Friday, October 31, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - NOVEMBER 1, 2014


 
 
If speaking on a controversial issue,
briefly and accurately present the
opposition's position on the subject.

 
 

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - NOVEMBER 1, 2014


When submitting a book manuscript,
start each new chapter on a new page,
about 1/3 the way down the page.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them—just waiting and hoping for one to come out like a mouse from its hole.”
- Eudora Welty


AGENT CONTRACTS

Finding an agent can be both daunting and scary. As the pool of agents seems to grow from month to month, it is important to know how to evaluate any agent you might be considering—while that agent is evaluating you.

Most interested agents these days will offer you a contract—rather than taking you on with a handshake. Although those contracts vary from agent to agent, it is important that any agent contract you sign offer you the protections you—and the agent—need to develop a successful, working relationship.
 
The following list will point out most of those elements. (1) It will indicate that this agent is your exclusive agent—or if some of your writings are to be exempt—will specify what is exempt. (2) It should indicate exactly what services the agent is going to provide for you—such as finding publishers for your works, negotiating contracts, keeping you informed of any activity on your projects—including sending copies of rejections, making sure your publishers abide by the terms of your contracts, accepting or rejecting offers as you decide after consultation with your agent, checking royalty statements for accuracy, and making sure payments are made on time. (3) The agent will expect you to inform them and let them deal with any problems that arise between you and the publisher. (4) The agent will expect you to inform them if a publisher shows interest in one of your projects. You should not enter into any kind of an agreement with a publisher on your own—that’s what the agent is for. Your interference at that point could jeopardize the agent’s opportunity to get the best deal for you. (5) The contract should indicate what percentage their commission will be (typically 15%). It is typical that the royalty statement will go to your agent (so they can check it for accuracy), the agent will deduct their percentage, and send you the balance. This is one reason you want an agent you can trust explicitly. (6) You want an agent who does not charge set fees, but it is typical that an agent charge for certain office expenses, such as phone calls and photocopying. The contract should specify this, require an itemized list of expenses, and put a cap on how much they can charge for such expenses without getting your permission. (7) If your agent involves a co-agent for selling such things as foreign rights, it is typical that they charge a 20% commission that they split with the co-agent. (8) And finally, you always want a clause that indicates how either of you can terminate the contract—such as with 30 or 60 days written notice.

DAYTON BOOK EXPO

It's your turn to shine!
Dayton Book Expo (DBE) is excited about six years of connecting authors and readers! For 2015, we have more opportunities to help you reach your audience including the Book Lovers Journal and promotional support from the Dayton Metro Library.

If you want to meet hundreds of book lovers face-to-face, you'll receive
  • One table and two chairs
  • Corporate marketing (radio, TV, newspaper, postcards)
  • Listing in the full-color DBE booklet
  • Continental breakfast
  • One parking pass
  • Online presence at DaytonBookExpo.com
  • Inclusion in the DBE Awards:
    • Genre-specific winners-based on event-day sales-will receive a plaque, book medallions and listing at  DaytonBookExpo.com.
    • Titles distributed through Amazon.com will be posted on the DBE Virtual Bookstore.  Annual top sellers will be spotlighted at the 2016 event.

For the next two days, your investment is only $80! 
Don't delay! The registration increases to $100 on November 2!  
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter
Save $20
Register now at DaytonBookExpo.com and save!
  
Offer Expires: November 2, 2014

2015 BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

Nominations for the 2015 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award will close on November 15, 2014. This award honors books produced by small publishers each year for outstanding contribution to Christian life. Nominations are being accepted in 14 categories.
 
“Book awards are one of the most effective and affordable means of gaining recognition for small publishers and independent authors,” says Sarah Bolme, Director of Christian Small Publishers Association, the sponsor of the book award.
 
Any small publisher or independently published author can nominate books for the award. Books must be published in 2013 or 2014 by a publisher with annual revenues of $400,000 or less. Nominated books must be Christian in nature and intended for the Christian marketplace. All nominated books must be printed in English and for sale in the United States. Nominations must be received by November 15, 2014.
 
Christian retailers and book readers will be invited to vote on the nominated titles in February and March 2015. The winners of the award will be the books that receive the most votes.
 
Complete guidelines, eligibility, categories, and the nomination form can be found on the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award’s website at http://www.bookoftheyear.net.
 
Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award was established in 2007 by Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) to bring recognition to quality Christian books by small publishers and independently published authors. Publishers and authors do not need to be a member of CSPA to nominate a title for the award.
 
About Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA)
CSPA exists to represent, promote, and strength publishers in the Christian marketplace. The association represents over 100 member publishers producing materials for the Christian marketplace and is a supplier member of CBA. Christian Small Publishers Association can be found online at www.christianpublishers.net.
 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 30, 2014


Update your speaking notes after every presentation
to reflect the response of the audience.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 30, 2014


If a publisher doesn't specify, submit queries
or manuscripts as an attachment to your email
--rather than in the body of the email itself.

A WRITING DILEMMA

Q. I have a dilemma based on the fact that I sent the same article to two different women’s magazines. One was a major publication and the other a smaller one. My problem is that the smaller one responded first indicating they wanted to buy it. However, I’d prefer to sell it to the larger one—which has not yet responded. Now what do I do? If I withdraw it from the smaller one—especially if they see it later in the large one—will I hurt my chances of selling to them in the future? Are simultaneous submissions really a good idea?


A - I am assuming that you told both of these publications that this was a simultaneous submission. If not, you need to let them know that right away. If you did tell them, then the fact that you reject one in favor of the other is not a problem—they know that is a possibility when they accept simultaneous submissions. Your problem now is one of timing. If you hear from the larger market fairly soon—and they accept the piece—then you simply let the smaller one know that and offer them future reprint rights if they are interested. (You would have to wait until it is published by the first periodical before you can offer reprint rights.) However, if the larger publication does not respond in a timely manner, then you may have to simply go with the offer from the first—an offer you don’t want to jeopardize in case the larger publication eventually rejects it. Simultaneous submissions do save a lot of time, but you have to be willing to deal with this kind of problem if you go that route. You could lessen the problem by sending the simultaneous submissions in different batches to publications of similar size in each batch.


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 29, 2014


                                                   Even time-worn ideas or topics seem
fresh and new if filtered through the
life experience of the speaker.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 29, 2014


Just to be safe, always keep a hard copy
of any submitted manuscripts, or move
a copy to a thumb drive.

CAREER IN WRITING?

Q - I’d like to quit my job and write full-time. Is it possible for a freelancer to make a career in writing—and actually make enough to live on?


A - You don’t say how much you are writing now or what kind of a track record you have in writing. If you are starting cold—with few or no writing credits—then the answer is definitely No—keep your day job. Few people make a living solely by writing. In order to even consider quitting your current job, you would need to have developed a reputation as a writer who is good at a particular kind of writing—such as feature articles (which pays the best) or on a specific topic of broad interest. You need to be well enough known that editors come to you with assignments. It helps if you are contributing regularly to particular magazines or have regular columns that you write monthly. It’s also a plus if you have books on the market that are earning regular royalties. In other words, you must develop a viable career before you make that leap to full-time writer.

ENCOURAGING WORDS . . .



“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” John Burroughs

FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE


                                                                                               
                                               

February 25 - March 1, 2015


Hello Writers and Future Writers!
 
We could not be more excited about our upcoming conference and even more so about our keynoters. 
 

Thursday Night/Movie Night

On Thursday evening, enjoy words of wisdom from Hollywood veteran Brian Bird. Brian is known for such works as Touched by an Angel, Step by Step, The Shunning, Saving Sarah Cain and (as one of the writers of) the upcoming The Captive, the true story of Ashley Smith who was held captive in her Atlanta apartment by Brian Nichols, an escaped rapist. 
 
And, even more exciting ... we will have a private showing of the film on Thursday after Brian's keynote address. 
 
Throughout the conference, Brian will also lead a continuing class, From Screenplay to Hollywood, given in four sessions that will cover:
 
Part 1: How to Make the Audience Fall in Love:  It’s all about Act One
Part 2: Which Comes First - Plot or Character?  YES!
Part 3: The Hero’s Journey: The Id, the Archetypes and the Mythic Orchestra 
Part 4: Adaptation: How to survive the adaptation process when you or someone else is turning your book into a movie
 
If this is something you think you'll benefit from, then we encourage you to sign up for FCWC 2015 at: www.FloridaCWC.net.
 
Don't Forget the Scholarships
 
We have two full scholarships this year. Check them out:
 
 
Advance Critiques 
 
We're already hearing that the advanced critique spots are being lapped up! Don't miss your chance to meet for a half hour with members of our illustrious faculty to talk about your pre-critiqued work. For more information, click HERE.
 
Contests! Contests! Your Chance to SHINE!
 
Finally, don't forget our contests. Sign up for the conference now and receive the awards banquet free! 
 
We look forward to seeing you in February!
 
Eva Marie Everson
Mark Hancock
 
                                                                                                                       
              
                                                           
                                                                                                                    

Monday, October 27, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 28, 2014


Never start speaking if the audience is noisy.
Just stand and wait for them to quiet down.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 28, 2014


You must have and be able to use email
to correspond with editors these days.

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS - WK OF 11/2/14

ECPA member titles appearing on New York Times Bestsellers List, posted this week for November 2, 2014:
  • RISE OF ISIS by Jay Sekulow with Jordan Sekulow and others (Howard Books) is #1 in Paperback Nonfiction; #8 in Combined Print and E-book Nonfiction; and #8 in Politics.
  • THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 in Relationships; #8 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • THE MYSTERY OF THE SHEMITAH by Jonathan Cahn (Frontline/Charisma House) is #2 in Religion; #6 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard Books) is #2 in Relationships; #7 in Religion.
  • THE BEST YES by Lysa TerKeurst (Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson) is #4 in Religion; #16 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • YOU CAN, YOU WILL by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #5 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • UNPHILTERED by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach (Howard Books) is #5 in Religion.
  • LOVE DOES by Bob Goff (Thomas Nelson) is #6 in Relationships.
  • AGENTS OF THE APOCALYPSE by David Jeremiah (Tyndale House) is #7 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #8 in Religion; #11 in Paperback Nonfiction.
  • THE WISDOM OF FAITH by Bobby Bowden with Steve Bowden (B&H) is #9 in Sports.
  • THE LOVE DARE by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H Publishing Group) is #10 in Relationships.
  • GROWING UP DUGGAR by Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger Duggar (Howard Books) is #10 in Family.
  • THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN by Gary D. Chapman and Ross Campbell (Moody) is #11 in Family.
  • BETWEEN HEAVEN AND GROUND ZERO by Leslie Haskin (Bethany House) is #11 in Religion.
From ECPA's Rush to Press@ECPAnews.org/rush

NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE CLOSING

     Nazarene Publishing House (NPH) and Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City will be closing as of Dec. 1. The announcement was made in an Oct. 3 pastoral letter to the board of general superintendents.
     The general superintendents wrote that they were “deeply saddened” by the decision, but said that all NPH employees, of which there are 60, will retain their positions Dec. 1, with a severance package if they remain as employees through that date.
     NPH has served Church of the Nazarene denomination for 102 years, offering holiness literature, music and resources. Beacon Hill Press has published 35-45 trade books a year. NPH has published Sunday school curriculum under the WordAction imprint and music under Lillenas Publishing.
The board also reflected on the “many profitable years” of NPH.
     “A great deal of the income that has been generated through NPH has been poured back into the mission and work of the church, even beyond the walls of the House," the board said in the letter. "Recent years have been more financially difficult. Due to shifting cultural circumstances, including changes in the church, NPH has found itself having to adapt to new paradigms in order to maintain financial stability and sustainability. Net profits have decreased dramatically over the last decade to the point that the company was forced to draw heavily on financial reserves to stay afloat. The economic downturn of 2008 only deepened the pending crisis.”
     The board noted that with the election of a new leader for NPH in 2012, “plans were laid for yet another change in paradigm for NPH, including the acquisition of a new business unit for NPH.” Unfortunately, the board concluded, “it did not work. It was a miscalculation on many levels.”
In the last year, steps have been taken to “rescue what we could,” the board said. A crisis management team is now in place, and a task force has been appointed “to help envision how holiness material will be provided for the future.”
     The letter hinted at a the possibility of a future, new publishing configuration.
“While the current business model of NPH will be closing, this new way will continue to provide the necessary resources to educate and equip our pastors and laypersons around the world. NPH maintains resources that will help give birth to a new, dynamic publishing model.”
NPH is in the process of shipping the December-February curriculum and intends to ship the March-April-May curriculum in December.

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 27, 2014


 
                                      It's okay to pause for a moment now and then in your
speech to catch your breath, find your place in your notes,
or to give the audience time to think about what you have just said.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 27, 2014


Do an in-depth study of one potential market
every week, studying their writers' guidelines
 and sample copies or catalog.

NEW ACQUISITIONS EDITOR AT BAKER

Baker Publishing Group named Brian Thomasson senior acquisitions editor. He formerly served as editorial director at Waterbrook/Multnomah and senior editor at NavPress. He will work from his home office in Monument, CO.

I'M BACK!

My apologies! I just returned from the writer's conference at East Texas Baptist University where I gave a keynote address, and taught four hours of workshops. Just prior to leaving home, I was shut out of the Internet, so was unable to warn you that I would be gone for four days. Anyway I'm back and have no other travel plans for the rest of the year. Am trying to catch up today, so should be back on track sometime today.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 22, 2014



Avoid opening your speech with a joke unrelated to your topic.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 22, 2014


 
 
Do not include emoticons to illustrate your manuscript.

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

If you tell the reader that Bull Beezley is a brutal-faced, loose-lipped bully, with snake's blood in his veins, the reader's reaction may be, 'Oh, yeah!' But if you show the reader Bull Beezley raking the bloodied flanks of his weary, sweat-encrusted pony, and flogging the tottering, red-eyed animal with a quirt, or have him booting in the protruding ribs of a starved mongrel and, boy, the reader believes!” - Fred East   

BEST TIPS FOR WRITERS

Q. Can you give me two or three of your best tips for writers?


A. The first would be to do some serious marketing research. Use the Christian Writers Market Guide to identify several potential markets for what you write; read the market guide listing for each one; copy their guidelines from their Website (or send for them); read them, using two colors of highlighters—one for statements that indicate the market is right for you, the other for statements that would disqualify your writing. If magazines, get sample copies and read them cover to cover, making notes on anything you discover. Then start submitting regularly to each magazine you determine is a fit.

For book publishers, copy the guidelines from their Website (study carefully) and order a copy of their catalog, if available. Check catalog to be sure they don't already have a book on your topic. Buy (or borrow) and read two or three books from publishers you are interested in submitting to. Prepare your book proposal exactly as they indicate in their guidelines.

The second tip would be to attend a writers' conference—at least once a year, if possible. If you are a beginning writer, you can learn more about the publishing business in those few days at a conference then you will by reading a lot of books. You will also start making those important connections with agents, editors, and other writers—plus learn so much about your area of writing from the workshops you attend. If you are more experienced, those connections to potential agents or editors will be critical to your success. Editors are much more likely to buy from writers they have met than from complete strangers. Take every opportunity to speak with editors about your writing projects. Chances are they will not buy your book on the spot, but you will be laying a foundation for future sales. Just be sure to select a conference that will best meet your needs at the moment. Some conferences offer only instruction (great for beginning writers), while others have either a limited number of agents or editors in attendance—or a large number of them. Choose wisely.

My third tip is to write! And to write a lot. All the marketing savvy or conferences attended make little difference if your writing is not good. It's easy to fall into the trap of spending too much of your time talking about writing, attending conferences or writers' groups, immersing yourself in social media, and anything else that keeps you from the computer. Time spent writing should come before any other writing-related activities. Never wait for the best time to write—or until you can get away for uninterrupted time. A writer writes—no matter what the situation.

Monday, October 20, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 21, 2014


When you need an authority to back up a premise in your speech,
be sure to quote one the audience will recognize.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 21, 2014


Never submit a manuscript on colored or decorated
paper, or use fancy or unusual type.

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS - WEEK OF 10/26

         * THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 in Relationships; #7 in Advice, How-To
             &  Miscellaneous.
  • AGENTS OF THE APOCALYPSE by David Jeremiah (Tyndale House) is #2 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard Books) is #2 in Relationships; #7 in Religion.
  • THE MYSTERY OF THE SHEMITAH by Jonathan Cahn (Frontline/Charisma House) is #2 in Religion; #9 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • YOU CAN, YOU WILL by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) Is #3 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
  • THE BEST YES by Lysa TerKeurst (Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson) is #4 in Religion.
  • UNPHILTERED by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach (Howard Books) is #5 in Religion.
  • LOVE DOES by Bob Goff (Thomas Nelson) is #6 in Relationships.
  • HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #8 in Religion; #10 in Paperback Nonfiction.
  • RISE OF ISIS by Jay Sekulow with Jordan Sekulow and others (Howard Books) is #8 in Politics.
  • THE WISDOM OF FAITH by Bobby Bowden with Steve Bowden (B&H) is #9 in Sports.
  • THE LOVE DARE by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H Publishing Group) is #10 in Relationships.
  • GROWING UP DUGGAR by Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger Duggar (Howard Books) is #10 in Family.
  • THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN by Gary D. Chapman and Ross Campbell (Moody) is #11 in Family.
  • BETWEEN HEAVEN AND GROUND ZERO by Leslie Haskin (Bethany House) is #11 in Religion.
  • FOUR BLOOD MOONS by John Hagee (Worthy) is #17 in Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous.
From ECPA's Rush to Press@ECPAnews.org/rush

Sunday, October 19, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 20, 2014


When making an important point in a speech,
feel free to repeat it for emphasis.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 20, 2014


The title page for a book manuscript needs to
 include all your contact information, identify
the type of book, give the approximate word
count, and your copyright notice.

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .


“Imagine that you are dying. If you had a terminal disease would you ­finish this book? Why not? The thing that annoys this 10-weeks-to-live self is the thing that is wrong with the book. So change it. Stop arguing with yourself. Change it. See? Easy. And no one had to die.” ― Anne Enright

HOLIDAY ARTICLES

As we enter the fall months, it’s natural to start thinking about the holidays and those holiday pieces you could write. Unfortunately you are way too late for this holiday season. However, it could be a good time to come up with ideas for next year.

Many new writers don’t realize how far ahead most publications start working on future holiday issues. Some work as much as 18 months ahead. Newspapers may have a lead time as short as three or four months, but most publications are working 9-12 months ahead.

If you like doing holiday pieces, I would encourage you to seek out those publications that produce holiday issues (many do not). The best way to locate those is using the topical listings in the Christian Writers' Market Guide under “Holiday/Seasonal.” After you identify some possible markets for your holiday pieces, you might want to make up a submissions calendar that indicates how far ahead you must submit to each possible market.

Keep in mind that it’s best not to wait until the last minute to make your submission to a particular publication. Editors will be nervous about filling out their holiday issues and will be hoping to find appropriate material early. If producing holiday materials is one of your specialties, editors will start watching for your submissions.


SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 19, 2014


If you are allotted less time than usual to present
an established speech, cut it down,
don't try to squeeze it all in.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 19, 2014


 
                                         When submitting a final manuscript after signing
a book contract, you need to include any permission
forms required for quotes you have included in your book.

MY APOLOGY

Writing Friends--I apologize for getting today's tips to you so late. Had a computer problem and couldn't get into the Internet until this morning. Gremlins at work. Anyway, I'm back in operation with more tips for you.
                                      Sally

Friday, October 17, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 18, 2014


The more you know about your potential audience,
the more likely you are to give a successful presentation.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 18, 2014


When quoting a large or significant portion from someone else's work,
you will need them to sign a form giving you permission.

SPEAKING TELESEMINAR

What if getting more people paying you $3,000 or
more for a one-hour speech was actually EASIER
than you thought?
 
Steve Harrison will be interviewing four speakers
– who all make a health six-figure income from
speaking – on a free webcast this Monday, October
20th, from 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Eastern (4:00 pm –
6:30 pm Pacific).
 
https://m164.infusionsoft.com/go/stc1014web/A10887

They’ll reveal some of their biggest short cuts
and best strategies for landing paid speaking
gigs, including: 

• How to find the places and decision-makers who
will pay you to speak – even if you’re not yet
well-known in your field.

• How to get $3,000 to $10,000 for a talk even if
you’ve never been paid that much before.

• The truth about working with speakers' bureaus.

• What these six-figure speakers do to get dozens
of paid speaking engagements WITHOUT cold calling
decision-makers.

• A simple strategy for writing effective emails
that get decision-makers to book you.

• What most speakers don’t know about turning
radio/TV interviews into paid speaking
engagements.

• What you absolutely must know about speaker
contracts.

• 3 things you can do to turn one speech (free or
paid) into $10,000 without selling anything in
your speech.

• How to align with a company so that they promote
you to their people and you get lots of speaking
engagements without having to market yourself.

• How to use a blog and social media to position
yourself so that meeting planners want to pay you
big fees to speak.

• A proven strategy for landing more speaking
engagements by simply networking with others.

• How to get paid well when you speak at churches
or places that say they don’t have a budget.

• This special training session will be very
fast-paced and interactive.

Again, go here now to register for Monday’s free
webcast.  I’m proud to be a compensated affiliate
for Steve’s company because I know you’ll really
benefit from his trainings.
 
https://m164.infusionsoft.com/go/stc1014web/A10887

W. Terry Whalin
Whalin & Associates
9457 S University Blvd, Suite 621
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126-4976
ph: 720-708-4953
www.terrywhalin.com

Thursday, October 16, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 17, 2014



To achieve success as a speaker, always speak from the heart.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 17, 2014

                                             When you have an idea, decide what format
best fits the topic—feature article? how-to article?
inspirational article? Etc.

KINDERGARTEN STORY CONTEST

Dear Writer,
Earlier we sent you an invitation to enter our latest contest for writers which offers a grand prize of $500.00 and $1,000.00 in total prizes.
      If you’ve already sent your entry, thank you.
      But if you haven’t entered yet, there is still time before the November 7th deadline for manuscripts.
      To save time, we encourage sending your entry online.
      Writing to an editor’s specifications is the first hurdle that any writer must clear on the track to publication.
      Yet we hear repeatedly from editors that the majority of manuscripts they receive do not match their guidelines and specifications.
      That’s a huge waste of time and energy for both writers and editors.
      Writing contests also have exact specifications, and that’s why we encourage all writers to enter contests as often as they can. Contests are excellent professional training experiences.
Get published and read by others 
      A winning entry can get you published, and often some healthy prize money too.
      The winning stories in this Kindergarten Story Contest will be published in the January eNews newsletter.
      In addition, we will publish the winning entries our website.
Win one of five cash prizes
      The contest offers five cash prizes: $500 for the winner, $250 for second place, and $100 for third, fourth, and fifth places. These alone are a lot of good reasons to write and enter.
      To enter our Kindergarten Contest, submit a fiction or nonfiction story about family, friends, life, play, or school—really anything—for ages 5 to 6, up to 150 words. The story should be appropriate for kindergarteners who are just learning to read on their own. It should be fun, use appropriate vocabulary and syntax, and be interesting to youngest readers.
     Please take care to not write too high for this age group. Know what a five- or six-year-old can and cannot read. Originality and the overall quality of writing will be important. Publishability is the ultimate criterion. 
Entries must be received by November 7, 2014
     Entrants pay an entry fee of $15, which includes a six-month subscription to Children’s Book Insider newsletter and a six-month membership in the writer’s community CBI Clubhouse. Winners will be announced in the January eNews newsletter. 
     You may enter multiple manuscripts, but please use an entry form and enclose a $15 reading fee for each one. 
      The contest’s rules are important. Please read them very carefully. 
      Note the November 7th deadline! Be sure to get your entry in on time. Our online entry alternative is the fastest option.
      Now warm up your computer and write a $500-winning story a Kindergarten reader would love to read.
      Get published. Get paid. Good luck!
      Please click here to enter. You’ll need your Account Number to enter; it is 011879B.
Enter Contest
      Sincerely,
      Judy Brunstad
P.S.  As someone who has reviewed writing competitions for many years, I can tell you that nothing hurts an entry more than exceeding the word limit. Don’t fall out of the running because of this easy-to-meet spec. This contest limit is 150 words. Please remember to count your words before you submit your entry!

SHORT SHORT STORY COMPETITION





    
     
WD




  
Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition

We'll keep this short.


Enter the Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition for a chance at $3,000 and a trip to the 2015 Writer's Digest Conference, PLUS national exposure for your story! Click here to see the full prize list.

Here's the bottom line.

Keep your story under 1,500 words to qualify, and be sure to get your work to us by November 17!
Enter now!
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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 16, 2014


Three key rules for the speaker:
Be early, be prepared, and have a sense of humor.

WRITING TIP OF THE DAY - OCTOBER 16, 2014


Most publishers pay less for reprints,
but if you sell them consistently you
can make significant income from them.

BOOK MARKETING SUMMIT

I have a very special and time sensitive gift for
you.

For the month of October, I and 20+ other book
marketing experts (who have collectively sold
MILLIONS and MILLIONS of books) are joining
together in an online event to share how we'd sell
1,000 books in 21 days, something most authors
NEVER DO!

Through Wed. Oct 15th (tomorrow), Ryan Mendenhall
of Author's Catapult (the host of the Book
Marketing Summit) is letting my subscribers watch
the entire 1st week of interviews from the 2014
Book Marketing Summit for FREE.

After Wednesday you'll need to get an All Access
Pass for $97 to see these interviews. So act fast!

There are just two simple steps:

1. Grab your Free Guest Pass here:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/guest-pass#_a_write2sell

2. Then check out any of the following interviews
before end of day Wednesday:
     1. Tim Grahl:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/bms14-tim-grahl-1000-copies/#_a_write2sell
     2. Dvorah Lansky:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/bms14-dvorah-lansky-virtual-book-tours/#_a_write2sell
     3. Rick Frishman’s Million Dollar Rolodex:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/bms14-rick-frishman-million-dollar-rolodex/#_a_write2sell
     4. Nina Amir:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/bms14-nina-amir-blogging-a-book/#_a_write2sell
     5. Ann McIndoo:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/bms14-ann-mcindoo-utilizing-strategic-relationships/#_a_write2sell
     6. Chris O'Byrne:
http://www.authorscatapult.com/bms14-chris-obyrne-amazon-author-central-secrets/#_a_write2sell


W. Terry Whalin
Whalin & Associates
9457 S University Blvd, Suite 621
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126-4976
ph: 720-708-4953
www.terrywhalin.com