SELF-EDITING BOOKS

Editing, self (books). When an author edits his or her own book. Not every writer can afford to pay for a professional edit, so those who can't may have to resort to self-editing. If you are a skilled writer with a clear understanding and good skills in spelling and grammar, that will help. Always read your manuscript aloud to pinpoint problem areas. You definitely want to run spell-check, but then be sure to print out the manuscript and run through it again, being sure to correct all spelling, punctuation, grammar, or typos. If you're new to writing for publication, you need to know that the old rule to leave two spaces at the end of a sentence has now been changed to one space.

If editing fiction, you will need to check some of these things: (1) Does your lead captivate the reader on the first page? (2) Follow each character individually through the story to be sure each has a unique personality, consistent and realistic dialogue. (3) Be sure you don't have too many characters, especially if they have not been appropriately introduced to the readers. Has each character's story been wrapped up at the end? (4) Check your descriptions. Too much too quickly? Are you overwhelming the reader with background information? (5) Check for dull or boring sections. What can you do to increase the pace? (6) Check for passive writing and change it to active. (7) Are your transitions smooth? (8) Do you show as much as possible—not tell? (9) Check length of chapters. Are some of them too long? (10) Does your conclusion wrap up all the plot points?

If editing nonfiction you will also start the same way as with fiction. In addition, check for these additional fixes: (1) Does the lead capture the reader's interest? (2) Have you given them a reason to read your book? (3) Have you illustrated your points with anecdotes or case studies the readers can identify with? (4) Have you included quotes from authorities, relevant statistics, history, or whatever fits your topic? (5) Have you double-checked all facts, quotes, or other information for accuracy? (6) Have you used unfamiliar or technical words—not defined—that the readers won't understand? Here are more tips to help with self-editing: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-plus-ways-to-improve-your-writing-by-self-editing.

NEW MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG MEN

Act Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. Be what you were created for. - Based on Micah 6:8 Contact: Heather Samson, 847-809-8122,feedback@be-radiant.com RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 28, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Announcing VALIANT: an annual Catholic magazine for young men published by Radiant Awakening Magazine LLC (www.be-radiant.com) and coming out nationwide Nov. 16, 2015. After numerous requests from its loyal readers asking for a men's publication that would cover traditional topics of the Catholic Church in a modern and exciting way, the publisher of Radiant Magazine created VALIANT. The premier issue showcases men from all walks of life: professional athletes, elite soldiers, inspiring priests, national speakers and missionaries, top bloggers, famous actors, musicians and more who are living out their respective callings daily with courage and conviction. "I was completely overwhelmed by the stories these men shared! After seeing mass shootings, cheating scandals, drug overdoses and divorces in daily headlines, I felt called to bring together and share stories of men striving for righteousness who are not afraid to put another's needs before their own. Men of all ages will be inspired and excited to read first-hand how God is working through these men and after reading VALIANT, they will ask themselves, 'What is my role in Christ's body?' Our mission with VALIANT is to show young men in today's culture other strong, humble men who are incredibly successful, talented and actually living out their faith daily in their own lives," said VALIANT's Publisher Rose Rea. If you want to learn more about what Matt Birk, Philip Rivers, Matt Maher, Mark Hart, Jason Evert, a U.S. Marine Corps Super Stallion Pilot, Ennie Hickman, The Catholic Gentleman, EWTN's hosts of Life on the Rock, a mountain climber and a U.S. Navy SEAL shared in VALIANT, be sure to reserve your copy today. www.be-valiant.net To interview Publisher Rose Rea or learn more about VALIANT, contact Heather Samson, VALIANT's Marketing Specialist, at feedback@be-radiant.com.

DEADLINES

Excerpt from The Writing World Defined--A to Z (order at www.stuartmarket.com)

Deadline. The final date, specified in your contract or correspondence with an editor, for turning in your manuscript. For a writer, there are few things more important for building their career than meeting those deadlines. Your deadline is set as part of the editor's production schedule, and if you miss the deadline, it throws off the schedule of all the other people involved in the production of the magazine or book. If the deadline is with a periodical, it could mean your piece would be dropped from the scheduled issue and reassigned to a future one, or you could simply be replaced and you would lose the sale altogether. The worst-case scenario would be that the publication would not buy anything from you in the future.

        The ramifications of missing a book deadline could be even more dire. There are a lot of people and services involved with putting out a book, and all those services are scheduled ahead of time based on your deadline. If you miss it, you basically move to the end of the line and all the services have to be rescheduled. Even worse from your perspective is that the editor may lose interest in your project and move on to working with other authors—those who meet or beat their deadline.

        Of course, there are sometimes legitimate reasons for missing a deadline, such as extended illness or a death in the family. If something like that should come up and it looks like you are going to miss the deadline, let the editor know immediately—do not wait until the deadline is there or passed. The sooner you let them know, the easier it will be for them to adjust their production schedule.

Some writers actually work better if they have a deadline, so if that's the case with you, put your own writing projects on deadlines to keep you motivated. For tips on how to consistently meet your deadlines, go to: http://writeitsideways.com/how-to-meet-your-writing-deadlines-every-time-2.

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS - WK OF 11/1

• THE POWER OF I AM by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #2 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield/Moody) is #2 in Relationships.
• FOR THE LOVE by Jen Hatmaker (Nelson Books) is #3 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith.
• FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer (B&H Publishing) is #5 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith.
• AGENTS OF BABYLON by David Jeremiah (Tyndale House) is #8 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN by Gary D. Chapman and Ross Campbell (Northfield) is #7 in Family and #9 in Relationships.
• LOVE DOES by Bob Goff (Thomas Nelson) is #8 in Relationships.
• DESTINY by T. D. Jakes (FaithWords) is #10 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith.
• EVE by Wm. Paul Young (Howard Books) is #12 in Paperback Trade Fiction.
• WHERE I AM by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #16 in Hardcover NonFiction.

ABINGDON EDITOR RETIRES

Abingdon Acquisitions Editor Retires

Abingdon Press announced that senior acquisitions editor Ramona Richards will leave the company on December 11. Richards will pursue a freelance writing and editing career.

“My time at Abingdon has been a crucial fulcrum point in my career," Richards said. “I will miss being a part of one of the best creative teams I’ve ever worked with."

She worked for Thomas Nelson Publishers, now Harper Collins Christian Publishing, from 1992 to 2000 and from 2005-2009 as a Bible project editor, CD-ROM editor and associate acquisitions editor before moving to Abingdon in August 2010. She oversaw the company’s fiction line and, more recently, its Christian living line.

Over the course of her career, Richards worked with bestselling authors Sharyn McCrumb, Deborah Raney, and Jim Kraus. Richards has also worked with titles that have won a Christy Award, a Carol Award, and three Christian Retailing Best awards.

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY

The way you pronounce words and the pitch of your voice 

has a lot to do with your listeners' opinion of you. 

Work at improving both.

CHARACTER TAGS

Excerpt for The Writing world Defined--A to Z: (www.stuartmarket.com) 

Attributes of characters setting them apart from one another. In fiction, it is important the readers can see a specific difference between characters. One way to make those characters distinctly different is to give them a variety of tags. By tags, we mean such things as their manner of speech, the way they interact with the other characters, a favorite saying or cliche they repeat regularly, a tune they whistle or hum, perhaps a gesture such as pulling their earlobe, or twisting their hair around a finger. Tags can either endear a character to us or simply annoy us—and the reader. A good example of characters with very distinctive tags would be the various Charley Brown characters. We are never likely to get them mixed up. When writing a children’s book or a novel, you want each character to be so distinctly different the reader can usually tell who's talking without being told. Character tags can also include the character's choice of clothing or hair style. If you are able to describe a favorite storybook or novel character from memory, that description will include the character's various tags. In creating your own characters, if you are not able to describe them accurately, it is usually because you have not endowed him or her with those unique tags. To learn more about character tags, go to: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/character-tags-in-fiction.

NEW AT ZONDERKIDS

Zonderkidz, the children’s division for Zondervan, recently announced the onboarding of two new acquisition editors and a new senior marketing director. Sara Bierling has been named acquisition editor overseeing Zonderkidz Bibles. Robyn Burwell is the new acquisition editor championing book titles geared for readers, ages nine and up. Kevin Traub will lead as the new senior marketing director for Kidz Bibles and Storybook Bibles.  More

RETURN TO THE BLOG

Hi all--I just returned from a week's vacation on the Oregon Coast. Had a wonderful time with mostly sunny weather. Sorry you didn't get posts the last few days, but I'm back and on schedule again.

Sally

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS - WK OF 10/25

• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield/Moody) is #2 in Relationships; and #7 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• THE POWER OF I AM by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #2 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• FOR THE LOVE by Jen Hatmaker (Nelson Books) is #3 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith.
• FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer (B&H Publishing) is #5 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith; and #10 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• AGENTS OF BABYLON by David Jeremiah (Tyndale House) is #6 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN by Gary D. Chapman and Ross Campbell (Northfield) is #7 in Family and #9 in Relationships.
• LOVE DOES by Bob Goff (Thomas Nelson) is #8 in Relationships.
• EVE by Wm. Paul Young (Howard Books) is #9 in Paperback Trade Fiction.
• DESTINY by T. D. Jakes (FaithWords) is #10 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith.
• WHERE I AM by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #17 in Hardcover NonFiction; #19 in combined Print & E-Book NonFiction.

BOOK AUCTION

Excerpt from The Writing World Defined--A to Z: (www.stuartmarket.com)

Book auction. A virtual auction taking place when more than one publisher wants to publish the same book. In some cases, an important or desirable manuscript will be bid on by more than one publisher who wants to publish it. Generally, such an auction will be orchestrated by the agent who represents the author. Typically the author is well known, but in some cases it may be the high marketability of the topic of a manuscript from an unknown author that prompts the auction. The agent will send the proposal simultaneously to a number of publishers who would likely be interested. They are not bidding a specific dollar amount in these private auctions, but offering an amount for the advance, plus additional terms such as royalty percentages, guaranteed promotion budget, and any other promises that may entice the author to accept their bid. It is auctions such as this that result in the high advances we hear about. The book auction is still fairly rare in Christian publishing, but is seen more often in the general market. For details on how book auctions work, go to: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/19/bidding-for-authors-when-books-sell-at-auction.

SPEAKING TIP OF THE DAY

Depending on the venue, they may be video taping your speech. 

If so, ask if you can get a copy of the video. Watch it later by 

yourself or with friends who will help critique it.

ACCEPTANCE LETTER

Excerpt from The Writing World Defined--A to Z: 

Acceptance letter. A letter from a publisher accepting your submission. Such a letter from a periodical will typically indicate the editor wants to buy your manuscript, what the payment will be, whether the payment will be on acceptance or publication, what rights they are buying, and perhaps in what edition of the periodical the piece will appear. Although some publishers will still send this letter by snail mail, the majority now do it by email.

With a book publisher, the initial submission will usually be a book proposal. In that case, the first acceptance letter will indicate the publisher is willing to look at your full manuscript—not that he is committing to buying it. If the initial submission was the full manuscript, the acceptance letter will usually indicate their desire to purchase your manuscript, and it may arrive with a copy of the contract or a list of basic terms they will be offering in a contract, along with any other details you need at that point. This Website lists some publishers open to accepting books at this time: http://myperfectpitch.com/book-publishers-accepting-submissions, and http://www.christianpublishers.net/?page_id=846.

IS CHRISTMAS COMING?

        I went into a Hallmark store the other day and was shocked to see Christmas merchandise out already. On the other hand, it reminded me that as writers we have to start thinking about Christmas and other holidays long before others want to be reminded of them. Unfortunately, even if you started submitting those holiday pieces now, you would be too late for this holiday season—at least for most publications. However, it could be a good time to come up with ideas for next year.

        Many new writers don’t realize how far ahead most publications start working on future holiday issues. Some work as much as 18 months ahead. Newspapers may have a lead time as short as three or four months, but most publications are working 9-12 months ahead.

         If you like doing holiday pieces, I would encourage you to seek out those publications that produce holiday issues (many do not). The best way to locate those is using the topical listings in the Christian Writers Market Guide under “Holiday/Seasonal.” After you identify some possible markets for your holiday pieces, you might want to make up a submissions calendar that indicates when you must submit to each possible market.

        Keep in mind that it’s best not to wait until the last minute to make your submission to a particular publication. Editors will be nervous about filling out their holiday issues and will be hoping to find appropriate material early. If producing holiday materials is one of your specialties, editors will start watching for your submissions.

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

“Ask yourself in the quietest hour of your night; must I write? Dig down into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be in the affirmative, if you may meet this solemn question with a strong and simple, I must, then build your life according to this necessity.”

                                                                                          --Ranier Maria Rilke, Letter to a Young Poet

TIME TO SUBMIT - FINAL PART

        Once you have lined up a list of potential markets for each category or genre you are going to write in, then you are ready to start submitting. Every time you have an idea for a new project, determine what the best market might be (from your list), review their guidelines and sample copies or catalog. Then go to work on that query, article, or book proposal. You may have a skeleton query or proposal in your computer, but you’ll always want to personalize it to reflect the needs or wants of each individual publisher before you submit it. 

FEBRUARY WRITER'S CONFERENCE

February 24 - February 28, 2016 Three Things You Should Know:   There are three things that set Florida Christian Writers Conference apart from the rest.   1. Our NEW Critique Continuing Track. (What's that, you ask? ... We're so glad you did ...)    The Continuous Critique Track (Must Pre-Register)   If you’ve ever attended a writers conference and thought I wish I could actually work on my current project, this track is for you. Using Word Weavers International critique group guidelines, attendees will have the opportunity to refine their current work-in-progress. For those who aren’t familiar with the WW critique method, pre-conference emails will be sent explaining formatting requirements and critique procedure. Participants must bring six pre-printed copies each, of 4-5 submissions of 1500 words. (That’s a potential 6000-7500 words critiqued. Awesome, right?) Attendees will be placed in groups of no more than 6 and according to genre.    Space is limited and is on a first come, first served basis to those who register for the entire conference. Come discover what you’re doing right, what needs improvement, and how to make those improvements.   Shellie Arnold and Kristen Stieffel CCT Leaders   2. Our amazing Book Proposal Studio   Our past conferees have RAVED about this studio. Come early (Wednesday) for a three-plus-hour workshop. Walk in with an idea and walk out with a fully-printed book proposal, ready to show to our illustrious agents and editors at FCWC. For more information, click the link at the top.   3. Our Book Proposal Pitch Workshop   Also held on Wednesday and taught by the amazing Fay Lamb, this workshop teaches you how to determine your work's elevator "pitch." Don't be caught alone with an editor or agent and without your pitch, people!    This workshop will be held on Wednesday afternoon 2:40 - 5:30, and again on Thursday morning 9:00 - 10:00 (abbreviated version).   It's Not Too Late!   While it is too late to use your $100 discount to the full conference, it's not too late to use your Word Weavers discount (does not apply to commuter rates) of $50. If you are not familiar with this discount, email Eva Marie Everson, FCWC Director, at WordWeaversInternational@aol.com FMI.   Also ... if you register between now and December 31, 2015, you'll receive the following:   1. Free Flash Drive (chock full of WW notes, workshop notes, faculty bios, etc.) 2. 5% off bookstore purchase (one time use only, but goes toward the entire purchase) 3. Free VIP Breakfasts (where you can hear three of our illustrious faculty members speak just for you)   So ... if you are a WW member, that's a discount of $90 plus 5% off your bookstore purchase! Where else can you get such a deal?   If you are not a WW member, you still save $25 for the flash drive, $15 for the breakfasts, and 5% for your entire one-time purchase in the bookstore.  What a deal!   Our Latest Blogs   If you haven't already, check out our latest blogs:    1. A Sneak-Peek at a New FCWC Class  2. When Balance and Writing Don't Co-Exist 3. Just Do Your Part   Faculty Spotlight   Click here to find out more about Lindsey Brackett: Florida's Fabulous Faculty See you in February!   Eva Marie Everson Mark Hancock Directors, FCWC   Sarah Carpenter Bulls Manager, FCWC   Taryn Souders Social Director, FCWC

follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2015 Word Weavers Intl, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email after attending the Florida Christian Writers Conference. Our mailing address is: Word Weavers Intl 530 Lake Kathryn Cir Casselberry, FL 32707

MARKETING A BOOK - PART 7

        To find a list of appropriate book publishers, you will go through much the same process. Start with the topical listing for the topic you have selected for your book for a basic list of publishers interested in that topic. Check out their listing in the market guide for additional information and get those catalogs and writers’ guidelines (usually available on their Website). Review the guidelines with that highlighter in hand—highlighting the comments that come across either positively or negatively. Start a list of publishers you want to submit to.

        In marketing a book, your goal is to find a publisher known for doing the category of books that you would fit in, but that doesn’t already have a book on the specific aspect of the topic that your book will address. For example, my first book was a handbook for Sunday school teachers that covered all the various aspects of teaching a Sunday school class. So when I went looking for a publisher, I needed a publisher known for publishing a wide variety of Christian education resources, but that had not published a comprehensive handbook like mine. What you want is a publisher in the right field—but that has a hole you can fill. Typically a publisher is not going to publish a book that is in direct competition to a book already in their line—so avoid those publishers where your book would compete, rather than compliment.

        The way you start to identify the proper publishers is to spend some time perusing those book catalogs you sent for. First, get a feel for the overall contents of the catalog—what kind of books do they publish overall? Are you comfortable with the topics they cover and the theological stance they promote? Next, check to see if they have a good number of books in your topic area, and if so, is there that hole for you to fill? If not, then move on to the next catalog. If so, add them to your list of potential publishers.

        With the list in hand, visit your local bookstore to see what you can find on the shelves for your topic, and from your selected publishers. Which publisher is best represented? Which have the most appealing titles and covers? Speak to the store’s book buyer and ask which publisher he/she thinks of first when ordering books on your topic. Ask which books are currently most popular in your subject area. Those are books you should read and report on in your book proposal.

NY TIMES CHRISTIAN BESTSELLERS - WK OF OCTOBER 18

• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield/Moody) is #2 in Relationships; and #5 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• FOR THE LOVE by Jen Hatmaker (Nelson Books) is #3 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith; and #11 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• FERVENT by Priscilla Shirer (B & H Publishing) is #5 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith; and #6 in Advice, How-To & Misc.
• EVE by Wm. Paul Young (Howard Books) is #6 in Paperback Trade Fiction.
• THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN by Gary D. Chapman and Ross Campbell (Northfield) is #7 in Family and #9 in Relationships.
• LOVE DOES by Bob Goff (Thomas Nelson) is #8 in Relationships.
• DESTINY by T. D. Jakes (FaithWords) is #10 in Religion, Spirituality & Faith.

ANALYZING THOSE MARKETS - PART 6

        When those guidelines and sample copies are in hand, you’re ready to start the hard work of marketing research. Read the guidelines carefully and use two highlighter--one color to highlight any passages that indicate this is a good market for your writing—and the second color to indicate that it’s not. Then read the sample copy or copies (the more copies you can review, the better) cover to cover. Make notes on any insights that come from that reading, such things as: likes first-person articles, has a folksy-friendly tone, uses lots of personal experience anecdotes—anything that will help you fit in if you decide to write for them.

        For those that look like good prospects, go a step further and do a closer analysis of what elements the article includes. In the margin next to each paragraph identify the contents: anecdote, case study, statistics, personal experience, narration, quote from an authority, etc. What you are looking for is an indication of how much outside input is expected for a piece for this publication. Generally speaking, the higher the payment, the more research you must do and the more evidence you have to bring in to indicate this is more than just your idea.

        As you go through your stack of guidelines and copies, you will be eliminating those you don’t fit in with and adding those you like to your growing list of publications that match your selected topics or types of writing.

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” Toni Morrison

SAMPLE COPIES, GUIDELINES & CATALOGS - PART 5

A Word About Sample Copies, Guidelines & Catalogs

        I’ve known writers over the years who tried to short-cut the marketing process by skipping this step of obtaining and studying the guidelines, copies, and catalogs. They often ask if they really have to pay attention to these things. If you ignore them, you do so at your peril. One of the biggest complaints I get from editors is that many of the writers who submit to them have obviously never seen a copy of their magazine or know what kinds of articles or books they publish.

        I recommend that you keep the guidelines in a loose-leaf notebook with alphabetical dividers and keep them close at hand for ready reference. I like to keep the sample periodicals in magazine storage boxes—using a different labeled box for each category being targeted—such as children, teens, pastors, women, etc. Categories would match the types or topics of material you write.

TARGET APPROPRIATE PUBLISHERS - PART 4

        The Christian Writers’ Market Guide will help you more easily target the appropriate publishers. In the guide you will find topical listings that will indicate exactly which publishers are interested in a selection of almost 150 different topics. In the magazine section they are also broken down by that target audience, so you can select the age group or specific audience and the periodicals listed will match that audience.

        Your goal as you use the guide is to start compiling a list of possible publishers for each topic or type of writing you are targeting. For periodicals, you will want to send for their writers’ guidelines and a sample copy. For book publishers, send for their writers’ guidelines and a copy of their latest catalog. The market guide will tell you the size of envelope and the amount of postage needed for your SASE. If you have Internet access, you can copy the guidelines directly from their Websites.

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.” Ray Bradbury

STUDY THE MARKET FIRST - PART 3

        The real key to marketing success is finding your markets first and then writing a piece to fit the unique needs of that market. Most writers fail because they write an entire article, story, or book first, and then struggle as they try to find a market that fits what they have created. Often there is no good fit for the material in that format.

        How much better it is if you find the markets that fit your topics and writing style and write to fit their specific needs. It helps a lot if you know ahead of time what topics they want, the length they prefer, what audience they are targeting, and any special requirements they have—such as lots of anecdotes, personal experiences, or in-depth research. You may not sell every article you write taking this approach, but the odds of success improve greatly. Even the rejected pieces will tell the editor you’ve done your homework and know exactly what they publish. 

SETTING YOUR DIRECTION - PART 2

        You first must decide what kind of material you are most capable of and most excited about writing. What ignites your passion? Set a target for what you want to write during the next 3-5 years. Be specific as far as the types of writing—books, feature articles, children’s fiction—and about the topics you are most interested in and qualified to write. Today, more than ever, publishers are demanding that authors have appropriate credentials or have paid their dues by establishing a reputation as a writer who can produce a certain type of writing or who is recognized as an “expert” in their chosen field of writing. Your goal should be to develop the kind of credentials or reputation in your field that brings the editors to you with assignments for articles or books. Focus on your specific writing topics and goals.

        I run into first-time authors all the time who are attempting to start out by writing a book. I always recommend they go back and begin with articles or other short pieces. There is a lot to learn about writing that is best learned by creating and polishing those shorter pieces. It also allows you to begin developing your reputation and credentials for writing those books in the future.

        Give some thought, too, to who you are going to write for. Many of the topics you might chose to pursue can be written to a variety of audiences, so don’t limit yourself to just one. Most publications target a specific age group or demographic. If you try to write for too broad a market—such as adults—you may miss hitting any target. If the publication is geared to adults 20-40, they aren’t going to be interested in an article on retirement—unless it is geared to starting your retirement plans early. Look at your topic and come up with a list of all the potential age groups or audiences that might be interested and hone the material to fit their specific needs.

YOUNG PEOPLE PREFER PRINT TO E-BOOKS

Published September 28, 2015. By Charlotte Eyre

• Share 
 
 
 
 

Print is still more popular than e-books amongst readers aged 16-24, although teenagers are more likely to read e-books than their older counterparts, according to the results of a survey carried out for The Bookseller Children’s Conference.

Luke Mitchell carried out the survey to mark the launch of ‘SYN: State of the Youth Nation’, a new research tool from market research company YouthSight.

Out of 1,000 respondents aged 16-24, 64% said they preferred print books, 16% said e-books, and 20% said they didn’t mind.

When asked how often they read e-books, 32% said they never read e-books, 35% said once a month or less, 8% said once a week or less, and 7% said more than once a week.

However, the respondents aged 16-19 are more likely to read e-books than the 20-24s, because 14% of the younger group read e-books at least once a month, compared to only 7% of the older respondents.

The 16-19s are also less likely to have a preference for either print or e-books, with 23% of that group saying they are agnostic about format. Less than a fifth of the older group said they didn’t have a preference.

The younger age group were also more likely to say they don’t read any books (23%) than the older group (16%).

When it comes to electronic reading devices, nearly half of all of those surveyed (43%) said they read using their smartphones. The next most popular device was a Kindle, used by 34%, then iPad (27%), laptop (23%), other tablet (19%), desktop computer (3%).

The majority (64%) said less than £3 is the right price for an e-book, whilst 26% said they would be willing to pay between £3 and £5. 

One respondent said: “E-books should not cost the same as a print book. Sometimes print books are cheaper than their electronic equivalents!”

NEW AT B & H PUBLISHING

B&H PUBLISHING WELCOMES KATY BOATMAN AS MARKETING STRATEGIST FOR WOMEN'S TRADE BOOKS
B&H Publishing announces today the hiring of Katy Boatman as its Marketing Strategist for Women’s Trade Books. Boatman begins her new role this month. “The Women's Books line is experiencing a season of incredible favor, opportunity, and growth,” mentioned Jennifer Lyell, B&H Trade Book Publisher. “We are so thankful for the authors with whom we get to partner and know that strategic and thoughtful marketing is crucial to maximum Kingdom impact of those messages. I could not be more thrilled that Katy is joining our team to lead the marketing efforts around these titles and brands. We believe she is the best in the business and look forward with anticipation to all the Lord is going to do through her work."  More

MARKETING - A MATTER OF TIME - PART 1

        If there is one thing I’ve learned about marketing over the years, it’s that it tends to be a problem—or at least a frustration—for nearly everyone. I’ve given a lot of thought to why that is, and the conclusion I’ve reached is that it’s about the time. The majority of writers see marketing as a sideline—almost an afterthought to the writing itself. If you’ve had experience with any kind of a sales-oriented business, you know that marketing the product has to be at the center of everything you do. The same is true with writing. Until you reach the point where you give it the time it deserves, you will continue to struggle with the marketing process.

FICTION CONTEST

The 3rd Annual Lyra Contest is Looking for the Best Independent Novels of 2015 Enter Today   Entry Fee is still ONLY $40! Grand Prize of $1000 CASH USD* Second Place earns $300! Third Place takes home $150! Enter BEFORE December 31st, 2015   Enter Now Click Here for Contest Rules *All prizes and entry fees are in American Dollars.

FINDING THE RIGHT MARKET - INTRODUCTION

        Generally speaking, writers fall into one of two categories: (1) They are creative writers who write for the pure pleasure and challenge of it and have no inclination toward ever seeing their writing published. Or, (2) they write for publication and with a motivating desire to see their words in print. It is for the latter group that this chapter is written. An alternate title for this chapter could be, “You Don’t Have to Market Unless You Want to Get Paid.”

        Writing for publication is a business, and like any business you must give special attention to the product you have to offer (other chapters in this book will deal with developing a good product), and to your market—those customers who are going to buy your stories, articles, poems, books and the like. Our goal here is to teach you how to match that polished product to the editor or publisher who needs it.

AND THE AUTHOR SAID . . .

“I believe the main thing in beginning a novel is to feel, not that you can write it, but that it exists on the far side of a gulf, which words can't cross: that it's to be pulled through only in a breathless anguish. Now when I sit down to write an article, I have a net of words which will come down on the idea certainly in an hour or so. But a novel . . . to be good should seem, before one writes it, something unwriteable; but only visible; so that for 9 months one lives in despair, and only when one has forgotten what one meant does the book seem tolerable.” --Virginia Woolf

A BOOK YOU NEED

Order your book now! View this email in your browser

There are so many books on writing. If I can only buy one—which one should it be? THE WRITING WORLD DEFINED—A TO Z

After creating and updating the Christian Writers' Market Guide 27 times, it's no surprise that Sally Stuart would be the one to create the most knowledge-filled and comprehensive book on the publishing industry—and writing in general. Not only definitions and detailed explanations on every term you can think of related to writing, but the best website she could find that provides even more how-to and  examples on each topic. This is a book you'll turn to daily as you get deeper into this writing business. To place a book order, click HERE or call 503-642-9844.    The Writing World Defined: A to Z retails at $20.99 plus $3.22 postage ($24.21 total).

Here's what some professional writers are saying about this book: “Many, I among them, consider Sally Stuart the dean of American Christian freelance writing. She's been at the craft as long as any of us, setting an example of excellence while acquiring and encyclopedic knowledge of the industry. All that and more she offers here, in a compendium you'll quickly find indispensable. I expect it to inform my own writing from now on.”                                                                                                 Jerry B. Jenkins    www.JerryJenkins.com “The Writing World Defined—A to Z is a must-have for every writers' or would-be writers' reference shelf. Sally not only defines terms, she teaches how to use them, making this comprehensive source more valuable than a dictionary.”                 Lin Johnson, Write-to-Publish Conference Director & Mng. Editor, Christian Communicator “Wow! Not only does Sally Stuart define words writers need to know, she removes the frustration of not understanding the definition by italicizing words that she also defines. This is an amazing reference book by an amazing author who has long been known and appreciated for generously sharing her knowledge with writers at all levels.”                                                          Marlene Bagnull, Author Write His Answer,                                                           Director, Colorado & Greater Philly Christian Writers Conferences “Wondering how to navigate the unique world of author-speak? Look no further than Sally Stuart's The Writing World Defined: A to Z. In this amazing volume, Stuart's expertise shines through every definition, and beyond that, offers wisdom for your own practical application. Stuart helped me interpret my first book contract 22 years ago, and I continue to consult her expert knowledge. Essential for every writer!”                                                                               Lucinda Secrest McDowell, author Live These Words Here's just a brief example of the nearly 800 definitions waiting for you in this must-have reference book: Advance. Amount of money a publisher pays to an author up front, against future royalties. The advance must be earned back before you receive future royalty payments. The amount varies greatly from publisher to publisher (typically $1,000 to $10,000), and is often paid in two or three installments (on signing the contract, on delivery of the manuscript, and on publication of the book). Some smaller publishers do not pay an advance. The amount of the advance can be negotiated at the contract stage. Some writers choose not to take an advance so they don't have to worry about earning it back.         Payment of an advance represents a risk on the part of the publisher, because they can never be sure the author will earn back that advanced amount. If an author doesn't earn it back, they do not have to reimburse the publisher for the shortfall. About the only reason authors would have to pay back an advance is if  they didn't submit an acceptable final draft of the book, or failed to live up to any other clause in the contract.         Originally, the purpose of an advance was to support the writer while he completed the manuscript, and if that is a need, it can still be based on that today. However, many writers feel like the amount of the advance is an indication of how well the publisher thinks the book will do in the marketplace, and how committed they are to promoting the book. For answers to the most common questions about advances and royalties, go to:http://writerunboxed.com/2011/11/28/11-frequently-asked-questions-about-book-royalties-advances-and-making-money. Back-cover copy. The text appearing on the back of the book jacket for a hardback book, or on the back cover of a paperback book. It might include a teaser summary of the book; a few endorsements; and/or an author bio. This content is usually prepared by an editor at the publishing house using the information provided by the author, but in smaller houses, the author may be asked to write it. Usually the author will be given an opportunity to see and approve it before it goes to press. Since reading this  often determines whether or not the potential reader buys or decides to read the book, it's important the information is correct and the comments on the book compelling enough to capture the reader's interest. If the publisher has someone else do the back cover copy, and you think you can do better, let them know, and write up your own version. Some authors will include the back-cover copy as part of their book proposal. For tips on writing persuasive back-cover copy, and some samples for various fiction genres, go to:http://www.marilynnbyerly.com/blurb.html. For general tips on this topic, go to:http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2013/05/casey-demchak-back-cover-copy. Character tags. Attributes of characters setting them apart from one another. In fiction, it is important the readers can see a specific difference between characters. One way to make those characters distinctly different is to give them a variety of tags. By tags, we mean such things as their manner of speech, the way they interact with the other characters, a favorite saying or cliche they repeat regularly, a tune they whistle or hum, perhaps a gesture such as pulling their earlobe, or twisting their hair around a finger. Tags can either endear a character to us or simply annoy us—and the reader. A good example of characters with very distinctive tags would be the various Charlie Brown characters. We are never likely to get them mixed up. When writing a children’s book or a novel, you want each character to be so distinctly different the reader can usually tell who's talking without being told. Character tags can also include the character's choice of clothing or hair style. If you are able to describe a favorite storybook or novel character from memory, that description will include the character's various tags. In creating your own characters, if you are not able to describe them accurately, it is usually because you have not endowed him or her with those unique tags. To learn more about character tags, go to: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/character-tags-in-fiction. **One writer reported that she keeps her copy of this book next to her bed and reads a few pages every night as she builds her knowledge of the writing world.   Facebook Website Blog Copyright © 2015 Christian Writers' Marketplace, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you have expressed interest in the writing materials developed by the Christian Writers' Marketplace. Our mailing address is: Christian Writers' Marketplace 15935 SW Greens Way Tigard, OR 97224