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Writing Etc. – November 1, 2005
ISSN: 1545-5580
Tips, Techniques, and Resources to Transform You From An Average Freelancer to A Highly Paid Professional.
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To subscr*ibe to Writing Etc. and receive the fr*e e-book, “Power Queries,” surf here:
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Forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends! They’ll be glad you did.
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In This Issue:
Notes from Minnesota
Salesman Secrets to Incredible Queries
Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career
2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career
We Recommend…
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This issue is sponsored by:
"As a 12-year-old black kid in the Mississippi Delta, I chopped cotton, raised hogs and plowed fields to help support my family of 11. Today, I’m an award-winning journalist, and former columnist for two national publications. I’m also a freelance copywriter whose words are used each day to sell millions of dollars worth of products and services. Simply stated, I wrote my way to the top using strategies that guarantee success."
Secrets of a Writing Hustler is Confessions of an Advertising Man meets On Writing Well. It’s part memoir and part how-to -- a "one-stop shop" for freelance writers, journalists, copywriters, and entrepreneurs. It provides practical, easy-to-follow ideas and instructions on how to slip through barriers, beat rejection, weave killer copy, crack multiple markets and succeed as a writer.
Throughout Secrets of a Writing Hustler, Roscoe Barnes III shares every tip, strategy, and technique he’s perfected to create words that not only change lives, but generate an income that few writers experience.
Purchase Your Copy today by clicking this link:
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Greetings from Minnesota!
I’m of to LA this week so I’m keeping it short today.
Lucy (the Rat Terrier Wonder Dog) had a fabulous Halloween. She kept sneaking “Smarties” from the candy bowl. Got at least three packs, near as I can tell. Every time I turn around, I find another chewed-through wrapper. Dang.
Lastly, as you probably already know, book returns are a regular event in the publishing world. Bookstores return books for a variety of reasons. One of my least favorite is when they return a book because either the bookstore or wholesaler got ‘em dirty.
Well, that happened to us this week. Amazon returned ten “Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success – How to Make $100,000 A Year As A Freelance Writer And Have The Time Of Your Life Doing It.”
They’re actually in good shape. Just a bit shop worn. So, I figured you might be up for a deal.
So… here’s the pitch: Use this super secret link and you can pick up your copy of Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success for 9.95 (rather than 15.95).
I’ve got the ten copies sitting on my desk right now and as soon as they’re gone, the price goes back up.
So here’s the link and enjoy your day!
http://filbertpublishing.com/Special.html
To your success,
Beth
P.S. Here’s our best seller list… be sure to pick up a copy of each of these titles. They’re awesome.
1. Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments by Beth Erickson http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm
2. Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success: How to Make $100,000 a Year as a Freelance Writer and Have The Time of Your Life Doing It. http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.htm
3. Weekly Writes: Exercises in Creative Writing by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta http://filbertpublishing.com/Weekly.htm (You’ll get a ton of fr** writing/freelancing tools direct from Shery at http://WeeklyWrites.com when you order this title!)
4. Writing Wide: Exercises in Creative Writing by Billie A. Williams http://filbertpublishing.com/WW.htm
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~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Salesman’s Secret to Writing Incredible Queries
By Beth Ann Erickson
I hate commercials. I hate ads. They interrupt my favorite shows. They eat up close to ten minutes of every prime time half hour.
If I ruled the world, television would run ad-free. So would magazines and newspapers.
And I have a hunch I’m not the only one.
That’s the reality writers have to acknowledge: Nobody wants what you’re selling. Period.
Seriously… does the world really need another book detailing an endangered heroine waiting to get saved by the brandy hero? Are the reading throngs longing for the latest html codes to optimize their website?
They’re not. And this is exactly why you need to make the concepts of good marketing your new best friend.
Once you recognize that nobody really needs your product (whether it’s a book, article, whatever), it’s your job… and your job alone… to convince them that they want it.
Good salespeople recognize this truth and instinctively create buzz around their product.
Sure, your book may contain a hero, heroine, etc. Every book does.
But what makes your book unique? What makes it different from every other book that’s going to cross in front of potential publishers? What makes your article better?
A good sales person (and that’s exactly what you are when you query editors and publishers) researches not only the customer who will ultimately use their product, they thoroughly understand the mindset of the “gate keeper” who will decide whether their “store” will carry the product.
In other words, you not only have to “wow” your future readers… you must totally impress the person who rips open your query and reads it.
You do this by digging deep. Get inside their head. Research until you have a pretty good idea exactly what will go on inside their head when they read your letter.
Tall order, eh?
Well it gets a better… remember when I mentioned that nobody likes advertising? That’s true. Editors and publishers don’t like queries either. Queries take time… just like a bad ad does.
However, EVERYONE likes a problem-solver.
When an ultra-targeted query arrives on our desks… one that effectively solves a problem (sometimes one we didn’t even know we had!) bells ring. Whistles blow. And Liz practically trips over herself to get more information about that book.
OK. I may be exaggerating a little here, but I’m sure you get the point.
So how can you apply this knowledge to your next query?
- Research your intended audience. Get to know them inside and out. Find out what makes them tick. What keeps them up at night. Weave that information in your proposal.
- Research the publisher you’re sending your query to. Don’t send them anything inappropriate. Follow their guidelines to the letter. Let them know you’re familiar with them by weaving pertinent facts into your query.
Great sales people know their audience and NEVER try to sell them. That’s because people hate to be sold. Effective sales people are problem solvers and aren’t afraid to frame themselves as such.
That’s exactly what you need to do: You’re not selling an article. You’re not pitching a book. You’re solving problems. You’re entertaining people.
You’re definitely selling anyone. You’re your readers new best friend. And that instantly transforms you into a stealth selling machine.
Big difference.
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Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of Jumpstart Your Writing Career (http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm ) and the upcoming 101 No Cost and Low Cost Techniques To Promote Your Writing Biz. Keep your eye out for it in early 2006. She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers.
~~~~~~ Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career ~~~~~~~
I just found this nifty e-book and think it’s pretty cool.
One way to establish credibility as a writer is to write a book. But as you probably already know, getting a book published by a reputable publisher can be pretty tough.
However, now you can read a book with a gazillion short cuts to write, publish, and market your own money-making book online.
The Instant Book Writing Kit
It’s a mighty cool book. Check it out.
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2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career
Well, we’re still working on queries.
Today you have a new assignment: Read each query and pinpoint how your proposal will solve a problem that either your reader has, your potential editor deals with daily, or the publisher faces on a regular basis.
Remember, you’re not selling a book, nor are you pitching articles.
You’re selling solutions. You’re the purveyor of dreams. Frame your project so that you (and you alone) will become the best thing that’s ever happened to your reader/publisher.
Tall order. Now hop to it.
P.S. If you’re not sure the mechanics of writing an effective query, you can download Power Queries at this url: http://filbertpublishing.com/PQ.html (This book won't cost you a dime, so be sure to download it today.)
Till next time, happy writing!
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We Recommend:
Writing For Dollars! The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*- http://www.WritingForDollars.com
WRITERS FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from North America, Europe, Australia and other places. It's free, so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
Are your book sales in a slump? http://BethAnnErickson.com
Instantly Download Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments Here:
http://booklocker.com/bookpages/jumpstart.html
Don’t Forget to pick up your copy of The Almach. Reviewers are calling it “Haunting,” and “A Great Read.” http://filbertpublishing.com/Almach.htm
E-Mag And Web Site Owners! Did you know that Filbert Publishing has an entire cache of articles you can use FR EE. Copy and paste these articles straight into your web site or publication. Here’s the URL: http://filbertpublishing.com/articles.htm
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Writing Etc.
Box 326
Kandiyohi, MN 56251
Maurice and Beth Erickson, Publishers
http://filbertpublishing.com/
© 2005 Filbert Publishing
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