Writing: Freelance Nonfiction & Fiction; Novels; Editing & More!

Last week I embarked upon my first blog tour. I thought I was one of the last people to become introduced to this relatively new form of publicity. But when I invited a group of writers to join me on my blog tour and was asked by more than one "What exactly IS a blog tour?", I thought I should address the question here.

A blog tour is simply an event wherein a number of blogs agree to have an author "appear" via articles or interviews. It's the equivalent of a cyber book tour.

My blog tour began on Monday, October 20, with WOW! Women On Writing's blog The Muffin. My blog tour started there because I'm doing my blog tour through WOW! Women On Writing. I chose WOW! because they were the least expensive I'd found. However, Angela Mackintosh has been truly wonderful. She's guided me through this entire process with diligence
and patience, acting as a virtual tour guide in getting me to various destinations with whatever I'm supposed to bring along.

So far, I've done four interviews, six articles and shared one review of Murder Takes the Cake. I've still got more interviews and articles to do next week. So, as you can see, it's a lot of work; but I believe it's paying off.

I have to admit, I like the interviews the best. Often the questions I'm asked make me stop and think. As I analyze my work or myself, I end up learning as well as providing information.

I've been able to follow comments on some of the blogs, and that's a cool experience as well. For instance, at Whole Latte Life, I talked about integrating cake decorating into my cozy mystery. One of the readers was surprised to learn that I'm not a professional cake decorator. I told her I was actually far from it, and she was encouraged by that.

I've watched my website traffic increase throughout this blog tour. Plus, my publisher has me on Google Alerts and is notified when I appear on these blogs.

If you decide to do a blog tour, do your homework. If you choose to do all the legwork yourself, be sure and read Alyice Edrich's article, "Host Your Own Event: Take a Blog Tour" at http://thedabblingmum.com/writing/hostevent/blogtour.htm. If you prefer to get some professional help, investigate your options before making a commitment. Consider your budget and what you expect to get out of the tour. Ask plenty of questions before deciding which Blog Tour Guide is right for you.

Hope this helps!

If you're new to social media and would like to know how sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace can help your career, you might want to check out Rick Butts' Twitter Squeeze program (Twitter Squeeze Home). This marketing pro and the people he interviews (like the author of the Twitter Handbook) can certainly teach you a lot. Another great thing is Rick's affiliate program. I signed up for Twitter Squeeze, recommended it to others and made half my investment back overnight.

With summer rerun season upon us, my family sought out new-to-us television series to help entertain us. Our latest discovery was Lost: Season One. We missed Lost when it made its debut. Our children were too young to watch it, and my husband and I don't watch much TV sans children. We thought the first episode-the plane crash-might be our last, as our daughter covered her face during some of the gorier moments. But that episode ended and we all agreed to watch the next . . . and the next . . . and the next . . . and the next. We'd have likely watched another, but that was all that was on the disk.

So why is Lost so compelling? It doesn't hurt that many of the show's talented cast have found themselves on various "pretty people" lists; but, mainly, it's the writing. Here are a few of the lessons to be learned from Lost:

* Have questions form in your readers' minds immediately. In Lost, viewers have the obvious question: Why did the plane crash? But we also have more subtle questions: Why is there tension between the husband and wife? Who are these people? Why were they on this particular flight? What was Charlie doing before the plane crashed that got him in trouble with the crew? Why is Sawyer so surly and suspicious? What is the roaring in the jungle? What burning questions can you put into your readers' minds?

* Before you answer those questions, throw more questions out. In Lost, it's obvious all of these people have a past. We begin to be slowly drawn into their characters as they have flashbacks. As writers, we're told to handle flashbacks carefully. Lost's writers handle flashbacks with something akin to surgical precision. For example, an early flashback reveals Locke was once in a wheelchair. Now he is walking. In later flashbacks, we see additional scenes from Locke's life. In one flashback, he is shown in a wheelchair being treated terribly by his young supervisor. In another flashback, he is shown as an adult, but he is walking. What happened to him? Was he in an accident? Did someone beat him up? It's questions like this-plus the more pressing questions like "Will they be rescued?-that keep viewers tuned in.

* Realize that even the "bad guys" have their reasons. We see some of the characters in Lost do some "bad guy" things, but they all have reasons for what they do. The lesson here is to make your villain human. Your villain doesn't do bad things just because he's bad; he does them 1) to protect himself, 2) to protect someone he cares about, 3) for love or money, 4) for revenge, or maybe 5) because he doesn't know what else to do.

* Make your readers care about your characters. By the time we realize Charlie has a drug problem, we're already rooting for him. We've seen that he's a good person; he's trying to help everybody else; and we want him to overcome his addiction. Rose sits alone looking out at the sea. Her husband was in a different part of the plane, but she "knows he's alive." The others pity her and bring her back into the group.

* Your characters have very different backgrounds and perspectives, even if they are from the same area or even the same family. No two people will look at a situation the same way. For example, some of the Lost survivors decide to wait to be rescued. Some decide they have to prepare for the worst. Some reach out to the other survivors; others withdraw. Some become leaders; others become followers, waiting to be told what to do. Some have been through so much, they want to begin life anew on the island.

* A little humor goes a long way. Well-placed humor can offset tense situations and can make your characters more realistic. When Charlie reveals his "deepest, darkest secret" to Hurley, he expects Hurley to reciprocate. Hurley does, but Charlie doesn't believe him and gets angry because he feels Hurley treated his confession as a joke. This is funny because the viewers know Hurley is telling the truth, but it also contributes to the dynamic between Charlie and Hurley and the realization that sometimes that which we think is unbelievable is actually true. For example, I once worked with a woman who I thought was not very well off financially. She lived modestly, dressed sensibly and brought her lunch to work every day. Years later when I went to work for an accounting firm, I learned the woman was a millionaire.

* Don't neglect your setting. The island on Lost is practically a character itself. It's both beautiful and menacing. It provides their food; and yet, there are life-threatening presences in the jungle.

* Throw in a few surprises. Just when things are starting to go smoothly-or sometimes when everything is going badly-something dramatic happens.

* Cliffhangers aren't always answered right away. As writers, we often end our chapters with cliffhangers but resolve them immediately as the next chapter begins. The Lost writers often make viewers wait for a resolution. It seemed like it took forever to find out what was in that hatch.

Fatal Foodies is a group of mystery writers and food lovers. We'll be reviewing food-related cozy mysteries, posting recipes, commenting on writing-related subjects, and announcing book signings and other events. We might even host some contests and/or giveaways. Check out the blog at Fatal Foodies.

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Keeping a Writer's Journal: 21 Ideas to Keep You Writing

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Questia -World's Largest Online Library

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Truth About Writing Contests (The)

Unfinished Works by Great Authors

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Zone (Writing)

It's a writer's fantasy. You write a wonderful book and then the publishers' bidding war begins. Let's face it; that scenario will remain a fantasy for most of us. Still, some of us might find ourselves in the position of sending a manuscript to more than one publisher who will accept multiple submissions. And more than one of those publishers might make an offer for the book.

There are two ways a writer might handle this so-called dilemma: When Publisher One makes an offer for the manuscript, the writer might opt to simply withdraw the manuscript from Publisher Two. On the other hand, the writer might choose to give Publisher Two the option to counter offer. The core question is which publisher would you prefer to work with?

Here are the major types of royalty-paying publishers, their benefits and drawbacks:

Larger Publishing Company:

Benefits:

Larger Advance
Publicity, Advertising and Marketing Departments
Distribution
Opportunity to be Published in Multiple Formats (hard cover, paperback, audio, large print, etc.)
Professional Artwork
Professional Editing
Well Represented in Bookstores and Libraries
Larger Print Runs
Easy Access to Most Retail Outlets (gift shops, museums, grocery stores, etc.)

Drawbacks:

Mandated Profit Margin/Importance of Numbers (If a certain number of your books don't sell, the publisher is likely to drop you. I learned at a recent Sisters-in-Crime event that even if a publisher makes a multiple-book deal with you, that deal can fall through if the performance of your first book does not meet expectations. That said, the large print runs could be either a blessing or a curse.)
Usually Requires Agented Submission
Many Larger Publishers Are More Interested in Previously Published Authors than First-Time Authors
Publicity and Marketing are Largely Your Responsibility (The publisher's professionals will help and will give you some guidance, but ultimately you'll have to do most of the work yourself.)
Large Overhead

Niche Offshoot of a Larger Publisher:

Benefits:

Distribution of Larger Publishing Firm
Book Might Appear in Hard Cover or Trade (Rather than Mass Market) Paperback
Professional Artwork
Professional Editing
Possibly Larger Advance Compared to Smaller Publishers
Possible Existing Market (For example, Avalon Books is an imprint sold primarily to libraries. Therefore, the library market is already in place for these books.)
Larger Print Run than Smaller Publisher

Drawbacks:

Shorter Shelf Life
Higher Price for Hard Cover or Trade Paperback Could Hinder Sales of Unknown Author

Small Publisher:

Not all small, royalty-paying publishers are created equal. In evaluating a small publisher, take into consideration the advance-if there is one, distribution arrangements, reputation, etc. Some "small" publishers make millions of dollars a year. Writer's Market classifies small presses as "those that publish, on average, less than 10 books per year."

Benefits:

Authors Have Greater Chance of Being Published w/Small Versus Large Publisher
Sometimes Offers Higher Royalty Percentages to Compensate for Little or No Advance
Shorter Publication Wait
Books Often Receive More Personal Attention and Promotion By Publisher
Sometimes Responds More Quickly Than Larger Publisher
Authors Often Have More Input

Drawbacks:

Usually Doesn't Have the Name Recognition or Selling Power of Larger Publishers
Smaller Print Runs
Sometimes (particularly in the case of university presses) Read Manuscripts at Only Certain Times of Year

Please keep in mind these are only guidelines. In addition, all publishers should be carefully researched prior to being considered for your manuscript.

Don't let the mechanics of writing stand between you and an assignment. Make sure your cover letter and manuscript are error-free (even if your cover letter is an e-mail) prior to sending them out. [Also, make sure your manuscript is attached. Just the other day I sent an editor a blank e-mail. I immediately sent a proper cover letter apologizing and attaching the requested manuscript.]

Even if you're a grammatical ace, you have to be aware of the different style guides. Publishers will usually indicate in their guidelines whether they adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style or APA Formatting and Style Guide.

Below are some links to help you out:

APA Formatting and Style Guide
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Chicago Manual of Style - Bibliographic Format
http://www.libs.uga.edu/ref/chicago.html

Chicago Manual of Style - Proofreaders' Marks
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/cmosfaq/tools.html

Common Errors in English
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/errors.html

English Grammar and Writing Guide
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/index.cfm

Guide to Grammar and Writing
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

MLA Formatting and Style Guide
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

Proper Manuscript Format
http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/dec98/shunn.htm

How would you like to get a 172-page e-book delivered to your in-box every month filled with writing markets and informative articles? I have to admit that although the articles are great, I subscribed to Premium-Green for the markets.

For $24 a year, you'll become a member of Premium-Green's writers' forum and receive their monthly newsletter. This month's issue's theme is "A Brave New Writer" and is about finding your identity as a writer, believing in yourself ("A Brand New Ending," by Marcia Peterson), forging a new path ("How to Make the Most Out of Local Opportunities: Secrets of My Success," by Angela Mackintosh, and knowing your worth ("What Should You Charge?" by Del Sandeen). It's also about successes, no matter how small or large, learning from experts ("Meet Your Mentor: Kristin A. Grant, Freelance Expert," by Margo Dill), and how to find your accountability partner, or mentor, ("More Than Your Magic 8-Ball," by Annette Fix). It's also about working through the kinks, getting to know yourself as a writer, and getting organized ("Project Workbook," by Annette Fix). This issue also included a special section: "Wheel of Fortune," featuring high-paying markets that pay at least $1 per word and pay on acceptance.

If you think Premium-Green might be for you, go to http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/markets.html to sign up. If you're not sure you want to commit to an annual subscription, check out a recent issue for $5.00.

Have you got a writer on your gift list? If you have (even if that writer is YOU), and you don't have a clue as to what gift to buy, I'm here to help.

Let's start with the simple things. I love these greeting cards/bookmarks. They're great and designed to go with any book, genre, etc. The cards are $3.95 each and you can buy them from retailers or from the company's online store. (http://www.inmybook.net/inmybook.htm)

Literary Calligraphy: This "All American Note Card Assortment" blends watercolor images with text from American writers. See these beautiful note cards at
http://www.literarycalligraphy.com/stationery/allamericards.html.

Women Writers Journal -- cloth-covered with lined pages. The Library of Congress has a women writers tote for $24.00. The women writers featured are Gertrude Stein, Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Jane Austen, Phyllis Wheatley, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Shelley and Sylvia Plath.

Submission Trackers: There are several versions of submission trackers. Most also offer a free demonstration. I'm sure any of them would be beneficial. See these to determine which might best suit your writer's needs.

1) Power Tracker (http://www.write-brain.com/power_tracker_main.htm) - Features include automatic follow-up reminders and searchable notes.

2) Quick Query Tracker
(http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/qqt/) - Includes backup feature and ability to save favorite market details.

3) Write That Down
(http://www.writerssupercenter.com/writethatdown/) - Features automatic letter of inquiry generator and resume of published work.

4) Luminary Writer's Database
(http://www.luminarypub.com/services/writersdb/) - This is an online database and it's f*ree. The service allows you to keep track of submissions, acceptances, rejections, amount of money earned, etc.

5) SwiftTrack for Manuscripts
(http://www.swifttechsoftware.com/tracking.htm) - Features 14 different types of reports.

Writing Books:

1) Writer's Market 2008 (Writer's Market) is always a popular choice. You can now get a deluxe version that includes access to the Writer's Market online database. If your writer has a specialty, you can get Writer's Market 2008 (Writer's Market); Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2008 (Novel and Short Story Writer's Market); Songwriter's Market 2008 (Songwriter's Market); 2008 Photographers Market (Photographer's Market); Poet's Market 2008 (Poet's Market); and 2008 Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market.

2) If the writer you're buying for is considering self-publishing, Dan Poynter's book, Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual, 16th Edition: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book (Self Publishing Manual)will get him/her on the right track.

3) If your favorite writer already has a book in print, consider John Kremer's 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, Sixth Edition (1001 Ways to Market Your Books: For Authors and Publishers). (http://www.bookmarketing.com) Other good books on the subject include Publicize Your Book: An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book the Attention It Deserves by Jacqueline Deval; Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters by Debbie Allen; and Guerrilla Marketing for Writers : 100 Weapons to Help You Sell Your Work by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman and Michael Lar.

4) A freelance writer? Some good options include The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success (The Renegade Writer's Freelance Writing series) by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell; How to Write Irresistible Query Lettersby Lisa Collier Cool; Feminine Wiles: Creative Techniques for Writing Women's Features Stories That Sell by Donna Elizabeth Boetig; and Facts in a Flash: A Research Guide for Writers by Ellen Metter.

5) If your favorite writer is a budding Hollywood screen writer, you might want to get him/her The Complete Book of Scriptwriting by J. Michael Straczynski; The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script, by David Trottier; The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters: Insider's Secrets from Hollywood's Top Writers by Karl Iglesias; or Power Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development by Michael Chase Walker.

If all else fails, pens, pretty stationery and/or gift certificates to booksellers, office supply stores and computer stores are always welcome!

When my book of parenting anecdotes came out, I thought a contest would be just the thing to garner local publicity. Still, what kind of contest could I come up with that would appeal to both young people and adults? How could I make the publicity worthwhile? I knew I had to develop something unique, something with good prizes, something people would actually enjoy; and I knew I had to tie it in with a book signing.

The book was due out in October of 2001, so when I took my children to the movies in July, I took note of what family movies were getting ready to come out. "Brother Bear" was too soon, "Elf" was too late, but "The Cat in the Hat" was right on target. I decided that a Dr. Seuss Write-Alike Contest would be a perfect tie-in to the movie.

I spoke with a local cinema manager, told him about the contest and arranged to sign books there the opening weekend of "The Cat in the Hat." I agreed to give the cinema thirty-percent of sales (less than the commission of most bookstores), and the cinema manager agreed to donate movie tickets to the contest winner. In addition, I asked other local businesses to participate in the contest. A spa donated a thirty-minute massage. A children's clothing store gave a $25 gift certificate. A candy store donated a candy bouquet, and a gift basket delivery service donated a child's gift basket. Papa John's donated one pizza per month for an entire year, Dairy Queen donated a cake, and Pizza Inn donated children's buffet meals. In addition, I gave away journals and copies of my books. There were enough prizes to award first, second and third place prizes. Everyone benefited from the publicity from the local newspaper. Every sponsor was mentioned in the contest announcement and again in the follow-up article announcing the winners.

At the cinema, I had door prize drawings for hardbound journals and other small prizes. I signed Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. I won't tell you it was easy to be at the cinema for that long because it wasn't. I will tell you that it was a successful signing. To further their movie promotion, even "The Cat in the Hat" itself joined me for awhile on Saturday! My children were delighted. They didn't know (or care!) that the cat was actually a girl from the library. I met a lot of great people-many who simply wanted to know what I was doing selling books at a movie theater! Some of those people bought books. One young man bought a book for his sister who'd just had a baby.

Having a contest is an excellent way to get your "advertisement" in the paper twice-as I mentioned above, to announce the contest and then to announce the winners. Think about how much cheaper it is than taking out two ads proclaiming, "BESTSELLING KIDS BOOK by John Smith available at buymybook." Plus, it's a lot more fun!

Issues To Consider:

1) What is your purpose in having a contest?

- Is it to publicize your books, company, etc.?
- Is it to find fellow writers?
- Is it to get names for your mailing list?
- Is it to build community goodwill?

A well-orchestrated contest can do all of the above.

2) Will your contest be international, national, regional or local?

- If local or regional, you might enlist other businesses to donate prizes. Be sure to follow up with thank-you notes and include those businesses in all your advertising and promotions.

- If national, you will have more entrants; but consider the amount of time it will take to go through the entries, ship the prizes, etc. I once had an international contest that was simply a drawing. The winner was to receive a copy of my latest book and a box of chocolates. The winner lived in England, and the shipping cost as much as the prize itself! That's fine if it's something you've considered ahead of time. Keep in mind that if you announce your contest on the Web, your entrants could come from anywhere.

3) Can you tie your contest in to some event?

- Think outside the bookstore! In the example above, I tied my contest in with a movie. Can you tie your contest in with a local festival? A holiday? A particular group? For example, if you've written a book about dogs, you might have a signing at an animal shelter and give a portion of the proceeds to the shelter. Your contest could consist of a drawing from the names of people who adopted pets on the day of your signing, and they could win something that would complement their interest. Be sure and hold your event on a premium day, so coordinate your efforts with those of the animal shelter.

Whatever you decide, be creative, be unique, and have fun!

First, let's take a look at emerging trends in publishing:

The religious and inspirational book market is growing.

E-books are still accelerating and gaining acceptance, including digital textbooks and digital libraries. (In fact, when I took my children to register them for school, I was told their textbooks would be available online. Online textbooks lessen the amount of material the children have to carry home and negate the excuse, "I forgot my book.")

Borders is now publishing books to be sold exclusively in Borders and Waldenbooks stores and is currently holding a writing contest for store employees.

Audio book sales are on the rise.

Graphic novels are selling well, with two surprises to me: there is an increase in nonfiction sales, and more women are buying. For more on graphic novels, see http://news.bookweb.org/news/5333.html.

An August 3, 2007 AAP report revealed these statistics for June:

Adult Hardcover sales were up 11.1%

Adult Paperback sales were up 0.3%

Adult Mass Market sales were down 4.6%

Children's/YA Hardcover sales were up 22.2%

Children's/YA Paperback sales were up 7.1%

Audio Book sales were up 25.9%

E-book sales were up 13.5%

Religious book sales were up 19.4%

(Percentages compared to the same time last year.)

The EBM (espresso book machine), a print on demand system which allows a buyer to present a credit card and have a requested book print in approximately the amount of time necessary to make a latte, may be coming to a store or library near you in the not-so-distant future.

As far as book marketing goes, there is talk of third-party advertising in books becoming more prominent.

Margaret Atwood's invention, the LongPen, allowed authors to sign books for fans at BEA and The London International Book Fair (among other locations) without leaving home. See http://www.longpen.com/lp-welcome.html for more information on this new technology.

Non-traditional outlets are doing a brisk business as well. Mike's Deli in the Bronx has sold more than 4,500 copies of Ann Volkwein's Arthur Avenue Cookbook at $25 each. That's something to think about when you're preparing your book marketing plan.

Larger companies such as Amazon and Simon & Schuster are promoting authors with video and podcasts; and Harper Collins will be offering book excerpts via iPhone.

One thing I've been taking into consideration lately is how to keep readers interested while my book is awaiting publication. Fortunately for me, I found some "widgets" to, hopefully, help keep people interested in my Web page. I now have a "Stress Relief" page on my site containing a game, a slide show and an answering machine. It's really fun. If you'd like to see it, check out http://gayletrent.com/stressrelief.aspx.

If you aren't getting "Publishers Lunch," you can sign up for the free newsletter at http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/lunch/subscribe.html. Publishers Lunch is a short version of Publishers Marketplace's daily news. On Tuesdays, they send out "Deal Lunch" which is about 25% of the book deals reported the previous week. It's a good way to keep abreast of what books are selling.

Your first question might be: Why should I host a writing/publishing event? The answers are as varied as there are writers. You might be launching a new book and want the publicity such an event would bring. You might be interested in networking with other writers, publishers, editors and readers. You might be a masochist! :-)

But enough "why's." Let's move on to the "how's."

O GAUGE INTEREST

Find out if there's 1) enough interest in your community and 2) enough interest among fellow writers to make the event worth your while. When I hosted the Southern Publishers and Writers Expo, I knew there was interest in our community and my timing was excellent (more about that below). To gauge interest from fellow writers, I simply posted messages to various e-lists to which I belong and asked. Thus, I learned that there is indeed enough interest to ensure that I won't be the only writer there.

O TIMING

Each year, the Virginia Highlands Festival brings thousands of visitors to Abingdon, Virginia. The festival is a two-week long event, and there are usually literary events during the second week. The Southern Publishers & Writers Expo took place on Friday, August 12, the last Friday of the Virginia Highlands Festival. Although we aren't affiliated with the festival, we benefited from the tourists and locals who are drawn to it. Plus, the expo will take place in the Martha Washington Inn which is located in heart of festival events.

Is there an event in your area you might be able to use for a "piggyback ride"? If so, see if you can make your event an extension of the existing event. If the chairpersons of the existing event nix your idea, you can still have your own event nearby and benefit secondhand from the publicity and crowds drawn by the existing event.

O EXPENSES

Know ahead of time how much you can afford to spend. I was on a tight budget, so I had to take into consideration how much I could afford to spend regardless of whether or not I had enough vendor interest to counter some of the expenses. Also, you don't want any

costs cropping up that you didn't anticipate. For example, my room rental increased $100 because the vendors will need display tables. Ask lots of questions. My friend Tammy mentioned that some meeting rooms charge a set-up fee. I was unaware of that so I asked about a set-up fee and was told that it was included in the room rental. Don't be afraid to look dumb; be afraid of getting stuck with an outrageous bill you weren't expecting.

O PLANNING

Plan well enough ahead of time to ensure that you will get the space you desire, that people interested in participating won't have already planned to be elsewhere, and that you have time to recruit both vendors and attendees.

O MINIMIZE YOUR LIABILITIES

My husband, who is often more business-minded than I am, reminded me that I'd better check into whether or not we'd need a business license for the expo. Turned out, we did. As the sponsor for the event, I was responsible for obtaining a retail license that would cover all vendors. Check into all the legalities: licensing, Fire Marshall's codes, etc.

O STRIVE FOR UNIQUENESS

For the Southern Publishers & Writers Expo, vendors paid a small fee to participate. Attendees paid nothing. Unlike other writing conferences, attendees will be invited to attend our workshops, seminars and panels free of charge. These workshops, seminars and panels will take place during the morning. In the afternoon, readings and nonfiction seminars will take place, and these, too, will be free to the public. My theory was that if you freely share your expertise, people will respond by buying your books. That wasn't necessarily the case. Although our event went fairly well, if you are holding workshops and seminars where writers will be given a lot of helpful information, I suggest you charge attendees a small fee. In addition, think about how you can make your event stand out from the crowd.

As always, I hope this information helps!

THE MODERATOR

A successful panel discussion begins with the moderator. The moderator should be mindful of each person on the panel and remember everyone has something to contribute. The moderator of our panel contacted the panel members several weeks prior to the panel. He asked panelists to contribute questions for the discussion. As he was unfamiliar with my work, I sent him a copy of my book BETWEEN A CLUTCH AND A HARD PLACE.

What if you're asked to moderate a panel? I suggest familiarizing yourself with the other panelists, finding out what they write, and asking them to help out with questions and what direction they anticipate the discussion going in. For example, I moderated two panels at the Southern Publishers & Writers Expo. One was on crafting nonfiction. I worked up a list of questions and, closer to the Expo, I submitted the questions to the panelists to see if they had additional areas they'd like covered during the discussion.

Be sure to leave time for questions from the audience. Some of the most probing, informative questions (and subsequent answers) were generated by audience members; and they were questions none of the writers would've thought to ask. For example, one of the audience members asked if any of us had been contacted by law enforcement agencies because we have accessed potentially harmful information. All the writers said "no" but I added that I'd undergone an FBI background check when I attended the forensics and biometrics fellowship at West Virginia University. I also related the story about how I'd called the FBI when I was writing the novella WHEN DARKNESS FALLS to ask how a body that had been frozen would look. The FBI referred me to a pathologist who said mine was the SECOND strangest question she'd ever received. (No, she wouldn't tell me Number One.)

YOUR INTRODUCTION

If you're familiar with BETWEEN A CLUTCH AND A HARD PLACE, you know it's a comedic mystery. However, the panel was on technology in mysteries. When I was introduced, the moderator mentioned the technology in my book was via the heroine's granddaughter who helped out using computer technology. "CLUTCH" has very little technology in the plot. In fact, the story probably uses less technology than anything I've ever written. Upon being introduced, each author was given an opportunity to tell a little about him/herself. I explained that I also do freelance writing, that most of my technology experience is derived from researching nonfiction articles, and that my articles have appeared in LAW AND ORDER MAGAZINE and P.I. MAGAZINE.

PANEL PARTICIPATION

You'll probably find your fellow panelists fascinating. I did. Our panel included a forensic psychologist and an author who restores classic Rolls Royces (so does her protagonist). Don't be afraid to lend them your support. This is a wonderful opportunity to network, exchange information, and learn. Whatever you do, don't monopolize the discussion and ostracize your fellow panelists.

This is a terrific opportunity to promote your work. As a show of support, mystery-writing team Jim and Joyce Lavene attended my panel. (Jim and Joyce are lovely people. Check out their books at http://www.joyceandjimlavene.com/) After the panel discussion, Joyce came up to me and told me what a good job I'd done. She said, "You're the only one who used every answer to promote something you've written."

For example, I mentioned that I have a book called DEADLY DOSES: THE WRITERS GUIDE TO POISONS (Serita Deborah Stevens with Anne Klarner, Writers Digest Books)that I used to research sarin, a poison used in WHEN DARKNESS FALLS. I did add that heaven forbid anyone I even remotely know should ever die from some kind of poisoning! My fellow panelist Judith Skillings said, "If they do, burn the book! Burn the book!" :-)

While it can be intimidating to sit on a panel and look out upon a sea of mostly unfamiliar faces, take comfort in the fact that you aren't alone. If you haven't spoken before an audience very many times, this is an excellent way to learn from other professionals and to gain valuable speaking experience.

First, you have to know what those goals are. Second, you need a plan. (Cue theme song from "Rocky.") Whether you write full-time, part-time or when time permits, you need a business plan. Your business plan should include an Executive Summary. The goals you hope to achieve this year should comprise your executive summary. Let's say yours looks like this:

Executive Summary: A) Complete novel. B) Sell ten articles to magazines. C) Attend one writers' conference.

Next comes your Plan of Action. How do you plan to achieve these goals? I'll prepare three model plans of action. POA1 is for those who write full-time. POA2 is for those who write part-time. POA3 is for those who write when time permits.

POA1: In order to complete my novel and sell ten magazine articles, I need to allocate my time to accommodate both goals. I need to determine whether I feel most creative in the morning or in the afternoon. If I'm most creative in the afternoon, that's when I will work on my novel. I'll take care of the non-fiction and "business" end of writing in the morning. In order to sell ten magazine articles, I'll need to send out lots of queries-one per week, minimum. So, each morning, I'll check my e-mail; search for markets; and begin to prepare a terrific, targeted query. After lunch, I'll work on my novel-achieving a minimum output of three pages per day. As for the writers' conference, I'll seek out the one that best fits my needs, see if it fits into my budget, and begin making arrangements to attend.

POA2: In order to complete my novel and sell ten magazine articles, I need to allocate my time to accommodate both goals. As I have a limited amount of time to spend on my writing, I need to a) get up earlier in the morning in order to write before I begin my day; b) set aside an hour in the evening to write; and/or c) allocate my lunch hour three days per week to writing. In order to achieve my goals of completing my novel and selling ten magazine articles, I need to spend 3/5 of my writing time working on my novel and 2/5 of my writing time preparing the queries and articles necessary to meet my magazine article goal. With regard to the writers' conference, I'll find one nearby that will conform to my schedule and my budget. Even though it might not be the best conference for me, it will allow me agent/editor appointments, the opportunity to learn from more experienced writers, and I will be able to network with other writers.

POA3: In order to complete my novel and sell ten magazine articles, I need to make a definite commitment to my writing. I need to set aside time at least three days a week to work on my writing. On each of those three days, I will send work on one query to a magazine editor (brainstorming, searching for a market, and actually preparing the query) and then work on my novel. I will submit one thorough query every week. When I have a query accepted, I will work on that article exclusively until it is finished and sent to the editor. Then I will revert back to my original plan of working on one query per day and then work on the novel. I need to have at least four pages of my novel-or one scene-completed per day in order to achieve my goal. It would be best for me to find a writers' conference catering to like-minded writers who are also busy with non-writing careers and families so that I might learn from them how to better manage my time in order to meet my goals.

After you have an executive summary and an overall plan of action, make a plan of action for each month in 2008. For instance, if you plan to submit five magazine queries per month, you should have a section on your calendar for "Submit Magazine Queries" and five boxes. Beside the five boxes, leave enough space to note the magazine to which you've queried. If you don't submit the queries, those blank spaces are confronting you each time you open your calendar.

Best wishes for a wonderful, productive and successful 2008!