Editing Services Blog October 2007
Oct 28, 2007, Writing Goals 2007
Writers share their writing goals for 2007 and receive support from Audrey Owen, editor at writershelper.com.
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Oct 26, 2007, Join Me On A Cruise
January 20, 2008 I'll be joining an insanely large number of people aboard the Spirit of Freedom, the biggest cruise ship in the world for a seven-day cruise of the Caribbean. While at sea, I'll be presenting a workshop on editing writing for the Web.
If all goes as planned, I'll also be launching my ebook on self-editing.
My workshop will be one of a series for a private group of Internet entrepreneurs, but if any of your are interested in attending, I may be able to get you in. Go to the Meet Me page (the link is on the left) and use the form to let me know you are interested. I would certainly be open to poolside chat about writing, editing, or Internet business.
See you on the open seas.
Oct 24, 2007, Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger
Lee Fodi writes:
I'm proud to announce that my new book, Kendra Kandlestar and the Door toUnger has officially arrived.
Although I'd love to wax poetic here all about the new book, you can enter the door yourself! Just visit the link below to:
- View a 90 second "book trailer."
- Read Chapter 1 and view pictures.
- Read and listen to reviews and interviews
kendrakendlestar.com
Oct 18, 2007, Writing Group Rules for Your Critique Group
Writing group rules for your writers' group keeps everyone on the same page. Whether your group is old or new, your group can use a good set of rules.
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Oct 15, 2007, Lee Fodi Wins Again
Lee Fodi, a marketing wizard I interviewed recently, just sent this press release. You could be sending out releases like this.
I'm pleased to announce that Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers has won the 2007 Mom's Choice Award for best children's chapter book, aged 8 and up.
The awards were announced October 13, 2008, in New York.
The MCA's esteemed panel of judges included Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author; LeAnn Thieman, coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, President of PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association; and MCA founder Tara Paterson.
"We're delighted with the outstanding works represented in this very special group of recipients," said Paterson.
For more details, please visit the official Mom's Choice Website by clicking below
Oct 14, 2007, Make Money With YOUR Book
Many people go into self publishing to make money. Do you know how to tell if YOU can make money with your book if you self publish?
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Oct 13, 2007, Shame On Me
I wonder if you can imagine how I felt when I opened the message that said,
Shame on you. An editor should be an expert in how they use words. Yet, you grossly stretch the word "free" in not truly offering a free edit sample. Beginning a business relationship with calculated dishonesty is no way to run a business. I urge you to do a serious re-think of your ethics.
Stomach cramps, near panic, brain freeze.
I had no idea what to do.
Those who have been visiting this site and getting my newsletters for any length of time know how I agonized over the concept of charging for sample edits and how I finally figured out how to make them as "free" as I could while weeding out tire kickers who never intended to hire anyone. You know my intent was never to deceive anyone, only to keep my workload manageable while being truly fair in the quotes I give for my services, quotes not based on averages, but based on the actual needs of each individual writer.
I had run the pages that talk about my sample edits by a forum of serious business people whose ethics are impeccable and they shredded my first few drafts. (Yes, editors need to be edited, too.) I was so sure the pages I finally posted made the situation completely clear.
I was grateful that someone took the time to give me feedback, vital feedback. If one person complains, I assume a host of others have the same thoughts and simply don't bother to say anything.
The problem was, the complainant used a form to contact me and used a bogus name and address so I couldn't ask for clarification.
Thankfully, about three hours after receiving the message, I think I figured out what had happened. Throughout my site I have links to the page about the sample edit. I thought I had changed the wording on all those pages to take out the word free. I have about 200 pages on my site, and pages on a Web site don't just follow each other like they do in a book. This makes the search much more difficult than it would if I were simply searching a hard copy page after page. I finally found what I think is the culprit and I've removed one word to bring that link into compliance.
I still feel sick that someone out there believed me to be dishonest and unethical. I doubt that person is likely to read my blog. But if (s)he does, I hope this explanation serves its purpose.
It's one thing to think me arrogant or unfair to charge for the samples. It's another entirely to think me deliberately disingenuous.
Oct 8, 2007, How to Market Your Book: An Interview With Lee Fodi
Lee Fodi, prolific children's writer takes time to give an interview. His story may help you with how to market your book.
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Oct 5, 2007, Writing Your Socks Off
No matter how little or how much you write or have published , you're sure to benefit from the 3rd annual Fall Fest, Nov.3/07.
Starring ...
Adam Schroeder, author of "Empress of Asia" which has been nominated as a finalist for Canada's First Novel Award in its 30th year.With many years of experience teaching creative writing, he brings to Powell River his workshopWriting Your Socks Off Saturday, Nov.3, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. French Club on 5110 Manson in Powell River
Rub shoulders with other authors, stock up on books, go away motivated and inspired.Registration $50.00 includes Nov.3 workshop, handouts, refreshments, but not lunch.
Registration form at: www.festivalofwriters.com
Contact Barb at:
Phone: 604-485-2732
Toll Free: 1-866-373-2607
Oct 4, 2007, Yemeni Author's Autobiography
From living the life of a child bride, married at the age of ten to an older man she had never met, to working as a press and cultural counselor at the the Yemeni Embassy in Paris, Khadija Al Salam has shown herself a passionate and courageous woman. She has worked in radio and television, studied in the US, made films, and written about her life.
Her autobiography, The Tears of Sheba, gives readers a view of Yemin from the 1960s onward, a view hidden from most westerners.
Tears launches in Bahrain this weekend and is expected to be available in North America by the end of October.