In February, your challenge was to write a story from Cupid's point of view. Dorothy Raney sent this winning entry.

I Shot An Arrow...

It worked! I can hardly believe it. And here I was on the verge of quitting. After all, it's no fun for a 2143 year old man to spend his time running around dressed in little more than a wide sash and a quiver of arrows.

But, I keep at it. After all, it's my job and, besides, what else can I do? There's not much of a market out there for disgruntled elderly cupids. But, everything's changed now that I finally accomplished my goal.

You see, there's this couple. Sophie and Wilbur. They both worked in the same place. It was obvious that they were more than a little interested in each other, but that's where it ended. Somehow, despite all my best efforts they hadn't managed to progress beyond coffee break chatter, "accidental" water cooler meetings and a few work related e-mails.

Two years ago, I took aim and fired. My arrows missed. Unprecedented! Last year, I tried again. Another failure. I checked my equipment. My arrows were too dull to pierce paper let alone the human heart.

I didn't know what to do. It's not like there's an arrow sharpener on every corner. I thought and thought. Finally, I came up with the solution. Today when I took aim, Wilbur and Sophie never had a chance.

If you can't use what you've got, then you've got to use what you can find. And, I did. You know that little cursor thing on computers? Well, I took aim with that. The result? From then their e-mails sizzled and left sparks in their hearts. Now, I'm looking forward to their Valentine's Day wedding.

Dorothy Raney has been a part-time, sometime successful short story writer for over 20 years. She receives the necessary support and encouragement from the Cartaret Writers genre group.

Self-publishing: easier, more viable, and more lucrative than ever before.

"The only reason to self-publish is because you can't land a publisher."

Call me crazy, but I disagree. For me, self-publishing was the first choice. Why? I wanted to keep control of the project and timetable, keep the rights, and, most importantly, keep most of the profits. How did it turn out?

A Full-Time Income

For over four years, my first book supported me full-time. Not "picking-out-chateaux-in-the-South-of-France" kind of money, but it paid all my bills (including two printings each year), allowed me to take some nice vacations, save a chunk of money and incur no new debt. When your per book profit (after expenses) is many times what you'd make with a publisher, you can be nicely profitable with much lower numbers.

A few caveats. My genre - non-fiction "how-to" - is, arguably, the easiest to self-publish (with straight non-fiction second). Why? Not only is there an insatiable appetite for information in the buying public, but also with non-fiction "how-to," it's relatively easy to identify and pursue specific target audiences. Fiction is harder to self-publish but for first-time novelists, it's also far harder to attract a conventional publisher.

Second & Third Caveats

All this advice applies if your goal is to have your book be a commercial success and if you have the time to market your masterpiece. If neither is the case, you'd be better off with a publisher or in a POD scenario, where your upfront investment is low or nonexistent (as will be, in all likelihood, your backend profits...). As for the time thing, though, if you're fantasizing that you'll find a publisher who will allow you to simply drop off your manuscript while they handle that whole ""cky marketing thingy," think again.

Author Jessica Hatchigan (How to be Your Own Publicist) observed, "Authors who receive modest advances for their books - and that's most authors - can expect scandalously little in marketing support from most publishers." Most publishers these days want to work with authors who come to them with, not only their book, but also a plan for promoting and marketing that book. So, if I still have to do most of the work for anemic royalty rates, self-publishing is worth a look.

Conventional vs. Unconventional

Most publishing companies take the "shotgun" approach to promotion and publicity. Mass emailed press releases to mainstream media outlets. Mass-mailed and unsolicited review copies (with little or no follow up). EVERY single one of the roughly 500+ review copies I've sent out over the years went to someone with whom I'd communicated in advance. Yes, it takes more time, but yields far more "bang for the book."

As a self-publisher, you can focus on your title and find the most effective ways to promote it, as opposed to the above-described pub company model. By contrast, as a self-publisher, I go where the traffic is lighter, the reception is warmer and the people speak my language.

The Goal: To Be Seen "Everywhere!"

A year or so back, after asking a buyer where she found the book, she replied: "Everywhere!" Music to an author's ears. Another woman wrote: "I first heard about your book on writersdigest.com, then on writerswrite.com, and finally on writersweekly.com. After the third time, I figured I needed to see what the fuss was all about." Sounds like people need to receive multiple impressions before they take action. Very useful information. How did I do it? Through the Internet, of course - the Great Equalizer for the little guy.

Let's take my book as an example: The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less - a step-by-step "how-to" for establishing a lucrative full- or part-time freelance corporate writing business. With all the downsizing of the past decade, Corporate America is outsourcing plenty of writing projects at hourly rates of $50-125+.

Okay, so who're my audiences? All "wannabe" writers looking to make a handsome living with their pen, seasoned freelancers looking to diversify into higher-paying work, and at-home moms and home-based business seekers looking for a flexible, well-paying career from home.

Go to Your Market

To land reviews (and interviews, blurbs, mentions, green lights to write articles, etc.), go where your various target audiences hang out. Scour the Internet for web sites, associations, newsletters, and newsgroups that cater to those groups. Visit the sites and make your pitch by email. Make up one standard pitch letter, vary it slightly for your different audiences, and "cut 'n paste." And repeat, hundreds of times.

Mainstream Media?

Certainly pursue mainstream media (MM) coverage in addition to Internet contacts, but know that the media is exponentially more fickle than if you can zero in on your target audience via the above-described process - where you'll get a FAR better response.

The Reality: the chance that an unknown author will attract the attention of a reasonably major-market newspaper is slim. Not impossible, but not worth the return when a far better one is waiting. If you're going to pursue MM, forget the book editors, and figure out which "channel" editor - Food, Jobs, Career, Business, Features, Computers, Lifestyle - a would be a fit for your topic. Contact them and pitch, not the book, but an angle represented by the book. They simply don't care that you've written a book; they want to know why the book is relevant now.

Your Web Site

A web site is mandatory. Period. It's the linchpin of any Internet marketing push. Mine (www.wellfedwriter.com) has sample chapter, table of contents, reviews, cover art, Q&A, sample radio/TV footage and much more. Check out the "Attn: Media" link on my site, which makes their job much easier (and hence, more likely to happen). Always add your URL to your e-mail signature going out on every email you send.

About the Author:

Want to get published? Do it yourself, and make a living from it! Check out a free report "How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living" at www.wellfedsp.com, home of author Peter Bowerman's award-winning 2007 release, The Well-Fed Self-Publisher (plus powerful companion marketing guide, The Well-Fed SP Biz-in-a-Box). Bowerman is the self-published author of The Well-Fed Writer titles (www.wellfedwriter.com), multiple-award winning selections of Book-of-the-Month Club and others, and acclaimed "standards" in the field of lucrative commercial freelancing. Over 50,000 copies of his first two books in print have earned him a full-time living for over five years.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=208604&ca=Writing

Article published on March 01, 2008 at iSnare.com

Don't miss National Bestselling Author Brenda Novak's 4th Annual On-line Auction for diabetes research, where you can bid on manuscript evaluations from some of the most powerful agents and editors in publishing, many with a guaranteed 24-hour response from receipt of submission. If you've been looking for a way to "break in," this might be your chance! There will also be mentoring packages and critiques from NYTimes Bestselling Authors, meet and greet opportunities with editors, agents and Big Name Authors, promotion packages, web site design services and lots more (over 1,000 items, many of which are already up for preview).

Donate an item or simply come by to shop--it works just like E-Bay only all the money raised goes to help those, like Brenda's son, who live with diabetes. And she's even offering a fabulous prize package (including a new camcorder) to the person who places the most bids, even if that person doesn't actually win anything.

The auction runs May 1 - May 31st at www.brendanovak.com! See you there!

Brenda is also holding a very cool contest in conjunction with the auction.

Bestselling Authors Brenda Novak, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs and Allison Brennan are joining forces to give one lucky reader a Fabulous Trip for Two to Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island, Washington--including airfare, accommodations, massages and more! Enter today and receive a $10 gift certificate to shop in Brenda's On-line Auction.

You can find all the details on Brenda's web site: www.brendanovak.com

Laura Major is excited to announce the release of her debut novel, Mismatched. Published by Amira Press, Mismatched was a February 2008 release.

Can the traditional development of love survive cyber dating and the complications of ethnic variation?

Laura Major's debut release of the multicultural contemporary romance, Mismatched takes a lighthearted yet sensual look at what happens when love is presented in a form that is unexpected and a manner that is unconventional.

Mismatched, which is set in the center of New York's financial district and the New Jersey suburbs, tells the story of Tessa Dennison, an African American finance professional who decides to option love on the Internet after a series of busted blind dates. To improve her odds, Tessa incorporates the gender expertise of Justin Martin her Caucasian childhood friend and secret admirer.

Join Tessa and Justin for a matchmaking game like no other.

Laura Major has an English degree from Arizona State University and is an active member of the national organization Romance Writer's of America and Interracial Multicultural Romance Readers online group as well as several other readers and writers groups.

ISBN: 978-1-934475-40-9

Amira Press, LLC, www.amirapress.com

Congratulations, Laura! I wish you much success!!

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Fish Publishing runs a range of competitions - from poetry and flash fiction to crime, historical fiction, and short stories.

They also provide a full editorial consultancy service designed to provide writers with one to one, on-going, constructive feedback on their work, whether it is a complete novel or just the beginnings.

You can check them out at: www.fishpublishing.com

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Work In Progress Notebook

Keep your manuscript details organized!

Do you have sticky notes everywhere with details about your characters or plot points? Do you have computer files, notebooks, loose leaf papers, even napkins with the valuable information you need to keep control of your manuscript?

Have all the Information you need at the tip of your fingers with this wire-bound notebook. From start to published, keep track of the details of every step of your novel with this notebook of outlines. With a combination of detailed outlines, questions and character profiles as well as plenty of blank, lined pages for your notes and thoughts, this notebook makes the perfect companion to finishing your novel.

www.jeannieruesch.com/mywipnotebook.html

This notebook is really cool! I love anything that helps keep me organized. I really like the layout too. You can view sample pages on the web site and you can purchase the WIP Notebook in either a wire-bound notebook or as a downloadable e-document.

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THE 2008 BLUECAT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION

FINAL DEADLINE: APRIL 1st

* Winner receives $10,000 * Four finalists receive $1500 * Every writer receives a 600 word written script analysis of their screenplay

Entry fee $60

Now in its 10th year, the BlueCat Screenplay Competition has discovered more successful writers and provided more support through our analysis and feedback to more writers than any screenplay competition in the world.

We are the leading voice for the development and inspiration of the undiscovered screenwriter, and our community welcomes you to challenge yourself by entering your screenplay in the 2008 competition!

SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY: www.bluecatscreenplay.com/main

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DailyLit

This is a really cool service that sends daily e-mail and RSS feeds of book installments. They currently offer over 750 classic and contemporary books available entirely for free or on a Pay-Per-Read basis (with sample installments available for free).

Check it out at: www.dailylit.com

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PitchQ.com

Pitch Q is a peer-rated, subscription-based community website where screenwriters upload video pitches of their screenplay for Agents, Managers, Producers and Executives to view through an advanced search system that gets the right pitch to the right person.

Writers can elect to have their Pitch viewed by Industry Pros only, or they can opt to have their pitch viewed by fellow Screenwriters and Industry Pros. While Industry Professionals prefer to view peer-rated pitches, we give the writer the choice to exhibit their work- their way.

Industry Pros can view the highest rated pitch or the pitch that fits their specific criteria in our advanced search engine, or they can combine both options. Industry Pros can save favorites, read a screenwriter's synopsis, their treatment, or learn details about the Writer. We want to give you as much information as is necessary to help you make that difficult decision.

Pitch Q is here to bridge the gap.

www.pitchq.com

They also have articles, pitching advice, a discussion board and much more!

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The quote I used in this month's newsletter is by John Adams. I was in the post office the other day and they had this huge cardboard promo and the quote was at the top. I went to the web site, thought it was cool and wanted to share it with you.

You can read a letter by John Adams and they have pictures of the original. You can even send a customized, free John Adams greeting card. There's also a "Power of the Letter" Sweepstakes where you can win a Colonial Williamsburg vacation.

You can check it out at: www.poweroftheletter.com

I think it's kind of sad that a lot of people don't really "write" notes/letters or send cards that much anymore. I have notes and cards from my late grandmother and I treasure them. I love to look at her handwriting and read her words. I miss her so much and the cards bring me comfort.

Just today, I received a beautiful, handwritten note from a friend and it made my day! I totally appreciate receiving e-mails, but sometimes it's nice to know someone took the time to write a note, get up from their desk and go to the post office - just for you! LOL - Very Cool!

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Bobbie Christmas is the "Book Doctor" and Author of Write In Style, a triple-award-winning textbook for writers of fiction and nonfiction, available wherever books are sold.

Bobbie loves to receive questions from writers and offer her expert advice. If you have any questions you need answered, please e-mail her at: Bobbie@zebraeditor.com

For the latest Q&A with Bobbie, go to AskTheBookDoctor on the CS4W site.

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If you have an announcement you would like to share with us, please send it to: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com with "announcement" in the subject line.

I love to hear from you!

Peace,

Sandy

email: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com

phone: 732-364-3993

web: http://www.coolstuff4writers.com