Is that what all this was about, then? That I should get my fear of commitment to PR in a headlock and join the big boys? That I should bring what I consider to be the benefits of traditional publishing into the world of Print on Demand? And that I should be brave enough to invest in some of my clients myself, take a risk and not charge for my services? I’ve been indulging in excuses long enough. It is a big leap for me. But it is a leap that feels so [...]
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 booksIs this the end of traditional publishing? Seth Godin has gone digital. Joanna Penn explains in her 3 minute [...] booksIt’s not often that a piece of writing strikes me as exceptional. But when I do I always mark it the text I am reading and commit the crime of folding over the corner of the page. A piece of writing has to be particularly fine if I then go the length of carrying the book with me to read out to people (anyone who will listen actually) and off the scale if I take the final step and type it up to circulate to those outside my immediate reach. Well, that is what happened with half a page of text in Michael Wright’s C’est La Folie. [...] expatriate stuffI am a big fan of writing competitions, particularly when the winners get published. Earlier this year I was a judge for the Netherlands Young Writer Competition and the winners had their entries published in a super book about friendship. A week or so ago I judged the finalists in the Life in a Flying House competition where winners earn $10,000 from the Expat Youth Scholarship and publication online. I urge you to look at the website and read last year’s entries while you are waiting for this year’s results (out 13 September). This week, I have two more competitions to tell you about – and this time they are for grown ups! Entering a competition has many six [...] booksI just wrote a piece about how to write about your life experience overseas for a website called Khiruna. If you would like to find out more and dip into some tips and ideas then click here. inspirationMany of my students find it hard to let go of their work and send it out into the universe. Pressing the Publish button on your blog, sending that proposal out to a publisher, or emailing that pitch to a magazine editor can be tough. If you procrastinate about letting go then read my column at The Hague Online this month about why letting go is a good [...] inspirationI have always believed in giving things away. That’s why I give away two free reports to anyone dropping by my site – see the box there offering The Seven Secrets for Writing Life Stories and the other offering 50 Steps to a Book in Your Hand? Head over to my Giveaways page and you will find more freebies still. Sign up to have me as your mentor and I’ll give you lots of other stuff too. This is how I try to add value to my services. I never expect all the people who take one of my freebies to become my client one day. [...] bookshow a successful writer nurtures young writing talent by judging competitions and mentoring teenagers to build a [...] articlesOur writing goals can often seem too far away, too difficult, impossible even, and so we hover in the foothills of our dreams, shuffling papers and feet and procrastinating. I believe that writing articles should be your first step towards your writing dreams, yes, even (or especially) if your actual goal is to write a full-length book. Articles are shorter, easier to place and a great way to build your portfolio and your [...] bookswhy authors, and indeed, entrepreneurs, need to get interviewed as much as possible by the media. This gets you much-needed publicity. And, may I add – it is [...] |
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