Kimberly Dawn Wells's Blog
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Many aspiring writers are looking for a sure thing. They want to make sure that if they start they will become wildly successful. With several years, and thousands of hours of work, just about anyone who really wants to be a writer can become successful. But these writers aren't in to years of work and 15 publishing credits before they make the New York Times Bestseller list. Nope, they're looking for a sure thing. So they ask the question, "Would you buy this book?"
Would I buy a book about a pig and a spider? If it's Charlotte's Web, sure. If it were anything else? Probably not.
Would I buy a book about rock climbing or boxing? If I were interested in rock climbing or boxing, which I am. If I weren't interested in rock climbing or boxing, probably not.
Would I buy a book about a teenage boy wizard? Probably not. But that didn't prevent millions of other people from buying the Harry Potter series and shooting JK Rowling into fame and fortune.
None of these ideas for books is any better than the others. Ideas, more or less, are dead. Nearly every idea has been done in one way or another. The execution, however, the method for which it is done, changes every day.
To ask "would you buy this book" before writing it is like asking "would you like this person" before meeting them. There's no way of telling if the book might catch our interest. You can have a great plot, write a great teaser, and photograph a fabulous book cover. But if the writing is dry, boring, full of mistakes, or hard to understand, you've just ruined the whole thing.
Asking "would you buy this book?" is, frankly, pointless. No one can really give you a helpful answer that will mean anything in the end. It is, however, guaranteed to set you up for some major disappointments if you don't like the answers you receive, or the results you get later on.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
After asking for articles relating to a website for which I am the newsletter editor, I received a flood of submissions all right. Unfortunately, they weren't exactly what I was looking for.
One gentleman told me he was working on an article about the changing political and governmental structure of his home country. He would send it to me when he was done. Another woman sent me an article on a marketing technique. There was no introduction, no contact information, and it was in no way related to the service I write about. When I asked why she was sending it, she simply replied, "Aren't you looking for articles?" Neither of these was related to the topic at hand and won't help me satisfy the 40,000 finicky readers I speak to each week.
There are five main reason I rejected 27 various article submissions I received so far this month.
- has nothing to do with the topic
- didn't follow formatting or length rules
- doesn't include proper contact information
- errors, errors, errors, errors, errors
- has nothing to do with the topic
Seeing a theme here? The problem is, I never know exactly how to ask people, "Why are you sending me this?" in a way that won't offend them. The other problem is that it's only my snippety nature that wants to ask them why they're sending it. To me it's obvious that it isn't what I want. It isn't obvious why after asking them to read my guidelines for submission they still thought it appropriate to send it.
Whenever you submit an article, be prepared to answer, "Why are you sending this to me?" If an editor asks and you can't give a good answer, rethink sending it off in the first place.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I don't remember how I ended up at Answers.Yahoo.com, but I do remember thinking how it would be a great way to share my knowledge and push traffic to my articles. After spending two and a half hours answering questions, I realized it could be a lot more.
Writers and wannabes swarm to forums and resource sites to soak up every bit of information possible. It's normal to get requests for information here. After all, isn't that the point? But finding aspiring authors at a less niche site is quite a different story, and quite a lesson in human ignorance.
Of course, I mean 'ignorance' in the best possible sense. I, for example, am ignorant about rock climbing. I can repel off the side of a cliff for a rescue operation but don't know the first thing about getting back up there on my own. So learning what absolute newbies have to ask about book publishing and writing was a true lesson for me.
There seems to be a disconnect between what happens in the writing and publishing industry and what other people think happens. Movies and extraordinary success stories seem to have created a fairy tale image that authors write a book, schmooze with editors at fancy cocktail parties, and receive excited 4 am phone calls about how their book was so great, the editor couldn't put it down, can you come in at 9 to sign a multi-million dollar contract?
Unfortunately, overnight success doesn't happen overnight. Just ask Jodi Picoult. Her overnight success took nearly fifteen years to create. Imagine yourself having to wait fifteen years and fifteen books to achieve the recognition and appreciation Jodi has. Are you willing to stick it out? I'm sure glad she did, and I bet she is too.
Visit me at Answers.com to find out what kind of advice I'm sharing with others. Feel free to ask your own question. You might just find it answered here, as a full length article.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
The internet has opened the door for six billion people to share ideas between each other. The increase in knowledge and technology has grown at an astounding rate in the last 10 years, and it nearly frightens me to think of what we might have access to ten years from now.
While most of us benefit from this most of the time, there are pitfalls that come from the chance to get advice from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Years ago, it took expert status to publish a book, get on a talk show, or write newspaper columns on your topic of choice. Today, anyone with an opinion can mass produce their ideas, good or bad, true or false.
An industry as complex and confusing as that of book publishing is a prime example of a chance to be misled, misinformed, and disappointed.
Take self-publishing for instance. I recently read a long rant about how bad it is. "It's lazy, unprofessional, and won't get you any sales." True. You can get into self-publishing and end up with a poorly formatted book that is full of mistakes and was poorly promoted. However, that isn't the fault of the self-publishing system, which is simply a combination of a la carte services for authors of any caliber. Rather, it is the poor planning on the part of the writers who failed to edit their work properly, define their marketing plan appropriately, and seek the advice of others when desperately need.
Or social networking sites. I recently replied to a blog post written by a student who's teacher had demanded each student in his class take down their MySpace and FaceBook pages or risk getting in trouble. The idea was that everything you put on the internet is available for everyone to see, and you don't want to create that image. True. If you post crude images and sloppy language, you've sealed your reputation. But what if you posted pictures of you writing, speaking, and signing books? What if your friends were a network of readers? What if you posted excepts and event dates and tips for authors? What kind of reputation would you get from that?
Most of the resources you find as a writer will not be inherently bad. There are always the bad contracts, poorly run businesses, and scams, but most of the time the positive or negative value lies in how you use it. Learn how to use tools to their greatest capacity and how to protect yourself legally. Don't take all the advice of just one or two people, including myself. Do your research and test the waters on your own. Take responsibility for your projects and don't believe everything you hear about how easy or how impossible it is. Getting your book published IS possible. Becoming a better writer IS possible. Anything you want in the publishing industry IS possible, as long as you are willing to give it the time, commitment, and respect it deserves.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
The entry was due months ago and I still have months to wait for the results. It isn't the first writing contest I've entered but it's an entry I'm very proud of. I can't stand the wait, so I decide to read through my entry one more time.
Everything is perfect. The descriptions are spot on, the flow is right, and the readers have no reason to suspect the sneaky surprise ending I'm about to hit them with. But as I get to the end of the story, something is amiss. I read it again. Oh, bugger. Have I made a mistake?
Not a spelling mistake, mind you, but an error of clarity. The story is about a woman, which you can tell since her first name is used throughout, and in the end of the story someone refers to her using her last name. But alas, I have forgotten the detail that puts the two together. Will the readers notice? Will they know who the person is referring to? At that part of the story, only two characters are chatting, and the main character obviously responds. Bugger.
When I first wrote the story I thought it was due in December. Then I found out it wasn't due until February so I let it sit. Just before the deadline, it went through several re-writes until I achieved my final product. While I did send it through spell check and read it out loud to find spelling and grammatical errors, I didn't let it sit enough to forget it.
I'm confident this little slip won't cost me the contest. If I don't do well it will be for another reason. But it is a huge lesson to me to practice more of what I preach by letting my work stew for a while before editing it one last time. It may not be so important this time, but it could cost me on my next assignment.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I've hand picked the following contests based on my own personal criteria for entering contests, which includes story length, entry fees, prizes, and timelines. While this represents only a small number of contests being held during this time frame, it will give you a great place to start. Entering contests is a fabulous way to practice your craft, try new genres, challenge yourself, and get valuable publishing credits. Click on any link below to learn more.
Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction
$25 entry fee for 3500 word short story contest. Due May 1.
Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
$10 entry fee for 3000 words of fiction. Due May 1st.
New Letters Awards for Writers
$15 entry fee for up to 8000 words of fiction. Top prize is $1500. Due May 18th.
$5 reading fee for 5000 word short story. Due May 31st.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
As I scour the Internet each day I find dozens of resources for writers. Workbooks, character journals, scene sheets, plot diagrams, and various other lists and prompts fill books and ebooks and newsletters. With so much out there, it's hard to determine what is good and what is eh-so-so.
If you have written a book, ebook, or other type of periodical about writing and publishing, I want to know about it.
Send a query to resourcesforwriters@suite101.com with a brief description of what you wish to send, what format it is in (PDF, printed book, etc.), and your contact information. DO NOT attach any documents. They will be automatically deleted by my server. I'll reply with the correct email or postal address to mail your work to.
It's harder and harder to stand out in a world full of information, with no end to its development in sight. Get your work reviewed right here on Resources for Writers at Suite101.com.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I was probably in the truck, driving to the store. Or perhaps I was on a fire call, and I saw something that sparked my interest. It might have been while doing laundry, playing with the dog, or observing customers at a restaurant. At least a hundred times a day I get an idea for something. Almost a hundred times per day, I fail to make a note of it.
The results can be disastrous. Fabulous plot ideas are forgotten. Character quirks have lost their intrigue. Entire outlines for articles fade, and I can't seem to grasp them once my fingers hit the keyboard. When I'm not sitting down to write, I'm always thinking about writing. So why can't I think about it now?
The truth is, each day I fill several pages of a notebook with ideas and several files of my voice recorder with chatter, but it always seems like there is more. The notes I take are often mundane. A strange outfit the cat lady was wearing. An odd scent caught briefly while crossing the street. How content I feel while eating a sandwich with the perfectly spiced condiments. Each of these I carefully copy into the respective notes file of my beloved Life Journal for Writers, while other things go forgotten.
The forgotten things. Entire arguments between characters I make up in my head. Telephone conversations to explain a concept, which could easily be turned into informative articles. Forgotten. Graphic action scenes built from embellished traffic accidents and routine ambulance calls. Each a possible feature for the next bestselling book, now a distant memory, now only bits and pieces in my mind no longer worthy for print.
I don't believe in writer's block, only poor note-taking. I believe if you are open to it, ideas are everywhere. They are laying on the floor next to your chair, walking past the end of your driveway, sitting in a chair at your dentist's office, and waiting to serve you at Starbucks. Any book, movie, or song could spark a thousand new ideas and unique takes on old ones. The key is to record them and put them to good use. Write it down, even the cat lady, before she is forgotten.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Driving is the perfect time to record ideas for books because so much happens. You're seeing not only what you are doing, and what is happening to you, you also see what others are doing and what is happening to them.
Last night I was driving along my merry way, on a four lane road through town. As I slowed to turn right, a truck came up from my left, swerved to the far right of his lane - towards me - and then back to the far left side of his own lane.
"Hey," I exclaimed, without thinking. "My lane!" I tend to get possessive about the lane I'm driving in. If someone else wants to be in the same spot I'm in, they'll have to buy me a new truck, and I want an upgrade. I slowed and made my right turn, then stopped on the side road. The truck continued on for another block, turned left into a parking lot, drove half a block through the lot parallel with the road, then turned back onto the road and headed south, in the opposite direction.
What was he thinking? I'll never know what was really going on, but what a great scene for a book. Here are some potential ideas from that one 20-second incident:
- a failed homicide attempt where the hit man tried to cover his tracks
- a homicide attempt where the killer realizes he just can't do it
- a distracted driver distracts the Main Character, thus causing him or her to be late or forget something
- the erratic driver is drunk or drugged, or under some other type of spell
- the driver was text messaging his girlfriend on his cell phone and distractedly pulled to the right
None of them are earth shattering - I've saved the juicy ones for myself ;) - but you can see where they can be useful. You'll never look at driving to the store for milk the same way again.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Since I quit doing web design three years ago, I struggled to organize my writing projects. Between fiction, non-fiction, articles, newsletters, ebooks, classes, and all the unique projects in between, my office was a mess. I tried folders, binders, index card cases, magazine holders, and letter sorters. No system lasted long. Organizing electronic files with Word and NotePad was a nightmare. Every day I produced a new mountain of sticky notes and index cards with no way of keeping track of what was what. God forbid I submitted something I had to follow up on. It wasn't going to happen!
I downloaded the demo version of Life Journal for Writers after reading a review for it. I was skeptical - most of the new software and web applications I try are clunky, slow, and generally more hassle than they're worth. This software quickly proved it was different. It didn't take me long to fill my demo version of Life Journal for Writers and purchase the full version. I quickly customized my topics, transfered dozens of individual files into the program, and typed page upon page of notes that were sitting around the office in various piles. In just three days I was able to recycle enough paper to create a twelve-foot stack.
Life Journal for Writers has increased my productivity ten-fold. It helps me break down large tasks into smaller bits - a technique I teach but had never been able to truly achieve. I can work on multiple projects at once without slowing down my computer and finally have a way to organize all those random ideas for characters, plots, and articles. With the help of this software I will be able to reach all my ambitious deadlines, despite my diverse and busy career. Now I just need to figure out what to do with all these index card boxes.
Get started with your own free demo of Life Journal for Writers
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I learned a lot during my time as the Editing & Publishing Topic Editor and my interests REALLY peak in the area of resources for writers. I'm into all the magazines, editing software, and neat tips and tricks for getting organized, staying on task, and learning new things.
What can you look forward to in the coming months?
- Reviews for books on writing, editing, getting ideas, and fine tuning your plot
- Tips for using common tools in uncommon ways to stay organized
- New ideas for getting and recording ideas for your plot, characters, and articles
- Interviews and tried and true advice from writers just like you
- Lessons from famous authors, and tips for achieving the same results
- Fun tools and toys you just have to have
- New places to test your muse and get feedback from peers
- How to put people-watching to work in your novels
I'm looking forward to serving authors across the globe with regular articles and lots of great discussion. Happy writing!
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
This is the type of editing that comes in handy for complex plots and how-to books. Sometimes, words and sentences sound a bit better when they've been rearranged. Content editing can help with this.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I've hand picked the following contests based on my own personal criteria for entering contests, which includes story length, entry fees, prizes, and timelines. While this represents only a small number of contests being held during this time frame, it will give you a great place to start. Entering contests is a fabulous way to practice your craft, try new genres, challenge yourself, and get valuable publishing credits. Click on any link below to learn more.
$1,100 first place award for 3,000 word short story. $15 entry fee, due April 30th.
Original fiction pieces 500 - 5000 words long. $5.00 entry fee with submissions due April 30,
2007.
Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction
$25 entry fee for 3500 word short story contest. Due May 1.
Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
$10 entry fee for 3000 words of fiction. Due May 1st.
New Letters Awards for Writers
$15 entry fee for up to 8000 words of fiction. Top prize is $1500. Due May 18th.
$5 reading fee for 5000 word short story. Due May 31st.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
You may not have appeared on Oprah but you can still turn your novel into a screenplay. Find out how, right here on Suite101.com!
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Child Magazine is a popular child-rearing advice periodical that draws nearly five million readers each month. After over 20 years, Meredith Corporation, the parent company which purchased the magazine in 2005, recently decided to pull the offline publication of the magazine after ad sales dropped over 14% in 2007 year to date and subscription base for the family magazine dropped over 18% in the second half of 2006. They will now offer the magazine exclusively online. What will happen, I wonder, for the estimated 37% of readers who have six or more children and rely on the magazine as a source of advice, outreach, and sanity?
Child Magazine, and its loyal readers, is not alone. Consumers have more choices, and as such, they no longer have to wait to get what they want. As more consumers are using the Internet to find information on demand, waiting around for a magazine to arrive in the mail or show up in their grocery store has become less of a priority for them. Information can be shared not only from expert to user, but now from user to user.
Twenty years ago, magazines ran rampant. They were an effective way to supply fresh news and new available products to consumers. Twenty years from now, will we be hard pressed to find something decent to read in our dentist’s office waiting room? Will our kids have to print images off the computer in order to make scrapbook collages and school projects? Will flipping through a glossy, colorful magazine and stopping at every page that contains a subscription card be only a fond memory for those of us who love our magazines? What will we find to pile in our living rooms and stuff in our beach bags? In twenty years, will ‘magazine’ be a retro term that shows up in “you know you’re a parent of the 90’s if” email forwards?
Personally, I enjoy reading through magazines in the grocery store. I love the bright colors and creative page layouts. I love the headlines, “six quick ways to organize your closets,” and “make a great meal in 10 minutes or less.” If I find myself buying two or three issues a year, I figure it must be good enough for a subscription and I am much more likely to order it for a year or two. Like many other shoppers, you would be hard pressed to get me to buy into a commitment if I can’t first sample the wares. Even as a student of marketing, I still find myself drawn in to the design of the cover and the promise of a read “jam packed with tips for toned abs.”
Unfortunately, sacrificing the print magazine for the almighty dollar will leave some people behind. For those who have Internet access, we’ll continue to find what we’re looking for. We’ll find it quicker, we’ll get instant feedback from other readers, and we'll use Del.icio.us to share it with our coworkers. But we won't be soaking in a tub with it, using it to swat a pesky housefly, or grinning with excitement as we find it as our only non-bill smail mail. What will taking magazines online do for brand loyalty? I guess only time will tell. For now, though, I'm holding on to my "fast, cheap, and easy ways with chicken."
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Not all editors are created equal. Copy edit is very similar to what your spell-check does, although with a human touch it is easier to see the errors that spellcheck won't catch, such as typing Brain instead of Brian, and there instead of their. However if your plot doesn't make sense, copy editing probably won't catch this.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I've hand picked the following contests based on my own personal criteria for entering contests, which includes story length, entry fees, prizes, and timelines. While this represents only a small number of contests being held during this time frame, it will give you a great place to start. Entering contests is a fabulous way to practice your craft, try new genres, challenge yourself, and get valuable publishing credits. Click on any link below to learn more.
$15 entry fee for up to 5,000 words of fiction. Top prize is $500 and publication in the journal. Due March 15th.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest
$12 entry fee for up to 5,000 words in a short story. Top prize is $1200. Due March 31st.
$25 entry fee for the first 20 pages of your murder mystery. Due March 31st.
$1,100 first place award for 3,000 word short story. $15 entry fee, due April 30th.
Original fiction pieces 500 - 5000 words long. $5.00 entry fee with submissions due April 30, 2007.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Bestselling Hardcover Fiction
1. Innocent in Death, by J. D. Robb
2. Step on a Crack, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
3. Sisters, by Danielle Steel
4. The Double Bind, by Chris Bohjalian
5. For One More Day, by Mitch Albom
Bestselling Hardcover Non-Fiction
1. The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama
2. Somebody's Gotta Say It, by Neal Boortz
3. A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah
4. Marley & Me, by John Grogan
5. The Innocent Man, by John Grisham
Bestselling Hardcover Advice
1. The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne
2. The Best Life Diet, by Bob Greene
3. YOU: On a Diet, by Michael F. Roizen, et al.
4. Mad Money, by James J. Cramer with Cliff Mason
5. Made to Stick, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Bestselling Children's Books
1. Dog, by Matthew Van Fleet
2. Flotsam, by David Wiesner
3. Out of the Ballpark, by Alex Rodriguez
4. Fancy Nancy, by Jane O’Connor. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
5. Charlotte's Web, adapted by Kate Egan
Bestselling Paperback Fiction
1. The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards
2. The House, by Danielle Steel
3. Irish Dreams, by Nora Roberts
4. The Divide, by Nicholas Evans
5. The Templar Legacy, by Steve Berry
Bestselling Paperback Non-Fiction
Top 5 at a Glance
1. The Measure of a Man, by Sidney Poitier
2. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls
3. Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
4. The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion
5. Dreams from my Father, by Barack Obama
Bestselling Paperback Advice
1. What to Expect when You're Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway
2. The Law of Attraction, by Esther and Jerry Hicks
3. LIFE Picture Puzzle
4. Natural Cures "They" do Not Want You to Know About, by Kevin Trudeau
5. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
You've probably heard of genres before, such as romance, science fiction, and historical. Each of these is decided based on the content of the book and plot details. If the book revolves around a love story, it is usually considered romance. If the plot centers around magic, wizardry, and flying unicorns, fantasy is usually the best fit. A historical novel is based on an event in history. Science fiction is one of the largest genres, and is generally categorized by the use of physical technology, versus the supernatural powers of fantasy fiction. Science fantasy has been used to cover topics that combine these genres.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I've hand picked the following contests based on my own personal criteria for entering contests, which includes story length, entry fees, prizes, and timelines. While this represents only a small number of contests being held during this time frame, it will give you a great place to start. Entering contests is a fabulous way to practice your craft, try new genres, challenge yourself, and get valuable publishing credits. Click on any link below to learn more.
$15 entry fee for up to 1500 words of personal essay. Top prize is $1000. Due February 15th.
Tickled by Thunder Fiction Contest
$10 CND entry fee for 2000 words of fiction. Top prize is $150 CND. Due February 15th.
Submit 100-1500 words of mystery fiction to be considered for publication in the site's newsletter.
A variety of SHORT prose contests ranging in length from 50 to 150 words. Due February 16th with large cash prizes.
$5 entry fee for 1500 word short story that includes starter phrase. Top prize is $150 and publication in the Writer's Journal.
$25 entry fee for first 5,000 words of a crime fiction novel which will eventually total 80,000 words. Top prize is professional publication. Due February 28th.
$10 entry fee for up to 7,500 words of fiction. Top prize is $1000 and publication. Due February 28th.
$15 entry fee for up to 5,000 words of fiction. Top prize is $500 and publication in the journal. Due March 15th.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest
$12 entry fee for up to 5,000 words in a short story. Top prize is $1200. Due March 31st.
$25 entry fee for the first 20 pages of your murder mystery. Due March 31st.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
Mystery and Crime Fiction Suite101 Editor Sandy Mitchell has written an article on how to write a book review. The next time you need a review for your book, point your reviewees to this article. It will help them write a review that will be truly useful to your marketing plan.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
I personally have read and recommend any starred items.
Best Selling Hardcover Fiction
- Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
- For One More Day by Mitch Albom
- Cross by James Patterson
- The Hunters by W. E. B. Griffin
- Exile by Richard North Patterson
Best Selling Paperback Fiction
- Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
- The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
- Point Blank by Catherine Coulter
- Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
- Gone by Lisa Gardner
Best Selling Hardcover Non-Fiction
- The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
- The Innocent Man by John Grisham
- Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
- Marley and Me by John Grogan *****
- I Feel Bad About my Neck by Nora Ephron
Best Selling Paperback Non-Fiction
- Freedom Writer's Diary by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- The Pursuit of Happiness by Chris Gardner with Quincy Troupe and Mim Eichler Rivas
- Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
- Dreams From my Father by Barack Obama
Best Selling Hardcover Self Help
- The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene
- YOU: On a Diet by Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet Oz *****
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage by Laura C. Schlessinger *****
- Younger You by Eric R. Braverman
Best Selling Paperback Self Help
- Picture Puzzle
- What to Expect when You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway *****
- The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston Hathaway
- Natural Cures "They" Do Not Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau
- Healthy Aging by Andrew Weil
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
If you have ever written a testimonial or review for a book, you probably received a review copy. Somewhere on the book there is usually a notice that it is a review copy, draft, or pre-publication copy. If you are planning on self-publishing your book, you can get your own versions of review copies by using a print-on-demand publisher such as Lulu.com or CafePress.com to run a small printing of books.
Posted by Kimberly Dawn Wells
This year you can look forward to a new schedule of blog posts and articles. We're bringing in guest articles and interviews, promotion and marketing ideas, and stories from writers just like you who found success in the publishing industry.
Each month blog posts will feature:
- - "My First Publishing Experience" (send in yours!)
- - Writing Contests for the next month
- - Publishing Terms Defined
- - Word Publishing Program Tips
- - Industry News
- - What's Selling on the NY Times List?
- - Fun Writing Tool of the Month
- - Writer Owned Site/Forum/Newsletter of the Month
Each month articles will feature:
- - Guest Article from a Successful Editor/Writer
- - Self-Promotional/Marketing Tip
- - Editing & Publishing Related Book Review
- - Online Networking/Website Tips
- - Interview with an Agent or Editor
- - Goal Setting Tips
- - Author Success Stories