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Read Our How-To Articles
Insider Advice From Pros Who Know
On this page you'll find articles about:
Agents
Breaking In
Book Writing & Publishing
Business of Freelancing
Creativity & Productivity
Dealing with Editors
E-Books
Fiction Writing
Freelance Markets
Glossaries for Writers
Legal Issues
Query Letters
Web Writing
Writer's Block
Writing Techniques
Agents
Agents: How
to Find Use and Feed Them
These secrets of agents will help you land one who can make your writing
life a lot easier and a whole lot more rewarding.
Breaking In
Are You Ready
to Go Full Time? A Freelancer Checklist
Tired of being a wage slave? Ready to spread your wings and fly free?
Without medical benefits and guaranteed paydays, it can be a long way down.
Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Freelance Writer: A Self Test
What's in a name? If the name is "freelance writer," it's about 10 things
that all successful freelancers have in common. How do you stack up?
Foot in Door:
How to Land Your First Assignment
You've got the goods, now you've got to get the attention of the editor
and keep it until you land that coveted first assignment.
Freelance Writer's Top 10 FAQs
What's the secret to how editors pick stories? What's the most common
mistake to avoid when contacting an editor? Will you make more money as
a generalist or a specialist? Find the answer to these questions and more.
Roger Clemens'
Deep Thoughts on Dealing with Rejection
Roger would spit a wad on rejection slips because he knows the laws of
cosmic averages. So should you.
Should You Be a Generalist Or a Specialist? A Key Early Decision
Strong arguments on both sides. Consider them carefully, make the decision
that's right for you, then feel free to change your mind. Here's why.
What Article Publishers
REALLY Want by Heather Reimer
Here's the secret to getting publishers to gobble up your promotional articles.
Book Writing & Publishing
Author Beware:
The Truth About POD Publishing
Is POD (print on demand) the new face of vanity publishing? Before you
say yes to Xlibris or iUniverse, take a look in this mirror.
How Three
Publishing Myths Kill the Author
Agents and publishing houses have their best interests at heart, not the
author's. Save yourself from headaches, disappointments, and money down the
drain. Become your own independent publisher and produce your book faster
and cheaper. All you need is a little help from professionals.
Quick Course:
How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal
Congrats: you've done the research, planning and written some chapters.
Now, is anyone interested in publishing your masterpiece-in-waiting? There's
only one way to find out: a book proposal, an essential marketing tool for
book authors.
What's the Best Way to Publish Your Book?
What's it gonna be -- royalty or self-publishing? Paperback or e-book?
A long-time book coach helps you sort out the options. By Judy Cullins
Why Write a Book? Here Are 17 Reasons
Whether you are a speaker, seminar leader, consultant, coach, writer,
author, or in another field, the book you write with your unique, useful
message will expand your life at least ten-fold. Each of you has reasons
to write. You also have advantages. Here are seventeen reasons and advantages
to spur you on to write your book!
Writer's
Guide to Book Royalties
Are you getting paid what you're worth? Can you read a royalty statement?
Do you need this handy guide? Answers should be yes, yes, and yes.
Business of Freelancing
The Check
Isn't in the Mail: What to Do When You Don't Get Paid
And you thought writing was the hard part! Getting paid can be tougher
than getting la�. Uh, it can be really difficult.
How Much
Should You Charge?
In other words, what are you worth? Hopefully, it's something
between "a penny for your thoughts" and "the moon."
How to Make Valuable Freelance Contacts Online by Angela Booth
One of a freelance writer's most powerful tools is her network -- a rich source
of info, inspiration and insight.
How to Write a Press Release that Will Make Editors Drool by Angela Booth
If you're writing news and press releases and editors aren't biting, try this simple journalistic technique.
Internet
Marketing Gold for Authors
How to use article banks and article directories to build your name and
brand on the web.
Should You Write On Spec? For Free?
Sooner rather than later, you will be asked to do one or the other, or
both. Have this answer ready.
Work Your Small Business Dream by Angela Booth
Nothing in life happens until you do something. Here's how to take action
-- and keep on taking it until you reach your dream.
Creativity & Productivity
Are You Fit to Write? by Michael
Knowles
How's your writing muscle? No, the one between your shoulders. Here are some workouts to make
sure your writing muscle is strong and ready.
Finding the
Time: How to Balance Writing with the Rest of Your Life
Few problems are more difficult or more important for
a writer to face that making space in life for this thing called writing.
Go Away! Avoiding Interruptions at Home and at Work
Do you smile like Dr. Jekyll but snarl like Mr. Hyde when you're interrupted?
Use this plan before somebody gets hurt.
Productivity Boosters: How to Maximize Your Writing Time
Personal productivity guru David Allen offers some pointers that will turbo-charge
your workday.
Seven Creativity
Exercises
To stimulate that magnificent right brain of yours, try these seven creativity
exercises. But not all at the same time...
The BEST Technique:
How to Write an Article Per Day by Angela Booth
Want to be a better writer? That's easy. Just use the patented "BEST" technique
and you can write an article per day. Seriously.
Dealing with Editors
How to Find
the Right Editor
Ah, time for the payoff: printing out a final copy or your story, sticking
it in an envelope, sealing with a kiss. But wait! Did you
address it to the right editor?
Why Are Editors So Rude? A Former Bad Guy Repents
Sometimes dealing with a busy editor can be only slightly less painful
than a root canal. Care for some Novacain?
E-Books
Don't Call It an E-Book!
by Marcia Yudkin
An e-book by any other name could boost your price-point and your sales. Try this alternatives
and watch your content become money.
Should You Publish in Print or E-Book
Format -- or Both? by Marcia Yudkin
Options are a great thing. Unless you choose the wrong one. Maybe the "E" in E-Books doesn't stand
for anything easy.
Fiction Writing
Beating Fiction Writer's
Block by Lee Masterson
Break it down. Attack the problem. Get creative. Move on with confidence.
Here's how to do all four.
Developing Character
Traits, Part One—Motives by Tina Morgan
When creating a character, how in-depth do you delve into their motives for
doing what they do? How far should you? The managing editor of FictionFactor.com
has the answer.
Freelance Markets
Hidden Freelance
Market: Book Packagers
Want to get your first book credit the easy way? Many book writers got
their first assignment in the clandestine world of book packagers.
Hidden Freelance
Market: Newspaper Dailies & Weeklies
The pay may be cheap, but newspapers make up for it by sheer, non-overlapping
numbers. Here's how to take advantage of their frequency and their plentitude.
Hidden Freelance
Market: Publication Rights Clearinghouse
A landmark legal decision spearheaded by the National Writers Union puts
money in your electronic pocket.
Writing A
Syndicated Column
If you've got the knack, the voice and the discipline,
a regular column can be one of writing's sweet pleasures.
Glossaries
A Writer's
Glossary
Don't know a kill fee from cover kicker? Do you really
want to sell your sub rights? Let this free resource be your guide to the
world of professional writing.
Legal Issues
Contracts
& Copyrights: Understanding Them, Getting Them, Keeping Them
These days it's more important than ever for freelancers to become their
own experts in understanding and negotiating contracts -- or
else.
Getting It
Right, Getting It Good: A Writer's Guide to Copyrights
The heart of any contract with a publisher is the "grant of rights" clause
that stipulates what rights are being licensed and for how long. For writers,
here's one time when it's more blessed to receive than to give.
Top 10 Questions
about Copyright Permissions
Want a really good reason to be well versed in copyright permission codes?
As a freelancer, it's your job to get them. And the editor's rear end when
you don't.
What Every
Freelancer Should Know About the "Fair Use" Provision of Copyright Law
Will you get in trouble for using someone else's work in
your own? Depends upon your ability to apply this four-point "fair use"
test.
Query Letters
Why Query
Letters Are Queer: 12 Things You Should Do, 6 You Shouldn't
Few topics in freelance writing have received more ink than the query letter -- and
deserve it less.
Web Writing
E-Rights:
Control & Controversy
Don't let the little "e" fool you; e-rights have become
a very big deal.
Writing for the Web: A Comprehensive Overview
Fortunately, in this brave new world of the Internet, most of the old writing
rules apply. But what about the ones you never dreamed of?
Writer's Block
Block Busters:
Top 7 Tips for Overcoming Writer's Block
Get unstuck with these field-tested, sure-fire secrets to getting started
and keeping going without getting an ulcer.
First Aid
for Writer's Block
Stuck? Not for long when you try these remedies for creativity on call.
By Marcia Yudkin
Writing Techniques
Get it Done--Fast!
"Block writing" can save you time and help you overcome self-doubt and
procrastination. Here's how in 3 easy steps.
Focus Your
Writing with Reader Profiles. by Michael Knowles
Whether you're creating a sales letter, brochure, data sheet, newsletter,
or Web site, you must know your readers well if you want the piece to be read.
Remember: this isn't entertainment -- this is your business.
Hooks, Lines
and Sinkers by Sue Kendrick
There's a lot more to effective writing than a strong opening. But all your work could
be for naught unless the first few sentences do their job.
Magic Titles:
27 Techniques Guaranteed to Make Your Headlines Sell
Learn how to write titles, decks and teasers that will make editors beg
for more.
Speed Writing:
Mastering the Zero Draft
Blaze a trail to glory with headphones, fast fingers and this revolutionary
new way of conquering the blank page.
Straight
from the Source's Mouth: 16 Interview Tips for Getting the Good Stuff
Interviews are a non-fiction writer's bread-and-butter. Getting great interviews
is both an art and a science. Here's the science part.
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