Please Don’t Feed the Writer

No, it’s not the name of a law firm, it’s the fundamentals of good journalism.  If you plan on writing any thype of journalistic article, you’ll need these questions need to be answered.  It’s a simple formula that has worked in journalism for a very, very long time, but that some reporters, especially on the Internet, seem to have forgotten.

Let me break the “Five W’s and an H” down for you.

Who: Who is the article about?  Is it a person, an institution, a government body?

What: What event are you covering?  What makes this newsworthy? What is the point of this article?

When: When did this event take place, or when will it take place? (In the old days of news, this would have been the dateline.) Without this little piece of information, the story is useless to the reader.
Where: Where did the event take place, or where will it take place?  Obviously, if you are reporting something happening in Hoboken New Jersey, it probably won’t have a lot of impact on someone in San Diego California, but may have significant impact on someone in New York.

Why: Why did this happen, or why is it taking place?  Knowing that it is happening loses a lot if it’s importance if you don’t know why it is happening.

How:  How did this event or these events take place?  How did they play out?  How was a problem resolved?

As you can see, these are pretty straightforward guidelines.  In journalism all of these questions should be answered as close to the beginning of the article as possible and it is recommended that they are answered in the first two paragraphs.

I’ll let you mull this over for a bit and come back later today with an example of a short article written in this format.  Until then,

Happy Writing!

Let’s face it, a lot of online book reviews are done by people who have absolutely no training in writing, let alone how to write a review.  If you’ve ever come across one of these reviews, you’ll know it.  I’ve personally seen reviews with a 4.5 star (out of five) rating, but to read the review you would think that the reviewer despised the story.

You really need to think these things through before you hit “publish”, don’t you?

I just had the responsibility of writing a review myself.  In doing so I stumbled on this article at Schoolastic by Rod Philbrick.  It is hands down the most informative I’ve ever read.  Give it a read, you’ll be glad you did!

A pitch is a letter or email sent to an editor for approval of a concept. Think of it as a sales tool designed to excite the editor enough to want to read the article you’ve been wanting to write.

Just mentioning “the pitch” has been known to send writers into the fetal position. Most writers absolutely abhor the idea of writing a pitch. Somewhere along the line writers have begun to think of the pitch as something complicated and almost magical. The reality that this is a simple, structured format that is extremely easy to create has been overshadowed by a need to over-analyze the concept, in turn causing the writer to turn something simple into a very daunting task.

It is time to allow the fear of the pitch to slip from your consciousness. There really isn’t anything more difficult about writing a pitch than there is about writing an article, a poem, a short story or a novel. If you can write any one of these things well enough to have it accepted then you have no need to fear writing a pitch. What you do need to do is actually write it. Once you’ve done a few the stress factor will wear off, I promise.

Now that I’ve covered that, let’s jump in and cover the mechanics of the query letter (or pitch.. They are one and the same.)

(more…)

One of the most necessary and most often overlooked parts of your web presence is the “About” page. It doesn’t matter whether you are a blogger, an author, a journalist or a company, the “about me” page can either entice the casual reader into returning for another round, or it can send them permanently in the opposite direction, never to be seen again.

I’ll be linking to the most concise article on the topic I’ve yet seen at the bottom of this entry, but first I would like to cover what an “About” page should not be.

Your about page should NOT:

• Read like the author bio in the back of a novel: This format is reserved for books, where it works well. If the format fits what you are doing on the web (i.e., if you are a fiction writer or other form of published author) expand upon the concept. Give your readers more than they will find in the dust jacket of your books, or there is no reason at all for them to read it. In fact, you’ve created an an even better reason for your readers to feel that they’ve gotten all they need from the dust jacket and they will stick with that, not your web site.
• Be a sales pitch: Your about page is there to identify who you are and what you know. It is not there to make a sale. It should only link to a product if said product or publication is relevant to establishing your value to your reader. Don’t make the mistake of trying to turn what should be informative into a push to make a buck. If you do you will be rewarded… By a loss in readership.
• Speak down to your readers: Do not attempt to come across as a “super expert”. This usually results in people feeling that you are being arrogant or pompous. They’re history, and you’re out readership.
• Be Boring: The last thing you want your about page to do is put your readers to sleep! Try to keep it interesting, but not overly long-winded. A little humor goes a long way, Make someone smile today and they will be back tomorrow. Make them snore and well…

Having said all that, I realize that my “About the Author” page is defintely not where it should be. (it’s always good to have a new project!)
For a great example on what your your “About Me” page should address, check out this article on ProBlogger.com

For a few excellent about me pages, see:

• John Chow’s About John Chow
• About Dosh Dosh
• About the Kitchen Wench
• About Simply Recipes

There are many more, but these should get you started. I know they’ve got me thinking.

The chatter in the writing world is still focused on the issue of plagiarism.  The issue currently revolves around authors in the world of fiction, but the truth of the matter is, it’s a real problem for you if you’re writing for the web as well.

I’ve heard some people grousing that no one should care.  I don’t know where they get their idea of fairness , or of ethic, but to me the thought of citing another author that has taken the time to put down original information is more than a little appalling. Weren’t we taught not to do this in grade school?  It is not only inconsiderate but rude, and leads to substandard work on our part, therefore it should never be done.

The simple way to give credit if you are writing fiction is to acknowledge the source of your research in the opening credits of the book.  A line as simple as “I could not have accurately recreated Paris in the 1900’s without the brilliant work of Steven Zdatny from his book “Hairstyles and Fashion, A Hairdresser’s History of Paris, 1910-1920″ is usually enough to stoke another author’s ego and to properly credit your research…  But was it research or plagiarism?

(more…)

Because of some good sleuthing by the ladies over at Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books, Cassie Edwards is in the middle of a maelstrom. The gals originally posted several passages from Miss Edward’s books that bore a very close resemblance (O.K., can we say a nearly word-for-word resemblance) to descriptions given in several works of non-fiction regarding the customs and practices of native American peoples. This post has gone from a blog issue to a full blown media storm. To say the least, it’s what everyone in the writing world is talking about.

Signet Books, Miss Edwards’ publisher, has released several statements. Though they seemed to be a bit on the wishy-washy side of things at the beginning of this matter, they have now stated that they will review all of Miss Edwards’ works that they represent. I’ll leave you to read their official comments on the news, or at the Smart Bitches site.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the research done. Miss Edwards has definitely taken previous printed material and used it nearly verbatim. While there may be no copyright infringement in the case of some texts which were published in the early 1900’s, there probably is a valid legal case for the use of newer printed materials.

Regardless of the legal aspects, plagiarism is simply not ethical.The original authors were not credited for their work. Instead of using these materials as valid research tools, then finding her own words to put forth her interpretations, Miss Edwards simply did what most failing high school students do. She copied her essay out of the encyclopedia.

I am very interested to see how the publishing world handles this issue and will be following this quite closely. Expect to hear more on the subject over the next few weeks.

Well guys and girls, it’s day 26 of National Novel Writing Month.  by my calculations you should have written 43,334 words by this point.  Have you gotten to that point?

If so, my sincere congratulations!

If not, don’t despair, my friend.  You’re not alone by any means. I’ve never finished a NaNo either.

Having said that, I’m pretty sure that I have, in fact, written far more than 43,334 words in the past month, but I don’t count blogging as NaNo fodder, though I know there are those who do.  Maybe next year I’ll count blogging for one blog only as NaNo qualified.  That way at least what I’m writing will be linear in nature.

Of course if you’re reading this , that means you’re on a break from your NaNo project, right?

RIGHT?

No!  you’re slacking!

GET BACK TO IT! (Just envision the whip cracking mid-air)

Now go, you’ve got work to do.  :)

Joining a writing workshop can do wonders for your writing skills.  Not only does it give you the opportunity to learn from other writers in your field, but they, in turn learn from your skills as well.  It’s a situation that benefits everyone involved, and may just be the impetus you need to get you through the weary process of completing a full length piece.

The second major benefit of a workshop is the support of others who know the challenges a writer faces.  It’s a great help to hear how they made it over the hurdles that accompany putting a story on the page.  Even if you have the most supportive family and friends in the world, it’s nice to know that someone else has been where you are at the moment.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some online workshops, with an emphasis on those that have no fees associated with them.  With any luck, I’ll stumble across one that may be of interest to you, and if I can help get your muse to sing, I’m all for it!

Many writers decide to incorporate after they have reached a certain level of income. The decision to incorporate is usually made because it can lead to a rather significant tax break, especially for a writer that earns over 100,000 per year. It also allows for the writer to draw a steady paycheck from their own income, because once incorporated, you earn a monthly salary, which is paid out by the corporation (you), to the employees of that corporation (you). Your taxes are also handled by the corporation, and depending on the benefits and other perks that the corporation (you) pays you and other factors, you may end up paying considerably less in taxes at the end of the year.

What many people don’t know is that when your corporation is first set up, you must hold a meeting of the board of directors and shareholders, even if all of these people are just you, yourself and you. You need to adopt bylaws, or if starting a L.L.C, an operating agreement. You must hold regular meetings of the board of directors with written minutes for each meeting, even if you are the only person in attendance. The I.R.S. may request these documents if you are ever audited and failure to produce them can have disastrous results.

There is a lot you need to know when starting a corporation. Luckily, there is an online resource that offers both free forms and a service that will provide prepared documents for a very reasonable $25.00 fee. You’ll also need to get a tax id number. If all of this is confusing to you, you may want to check out the differences between a corporation and a L.L.C., or simply order a corporate starter kit, which includes all the documentation and help you’ll need.

The company I’ve linked to is a Nevada corporation, but they offer services to help you become incorporated in all 50 states. If you’ve thought about it, check them out, but remember, incorporating is a huge step, and you may wish to consult a financial consultant or tax attorney before making any decision of this magnitude.

Comp cards are usually used by models and performers to highlight their “look” and leave a visual reminder with agents, producers and directors, but why shouldn’t authors get in on this trend? Perhaps having a comp card printing with your photo on it isn’t what you’re after, but imagine the impact of a comp card featuring your latest book cover. No matter where the card is left lying, it’s going to draw attention. At a trade show such as Romantic times, it could mean the difference between a new deal and no-deal.

If comp cards aren’t what you’re after in promotion, try using a postcard instead. All the same advantages apply, and as an added bonus, you can send them easily in the mail to raise awareness of your latest releases!