|
BookPromo Guerrilla Style Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << May22, 2008 - BookPromo Guerrilla Style |
September13, 2008 - BookPromo Guerrilla Style >> |
|
BookPromo Guerrilla Style Ezine "The Ezine for Successful Book Promotions" Past Issues Archives: http://archives.zinester.com/11698 Year 2 Issue 19 June 19, 2008 http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com *************************************************** On this issue: *************************************************** 1- From My Desk 2- Is Freelance Proofreading For Me? 3- Useful Resources 4- What's Killing Your Publishing Career? 5- Letters to the Editor 6- Article Submission *************************************************** From My Desk *************************************************** Welcome to a new issue of BookPromo. Summer break is here and for most of us it is the time when we decide to take a well deserved vacation or to work really hard to finish writing our books or begin to dedicate more time to our book promotions. So I included one article on the importance of making our books as accurate as possible and another one on what you need to know about a publishing career. Enjoy the new issue! Helping, informing and empowering authors. Clary Lopez Editor-in-Chief BookPromo Guerrilla Style Ezine Guerrilla Marketers' Caf? http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com Blog http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com/blog/ You can contact us at: editor@clarylopez.com Subject: eZine *************************************************** Is Freelance Proofreading For Me? *************************************************** By Brian Scott Did it ever cross your mind that maybe those amazing authors whose work gets lapped up by the New Yorker can't write or spell nearly as well as those five-star reviews suggest? Or that editors often miss crucial spelling errors and word omissions that can make a work seem amateurish? If so, you're thinking of the realm of the mystical proofreader who often makes published material look perfect and impeccable. Proofreaders are the final line of defense before publication of material. Even though their lot is often lumped in with that of copywriters and editors, they are in fact a different breed altogether. After initial editing for clarity and coherence, and typesetting of a manuscript, the publishers rely on freelance proofreaders to check for formatting, spelling and manuscript errors/omissions. Freelance proofreaders hone an impeccable sense of grammar, and their spelling is second to none. More importantly, they pay attention to minuscule details. They carefully read every line and cross-reference with the original manuscript. Proofreaders make all the difference between a perfect run and a thousand disseminated copies of an error-riddled manuscript. Elsewhere, proof-readers pore over web content, brochures, and just about anything that requires error-checking. Error-correction requires one of two things, depending on for whom and for what medium the finished product is being generated. Don't panic, however, as the requirements to become a successful freelance proofreading are not nearly as prolific as one might imagine. If one is proofreading for hard copy, such as a book, then the publisher requires you to know the correct "mark-up" conventions, as dictated by the chosen Style Manual of the employer. Consult the Chicago Manual of Style as a baseline for all other Style Manuals. Many big publishers will have their own bastardized style format which they will introduce to you during the process of undertaking a proof-reading position. Corrections you mark for would be implemented or reviewed by another party and the final manuscript would move to the next stage of publication. However, if you find yourself employed within a less formal setting, then you are both the one to mark and correct a manuscript. Manuals of style are much less important here, and you may find that your role cross-pollinates somewhat with that of a freelance copywriter, as text may require rewrites under your guidance. Gaining work to proofread and write may be initially difficult, as your abilities remain unproven. A few good ways to build an impressive CV include finding part-time work with a facility that already provides proof reading services, and a degree or diploma with a focus on formal editing will help (but this is by no means necessary) to impress skeptical clients. Forming relationships with established copywriters and proof-readers (as well as SEO technicians), will lead to trickle-down benefits as overflow from their successes comes to you. As always, the local community (particularly restaurants and other service-type establishments) is a viable source of income and networking, and offers gigs to rewrite menus and advertising content. Volunteer positions on websites and an online blog that showcases your writing and/or abilities can also be helpful. Never forget to take advantage of unorthodox opportunities like contacting websites and organizations about poorly written or extremely typo-riddled print. Offer to produce new copy and give them a sample of a rewritten passage from their published text as proof of your viability. While this may not work all the time, you may just impress enough to get your foot in the door, and that's all you need. While your job description may be radically different depending on the expectations of those who employ you, with the proviso that you bring high-level language skills and a beady editor's eye for detail to the table, appreciation for your work skills is assured. Here your best hope for steady employment lies with being fluid and adaptable. Ready yourself to fill roles wherever and whenever they pop up, and you're sure to succeed. About the Author: Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com Source: http://www.isnare.com Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=262762&ca=Writing *************************************************** Uselful Resources *************************************************** Bookhomestead.com – Book Lovers Community. Have your book reviewed by readers http://bookhomestead.com Resources for Writers at Guerrilla Marketer’s Caf? http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com/tactics.html Odeo.com - Add Audio to your Website CreateSpace – Create and Sell Books, Music and Video http://www.createspace.com/Index.jsp Lulu.com – Self-Publish your book, ebook, CD, Video, Picture Book, Calendar and more the easy way http://www.lulu.com Picasa – Great photo sharing site to integrate in sites and blogs. http://picasa.google.com/ ************************************************** What's Killing Your Publishing Career? ************************************************** By C.F. Jackson With the large increase of books being published by self-publishers, and the up-rise of print on demand, there is still a lot of death taking place in the publishing industry. In the United States, over 291,920 books were published in 2006, per Bowker. Are you a part of this population? There are many aspects that make up these individuals. However, let us target just three that are undeniable to anyone reading this article. As in anything we do, a large portion of it is about taking risks. Are you a risk taker? You’ve completed your manuscript or just published your novel; it is time to open the entrepreneur portion of your brain. Risk takers do not mind the possible end result because the thought of success in pure motivation. Many writers and authors remain reclusive within the safe haven of their creativity. What makes this ideology costly? It is the slow return on their investment. Are you wondering if you fit into this population of authors? Sure you have published your work for the whole world to read, even critique. But that is just the beginning of this venture. What makes you any different than the other hundreds of thousands of writers and authors? Sure you can play it safe and hope your extraordinary opportunity hits you over your head. Why not become a risk taker and take it by authority? Becoming a risk taker you must be: --- persistent --- creative --- passionate Another obvious bludgeon death is the lack of knowledge. Yes it is lovely to remain in your creative world and just produce book after book. Can you imagine leaving all the other hoopla for others to sort out? No one whose a true business person would dare allow themselves to walk blind in their business. Prime examples are Oprah, Donald Trump and Bill Gates. However, many writers and authors are just that, blind. In order to be successful, you need to be savvy on all levels in the literary industry. If you are not, just like buying a car, you are going to get taken every time. Do your homework, rather than relying on third party hearsay. Why would you find knowing unimportant? For example, POD (print on demand) writers. Many have shouted foul play. The pitch is knowing the short and long term of POD. Before signing any contract, may it be for a car, house, student loan, or what have you, the rule of thumb is to know what it says. If you do not know, you will swing at a curve ball because the only pitch you anticipated was the fastball. To become knowledgeable: --- ask questions --- take the time to research --- make sure you understand Lastly, the beast of all beasts, is marketing. It is amazing how many authors who are not marketing exhaustively. This reverts back to the second point: lack of knowledge. Too many authors belief that a publisher will sign them and they will promote and market their book. Happy to inform you, that is not always the case. This is your business and these publishers have invested enough in you, such as, advance, printing, and a brief promotion run. After this, it is the author’s job to build a website, create news releases, get interviews and so on. There are many authors and writers out there with published works who are at a lost. Many assume self-published authors must deal with marketing and promoting. If no one has informed you, allow me: that is not true. All published authors, in any realm must market themselves. How else will your book or novel sell without getting out to the masses? Your readers? To market, you must: --- think-outside-the-box --- market everyday on some level --- address all angles of your novel or book --- have a user friendly website Take a look at where you are and where you desire to be in this literary world. Determine if you are killing your publishing career. This is going to be a challenge, but you have to have enough energy, passion, and juice to make it past the trying moments. As a writer or author, make sure you are multi-dimensional. You are becoming an entrepreneur, so know where your hats are and when to wear them. About the Author: C.F. Jackson has been interviewed on The Sumter Television Show, The Louie Jones Show, Millionaire Monday Series by John DiLemme and Atlanta’s WVEE (V-103 FM), to name a few. Download your free Website Makeover 101 at http://www.WebsiteMakeoverWorkshop.com - Learn the two things a website must do. Source: http://www.isnare.com Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=259250&ca=Writing ************************************************** Visit our Blogs: Guerrilla Insight for Authors http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com/blog The Book's Den http://booksden.wordpress.com *************************************************** Letters to the Editor *************************************************** Write to us about what you would like to read about, so send us your comments and suggestions to be included on this section. editor@clarylopez.com Subject: Letter to the Editor Do you have an idea for a topic on this eZine? Send it to editor@clarylopez.com Subject: Ezine idea *************************************************** Articles Submission *************************************************** If you would like to write book marketing article for this Ezine please send your request to: editor@clarylopez.com Subject: Article Submission *************************************************** BookPromo Guerrilla Style Ezine Copyright 2006-2008 Clary Lopez All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Clary Lopez will not be held liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages originating from the use of any information listed on our website, newsletters or eZine. By using the websites and ezine you agree to indemnify and hold all owners and representatives parties of Clary Lopez/Guerrilla Marketers' Cafe harmless from any claim or demand originating out of your use of Clary Lopez/Guerrilla Marketers' Cafe website and/ newsletters or eZine. Use of our website, Newsletter and eZine is an indication of your complete understanding and acceptance of these Terms of Service. Articles can be reproduced on websites or ezines as long as the article and bylines are included without any alterations. No part of the website can't be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage or retrieval systems without the written permission from the publisher/owner. |
|
| << May22, 2008 - BookPromo Guerrilla Style |
September13, 2008 - BookPromo Guerrilla Style >> |
|
BookPromo Guerrilla Style Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on BookPromo Guerrilla Style |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |