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Absolute Write
Newsletter
"Weaving, writing, and sleying a reed"
February 22, 2008
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In this issue:
·
Tips for publishing success
· Advice for beginning copywriters
· An interview with the AudioBookMan
... and more. |
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Want Major-League Publicity for Your Books?
Don't miss your chance meet face-to-face with
over 100 editors, writers and producers from national media outlets such as
ABC's The View, Today Show, Fox News, Time, Woman's World, O the Oprah
magazine and others at the National Publicity Summit, March 26-29th in NYC.
Get info by going here now:
http://www.NationalPublicitySummit.com/?11038
Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps
With Susan Gunelius
NEW! Do you want to transition your writing career
to include copywriting in your list of services? This course will teach you
the fundamentals of writing compelling marketing and advertising copy that
will exceed your clients’ expectations. You'll learn not to be intimidated
or overwhelmed by copywriting, but rather to be inspired and confident each
time you tackle a new copywriting project. Starts
April 1!
Click here! |
Publish That Book:
How to Write a Nonfiction
Book Proposal
That Sells
With Andrea Campbell
If you want to get a book published, knowing and using
the correct format for a book proposal is paramount. Nonfiction books, a
market easier to break into than fiction, are the backbone of
publishing. In this workshop, you'll learn what's appropriate for
writers who already have an idea for a book, but would like to know the
complete and correct execution of this vital marketing product.
Starts March 10!
Click here!
Naked Writing: The
No-Frills Way to Write Your Novel!
With Glenys O'Connell
Writing is hard work-- and there are no
shortcuts. When it comes right down to the nitty gritty, it's just you
and that glowing computer screen. That's when you need to know the
basics of writing and finishing your novel. Learn the no-nonsense,
no-frills writing that will give you the tools to finish that novel and
start submitting to publishers! Now open
enrollment--
Click
here!
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome, Absolute Writers!
I think it really might be spring. I've been sort of holding my breath, to see if the warmer weather is going to hold . . . and I realized this morning I need to mow my lawn.
Now, mind you, daytime highs are still only in the fifties (Farenheit) -- but it's looking hopeful to me.
With spring comes the con season. The end of this month will see me attending Potlatch, in Seattle (http://www.potlatch-sf.org/) so if you're an AWer in the area, consider stopping by. If you'll drop me an email, I'd love to meet you for a cup of coffee or a beer.
One of the really fun things about SF conventions is getting to meet other readers, all of whom are passionate and dedicated about the written word. I still tend to think of myself as a reader, first and foremost - and as a writer, secondarily. Reading is pretty much the whole reason I write, so hanging out for a weekend with other passionate readers is always a great deal of fun.
What do you read? How has it influenced what and how you write? How often do you get to exchange ideas and enthusiasm with other people, reading and writing the same sorts of things you do? It's a fun way to get a bit of a lift in your sails, while we wait for the last of Winter to wind down, and finally let go.
Write hard this week, folks. Read something new, too. Write true. And write on!
Best,
MacAllister
--
MacAllister Stone
Editor in Chief
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PROMPT OF THE WEEK
Quirky. |
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READER REQUESTS
This week, writers want
to know about:
* Psychological
problems
* Depression, suicide,
and cancer
* Copyright concerns
* Dog grooming jargon
* Land Rovers
* California wildfire
survivors
* Long-distance
relationships
* Police procedures
for when monsters attack
and more.
To answer a question or
ask one of your own, visit:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=66
Never posted at
the forums before? Start here:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34886
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INTERVIEW
Interview with
Terry W. Lessig, AudioBookMan
Interview by Mary Deal, The Ka
With me is Terry Lessig, who produces books on CD,
technically known as audio books, or more loosely known as books on
audio. I chose Terry for an interview about audio book publishing
because his personal philosophies suit me. He's honest and
forthright. He has a subtle sense of humor. He's sophisticated but
never snobby. He's… I'll stop there. I just like him a lot as a
friend. We met in an online writer's workshop; hadn't yet met in
person. When I commented on something I couldn't accomplish, Terry
inadvertently gave me a slogan that was very apropos:
"If weeds are growing, the ground
is fertile enough for the grass that you plant."
Did I mention that this man who
publishes books on CD is also very wise?
He has quite an interesting history to
tell about how his life led him to recording books on audio. It's
his history that makes him excellent at what he does. Publishing
books on CD has always interested me. I have a project in particular
that I'm considering and Terry would be the expert to produce it....
Read more:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/terry_lessig.htm |
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Visit the
Absolute Write E-Bookstore!
For a complete list of titles,
click
here!
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ARTICLES
"Guarantee Your
Book's Success Before Publication"
By Patricia L. Fry
Publishing success is not random.
Whether you land a traditional royalty publisher, self-publish
(establish your own publishing company) or go with a fee-based POD
"self-publishing" company, you have the power to make or break your
book. So stop looking to others for your success. Don't expect your
book to sell just because it's what you think people should
read.
Unfortunately, publication doesn't
come with automatic public awareness of your wonderful book. Telling
two dozen of your closest friends and family about it probably won't
result in thousands of sales. Hiring a service to send hundreds of
press releases doesn't mean that even one of them will be published
or acknowledged. Getting any book noticed takes a concentrated and
constant effort. Selling thousands of copies is way more difficult.
Read more:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/guarantee.htm
"Copywriting Beginner: How to Start a Copywriting Career"
By Angela Booth
Copywriting makes a fabulous
home-based business. With the growth of the Web, the demand for
copywriters is fast out-pacing the supply, so you'll have plenty of
eager clients for your skills.
But how do you get started?
In this article, we'll look at four steps you can take which will
set you on the path to a great copywriting career.
Read more:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/copywriting_beginner.htm
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WRITING NEWS AROUND THE WEB
"Public libraries to hold youth
writing workshops"
By Maria Randazzo, Chicago
Sun-Times (Feb. 21, 2008)
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/807915,CST-NWS-workshopweb22.article
"Do I Believe In Ebooks?: Part One"
By By Evan Schnittman, OUPblog
(Feb. 4, 2008)
http://blog.oup.com/2008/02/ebooks/
"50 crime writers to read before you
die"
The Daily Telegraph (Feb. 23,
2008)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/02/23/bocrime123.xml
"Inspiration Lives on Where Writers
Dwelled"
By Pamela Redmond Satran, New York
Times (Feb. 22,2008)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/travel/escapes/22rituals.html?_r=1&ref=travel&oref=slogin
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Absolute Markets Premium.
Absolutely Essential.
Magazines,
book publishers, international calls for freelance writers plus exclusive interviews
with editors and publishers you won't find anywhere else all in one newsletter
and delivered to your
inbox every other week.
Subscribe for less than $0.58 per issue!
http://www.absolutemarkets.com
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WRITING EXERCISES AND PROMPTS
BOGUS BIOS (a sociopathic kind of contest.....)
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93506
The Great Absolute Write Flash Fiction
Challenge
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2008-1-13&e=324&c=1
Query me. Quick! Freelance Contest
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91316
The Oh look! It's Suddenly Fiction Challenge
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=336&day=2008-2-27&c=1 |
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FIRST PERSON
"Weaving, Writing, and Sleying a Reed"
By Susan Remson
I recently added a new list of vocabulary
words to my personal dictionary. I acquired these words in eight weeks by taking
a class at my local museum. It was not a writing class; the class was called
"How to Weave on a Four Harness Loom." During those eight weeks I not only made
a table runner, which I proudly display on my dining room table, I learned the
difference between warp and weft, and how to thread a heddle, identify a shaft,
and sley a reed.
Yes, sley a reed. I used to think it would be cool to slay a dragon; now I am
content with knowing how to sley a reed. I also have new meanings for beater,
castle, beam, and dents. The best thing about the class may have been how it
stimulated my brain. Weaving seems to be the right combination of right-brain
and left-brain activities for my ambivalent gray matter.
Read more:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/weaving.htm
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Shop Amazon, support AW!
Our new
Absolute Write Amazon store
means you can shop Amazon's books, DVDs, electronics, software, toys, and
games with us and then check out through Amazon.com to securely complete
your transaction! Click
here to get started! |
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Invest in Your Writing!!
Absolute
Write has affiliated with the Writers
SuperCentres
of America to create the Absolute Software Store. Please check
us out to find the best prices on any type of writing software.
- Write better stories, books or articles
- Construct storyboards
- Write business plans
- Write a resume
- Track article
submissions
- and more!
Visit the software store.
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Make Your Website Work
Harder for You!
Laura Wright's
Developing a Web Presence for "Local" Writers and
Optimize Your Web Presence are designed to help you get the most out
of your website and blog! No experience? No problem! Classes start every Monday!
Click here for details and registration:
Developing a Web Presence for "Local" Writers
Optimize Your Web Presence
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WRITERS' GUIDELINES -
updated!
We're always
looking for new interviews, articles, essays, and humor for this
newsletter. We pay $0.02 per published word ($10 minimum) or a
1-year subscription to the Absolute Markets Premium Edition ($15
value, see www.absolutemarkets.com for a free
sample). We're happy to consider reprints, and we ask only for
nonexclusive electronic rights. Got some advice for your fellow
writers? Check out our guidelines here:
Writers' guidelines |
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WATER COOLER
Discussion of the
Week
"Second book blues" by Dreamer3702:
For those of you who have written a series:
Next week, I will be signing a contract for my series. Yay! The only
problem is that now I have to write the second book. I have about
half of it done, but I'm terrified it's not as good as the first. I
know it's most likely all in my head and I should just write the
thing. I'm curious as to how others have gotten over the second book
blues/fears.
Join in this
discussion at:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93605
Join in ALL the discussions at:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/
Never posted
at the forums before? Start here:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34886 |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
The National Association of Baby
Boomer Women's "Favorite Concert Memories"
(due April 15, 2008; no entry fee; win
$100 and NABBW membership)
http://www.nabbw.com/display_news.php?nid=12&PHPSESSID=3876cf689a18f5e6947a36ed71dc0716
The Greater New York Independent
Publishers Association (GNYIPA) is pleased to announce their
second FREE lecture of 2008 on Thursday, March 20th at 1:30 P.M.
will be given by Brian Jud on the topic of Marketing for Independent
Publishers. This lecture will be held at New Yorks Center for
Independent Publishing, located at 20 West 44th Street. Make
reservations at GNYIPA@aol.com.
28th Annual Lorian Hemingway Short
Story Competition
(early deadline May 1, 2008; $12 entry
fee; win $1,000)
http://www.shortstorycompetition.com |
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CLASSIFIEDS
Bullyproof Your Child
for Life!
"Ignore the bullies and they'll go away"
just doesn't work. Let Dr. Joel Haber (The Bully Coach) and Absolute
Write's former editor Jenna Glatzer show you what does work. Keep your
kids bully-free for good.
Travel Writers Wanted!
There's great demand for an elite corps of highly skilled,
professional travel writers...a pool of travel writing specialists
that can be relied on to write vivid, lively and interesting
articles.
If you ever dreamed about the romantic life of a
travel writer, here's a very unusual opportunity to actually live
it!
http://www.absolutewrite.com/dt/t/travelawn.php
Inexpensive Exposure for Your Writing
Writers and
Services for Writers: If you have a website, we'll set up your
company or book information in the Absolute Write Writers Directory. The
listing is just $10 and you'll be showcased in the category
of your choice.
http://www.absolutewrite.com/site/writers_directory.htm
E-books For Writers!
Check out the
Absolute Write E-book store at:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/ebookstore/index.htm
All titles are recommended by Absolute Write! |
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AFFILIATES
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WRITING FOR DOLLARS
The Free ezine for writers,
featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Free
ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe.
Email to
subscribe@writingfordollars.com
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Absolute Write Newsletter ©
2008 Absolute Write
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