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Writing Etc. – April 1, 2005

ISSN: 1545-5580

Make Your Writing Sparkle. Write Killer Queries, Get Published.

Join the brightest, most ambitious, and talented group of writers on the ‘net.

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For easier reading and red hot links, surf to http://filbertpublishing.com/current.htm

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In This Issue:

Notes from Minnesota – Includes a new link where you can peek into the life of a working writer

The Freebie Article: What to Do Before You Give it Away By: Dawn Colclasure

2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

Writing Markets

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This issue is sponsored by:

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Notes from Minnesota:

The following is the “Official” Notes from Minnesota for this month. Keep reading to find the link containing the “real” version….

I love spring.

With four very distinct seasons in Minnesota, it’s truly a joy to watch each new weather pattern emerge from the old.

Although many of our surrounding lakes still sport a thin layer of ice, today we’ll reach 75. Tomorrow’s projected high is only 45. Gotta love it.

Last weekend my family and I finally got to stroll around the “big block”.

Now… this is a momentous occasion. The “big block” consists of an almost 3 mile hike in a perfect square encompassing the most beautiful farmland this side of the Mississippi (I may exaggerate a bit here… but oh well…).

The problem with this hike is that if you’re not careful, you can easily get pretty dang chilly if you’re not careful. This time of year, what may appear to be a wonderfully warm day can suddenly turn downright cold in a matter of seconds, depending the wind’s most recent mood.

But last Saturday, we decided to brave the elements, tempt fate, and make the trek.

All started well. Lucy (the Rat Terrier Wonder Dog) found more gopher holes than I knew could exist. She hung by her back legs over a culvert and expertly pulled herself upright again.

As we closed in on the “point of no return” the wind started kicking up.

“Jeepers,” my son said, hiking up his shoulders, “I wish I had a windbreaker.”

My husband agreed as we trudged onward.

At the three-quarters point we turned directly into the frigid wind. Lucy squinted. Our son whined. My husband fell silent.

When we finally returned home, I glanced in the mirror and a stranger gazed back at me… she had the reddest cheeks I’d seen in a l-o-n-g time. Her ears looked like two sliced red peppers.

We survived our first “big block” walk. In fact we… well our son decided not to join us… repeated the adventure on Sunday as well. Much warmer. Far more enjoyable.

Ahhhh… the grand outdoors. It’s great to get reacquainted again after a long, cold, winter.

Enjoy your week everybody! And be sure to venture outside.

Beth

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So, if you’re in the mood to peek into the private life of a working writer, check this space each month for a link to the latest entries. Also, click that same link for regular updates.

And watch for more changes with Writing Etc.

Here’s this month’s link: http://filbertpublishing.com/beth.htm

P.P.S. Here’s our updated 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.      Timecross’d: A Love Story Out Of Time by Sean Thompson http://filbertpublishing.com/timecrossd.htm

Released today, “Roll Away the Stone” by Dain Schult http://filbertpublishing.com/stone.htm

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The Freebie Article: What to Do Before You Give it Away
By: Dawn Colclasure

What’s in a freebie article? Plenty, if you’re a writer. Freebie articles mean more promotion, more clients, more Web site traffic and maybe even more sales. But before you hand out a freebie, look at what a freebie article can do for you.

Try to sell it first.

It takes work researching and putting together a piece of writing. And as a working writer, shouldn’t you be compensated for your effort? Of course! You didn’t labor over each word, sentence and outline for nothing. You slaved away to offer the best darn piece of writing you could! You deserve to be paid for it. So, before you write something then offer it for free, try to sell it somewhere first. Even if the compensation you receive is a meager $5, it’s an article you were paid for. Just be sure to retain reprint rights to it.

Mind your bio.

If you’re allowed a generous bio with your freebie then, by all means, use this to your advantage. Instead of listing your credits, list your latest product or testimonies from your services. For example, if you’ve been published in over a hundred different Web sites and you have a new book out, mention your book: “Enter a world of fantasy, suspense and excitement with Joe Smith’s new novel, FANTASY UNBOUND. Escape death, battle evil wizards and find true love with a story that’s been called ‘the biggest fantasy epic to hit the bookshelf in our time.’” However, some limitations apply. For example, you may only be allowed a 50-word bio. In this case, use it for the main reason you’re giving your freebie out in the first place: To plug your latest achievement or service. Also, always try to include a bio that mentions either your E-mail address or Web site. After you’ve won interest, people will want to know how they can contact you.

Offer a freebie on a generic, all-purpose topic.

The more flexible your freebie topic, the more sites and zines it’s likely to appear in. Never mind the E-zine with 64,000 subscribers; think of the 128,000 people reading your article (and bio) thanks to your freebie article appearing in a number of sites and E-zines. If you keep the topic of your freebie article flexible and all-purpose, this will make it easier for people searching for free Web content. The most common topics that work best for a freebie article: Writing, business, parenting/homemaking, crafts, Web site design and e-Commerce, humor, home-based business and self-help.

Slant your freebie.

It’s not enough to plug your product or business in your bio; having a freebie article with an angle will help, too. Why? Because you can use it to further entice your readers to checking out your book, service or Web site. For example, suppose your article is about a common problem writers have. Now suppose your book or product solves these problems. Address one or two in your article then say something like “Find out how to beat the rejection odds, never suffer writer’s block again and make more money with your writing in Joe Smith’s latest book!” in your bio. Using a slanted article will show readers that you also know your stuff. If you write like an expert, readers will think that you ARE an expert. You must be someone who really knows what they’re doing! Naturally, they’ll check you out. Additionally, your all-knowing piece shows that you’ve “been there, done that” enough to have years of experience under your belt.

Keep it short.

Take a look at how many words your article has. Ideally, you want to keep it between 500-700 words. A good many sites and E-zines run short articles and you want to get in on that crowd, too. Keep your freebie article as short as possible. Sure you might have a long article you’re getting many reprint requests for, but as the saying goes, “shorter is better.” This rings true for a freebie article.

Using the above strategies, you can confidently send out freebie articles and make them bring more clients and buyers to you.
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Dawn Colclasure is a freelance writer, author, poet and book reviewer. Her work has appeared on the Web at Writing Etc., Writing World, Absolute Write, Worldwide Freelance Writer, Writing For Dollars! and The Writer Within. Her books include the nonfiction books, BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How We Survive as Writing Parents (Booklocker.com, Inc.) and 365 Tips for Writers: Inspiration, Writing Prompts and Beat The Block Tips To Turbocharge Any Writer's Creativity (Filbert Publishing, December, 2004). She is a poetry editor for Skyline E-Magazine, a staff writer for the Web site The Shadowlands and a contributor to the newspaper, SIGNews. She also edits and publishes her own E-zine. Her Web site is at http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/ .
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2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

It may sound crazy, but whipping up a few articles on a lazy afternoon is a lot easier than you think… if you prepare yourself.

Here’s what you do:

1.      Always carry a small notebook and pen with you.

2.      Whenever an article idea strikes you, jot it in your notebook. If time permits, flesh out a quick outline covering major points you want to discuss.

3.      Whenever you have a spare moment, whip out your notebook and voila: an instant article “Bank”.

4.      Submit your article wherever you see fit.

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Give it a whirl and watch your ba nk acc ounts and credibility climb.

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Writing Markets

Back next month… closed this week in honor of Pope John Paul’s passing.

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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

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Are your book sales in a slump? http://filbertpublishing.com/copy.html

Instantly Download Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments Here:

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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 FREE. 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.

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© 2005 Filbert Publishing