength of your social media connections, you can see they want you to have an audience, so you can not only blog for them, but publicize it everywhere, not just in your online portfolio at Facebook and your own blog. Making money online starts with the sites attracting readers, which pays for advertising. If you can bring the readers, you're ahead of other writers who apply.

If you want the specifics on the above job listing, email me at Helen@releaseyourwriting.com.

Publishing and Rejection

Writer's Chronicle has a long interview this month with Janet Burroway that benefits all of us.

One thing in particular resonates with me now, because two of my clients received rejections from agents today.

Burroway discusses the difficulties of getting published in recent years, and has this to say:

"The agent is now less an advocate than a buffer between the publisher and the writer's unrealistic expectations...  Mergers, takeovers, and the disappearance of companies have become commonplace."

So publishers squeeze editors, who squeeze agents, and sadly they put the squeeze on the writers. High hopes are dashed, because only those with a book that will be the road to success for the agent, editor and publisher will see the light.

That's bad news but points again and again to the need for platform-building and doing good agent research.

Selling books to libraries

Whether we publish traditionally or independently with self-publishing, we know our books get listed in the Baker & Taylor database. This is what most libraries use to find new material, and order books for their collection. If having a listing among the millions of books in B&T isn't enough, you can spend a little money for a direct approach. Maybe you thought you couldn't afford to advertise, but ...

For a fee, this firm offers you a listing in their monthly catalog to libraries. As an example, their half-page ad for one month costs $75. If you need a way to reach libraries, and have your book reach a wider audience, take a look at First Chapter Plus.

BONUS: First Chapter also hosts a huge Blogging Authors, a perfect place for you to participate.