3 Low Cost Ways To Meet Agents & Editors

These days it’s common knowledge that it’s hard to meet an agent or an editor through an unsolicited mailing. They are more likely to pay attention to a submission coming from someone they have met in person. To that end, writers flock to conferences so they can get some face time with real live agents and editors. And that’s great. I believe writers should get out and network. But those conferences can be pricey. It’s best to combine attending conferences with a few other strategies that are easier on your wallet. Here are 3 you may find useful.

1.) Attend Author Readings

Make a point of keeping track of writers who do work similar to yours. When they’re in the vicinity go hear them read. Sometimes–not all the time–but sometimes the author’s agent and editor will be in the audience. If they aren’t, see if you can steal a few moments with the writer and ask with whom he or she works and whether they have been pleased with the experience. You can either ask for an introduction or contact the people on your own. If you’re going to do the former, first develop a rapport with the writer and stay in touch. They may not feel comfortable referring you to their agent or editor right off the bat, but in time as they get to know you and your work, an introduction may be a possibility.

2.) Attend Classes Offered by Continuing Education Groups Such As The Learning Annex

Agents and editors are in the business of looking for the next hot writer and making a name for themselves in the publishing world. That’s why you’ll often find agents and editors teaching classes related to their work at places such as The Learning Annex, which has locations in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Boston (http://www.learningannex.com). Recent instructors include literary agent Katharine Sands, editor Marcela Landres (formerly of Simon & Schuster) and Vickie M. Stringer, founder and CEO of Triple Crown Publications. The courses can cost as little as $30 or $40 and last about three hours so you have some time to find out if the instructor can help you or point you in the direction of someone who can.

Remember the agent or editor probably has aspiring authors handing them manuscripts all the time, so make sure you stand out from the pack. Have a killer query letter and synopsis (if your book is a novel) or book proposal (for non-fiction works) at the ready. You’ll make a great impression simply because you’re not making them lug a 500-page behemoth home in their briefcase!

3.) Look for Agents and Editors Who Have Their Own Personal Websites

When you come across the name of an agent or editor who may be appropriate for you, Google them to see if they have their own websites with email addresses that may be different from their corporate mailboxes. Some are authors themselves (like literary agent Donald Maass, author of Writing the Breakout Novel) and have books of their own to promote. Email them and, again, try to develop a rapport and get a sense of what they’re working on and what they’re looking for. It’s best to know as specifically as possible before going through the trouble of making a submission. I recently heard about a writer who submitted to an agent looking for African American authors, but in fact the agent was looking for African American authors who wrote urban romance–which was not the writer’s genre at all.

One Last Note: These ideas should get you started and I hope they’ll inspire you to try other creative routes. It does get easier because you will find that as you go to more events and tell more people what you’re doing, the more likely you will be to find the connector that will build the path between you and your future agent or editor.

© 2005 Sophfronia Scott

Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is “The Book Sistah” TM. Get her FREE REPORT, “The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published” and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at www.TheBookSistah.com The Book Sistah, 230 South Main St. Ste. 319, Newtown, CT 06470 203-426-2036, Info@TheBookSistah.com

Not Your Grandma’s Grammar

Not Your Grandma’s Grammar

As if it isn’t enough that computers have influenced just about
every area of our lives, you’d think that something as sacred as
the English language would remain immune to technology’s
pressures. Not so. You may not need to learn new rules of
grammar as often as you need to update your computer’s RAM, but
tweaking your grammar skills will make you look more
professional, and you can impress your friends and colleagues
with some cutting-edge reasoning.

SPACED OUT One or two spaces between sentences after a period?

Unlike individual letters in typewriters, which all take up the
space of one character, computerized lettering allows for
spacing differences depending on the size of the letter or
punctuation mark. Hence, an m or an H is wider than an I. A
period takes up less space than any letter so one space after a
period on the computer creates a large enough gap to the eye to
indicate the end of a sentence.

Computer programmers changed this rule, not grammarians or
English teachers. The battle is still being waged, but I think
the programmers will win.

QUESTIONABLE MARKS Quotation marks and punctuation.

In Grandma’s day, a period used with quotation marks followed
logic. Examples: Myrtle said the word “darn”. The period went
outside the quote because only the last word was in quotation
marks, not the entire sentence.

Myrtle said, “I would never say that.” The period went inside
the quotation mark because the entire sentence is a quote.

Today (actually for the last 30 years or so), the period always
goes inside the quotation mark. Example: Myrtle said the word
“darn.”

This does not follow logic, but it makes life easier for
professional editors and for the rest of us who have enough to
think about besides punctuation. Warning: If you write a
quotation in England, ignore this advice. Logic is still
followed on that side of “the pond.”

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, MAYBE Since Grandma’s day, we have
shortened some words and dropped the former plural form. Memo
and memos used to be memorandum and memoranda. Yet other words
still retain their original length, spelling, and plural form.
Example: curriculum and curricula.

With the word data, we no longer see the singular datum used at
all. Data is now normally used as both the singular and plural
form. Examples: The data are being tabulated. The data is useful
to the scientists.

JUST BECAUSE In Grandma’s day, you would be scolded if you
started a sentence with but or because. But you wouldn’t have
deserved that scolding then or now. Just make sure that if you
start a sentence with either of these two words, you are
following them with complete thoughts. Good Examples: But she
would never say such a thing. Because of this bee sting, my arm
is swollen. Bad Examples: But I can’t. Because I said so. These
are incomplete thoughts and you will get your knuckles rapped
with a ruler for writing them.

GET IT WRITE It’s not rocket science; it’s the English language
- and it’s easy. Click here for a free preview of the book and
for more information:

THE BLUE BOOK OF GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION by Jane Straus.
www.grammarbook.com

How to Write an Article (For Beginning Internet Marketers)

Hello future successful writer. If you are at all like me then you are probably confident in your writing abilities but don’t have an idea of what to write about. You are probably involved in some sort of an internet marketing program with some sort of training program. You have probably put an ad on adwords, participated in some of the set up for you ad campaigns and maybe even paid for leads. And now, it is time to write an article, like most programs suggest, and you don’t have a clue.

I did the same and I am now running low on advertising funds. All the programs you run into these days suggest you write an article to promote your website. They tell you to choose a topic, make a few points about it, elaborate each point with a paragraph and then write a conclusion, and don’t forget to put a link back to your website at the end.

I couldn’t think of anything that I knew enough about or cared enough about to write an article on. Then it hit me, everyone in my situation needs an idea for an article. There are tons of sites with content for people writing ebooks and people who ghost write for people but not too many that really help you develop your own articles.

My idea came to me after a few weeks of thinking and brainstorming. And here it is! This is my idea. An article about writing articles is my subject! I know how hard it is. I started off by visiting a forum for fellow Internet Marketers. I read tons of questions and answers. I couldn’t seem to find anything that I could elaborate on to write a whole article about, however, as I read and read I found myself more able to respond to the postings of others. I started to become knowledgeable. Then, last night, as I stood in the shower it hit me! People need to know how to write articles.

The first step I recommend is to go through other marketing methods and get the ball rolling. Then go into a forum like The Warrior Forum and browse the topics at hand. If you can, help out those with a question. You’ll notice that quite a few posters here are either in some sort of hurry or are awful writers. Try to figure out their point. If you can understand it, then see if you can elaborate on it enough to create an article.

Another idea is to do what I said earlier and brainstorm, elaborate and publish but, it is hard to do. It is important to realize that it takes time to come up with a topic that you feel comfortable writing about. Just keep reading and reading. Soon you will be filled with information and experiences. That is when the ideas will come along and you will find confidence inyourself because you will have specialized knowledge.

A good place to start practicing is a blog. You can brainstorm there. Just write down what you do on a daily basis in your business endeavors. Every so often go back and read it. You will be able to see your progress, and see how what you know would have benefited you in the past. Now as an aspiring article writer take that experience and publish it to save others from having to go through the same trial and error you did.

What I have learned from my trial and error is that you must remain persistent. Don’t let temporary defeat keep you down. Keep trying, reading, and learning and soon you will be where you want to be. Articles are a great form of advertising and also a great way for you to help those around you. You create a win-win situation with a great article. So keep practicing and soon I will be reading your articles to learn about something new!

– Gilbert Hernandez

Copyright © Gilbert Hernandez
http://www.Gilbert-Hernandez.com

About the author:
——————————————————-

To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can

work at home visit:
http://www.Gilbert-Hernandez.com

——————————————————–

Xml2PDF formatting engine version 2.1 released

Xml2PDF formatting engine 2.1 November 17, 2004 Altsoft N.V.

Altsoft N.V. is proud to announce the release of version 2.1 of
its Xml2PDF formatting engine.

The update includes: - improved speed and memory management; -
improved font embedding and selection; - support for patterns in
SVG; - support for XML image embedding based on “RFC2397: URL
scheme” in all formats; - advanced HTML conflicts resolution in
XHTML; - enhanced UI in client applications;

All editions of Xml2PDF formatting engine, which include Client
UI, Command Line, Hotfolder and .NET API, are automatically
updated.

Altsoft Xml2PDF is a .NET based formatting engine for converting
various XML-based formats to PDF. It supports XSL-FO, SVG,
XHTML, XML+XSLT as an input and generates PDF as an output.

Free evaluation versions for Client UI, Command Line and
Hotfolder editions are available for download at:
http://alt-soft.com/products_xml2pdf_download.jsp

For evaluation of API edition please send the requests to:
sales@alt-soft.com.

For any additional information please visit our web site
http://alt-soft.com/ or e-mail to info@alt-soft.com

Best Regards, Altsoft N.V. http://alt-soft.com/

5 Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal

Everyone who has kept a personal journal knows that writing is a therapeutic process that helps integrate seemingly unconnected life events. Some believe the process works because the physical act of writing (using your hand-eye coordination) occupies your left brain, leaving your right brain free to access emotions, intuit connections, and create new insights.

How else can journaling help?

1. Journaling reduces stress by getting “monkey mind” thoughts out of your head. Mind chatter is a powerful stressor, stressor is a powerful health-buster, and journaling the chatter is a proven chatter-buster.

2. Writing about problems gives your right brain food for creative problem-solving. It’s amazing what happens when the creative part of your nature starts working on a problemyou’ll soon find solutions bubbling up from your subconscious.

3. Keeping a daily diary is one of the best techniques for discovering patterns, particularly those that are self-defeating. For example, a diary kept over the course of several months will clearly show any reoccurring difficulties like overeating, stress eating, poor (but similar) choices in relationships.

4. Want to better know yourself? Journal. Writing can help clarify your thoughts, your emotions, and your reactions to certain people or situations. In addition, as you read back through past journals, you’ll have ample evidence of the things that make you happy and those that are distressful.

5. Journaling can help clarify events, problems, or options. When you’re beset with a mind full of fuzzy, disconnected thoughts flitting here and there, writing about the event or issue will help bring focus and clarity. It will also help you decide on which action to take, or option to choose.

Patti Testerman is content manager at JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site.

patti@journalgenie.com

Still Thinking Of You

I’m listening to my teacher

When i think of you…

I dont know how, I dont know why?!?!

But why are you still in my mind…

Maybe your so stupid to let me go away…

But I’m the most stupid to tell that I dont love you anymore

I dont know why I’m still hoping that someday you’ll be back in my arms again…

That someday you’ll back in our way and gonna tell me that “you love me”…

Why I’d still love you?

Even if you break my heart?

Even if you dont love me anymore?

And even if you’re not the perfect guy for me?

If ever we’d had the chance together…

I’ll be glad to be your girl once again…

But I hope this would be better cause I dont want it to be worst.

I know deep in my heart that my love for you would be “FOREVER”

About the Author: im just a romantic girl who want to find the perfect guy for me, who doesnt need to hurt me and love me for what i am and for who i am….

Source: www.isnare.com

Writers & Predators

Masters of deception pervade every facet of our lives, so why
not the writing life? Time and again scams are perpetrated on
writers whose desire to get published overshadows caution. If
you’ve been to Africa or watch Animal Planet, you’re aware that
predators prey on the weak and unsuspecting. We humans are no
different.

During a period of left brain malfunction, I’d contacted the New
York Literary Agency. Although they were listed as not
recommended by “Preditors & Editors,” a writers’ watchdog
website, I wanted to believe some covetous rival had maliciously
bad-mouthed them. They have an impressive Madison Avenue, New
York address, a professional looking website and a reasonable,
if not questionable, spiel as to why they operate differently
from most agencies. The latter should have been my red flag. But
when you don’t want to believe something, reason becomes clouded
by delusion.

The Literary Agency Group is an umbrella for six other agencies,
apparently under common ownership: Children’s Literary Agency,
Christian Literary Agency, New York Literary Agency, Poets
Literary Agency, The Screenplay Agency, and Stylus Literary
Agency. If you run across any of these agencies, keep running.
They have no tangible address and no phone number. Their Madison
Avenue address is nothing but a mail drop. They are a “Catch Me
If You Can” outfit that operates out of airports and phone
booths. It’s no wonder they deride such respected organizations
as the Association of Artists’ Representatives (AAR), among
others.

My initial submission to The New York Literary Agency had been a
synopsis of a manuscript. They fired back a reply faster than an
automatic response website. In a boilerplate apparently cranked
out to all writers, they assured me there would be no fees, and
asked to see the complete manuscript. The normal waiting period
for a traditional agent or publisher can be six weeks to six
months. After I sent the manuscript they responded within a few
days saying they would represent me, but with the caveat I pay a
“polishing” fee to a third party in order to make the manuscript
saleable.

At that point the clouds dispersed and I began self-flagellation
with tree branches for having fallen for the come-on. No
self-respecting agent or traditional publisher charges fees of
any kind. This agency has since been denounced by countless
writers who have been conned by their unprincipled practices.

Author Victoria Strauss presides over a website on fraudulent
literary agents and dishonest publishers and unethical upfront
fees and fake addresses and fake contests and everything you
never wanted to believe about con artists who take advantage of
unwary writers. Granted, Strauss is a successful author who
would like you to buy her books. But her Writer Beware website,
http://www.sfwa.org/beware is maintained on a voluntary basis by
members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
It contains considerable documented evidence on literary fraud
and how to avoid it. You’ll also learn a whole lot about the
industry in general, including vanity publishers,
print-on-demand publishers and how they differ.

In the life and times of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edna Ferber, John
Steinbeck, Eugene O’Neill and the rest–someone took care of
business while the geniuses wrote. Today, unless you have the
means, there is no escaping to the left bank of the Seine, or
the sand dunes of the Hamptons to contact your muse. Publishing
is a business and taking care of business is the writer’s job.
Unless you are able to separate the predators from the valid
editors–well, writers beware.

“Simplicity-Courage-Humor-Soul”®

<http://www.susanscharfman.com>

Are You Thinking About Selling Your Own Home?

Are you thinking about selling your home? Would you like to sell it by yourself instead of hiring a real estate agent? If so it would be beneficial to review the pros and cons of selling your home by yourself before hanging out the sign.

PROS

Selling your home without an agent means More Money. If that’s not an incentive, what is? By selling it yourself you save the fees or commissions (thousands of dollars) that you would have to pay an agent.

You are able to decide the times for open houses and showings as well as where you want to advertise. Because you are only selling one home - unlike an agent who is working with many buyers and sellers ? you will always be focused on the selling of your home. You will have more interest in the sale than a real estate agent who may be looking for bigger commissions elsewhere.

CONS

Real estate agents are paid good money for a reason. Selling a home takes a lot of time and energy. Open houses, dealing with potential buyers, closing sales and dealing with the legal issues are familiar turf for these people and their experience can impact the sale.

Be realistic about what you are willing to do. Will you drop everything to make a showing? Are you able to ‘close the deal’ and ask for an offer? It is not everyone who can take on such a big project or can handle the tension of dealing with buyers.

However, if the challenge excites you and if you are ready for hard work and willing to learn then it is not impossible for you to manage alone. With a little know-how and a lot of energy, you can sell your home without the help of a real estate agent and reap the rewards!

Where do you begin?

Start with evaluating your home. How much can you ask? What work needs to be done? How do you decide how much your house is worth without asking too much and scaring buyers off or too little and not making what you should?

How Do You Evaluate Your Home?

Choosing the right price for your home is crucial to making a sale. You risk everything if your price is too far off the current market. You don’t want to discourage buyers because you are pricing too high and you don’t want to throw away equity because of a low asking price.

Preparing Your Home for the Market

Now it’s time to look as objectively at your own home as you did to other peoples’ homes.

Your prospective buyers will be scrutinizing your home; has it been taken care of or neglected? Will there be expensive repairs or are they hiding something? Taking the time to clean up and make repairs will repay you with confident buyers anxious to make an offer on a home that has been properly taken care of.

How to Advertise Your Home

Don’t worry. You’ve already done the hard work. Your research has been conducted, your home has been cleaned and prepared and you have all the vital information necessary to offer prospective buyers. Now you need to get the word out!

How to Show and Sell Your Home

You’ve done your research. You’ve priced your home, cleaned and freshened it up. Your sign is hung out and you’ve worked hard on creating an intriguing ad. You told everyone you know that you’re selling your home. Now you wait for the phone to ring. How do you handle calls from buyers? What do you ask? How do you get them to come visit?

Legal Issues

Selling and buying homes requires legal paperwork. Writing contracts to sell your home is tricky business and you do need a lawyer to help you. Find one by asking for recommendations from family or friends or by looking for one in the phone book. Ask for a consultation before deciding.

About the Author

This article is excerpted from our new ebook “For Sale By Owner”. To download your copy, visit
ebooks.sagedot.com/fsbo.html
The ebook includes sample legal forms and a seller checklist.

Tim Robinson is the publisher of “For Sale By Owner”.

Haunted Hollywood

Haunted Hollywood
By Kenneth J. McCormick
Webmaster
Http://Aboutfacts.net

When you talk about haunting, if you do, then you have to include Hollywood stars. It seems that more dead stars are suspected of haunting places than people from any other walk of life. Many of these so-called ghosts, are said to be haunting busy places, such as hotels. I thought it might be fun to look into this a little more. Lets start with one of my all time favorite stars, Marilyn Monroe

The Roosevelt Hotel is located at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California. It is said that Marilyn has been seen quite a few times inside of a mirror there. The mirror is a full-length mirror that is located next to the elevators on the lower level, but the funny thing about this is that this mirror used to be in the room that Marilyn frequented. The room was poolside and was Suite 1200. Could the beautiful ghost of Marilyn be uneasy? One never knows, after all, there are many theories that state that Marilyn was murdered, is she trying to tell us something?

The Knickerbocker Hotel was built right in the heart of Hollywood. It wasn’t a hotel when it opened, it was a luxury apartment building. In later years it became a famous hotel where the Hollywood stars would hang out. Its bar, the Renaissance Revival bar, was very popular with actors and actresses. Some actors lived at the hotel on a permanent basis. One famous actor was William Frawley. You may remember him from the “I Love Lucy” tv show, he was Fred Mertz. He died in the hotel in 1966 of a sudden heart attack. Marilyn Monroe spent her honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio there. D.W. Griffith, the movie pioneer died sitting right under the huge crystal chandelier in the lobby.

When Harry Houdini was dying he told his wife that he would do everything he could to contact her from the beyond. Every year since his death on Halloween night until 1936 séances were conducted. The first one was held on the roof of the Knickerbocker hotel. His wife Bess Houdini, and some magicians and friends were present. They tried to contact Harry for over an hour and finally gave up, but as they did, out of nowhere, violent lightning and thunder began to boom and light up the sky scaring all the participants. Was this Harry Houdini letting everyone know he heard them? The Hotel is now a senior citizen home.

They say that Rudolph Valentino, the famous silent movie star, is the most traveled Hollywood ghost, showing up in many different places. There have been reports of the ghost of Valentino being seen in the company of the ghost of Marilyn Monroe. Is that rascal, who was a tremendous womanizer in real life, now one in the spiritual world? Well at least he has good taste. A woman said she encountered the ghost of Valentino while she was walking along a deserted beach. She went on to say further that he was wearing the same flowing robes that he wore in some of his movies. It is also said the Valentino’s ghost can be seen at night walking through Hollywood Forever Cemetery, his final resting place. I can’t help but remark that the cemetery seems NOT to be his FINAL RESTING place because he doesn’t seem to be getting much rest according to many reports.

There is a restaurant named Sweet Lady Jane’s in Los Angeles. Many patrons of this establishment have reported seeing the ghost of Orson Wells sitting at a table. Further more, he was wearing a black cape. Some say that sometimes you can smell the smoke from the particular brand of cigar that Wells smoked and even smell the brandy he enjoyed here. When he is spotted, he seems to be sitting at his favorite table.

Some say that Ozzie Nelson is still living in the home that he had when he died. I guess living is the wrong term to use in this case, maybe occupying is better. Ozzie was the first half of Ozzie and Harriet, one of America’s favorite couples. Their show ran for years on tv. After Ozzie died, Harriet sold the house and immediately the new owners discovered that there were some very strange things going on there. Lights were turning themselves on and off, door opened and closed on their own, water faucets turned on and off without the help of any human hand and they constantly heard foot steps going up and down on the staircase.

The strange story of Frances Farmer has to be told in any Hollywood haunting article. Frances Farmer became a huge name in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s. By the time she was 27 she had made 18 films, stared in 3 Broadway plays and appeared in 32 major radio shows. At the top of her professional career she began to have problems in her personal life. She began to drink and take drugs for weight control. This caused her to act erratically on the set and she soon became a problem. She got into a fight in the Knickerbocker hotel and the police dragged her, half naked, through the lobby and she was later sent to the screen actor’s sanitarium. She was given insulin treatments and they put her into shock. This went on for 7 years. She escaped once but was caught. It is said that the hospital staff was brutal to the patients. She was finally given a lobotomy and released. She was no longer the same person; the hospital stay and treatment had destroyed Frances Farmer. She died at 57 years old and was alone and broke. Many people say they have seen the ghost of Frances Farmer walking the halls of the Knickerbocker hotel and they feel that it will never be able to rest.

Copyright © 2004 by About Facts Net and its licensors. All rights reserved.

This article may be copied if no changes are made and all links are left in place

About the author:

Ken is the webmaster of Http://aboutfacts.netThis is a free magazine on the internet that contains many interesting stories. These stories are often accompanied by photos, video or audio. The site is suitable for the entire family.

Q&A for Writers, Editors and Publishers - Thoughts from Your Peers on Life and Work, Part Two

Part Two

– Question # Six - Editors, how do you locate that next
position when it’s time to move to a new publishing house,
newspaper or magazine? How do you keep that great editing job
once you have it?” –

Page Nine

Jenny Kasza -

“To keep a great job once you have it, you have to be creative
with your time to get the most out of the day. Plus you have to
be creative with the covers and articles.

You also have to be flexible with others around you (graphics
person, sales staff, president, publisher, other departments).”

Tudor Hampton -

“Success is about hard work but in any job, it is important to
keep in touch with your colleagues, take interest in their work
and show them respect when appropriate, even if you are
competitors.

If you look to them for examples of how to do your job better,
they will do the same for you and everyone fares well in the
end. Our careers get stifled when we shut down, close doors,
focus too much on ourselves and restrict our imaginations.”

Lori Widmer -

“Locating the next position is as easy as networking.

When I was at the magazine, I networked not only with the
clients, but also with the other magazines in that space. I got
to know some key folks and kept in friendly contact.

Also, when I interviewed outside the company, I kept in touch
with every employer I connected with. It’s helped me to find
some projects since I’ve lost my job. I’ve also found a lot of
leads through these same folks.

Other writers in these publications are also a great source.
I’ve received two projects from former coworkers.

Page Ten

Also, the clients I bothered to get to know (many of them) have
been a huge help in finding me projects. I’ve received almost
three projects in two weeks from former clients.

If you want to keep that great editing job, then you have to
give them more than they bargained for. Make sure you’re strong
in both writing and editing.

Finding a person who can do both well is a dream come true for
companies. If you’re weak in one area, then do what you need to
in order to become great at it.”

Tracy Owens -

“In order to enjoy continued success, an editor must always stay
on the cutting-edge of the genre that they work in — be it
news, music or business. Find your niche and further your
education as it relates to that, with Internet research,
conferences and the like.

I’m currently working as managing editor of a small trade
publication, but have worked primarily as an editor/writer in
the arts & entertainment industry, including stints at MSN.com
and the now-defunct “Experience Hendrix” magazine (published by
the family of Jimi Hendrix).”

– Question # Seven - How do you succeed at freelance editing? –

Teresa Acosta -

“By meeting deadlines and accuracy; evenings or weekends or when
I feel a need to write; create as many revenue streams as
possible;”

Dana Cassell -

Page Eleven

“It’s not the main part of my business, but what I have done
over past several years has found me through
writers-editors.com.”

Tracy Owens -

“Success in freelance work comes from tenacity, time management
and talent.

The bulk of my freelance work assignments have come from former
co-workers that are already familiar with my work (as well as
writing strengths and specialties) and have moved on to other
publications and are looking to hire writers or editors.

Other gigs have come from networking or media-specific job
boards and listservs.”

Lori Widmer -

“Keep networking. Also, become the reliable writer/editor in
their stable of freelancers. Ask each client if they know of
anyone else who might need your services.”

– Question # Eight - How do you get freelance (writing) work of
your own on the side when you want to? –

Dana Cassell -

“In past few years have only done freelance articles when those
editors I worked with over the years call me with assignments.
So I only do about 10 articles a year, none of which I have
solicited - so this question probably does not apply to me.”

Anonymous -

Page Twelve

“The only freelance writing I do on the side is for a greeting
card/social expression company, and I don’t do a whole lot of
that. I have written some short stories, but never really tried
to sell them.”

Tudor Hampton -

“It is important for a freelance writer to ask “why is this
story important to the reader?” Putting that question in the
context of all queried publications is the key to getting more
work.

Likewise, every writer/editor/etc. should also seek out a mentor
and tap them as much as possible. Anyone who desires to become
great must have a coach.

Colleagues can offer educational wisdom but sometimes it is
necessary to take classes from a local college or university to
get even more ideas.”

Lori Widmer -

“When I have a lull, I consider that my “day off” and I write
whatever I want then. I usually go “offline” and stick with pen
and journal on those days. It keeps me from obsessing about
finding more projects, and allows me time to myself and to do
what I’d like to for a change.”

C. Hope Clark -

“I do so if I’m passionate about a subject and when I’ve
completed my editing, I’m afraid. My customers come before my
freelance writing.

However, I keep 13 articles or queries in play at all times.
That keeps me somewhat focused on my writing which is what got
me in this business to start off with.”

Jenny Kasza -

Page Thirteen

“As far as freelance work goes, I only did it for a short time.
My full-time job keeps me busy enough.”

– Question # Nine - How do you make your career or business as
an editor or publisher more profitable or rewarding? –

Lori Widmer -

“By learning your craft. I can’t be a great editor if I’m not up
on the proofreader’s marks or if I’m not savvy in sentence
structure. I try to read at least one section of the Harbrace
College Handbook every day. If I read it and try to apply it,
I’m more apt to remember it.

Also, I try to learn things not in my current field of
expertise. As soon as I get some spare cash, I’m getting an AMA
style manual so I can start landing some medical editing jobs
(which are plentiful here).”

C. Hope Clark -

“I measure success with my editing/publishing with: 1. the
number of subscribers 2. the number of positive emails from
those subscribers Those emails are my yardstick and they mean
the world to me.”

Dana Cassell -

“Haven’t figured out any sure-fire strategy yet — just keep
plugging away and trying new things.”

– Question # Ten - How do you further your education as related
to your work? –

Page Fourteen

Jenny Kasza -

“To further your education as an editor, you need to know who
your reader is, keep up with industry trends, and keep building
your experience. You should also talk to professionals in your
industry and attend some shows/conferences when you can.”

Lori Widmer -

“I’m a big believer in a college education. Getting a degree
that encompasses the area you want to work in makes a huge
difference in how your prospective clients perceive you.

For example, I have a degree in Business Communications. That
has allowed me to shoot for (and land, amen) one client who
needs PR work done.

PR work is no harder than writing–in fact, it’s a lot of
writing. If I want to be in technical writing, you can bet I’m
going to study it, either on my own or in a college setting.

If college is out of the question, then there’s always studying
on your own. As long as you do something to learn and implement
your expertise, to broaden your knowledge base, you should be
working a long time. At least, that’s my hope.”

C. Hope Clark -

“I further my education by constantly reading - online and on
paper. Not books, necessarily, but lots of nonfiction sources
like papers, lists, government groups, and professional group
publications.”

Dana Cassell -

Page Fifteen

“I skim (no time to really read) and file pertinent articles
from Folio, Writer’s Digest, The Writer, Freelance Writer’s
Report — several ezines, such as Dan Poynter’s, PublishersLunch
– but nothing formal or structured - no time.”

Teresa Acosta -

“Online courses, continuing education courses and local
colleges.”

Look for Part One Here at GoArticles.