Writers: Sell Your Life Experiences.

Writers: Sell Your Life Experiences.

Have you ever read an article or a book and found the writing style to be awkward? Did it appear that the author was standing outside the circle of knowledge and simply reporting facts? This is too often the case when writers gain their subject matter solely from research.


Authors who know their subjects convey that confidence in their writing. Far too many novice writers seek publication through topics that they do not have a full grasp of. There is no need for this. You can do very well by writing about what you know.

People have varied backgrounds. While I might write about fly fishing, you may be more comfortable publishing a piece on skiing. It would not make much sense of us to swap topics to write about. Both pieces would come off as cold research.

When you know your subject matter first hand, your writing can be conversational and informative at the same time. This is a sign of an accomplished non-fiction writer. What is your favorite hobby? Why not write a compelling article about it? You could write about your job, your experiences in college, or your love of gardening. Stick to what you know and your writing career is far more likely to blossom.

Writing a Book

Writing a book is a big undertaking. If you have not been published previously, I believe that you should cut your teeth on articles. It is much easier to prepare a manuscript of 2,000 words than it is to prepare one of 100,000 words for a book.

Book authors are expected to be experts in their field. If you do enjoy expert status, a book project might be right for you. There are a number of different opportunities in authoring a book. You can go for a book that will be published by a mainstream publisher. Expect this to be a difficult deal to make. Competition for large publishers is immense. Your credentials for writing a book have to be outstanding in order for a publisher to offer you a contract.

Many large publishers will not work directly with writers. These publishers want to deal with literary agents. The problem a budding author faces is that agents want published authors to represent and publishers want agented writers to publish. If you write how-to books for consumers, you are far less likely to need agency representation.

Modern technology makes it possible for writers to self publish themselves with either Ebooks or Print-on-Demand (POD) books. There is a lot more to this than just writing a book and sending the manuscript to a printer or burning a PDF.

Good books require professional editing, page composition, proofreading, art manipulation, indexing, and cover design. Most individuals cannot afford to pay for all of these professional services. But if you cut corners on your publication it will show.

Books are big-ticket items. Articles are much easier to break into and much more accessible to unknown
writers.

Articles

Articles used to be published mostly by newspapers and magazines. It could take a year to see your work in print with a magazine. With online articles, you can be up and running as a published author in one day. The credibility is not quite the same, but published is published, and it all helps. New writers need examples of their work and online articles are a great place to get your feet wet.

Article length generally ranges from 750 words to 2,000 words. Magazines seem to be paying an average of ten cents per word. Some magazines pay thousands of dollars for articles with photos included, but the heavy-hitting pros are pounding this market.

How much will you make from an online article? You are not likely to see much income from your writing effort. However, the exposure these articles bring to your name and your web site can be quite valuable. This is a side benefit of gaining experience and adding to your portfolio of sample works.

Life Experience

Whether you choose to write articles or books, concentrate on your strengths through life experience. Make your readers feel as if they are sitting across a table from you exchanging information. Endear yourself to your readers. Believe in what you are writing. It will show in the finished work. Concentrate your efforts on topics that you have a passion for and tell your stories from the heart. Don't make the writing too flowery. Remember that you are talking in a normal conversational tone to an old friend on the other side of your words. You are not writing a press release for the Department of Tourism.

Okay, Where Do I Sell My Work?

Selling your work and seeing your work published are two very different goals. Magazines are known for "paying" rookie writers with copies of the magazine where the article is published. This doesn't put food on the table, but it is a strong step in building a foundation for yourself as a published author.
You can do online research to see which magazines are buying articles and what they are paying. For example, if you are into fishing, check out all the fishing-related magazines for opportunities. Don't hold out for big bucks in the beginning, be happy with getting published.
Online articles might not pay you a penny for your submission, but the exposure can be very valuable down the road. These articles tend to be short and you can get some much-needed experience while seeing your byline on articles almost right away.

If you have a full book project in you, check online for publishers who publish the types of books that you want to write. You can do this at online book stores. Type in "fishing" and look to see who published the books listed. Then find the publishers and learn about their submission guidelines. Expect a lot of rejection here, but one win is an awesome experience.

Changes in the Internet, Ebooks, PODs, and other new technology has created tremendous change in the old-fashioned style of publishing. If you are just starting out, this could be the perfect time for you. Old grey-beards like me have trouble transitioning from traditional publishing to modern publishing. Fortunately, you will be getting in near the ground floor and with enough effort and ability your writing future should be quite bright.

Now stop reading and start writing.

Employment Statistics for Writers

Employment Statistics for Writers

Authors, writers and editors held about 281,300 jobs in 2008. Writers and authors held about 151,700 jobs and editors held about 129,600 jobs. About 70 percent of writers and authors were self-employed, while 12 percent of editors were self-employed.
Among the 30 percent of salaried writers and authors, about half work in the professional, scientific, and technical services and in publishing (except Internet) industries. These industries include advertising, public relations and related services and newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers, respectively. Other salaried writers and authors work in broadcasting, professional and social organizations, and the motion picture and video industries.
While 51 percent of salaried editors worked in the publishing, except Internet industry (half of those for newspapers), a large number of editors were also employed in other industries. Business, professional and social organizations, information services, and educational institutions employed editors to work on their publications or Web content.
Jobs are somewhat concentrated in major media and entertainment markets—Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC—but improved communications and Internet capabilities allow writers to work from almost anywhere. Many prefer to work outside these cities and travel regularly to meet with publishers and clients and to do research or conduct interviews in person. As a result, job location is less of a requirement for many writing or editing positions than it once was.
Employment of authors, writers, and editors is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for Web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with Web or multimedia experience. Businesses and organizations are adding text messaging services to expanded newsletters and Web sites as a way of attracting new customers. They may hire writers or editors on either a salaried or freelance basis to contribute additional content. Some publishing companies however, especially those that rely on advertising revenues and sales receipts to support large staffs of writers, will employ fewer writers and editors. But many experienced writers and editors will find work with nonprofit organizations and associations in their public relations offices, or in the public affairs departments of large companies or agencies. Others will find freelance work for newspaper, magazine, or journal publishers; some will write books.
Competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Competition for jobs with established newspaper and magazines will be particularly keen as many organizations move their publication focus from a print to an online presence and as the publishing industry continues to contract. Writers and editors who have adapted to the new media and are comfortable writing for and working with a variety of electronic and digital tools will have an advantage in finding new work. The declining costs of self-publishing and the growing popularity of electronic books and book readers will allow many freelancers to get their work published. Some job openings will arise as experienced workers retire, transfer to other occupations, or leave the labor force.
This information was derived from: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Authors, Writers, and Editors, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos320.htm

Literary Agents

Literary Agents

I want to get published, do I need an agent? This is a question I get frequently. If you want to write fiction for a major publisher, I believe you will need an agent. How-to writers and professional reference writers do not normally need an agent.

I had an agent several years back. He got me book deals with publishers who I probably would not have gotten traction with on my own. Overall, I sold most of my own work. I did not sign an exclusive contract with the agent. Most agents require an exclusive, but I negotiated my way out of it. We did agree that what he represented was exclusive to him, but I could sell other ideas to other publishers on my own.

Now, how do you get an agent? It’s tough. The procedure is much like getting a job when you are young. Employers want people with experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. The struggle is similar with agents. They want known names. By the time that you have a known name, you may not need an agent.

I recommend doing your early work on your own. Once you have been published a few times, you have something to show an agent. What you got paid for the writing rarely comes up. What matters is that you are published. Many smaller magazines and publishers have limited budgets and will pay authors in copies of the publication or very modest fees. It is a little painful to suck it up at the time, but getting your name out there is important and having clips to send to other potential buyers and agents is very valuable. I think I got 12 copies of the magazine where my first article appeared as payment, but look where I wound up.

Another issue pertaining to agents is sorting out the good from the bad. Beware of reading fees. These are becoming more common, but you should not have to pay for an agent to read your proposals. If they do not have enough confidence in you to read what you have written, why should you sign with them?

When I got into this business the internet for consumers was just developing. I was using DOS programs and somehow had memorized the codes for using it. Imagine that in this day with smart phones, Windows®, and the like. I remember getting a 20 meg hard drive and wondering why anyone would need that much space. Times have changed. Back then it was difficult to check out agents. Now you have the internet, forums, writer’s groups (such as my Writer’s Nook on Linkedin®), and similar places to check out potential agents. Use these resources.

Before you sign with an agent, read the contractual agreement closely. Make sure that you can get out of it in short order if something goes wrong. Sometimes you just can’t tell until you are in the water if it is safe to swim with the sharks.

Does it sound like I don’t like agents? It sounds like that to me, but the opposite is true. Good agents are invaluable. They are doing face time and pressing the flesh with editors on a daily basis. Agents are a conduit to success when you have the right one. The key is getting the right one.

Dodge

Multiple Submissions

Multiple Submissions

A question that I am asked from time to time has to do with multiple submissions. People ask me if they should float their queries or proposals to several potential buyers at the same time. At first glance, this may seem like a good way to go. But in reality, it is not. You can burn bridges quickly. Acquiring editors do not want multiple submissions and they will remember you if you send them a project that their competitors are reviewing.

Few writers and authors have the power to enter into a highest-bid auction. There are literary agents that pull this off and some authors, but it is not common. In general, you are more likely to hurt your future prospects than to help them.

My advice is to do your homework. Do competitive research. Know your potential markets inside and out. Market your proposal or query to the publisher who best meets your criteria. Then, wait and see. Granted, you may wait for what seems an eternity. That is just the way it is. That is why you need to be an assembly line of ideas, concepts, and projects if you want to thrive as a pro writer.

While multiple submissions are a no-no, there is no foul to sending out twelve different proposals or queries. I am not saying to chum the waters with mediocre offers. Make each offer concise and important. But, if you want to make real money, get a bunch of them out there. How do you do this?

When I started out I went to a motel for a weekend alone. My wife understood my mission. I started with magazine articles. As an avid outdoorsman, I tried to capitalize on my experiences in that venue. It worked.

As a young man I was a hunter with both a gun and a bow. That gave me two different markets. My experience as a wildlife and nature photographer gave me two more. Hiking and camping gave me two other markets. There was a time in my late teens when I was a trapper, and that opened another market. Then there was fishing, and there are lots of types of fishing, so this role gave me many markets. Are you getting the point? I dissected my experience and strength and then found the markets for them.

I had never planned to be a writer. During my life I read a lot of how-to books. Learning was interesting to me. It turned out that all that reading had taught me how to write how-to articles and books. Frankly, I didn’t know it at the time, but it proved to be true.

English class was not my friend in school. I far preferred history. Yet, I made it as a pro writer working full-time and earning a 6-figure living. It did not happen overnight, but it did happen quicker than I would have ever imagined. In fact, I never really thought I would get published, but I enjoyed what I was doing with my spare time and it paid off and has for about 25 years.

I never made millions at a time. My best year that I can remember was around $150,000, but that was enough for my family and I to live comfortably and I had the advantage of working from home, where my children were.

I don’t want to mislead you. Making a full-time living as a freelance writer is very difficult. I remember one year when I wrote 13 books that ranged in length from 50,000 to 100,000 words. Twelve-hour days were not uncommon.

You can’t get up, wander around the house, write a few thousand words a day and pay the bills that most families have. If you can, please tell me how to do it. I worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a writer and then went to work as a salesman to sell new projects. I made myself write a minimum of 6,000 words a day, and 8,000 words was not uncommon. Believe me, it was a serious commitment.

You have to keep a lot of balls in the air to make it in publishing, but don’t use the same ball. Switch up your game. The game has changed a lot over the years. Our present economy has hurt book sales in my venue. Since most of my current books are based on construction topics and the fact that construction is nearly nonexistent my sales have suffered.

As a book producer, I have seen a lot of work being moved to offshore contractors for cheaper prices. All of this has hurt greatly.

It is possible to make it has an independent freelance writer, but you are going to have to work for it. Magazines are disappearing as we once new them. Brick-and-mortar bookstores are going away. Ebooks and electronic databases are gaining ground. Big publishers are buying out small publishers. It is a changing world. Step carefully. Publishing is a close-knit community. If you make mistakes with one editor others are going to hear about it at lunch.

Do your homework. Be professional. Know when to nag and when to wait. Most of all, make your work irresistible.

Dodge

Creative Writing

Creative Writing: Copyright © 2011, R. Dodge Woodson.  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

Information contained in this work has been obtained by R. Dodge Woodson (herein referred to as “the company”) from sources believed to be reliable. However, R. Dodge Woodson, Roger Woodson, authors, employees or freelancers of the company do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published by the company. R. Dodge Woodson, authors, employees and freelancers of the company do not guarantee any work offered by the company to be free of any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of the use of the information. All work is published with the understanding that R. Dodge Woodson, authors, employees and freelancers of the company are supplying information but are not attempting to render advice or professional services. Anyone requiring services or professional advice should seek such services and/or advice from qualified professionals who offer the advice or services being sought. The publisher and all its associates hereby state that they are not offering tax or legal advice. R. Dodge Woodson is not providing legal, tax, or other professional services as a result of this work.

Any comments or questions can be directed to rw@rdodgewoodson.net.

Creative Writing

My experience has shown that most creative writing fails to pay the bills. I cannot offer much advice about fiction, poetry, or other forms of creative writing. What I can say is that nonfiction work usually sells easier. There are, of course, exceptions. You could hit the jackpot and retire in comfort. That is not likely to happen with nonfiction. On the other hand, if you are going to share what you know, work a regulated scheduled, and invest in finding suitable publishers, you can make a good living as a nonfiction writer. You probably won’t get rich. I sure haven’t, but I did earn a good living for a long time writing about what I knew.

What do you like to do other than writing? Is it gardening? There is a strong market for this in the publishing world. Do you thrive on fishing? Hey, that’s another strong market. Can you tell fly fishermen how to tie flies and when and where to use them? You could be a mega star if you can. Are you a remodeling contractor, a plumber, a remodeler, or something along those lines? Consumers are hungry for this type of information.

Based on my personal experience over the last 20-25 years, I have to say that nonfiction work is the monthly paycheck. I have tried my hand at novels. Many people say I am good at it, but I don’t feel it. It should be stated that I have never signed a contract for a novel, even though I have been sought after for the job.

Ghostwriting is another option that can be profitable. Generally, you will probably have to travel to be a successful ghost. I choose not to. My decision has cost me jobs and some pretty good money, but it was my decision.

I know a lot of people love to write and read poetry, but I do not know anyone who makes any significant money from the effort.

Experts and business owners who write books can profit twice. They can be paid for what they write, gain expert status, and use it to promote their consulting practices and other business, not to mention their academic standing.

Over the years I have worked with all sorts of nonfiction writers as a book producer. Presently, I concentrate on chemists, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, homeland security, electrical engineers, and similar experts. If you fall into this category and want to write a book, please contact me at rw@rdodgewoodson.net.

The publishing world is changing. I have written over 110 books, but each year brings different circumstances. For instance, the last six writing projects I have had required videos to promote the projects. As a pro photographer, this was not difficult for me, but be aware that it might come up.

If you want to make a living as a full-time writer, the deck is stacked against you. It probably always has been, but I have seen it get worse over the years, and especially since 2008. Think about it. How many brick-and-mortar bookstores still exist? The digital age has hit us old dinosaurs. I guess it is to the tar pits for me, but I will not go without a rumble.

At R. Dodge Woodson, Publishing, (www.rdodgewoodson.net) I still have a few major publishers looking for real books. The market shrunk since 2008, but it is not dead. If you have something valuable to say, there may be someone who will pay you to say it.

Dodge