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Writing Etc. – May 15, 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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To subscr*ibe to Writing Etc. and receive the fr*e e-book, “Power Queries,” surf here:

http://filbertpublishing.com

Forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends! They’ll be glad you did.

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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

Making Your Signature Count by Beth Ann Erickson

2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

We Recommend

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This issue is sponsored by:

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Notes from Minnesota:

Still busy, busy, busy.

Still working on that killer deadline so I’m (again) keeping this issue brief.

To top things off, I received an unexpected invitation yesterday to attend today’s Minnesota Governor’s Reception in St. Paul. Since I’ve never been to his mansion, I figured, “Why not? I’m working with crazy deadlines… why not crazy it up a little more?”

So I’m off to St. Paul. Life’ll slow down in around a month.

Until next time, enjoy life!

Beth

P.S. 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 this same link for regular updates. Here’s the new link: http://filbertpublishing.com/m.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

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~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make Your Signature Count

By Beth Ann Erickson

Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing :)

Many writers fail to recognize the importance of an effective e-mail signature. An effective sig can help you grow your e-mail list, it can help sell your latest product, it can help sell your writing services.

From here on in, never send an e-mail message without including a short e-mail message advertising your business. You can easily set up your e-mail program to insert these at the end of every e-mail you send. Just dig through the “help” section of your e-mail program and you’ll very likely find step-by-step instructions to insert your benefit-oriented signature into every e-mail.

So… how do you go about writing a signature?

Here are a few basic rules to follow:

1. Generally speaking, keep it short. No more than seven lines is the industry standard. Make your signature longer, and you’ll likely raise the ire of those e-mail recipients who are forced to slog through an over-long sales pitch.
2. Make your signature benefit oriented. Don’t talk about yourself, write about what you can do for your reader.
3. Keep it simple. Don’t try to advertise more than one item. I opt to promote my e-zine, Writing Etc.

That’s basically it! Just for your reference, here’s my standard e-mail signature that we’ve used (with great success) for over five years:

Make Your Writing Sparkle.  Write Killer Queries.  Get Published. Subscribe to Writing Etc., the FREE e-mag for writers.  Receive the e-booklet "Power Queries" when you subscribe.  http://FilbertPublishing.com

Notice how the signature focuses on the reader, not on the zine. Also note the short sentences and the freebie thrown in for good measure. Also, see how it’s easy to read, it’s focused on one item, and best of all… it’s short.

Model your signature after this one and your sales will spike. Guaranteed.

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If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love Beth Ann Erickson’s “Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments. You can nab your copy here: http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm

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2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

Focus on your writing for a moment.

How will what you have to say benefit your reader? What will your reader gain by reading your writing?

Use the answers to these questions to create your own e-mail signature. Make sure this little bit of subtle advertising makes its way into every e-mail you send from today and onward.

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We Recommend:

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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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Feel free to forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends. Just be sure to include the entire issue. Thanks!

We strive to make Writing Etc. an invaluable resource to writers. If you have any comments or suggestions please send them to mailto:filbertpublishing@filbertpublishing.com

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Writing Etc.

Box 326

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Maurice and Beth Erickson, Publishers

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© 2005 Filbert Publishing