Money The Write Way a free eMagazine for writers of integrity *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ December 3, 2003 Volume 2 Number 3 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ To join our more than 4000 subscribers, and receive the FREE eBook, "So You Want to be a Travel Writer," click on: http://www.moneythewriteway.com It's FREE! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In this issue: 1.) Letter From The Publisher---On The Home Front 2.) Ask an Expert/Questions and Answers 3.) COMP-ortunity of the month 4.) The Business of Writing by Duane Newcomb 5.) Editor's Pick/Reviews by Victoria Beninga 6.) The Art of Reviewing by Rose Di Grazia 7.) The Boast Post---Bragging Board of Writers Triumphs and Victories *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine ISSN pending. Copyright 2003 Write Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Start Comping today by purchasing our best selling eBook: "BEEN THERE---COMPED THAT!" Free Travel, Dining, and Entertainment, All for the Cost of Some Ink Available at: http://www.moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ On The Home Front Carmel L. Mooney Here we are again with the holidays at our doorstep. I can tell you are all busy as we’ve had less questions and boasts this past month than usual. Don’t forget to use the holidays as your ally when it comes to your writing. I have a new book, my first cookbook coming out next week and I planned it to come out right after Thanksgiving as a marketing asset. It's available at: www.ebookstand.com Some writers groups I speak to are compiling holiday anthologies of poems and stories, and all you have to do is look at the countless holiday themes in our local newspapers and especially at the magazine rack in the grocery store. Even if you missed the sleigh (boat) this year you can use the spirit to write something special for publication next year. I don’t know about you, but if I carve out a little down time amidst the craziness, this time of year really inspires my creativity. Happy holidays and writing blessings, Carmel *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ This week's newest COMP-ortunity Lighthall Charters Website: http://www.lighthallcharters.com Address: 934 Bay Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Phone: 831-429-1970 Contact: Christa Description: Sailing cruise company offering wine tasting cruises, sunset cruises, day cruises, dinner cruises and bed and boat accommodations. Coverage desired: Print media coverage of unique recreational opportunities. Prefers writers with any of the following: letter of assignment, or writing samples/clips for review Possible comp: stay on bed and boat and/or day or afternoon sailing cruise. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ "Ask a Pro" Publishing/Comping/Writing Q&A "Your Questions---You Always Wanted To Ask," answered by professional writing consultant/coach/author/instructor, Carmel L. Mooney To ask Carmel a writing, publishing, or comping question, email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com. Questions may be edited for length or content if necessary. Question: I want to list in a catalog, that will go to a number of libraries, bookstores and more, my question is: Can I list with an ISBN pending? www.ebookstand.com/m/gaynellspigner Answer: My experience is that often you can list without an ISBN #. However, the place to find out anything and everything about ISBN’s is at Bowker.com To ask Carmel a writing, publishing, or comping question, email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com Carmel Mooney is also available by phone and/or email for private consultation, editing, and coaching. Carmel has helped hundreds of writers achieve writing and publishing success. Email her at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com or call her at: 916-205-4763 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ The Business Side of Writing Duane Newcomb Money Money is a big concern to a writer so let's see if we can do something to increase your income. A magazine is a business. Every magazine has a budget which allocates a fixed amount of money during the year for staff salaries, printing, editorial fees and other expenses. This means the editor is allowed to spend only so much each year to purchase articles for the publication. The editor might spend twice what he or she intended on one particular article, but unless there is some leeway in the budget, the editor will have to cut back on the price paid for some other piece. In most cases, there is some room for negotiating price. Pay Rates: Magazines generally offer a beginning writer a fairly low rate. Sometimes even a major magazine will offer five hundred dollars or less to a beginning writer for an article of 1,500 to 3,500 words. Usually they will raise the rates as you contribute more articles, but not always. I know several professional writers who complain that a few of the major magazines won’t raise them much above $700. On the other hand, I also know writers who receive $7,000 to $10,000 per article and in some cases, quite a bit more. Generally these amounts are paid to professionals who are well known to the magazine or have a "name." Often too, the articles that command these rates require quite a bit of research and travel. Negotiating your own rate: Despite the generalities about payment that we just discussed, there is always some room for negotiation with a magazine, even when making a first sale. There are basically three separate situations. Speculation: When you send in an article "on speculation," meaning that an editor is willing to look at it but not necessarily to buy. Many magazines, especially the smaller publications, will send you a check for a certain amount if the article is accepted. You can accept this, or you can write back, explain why you feel the article is worth more, and state exactly what you want. I have been successful at this most of the time. A few times, I have lost my editor over this when I inquired about payment. In one case, a trade journal paid $250 for something for which I had worked hard to research. When I asked for more, the editor blew up and said he'd decide what to pay. When I run into someone like this I mark that magazine off my list because I know I'll never make money working for him or her. Assignment: After you have sold a few articles to a magazine you should stop doing anything on speculation and ask to handle future articles on assignment. For assignments, all rates should be negotiated in advance. I make it a point to ask for either twenty percent above my last fee for that magazine or for about twenty percent above the rates state in Writer's Market Price the query: Since I frequently write articles for magazines I've never worked for before, I always state the price I want at the bottom of my query. Usually I set this price at from twenty to thirty percent above the rates the magazine says they pay. Or if I have been working for similar magazines and have already established a rate. I ask for that rate, even if the magazine says it pays less. Does this work? Of course it does. A few years ago I was selling two hundred articles a year to a number of magazines. All of them paid the price I asked for except one. Actually I don't use this system when working for major magazines. I simply negotiate the fee in advance. But for smaller publications it works well Duane Newcomb is a literary consultant with 36 non-fiction books to his credit, over 5000 articles and more than 150 client books in print. He has taught article and non-fiction book courses at numerous colleges, universities and writer's conferences across the United States. He welcomes new clients needing a manuscript evaluated. dnew@thegrid.net Subscribe to his free, monthly professional author newsletter at: dnew@thegrid.net Visit Duane Newcomb's website: www.bookforce.bizland.com Purchase Duane Newcomb's writing guides at www.ebookstand.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ Editor's Pick Book, Magazine, Website, and e-Book Review Victoria Beninga, Editor This Month's Review: The Successful Writer's Handbook, by Patricia L. Fry Patricia L. Fry has been a professional writer for 30 years. In "The Successful Writer's Handbook" not only does she share what she has learned to teach you how to sell your writing, but she also shares some wonderful information not often found in books for writers. "The Successful Writer's Handbook" contains excellent material on selling your work such as queries, article ideas, book proposals, self-publishing, photography, and interviewing. What I enjoy best about "The Successful Writer's Handbook," however, is that Patricia doesn't assume we have all mastered the mechanics of writing. She includes such basics as how to write a good magazine article, and even goes into detail about how to write a good beginning, middle, and end. She also outlines a step-by-step plan on how to become a professional writer by approaching it as job hunting, even including web sites where you can post your resume as a writer. Another unique facet of this book is that she emphasizes balance between writing and other activities such as family activities and hobbies, urging writers to schedule time for them so they are not put off. Other topics included, which are typically not found in books for writers, are what to strive for when posing for your publicity photo, what your web site should include, and how to take better care of yourself. "The Successful Writer's Handbook" contains wonderful information for all writers, whether brand new or seasoned. To order "The Successful Writer's Handbook," go to http://www.matilijapress.com/writershandbookpage.html. Publisher/Editor/Columnist, GOLD COUNTRY FAMILIES, a FREE e-mail newsletter and FREE eMagazine of child-friendly local activities and getaways for families living in the Sierra Nevada Gold Country, http://www.goldcountryfamilies.com Associate Editor/Columnist, MONEY THE WRITE WAY, a FREE eMagazine for writers of integrity, http://www.moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~The Art of Reviewing Rose Di Grazia What To Expect When You Are Expecting! Hope all you writers out there had a great holiday fill. Do you know what to expect when you are expecting to do a restaurant review? Well I will tell you. First, when you call to set it up you may or may not get to speak to the manager or general manager or assistant manager. Always ask to speak to one of the above. Usually the person who answers the phone is a hired teenager or college kid. Don't waste your time talking to that person. If the manager is out, ask for his or her answering machine; leave a message stating that you are a writer and you would like to do a review. Leave the date of your deadline if it is coming up, and a phone number where you can be reached. You might want to call more than one place just to be safe. You can always set them up one at a time. Finally when the manager calls back, jump for joy. No, not yet. You can jump for joy after you have a date set up. Managers sometimes act weird, and act suspicious like they have never had a restaurant review done before. That may be true. You may have to educate him or her about what to expect when you do the review. Start by introducing yourself as a writer. Don't say you are a freelancer. People that are not in the business of writing may think that that means you are a wanna-be writer. Tell the person you would like to do a review, and that you understand the eatery is new in town if applicable. New restaurants always seem to be open to writers. Managers sometimes ask if there is some kind of fee to pay for your work. Explain that you will come in with your notebook, and camera, whatever date is convenient. Tell the manager you will be taking notes, and photos of the dishes he or she may want you to sample. Always make sure to ask the manager: "You do understand this is a media trade?" Why do you ask this? A writer asks this question to make sure the meal is comped, and that there are no surprises when the meal is over. If the manager does not know what this means, tell the person that this is a trade in which you come out to dine, write a description of the place, take photos, all in exchange for publication. Make sure to tell the manager you will send a copy of the published article upon publication. This last part closes the deal. Make sure if you want bring a spouse to say I hope you don't mind if my spouse comes along? I always throw this in at the end. It would be weird and strange for the manager to say it would be a problem after it is all set up. Make sure to put on your reporter outfit, bring your camera, and arrive on time. Then be prepared to be stuffed silly. Next time I will inform you about what to expect at the restaurant. If you don't mind, save a piece of that pie when you go. Rose Di Grazia, is an accomplished writer, poet, artist, and dog lover. She has been published by the Austin American-Statesman, Citysearch.com, New Texas Magazine, KLRU/PBS Channel 18, the Brownsville Herald, and the Coastal Current. Rose is a travel writer, and restaurant and entertainment critic. She is the great niece of the late, famous, artist Ted De Grazia. She was also niece of Thomas Di Grazia, an artist of children's books for Harper & Row Publishers. Rose's on line magazine will be coming soon to the Internet near you. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~ The Boast Post Don't be modest-we applaud you! Whether it's an assignment victory, a publishing accomplishment, comp, or a writing goal achieved, we'd love to hear it. Please include your full name or initials, and your city and state. Send your boast in 75 words or less to: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com (may be edited for length or content) Boast: Regarding several comps since taking your recent class…This field rocks! Thanks to you and your willingness to share and sell your talents and secrets! -Cheryl N., Travel, Food & Entertainment Writer Boast: Been busy signing copies of my first book (yippee!!) "We'll Give Him A Hearty Welcome, For those who are interested, the book is available at 1stbooks.com, Amazon.com., Barnes and Noble on-line. I will be having a signing at B&N in Roseville, CA in about mid-Janaury. -Libbie Martin-Burk (also known as Elizabeth A. Martin, for writing purposes), CA Boast: Read my FREE article for authors "How To Work a Book Festival So It Works For You," by Patricia Fry, author of 16 books and President of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). View the article at: http://www.spawn.org/editing/workingabookfestival.htm -P. Fry *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Coming Soon/Around the Corner: California Writer's Academy Great writing courses by nationally acclaimed writing instructors Duane Newcomb, Carmel Mooney, and Lee Roddy (author of Grizzly Adams). Space is limited...sign up now! www.CaliforniaWritersAcademy.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Websites for Writers! ---Hazel Nieves, expert on Internet Marketing and Online business success, is owner of Web Development Company, Sierra Technology Solutions, Inc. She has 20 years experience in sales, marketing, and technology and is a committed crusader in helping take the confusion out of taking your business online. You can contact Hazel at 530-367-2915 or Customerservice@sierratechnologysolutions.com Special Offer! Writers Special E-biz Website Package Turn-key Package Includes: *5 Custom Pages *Shopping Cart (up to 10 products) *Secure Server *One year hosting service *Uses your own domain *Up to 15 Email accounts *Attractive Professional designs to choose from *Copyright Statement page Special Price: $ 600.00 complete Get started today with your Affordable Professional E-business website here: http://www.sierratechnologysolutions.com /writers/writers_special.htm Learn more from Hazel at: http://www.sierratechnologysolutions.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW Ever thought of publishing an eBook or Print on Demand Book? A CD with all the tools you need to succeed is now available, Book Creation Tools by CyberRead, co-authored by John Nightingale and Carmel L. Mooney This comprehensive CD includes: *~Print on Demand and eBook format and template *~Atlantis Word Processing Software *~Literary Agents *~eBook reviewers *~Book trade publications *~Independent bookstores *~Business book sites *~College libraries *~Cooking sites *~ezines related to books *~Fiction book sites *~Public library sites *~Health book sites And MUCH more... Send check or money order for $29.99 to: Carmel L. Mooney, P.O. BOX 3405 Auburn, CA 95604 And begin today experiencing the thrill of monthly royalty income. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It's FREE---List your inn, resort, restaurant, entertainment venue, business, or destination seeking written coverage---contact the publisher: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Money The Write Way eMagazine TO SUBSCRIBE: Simply go to: http://www.moneythewriteway.com/free_emagazine.htm and check the SUBSCRIBE BOX (You'll also get a free eBook gift as our way of saying thank you.) TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Simply go to: http://www.moneythewriteway.com/free_emagazine.htm and check the UNSUBSCRIBE box Changing email addresses? Simply go to: http://www.moneythewriteway.com/free_emagazine.htm and subscribe under your new address *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Have something you'd like to offer more than 4000 writers and authors? Place YOUR ad in Money the Write Way today! It's affordable and effective. Email for rates and details: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Write Spirit Publishing P.O. Box 3405 Auburn, CA 95604 Contact us at: Carmel@moneythewriteway.com We welcome your: comments/suggestions/requests/contributions Carmel L. Mooney, Publisher Victoria Beninga, Associate Editor http://www.moneythewriteway.com Should the links we provide not work, this may mean your E-mail program doesn't like our code. Simply go directly to our current online archived issue at: http://www.moneythewriteway.com You may freely distribute this eMag to friends, discussion lists, and writing groups as long as the issue is included in its entirety. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~