Always Enjoy Having My Friend Marilyn L. Davis of “Two Drops Of Ink” Sharing Writing and Literary Advice.

October 29, 2018 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Featured Guest, Featured Guest Writer, News Around The Web, Posts, Updates and More, Writing Tips award winning blog, blank page, literaty advice, marilyn davis, special article share, tips on writing, Writing

Welcome, Everyone! Especially Those Who Love To Write!

I happen to be doing my Twitter book shares today for all my author clients and came across an amazing post by my dear friend and fellow writer, Marilyn L. Davis. Not only is she a “writing expert,” but I learn so much from her and her literary blog. I have written a couple of posts for her but this past year has been so busy with my marketing business and co-writing another with a friend that the time has just gotten away from me to write more for both her literary blog, ” Two Drops Of Ink ” and her informative recovery blog where I also write posts on From Addict 2 Advocate.

That will have to be my ‘New Year Resolution’ going into 2019, writer more for others! Lol. I am happy today to share her new post from her fabulous literary blog Two Drops Of Ink. Even though this article is from back in 2015? It is informative and has some amazing writing advice as to overcome that intimidating “Blank Page.” I hope all you writers who visit get something to take with you after reading this post. Make sure you take a visit to Marilyn’s blog. Some amazing and helpful tips there!

Overcoming the Big, Blank Page

By: Marilyn L. Davis

“Confront the page that taunts you with its whiteness. Face your enemy and fill it with words. You are bigger and stronger than a piece of paper.” ―Fennel Hudson, A Writer’s Year – Fennel’s Journal

Blank Page? Fill it Wisely

I have gotten emails from other writers asking how I continue to make my niches new and exciting. They perceive that I do not seem to suffer from Writer’s Block. The reality is that I do, from a different perspective, Writers Glut. I have too many ideas floating in my head, both forTwo Drops of Ink and my other blog, From Addict 2 Advocate.

One problem with brain overload is that we have difficulty focusing.

Sadly, for a writer, when we lose focus, we might end up in a situation like Gordon Comstock, the protagonist in George Orwell’s book, Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Comstock struggles to complete an epic poem, which disintegrates into fragments because the writing is not cohesive.

While information or links enrich our posts, when we use more than necessary to make our point, the post often becomes:

The whole enchilada
Too much jam or filler
The shooting match
The shebang
The kitchen sink
The whole Megillah

Just in case you didn’t know, the Megillah alludes to five books of the Bible read on certain Jewish feast days and considered by some as long and tedious, and frankly, long and tedious are the last things that people want in a blog post.

Too Much for Just One Page?

With too many words or ideas clamoring for attention, it’s often necessary to find ways to focus the writing. Certainly, you can free write and fill the pages with words, and in turn, move the random thoughts and ideas from brain to paper. Since it’s the first draft, you also don’t have to worry about how disjointed it might be.

Are you passionate, angry, or saddened by the subject?
Can you convey your emotions about the issue in powerful words?
Has your viewpoint changed since you wrote about the topic last?
Are you writing about an underdeveloped aspect of the subject?
Does your site need updated information about this particular topic?
Do you think there’s already too much information about your topic?
Is this a worthwhile topic?
Did you research to find correct, factual, and accurate information?
Can you support your information with credible links?
Can you add useful or valuable information about the topic?
What are your qualifications to write about a topic?
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Mastering the Blank Page

After your point of interest, decide your level of skill in presenting the information.

Skilled
Authority
Knowledgeable
Professional
Expert
.

When you establish your skill level about the topic, approach it from the standpoint of the reader. Frame questions to help you narrow your focus.

.
What were you curious about when you didn’t have much information about the topic? What stimulated this interest? Write as if you’re discovering something beneficial and exciting, as this tone and sense of wonder will translate and engage your readers.

When we write from the standpoint of learning and teaching, we aren’t condescending nor pompous in our choice of words and tone. CLICK TO TWEET

Remember what you did not know and tell the reader about it. While you’re an authority on the topic now, there’s always a backstory about what you learned. These stories can also add some humor. “Then there was the time that I didn’t understand…” and let your readers know that you’re an authority or knowledgeable, but had to learn a lesson the hard way.

We’ve all made mistakes, in fact, mine was misspelling message with massage and trust me, that one change in letters made my piece unacceptable for small children, even though spell check let it pass. Thank goodness for an editor with an eye for context like Scott Biddulph.

What to Leave In and What to Leave Out

As you learn and write about your topic, you may understand the subtle nuances of it. Elaborate on them. Remember, you’re not writing this as a new topic. You’re writing this with a skilled eye and can expand on the obvious facets of the topic. However, your readers may just be learning about the topic, so teach them. It is not redundant to explain the basic aspects of the topic.

If you have professional or expert knowledge about a topic, you need to let readers know that while any post is your opinion; you back it up with years of experience, your education, or current research.

Qualifying your information or credentials is not bragging. You’re doing this so readers learn to trust your posts. CLICK TO TWEET

Your readers know that you’ve worked in a field, have advanced degrees, or you can let them know where you’ve been published. Letting them know that other sites value your writing goes a long way in establishing this trust.

Even for an expert, it’s not enough to write about the technicalities, subtle nuances, obscure facts learned over the years, or minutiae of the topic; you still have to write new insights, interesting content, and provide original thoughts. Whichever skill level you have about the topic, it is your writing that will make it worthwhile. Your distinct tone, style, and phrasing can and will make it original, which allows you to produce a stand-out piece.

How you convey your information might be:

Repeating sage wisdom of the ages with a new twist.
Reforming someone’s thinking with persuasive facts, passion, and your point of view.
Revamping one of your old articles with updated information.
.

Taming Block and Glut

Some days, we simply have to accept that we can’t produce and publish a piece. We’re either too distracted to narrow the focus, too uncertain about our skill level of the subject, or we can’t think of a perspective that isn’t saturated. On those days, unless you have a deadline, give yourself a break.

Adopt the Scarlett O’Hara mentality, “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow”, or remember the words of Ann Lamott, “The word block suggests that you are constipated or stuck when the truth is that you’re empty.”

When you think you’re empty, then reference the following:

Have you taken a reader’s comment and expanded on it?
What grabbed your attention today?
What piques your curiosity?

I think writers are often too hard on themselves. Writing is one of the few professions that it’s hard to walk away from because it doesn’t need an office. Furthermore, I’ve never seen any mention of traditional writer hours. For most of us, it’s when we’re awake.

Too Tired or Too Much Going on to Focus?

Writers are always writing, even if it’s just in our heads. We read signs on the road, imagine character’s conversations, or a great title pops into our brains while at lunch. Those are the creative ways that we think. But sometimes, all those great ideas don’t go anywhere.

Unlike most professions, we’re never without the tools necessary to write. We’ve got electronics to record our thoughts, and even with a power outage, our phones still have Evernote. Not to mention, paper and pen. CLICK TO TWEET

So sometimes, we’ve got to let our brains rest.

Jot a few good sentences down.
Put the writing in your Darling file
Review it the next day.
Drink some tea, meditate, take a nap, or call it a day and go to bed and read.

After all, glut and block will undoubtedly pass by morning.

Here at Two Drops of Ink, we also believe that how something is said is just as important as what is said. In this spirit, we invite you to submit your writing.

Two Drops of Ink is accepting submissions for all genres except “R” rated romance or anything politically partisan.

We are proud to collaborate with our montly and guest contributors.
We hope you consider submitting to an award-winning site.

TWO DROPS OF INK: THE LITERARY HOME FOR COLLABORATIVE WRITING

Meet Writer Lorraine Reguly Who Shares As My Guest – ‘How to Optimize Our Writing Time.’

October 7, 2018 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Featured Guest, Featured Guest Writer, News Around The Web, Posts, Writing Tips Blind blogger, blogging, Guest Lorraine Reguly, Life Coach, Max Ivy Jr, Time Management, Writing Advice, Writing Goals

Welcome Writers, Authors, and Bloggers

Please meet my friend Lorraine Reguly who like me wears many literary hats. Actually, funny story, and don’t know if Lorraine will remember this as it HOW we first met. When I first set up my recovery blog here on WordPress, I had NO IDEA what I was doing as I wrote my very first blog post. Lorraine came and gave it read. She then was kind enough to leave me a comment about how I wasn’t using correct spacing and paragraphing. Now, at first, I felt embarrassed, which then lead to me thinking, what the hell I am doing!!? Lol. Which lead me to, how dare her! Doesn’t she know I am not a writer? And my goodness! How dare she leave me such a rude comment? LOL!!

Well, if my first blogging and writing experience didn’t happen like this? I would not be writing today! Yes, I got over myself after and knew she was only trying to help guide me. We connected together all over social media and I have been learning from her ever since! So, thank you, Lorraine, for making me better at all that I do today. You know I love you to pieces! So, I was on Facebook and my dear friend and Author, Max Ivy., Jr. happened to reshare an article Lorraine had up on her site that is so informative I needed and asked her permission to share it with all of you. I thank her for doing so!

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October 6, 2018\ Lorraine\ of Wording Well. com

There are 6 things you can do to optimize your writing time so you can achieve your writing goals:

1: Determine your “best” time.

2: Determine your realistic writing time.

3: Determine the days you will write.

4: Make writing a priority.

5: Write during your spare pockets of time.

6: Optimize your writing time by getting help and outsourcing tasks/chores.

Now, let’s look at each of these in-depth.

NOTE: Two different planners are available to you in this post (for FREE)!

1: Determine your “best” time

The first thing you need to do to optimize your writing time so you can reach your writing goals is to determine your best writing time. You can determine the best time to write if you know your body’s rhythms.

Do you write best in the morning, afternoon, or night?

When do you have the most energy? Write during that time!

A lot of people get tired in the late afternoon, but after they get their second wind, they are more energetic. When do you get your second wind? Write right after that!

Do you have more time on weekends? Write on weekends!

Do you exercise and eat healthily? Once you consider your diet and exercise habits, you can improve your energy levels. Some people feel more energetic when they drink caffeine (found in coffee, tea, and most sodas), while others find they are more energetic when they consume more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, and avoid sugar. Most people also function better when they exercise every day.

If you have a hard time finding your peak writing time, do some self-experiments. Write in the morning. Write in the afternoon. Then write at night. See what times you enjoy best, and see when you are most productive. Write during those times!

2: Determine your realistic writing time

The second thing you need to do to optimize your writing time so you can reach your writing goals is to determine your realistic writing time. By this, I mean how long you can actually write for.

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of writing after a while. I certainly can’t sit and write for hours on end! I can write for only an hour or so before I get bored or tired of the task.

(Even when I’m editing, I only edit for two hours at a time, at most!)

By determining your real writing time, you will be able to schedule the times you write. By doing this, you will become more realistic with your goals, too. And when you are writing, you will simply write, because you know that, after an hour passes, you can move on to doing something else!

I like this concept because I also apply it to exercising. I hate the moments leading up to it and find it hard to motivate myself to exercise. But once I am actually doing that task, I know it’s not going to last forever. I know that it will soon come to an end! I can then force myself to finish my 30 minutes easily. Also, I always feel great afterward, so that is another added benefit!

3: Determine the days you will write

The third is, we all have busy schedules and often make the excuse that we can’t find the time to write. So how can you find time to do your best writing, even when you’re busy?

Make a schedule!
You need to do this to optimize your writing time so you can reach your writing goals. You can use this FREE PLANNER to help you. This planner is specifically tailored toward bloggers.

The other planner (the downloadable one) is for every writer to use.

Alternatively, you can use this planner. It’s also free and requires you to sign up to my email list but it’s a much better planner!!!

Look at your weekly routine. It is probably not feasible for you to plan to write every day. But if you know that you can write on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7 and 9 p.m., then you should plan to write on those days.

Maybe Sunday is a good day for you to write. If you work a full-time job from Monday to Friday and run errands on Saturday, then that leaves Sunday as the best day for you to write.

You don’t need to write every day. Even writing just one day a week (and being faithful to that schedule) will bring you closer and closer to reaching your writing goal!

Think about it.

In one year, there are 52 weeks. That means there are 52 Sundays for you two write. If you spend one hour each Sunday writing and write (on average) 1000-2000 words each Sunday, you will have written a full-length novel within a year!

Any writing goal is easy to achieve if you look at the big picture and then break your goal down into small steps that are easily achievable!

4: Make writing a priority

The fourth thing you need to do to optimize your writing time so you can reach your writing goals is to make writing a priority.

You will need to make sacrifices in order to reach your goals. That is just a fact of life if you want to be successful!

By making writing a priority, you will have to sacrifice some of the time you spend elsewhere. This might mean giving up an hour of TV time each night. It might mean waking up an hour earlier. Or it might mean hiring someone to come in once a week to clean the house, thus allowing that time to focus on your writing goals. Whatever you do, make sure you find a good work-life balance!

5: Write during your spare pockets of time

The fifth thing you need to do to optimize your writing time so you can reach your writing goals is to write during your spare pockets of time.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Make the most of the time you have available to you!

Maybe you have 20 minutes to spare in the morning while the kids are getting dressed. Maybe you can write during the time it takes to cook a casserole in the oven. Maybe you can use that 30 minutes in the evening while your child is bathing to get some writing done.

“The key is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to write!” ~Lorraine

Another example is to write while waiting for an appointment (like when you’re at the doctor’s office). Just simply pull out your phone and write in a Google Doc. I have this app on my phone (it’s one of the many apps I have to make my life easier), and I have set so that writing offline is enabled. That way, I don’t even need Internet access to write!

I have taken this one step further by enabling the speech-to-text function on my phone. I don’t need to fiddle with tiny keyboard buttons on my phone to write. I can simply say what it is that I want to write, and the speech-to-text function will record what I’m saying!

It also doesn’t matter if other people are around because this feature is set to record the sound of my voice, not everyone else’s. It is a very neat way to write, and I love it. I’ve been using this feature for over a year now, and I even use it to record emails and Facebook comments (when I am checking my Facebook notifications from my phone).

I highly recommend writing using the speech-to-text function. I actually learned about this feature from my blind author friend, Maxwell Ivy Jr. ~ The Blind Blogger & Life Coach.

6: Optimize your writing time by getting help

The sixth and final thing you need to do to optimize your writing time so you can reach your writing goals is to get help.

Bloggers automate their scheduling. Businesses hire employees to work for them. You can apply similar principles to your own life by outsourcing some of your weekly tasks.

For example, can you hire someone to clean your house, do your laundry, or cook for you once a week? Can you get your groceries delivered so you can save time on grocery shopping?

What can you do to free up more time for you to write?

Can you automate your bill-paying practices with online banking?

If you think about every task you have to do (especially ones you don’t enjoy doing), perhaps you can brainstorm some ways for you to reduce your workload so you have more writing time.

You don’t always have to look at solutions that cost money, either. Maybe you have a family member or a friend (or both) who is willing to help you out once a week, for free. If you take the time to explain to them how important it is for you to find some uninterrupted writing time, they will be more likely to help you.

Maybe the solution is as simple as asking for a little help. As my good friend Max Ivey says, “If you don’t ask, they can’t say YES!” He is a Life Coach after all and just may be of help!

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(Note: This saying is so popular that Max even had T-shirts made that say this! You can order yours by following the links from his page that advertises them.)

Your Turn!

Do you know your peak energy time? How long is your realistic writing time?

How can you optimize your time more effectively? Share your experiences in the comments!

Also, tell us what other things have helped you become a more productive writer!

Let’s learn from each other! ~ Lorraine ~

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About Lorraine Reguly:

Lorraine Reguly is a freelance writer, editor, and blogger who provides stellar services at superb rates. Lorraine is a reliable, highly skilled, Canadian-based freelance writer, editor, and blogger who has written for many top blogs online. (Check out her portfolio.)

She has also written several articles and letters, which have been published in local papers in Thunder Bay, Ontario, including The Argus, Lakehead University’s newspaper. These particular articles focus on her life experiences, which have been vast. Lorraine has many hobbies, loves to read, and has a passion for the English language. She prides herself to a high standard and is a perfectionist! Connect with on social media. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.

( Cat knows this first hand! Lol! ) Thank You, Lorraine, for writing and letting me share this informative POST! ~Catherine Lyon

Holiday Guest Post ~ 9 Ways to Write Better By JayDee of Author Wall & Being Author Book Promo…

December 10, 2017December 10, 2017 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Featured Guest, Featured Guest Writer, Marketing and More, Posts, Updates and More, Writing Tips being author, Book Promotions, Jaydee, list your books, meet author wall, offer free book promo, Writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips

writing

WRITERS? Are you happy with your way of writing? Do you stick to a certain style, format, or outline? Well, today my friend Jay explains how to write better in this special “Writers Spotlight.” He owns and runs Being Author an Author Promotion and Writer Blog and the new Free Book Promo site

9 Ways to Write Better:

We are all writers now. Whether you write books, blog posts, emails, tweets, or text messages, you are a writer. No matter your preferred medium, here are a few tips to help you write more effectively:

Treat text messages like prose. Before hitting the send button, look over your text: check spelling, content, punctuation. Ask yourself: What am I attempting to communicate? What am I attempting to express? Be more deliberate with your most common form of casual writing, and you’ll automatically become more deliberate in other mediums.

Words are tools. Expand your vocabulary to make your writing more precise. There’s no need to use a ten-dollar word when a ten-cent word will suffice, but having more tools in your toolbox will allow you to select the most appropriate tool for the job. Because sometimes you need an ax, sometimes you need a scalpel. So pick one new word each day, and then use it at least 21 times in your conversations with others that day. The most useful words will stick, and your vocabulary will expand over time.

Do it daily. If you want to improve your writing, write every day—make it a daily habit. Writing is a muscle: if you don’t use it, you lose it. For me, the best way to guarantee consistent writing was to start a blog.

Punctuation. Is. Pace. To add variety, velocity, and cadence to your writing, play around with different punctuation: periods, commas, em dashes, colons, semicolons. Short sentences communicate tension. Longer run-on sentences, on the other hand, help establish a frantic, hurried rhythm—a feeling that the pace is picking up as the words tumble onto the page.

Avoid throat-clearing. Blogs, books, and social media posts are littered with unnecessary intros, solipsistic digressions, and avoidable drivel. Ditch the nonsense and state your points. When in doubt, delete your first two paragraphs and see whether the writing improves.

download (4)

Don’t waste the reader’s time. Our time and our attention are two of our most precious resources. It is selfish to force a reader to spend fifteen minutes reading something you could’ve and should’ve communicated in 90 seconds. If you want to earn your reader’s trust, don’t waste her time.

30% composition, 70% editing. For every hour you spend writing, spend three hours editing, shaping your work into something more concise, more powerful—more beautiful. Writing truly is rewriting.

Narrative urgency. Every sentence must serve a purpose: Your first sentence must make the reader want to read the second. The second sentence must propel the reader to the third. So forth and so on until the very end. If a sentence doesn’t move the narrative forward—if it doesn’t make the writing more urgent—then it must hit the cutting-room floor, no matter how clever or precious it seems.

Avoid too many adverbs. A sure sign of amateur writing is the overuse of adverbs, especially -ly adverbs. A woman in a story isn’t incredibly pretty—she’s beautiful; the sky isn’t very blue—it’s azure. Find the right words to avoid using adverbs as crutches.

24174535_1675190495878642_1151751025571020341_n Author Wall Free Book Promo

Most Authors spend a lot of money on Book promotion but they don’t get expected results. To solve this issue we have built Author wall… JayDee

News For Authors and Writers From The Web and Guest Article Courtesy of TCK Publishing.

September 11, 2017 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Featured Guest, Posts, Writing Tips Book Marketing Tips, consulting, helpful article, Hire Me!, literary agents, services, tck publishing, twodropsofink, writing tips and advice

last month I was invited by my dear friend Marilyn Davis to write an article for her fabulous writers’ website “TwoDropsofInk” titled; Authors: Book Promote Like a Pro!
In my article, I clarified the differences between literary agents, publicists, and book promoters…

how to get a literary agent contract

Literary Publicist

Literary Publicist: Is a person who publicizes, especially a press agent or public-relations consultant. They are an expert in current or public affairs, and an expert on federal or international law.

Literary Agent

Literary Agent: Is a person who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers, film producers and film studios, and assists in the sale and deal negotiations of the same.

Literary Book Promoter or Marketer

Literary Book Promoter or marketer: Is a person who promotes, especially as an active supporter, advocate, or paid publicity organizer to promote one’s work through various forms like press releases, through social media, and more. That is what I do

So now that we know the differences, I came across another fantastic article on TCK Publishing about: How To Get A Literary Agent. When I got my email newsletter from them, it had a great article and guide on how to go about this. So I emailed “The Guy,” Best Selling Author, Tom Corson-Knowles to ask if I could share some of this article and HOPE writer’s that you will go read the rest and view The Guide he was kind enough to share with us on their website within the article here: “How To Get A Literary Agent”.

In the weird, wonderful world of publishing, there are a few key figures that everyone knows about: publishers, editors, and literary agents.

But do you really know what those folks do all day?

In an age when anyone can upload a file and start selling their book on Amazon in a few clicks, why do these old-school roles still matter? How do they add value to your publishing journey?

Let’s take an in-depth look at the literary agent, one of the key figures in the traditional publishing industry. We’ll check out what they do every day to help you and your book succeed, what it might cost you to work with an agent, and how you can find an agent.

We’ll also talk with publishing industry experts and agents themselves about what to do—and not to do—if you want to work with an agent, and how to get the most out of your relationship.

Let’s get started!

What Is a Literary Agent?

No matter what creative industry you’re talking about—film, TV, books, music—there’s usually someone called an “agent” working in it.

That’s because, when you get right down to it, creative people want to be creating, not worrying about business matters. But the businesspeople who put that creative material out to the public want to make sure little things like deadlines are met, and that contracts are signed, paperwork is filled out, and so on.

So a kind of go-between developed between creative professionals and business types: the agent.

Agents are kind of like business managers for creatives: writers, actors, artists, musicians, and so on. They handle all the nitty-gritty details so that you can get on with the important work of creating.

What Does an Agent Do?

Agents do a lot of things that authors can do for themselves, but that takes a lot of time and effort to keep on top of.

The key part of any agent’s job is getting their clients work. They negotiate deals like publishing contracts or speaking gigs, keep track of licensing arrangements, and coordinate payment from all those different deals.

But agents do far more than just making deals!

Literary agents, in particular, often partner with the authors they represent to improve a manuscript, working together on edits and development to refine the book until it’s sure to knock the socks off a publisher.

The agent also puts together a query and pitch package for the book to submit to publishers, helping put the manuscript’s best foot forward and show exactly why the publisher should pay top dollar for that book.

A great pitch package is more than just a summary of the book. In nonfiction, it includes a summary of every chapter and its content, a basic marketing plan, an examination of other comparable books on the market, and more.

Basically, it’s a mini-business plan for your book…and that takes a lot of work to put together! Agents know the style, format, and content that will appeal to a busy acquisitions editor and they can put together a package that’ll impress.

“Former agent Elizabeth Evans (now an independent editor) says, “It’s not often discussed in the publishing process, but I think an important part of being a good agent is understanding how to help a writer create his or her most powerful work.”

A Day in the Life of an Agent

Agents spend most of their time reading submissions and sending notes on the books that come across their desks. They field dozens, if not hundreds, of queries every week and have to quickly evaluate whether the book is ready to publish—and whether it has market potential.

If something interesting and well-written comes across their email, they’ll request the full manuscript to review, to make sure that the writing through the whole book lives up to the promise of the query and the sample pages.

When a book really hits home, they’ll offer to represent the author—you!—and then start the process of working with you to refine the book, create a pitch package, and find a publisher.

If you’re lucky, the agent will be able to start an auction for the rights to publish your book, getting several interested editors at different publishing houses to bid on it. The combination of the most money and the best terms and marketing support wins!

Once the book is under contract with a publisher, the agent’s work doesn’t end! Now, your agent will help coordinate edit timelines, marketing support, book tours, and more.

They’ll also keep track of contract details and collect your royalties on your behalf.

Once the book is published, some agents will also help sell subsidiary rights, which are other ways to make money off your writing. Some agents represent subsidiary rights themselves, while others have someone in their agency whose entire job is to handle subsidiary rights.

These rights include film or TV options, foreign translation rights, audiobook rights, and more.

All in all, subsidiary rights can add up to a lot of income for you as the author! But making all those deals can be very time-consuming, so it’s really handy to have an agent pursuing all those options on your behalf.

An agent’s day varies constantly, but on an average day, your agent is probably:

Calling editors to discuss possible projects
Checking royalty statements for accuracy
Making notes on a client’s new marketing plan
Scanning Publishers Weekly to see what’s been selling
Writing a query for a new book
Responding to pitch emails
Fielding phone calls and emails from clients
Taking notes on client projects
Reading new manuscript submissions (often after standard working hours!)

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There is so much more to learn from this fantastic and helpful article!
I thank TomCorson-Knowles for letting me share some of this with all my writer and author friends here. Please stop by and read the rest of how to get the very BEST AGENT possible and to see if you need one!

Check out what they offer for all your publishing needs…

“CAT LYON’S Reading and Writing Den” ~ See How I can Promote Your Books!
“Lyon Literary Media & Book Promo Service”

Writers, Want More Print Coverage? My PR Friend Marsha Has The Answer!

July 14, 2017July 14, 2017 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Book Promotion Tips For Authors, Featured Guest, Featured Guest Writer, Posts, Writing Tips articles, Author, Books, get in print, Marsha Friedman, public relations advice, writers wanted, writing exposure, writing PR

Offer Up Your Own Articles As
A Writer!

One often overlooked means of getting great publicity is to contribute articles you wrote yourself to publications. Not only does your published byline boost your visibility, it provides an excellent credential.

While many of the major national publications don’t accept unsolicited articles, some do set aside space for contributor columns or accept guest columns on their op-ed pages. The New York Daily News and Newsmax, for instance, have published many articles written by our clients. In some cases, these articles have drawn the attention of other media, leading to more exposure for our clients.

Smaller publications, trade magazines, and online publications also may be good places for your articles to land. These publications often have small staffs, so they’re happy to get well-written articles that they don’t have to pay for. Your reward is the publicity you’ll receive because you’ll likely get a credit line that includes your website and email.

To help get you started on the path to publication, here are some do’s and don’ts:

Look for submission guidelines on the publication’s website – and follow them! Some publications post their rules for submitting unsolicited articles. They may outline the topics they’re interested in, minimum and/or maximum word counts, and the style. If you find guidelines, stick to them! The No. 1 mistake people make is going over the maximum word count. That will very likely get your article rejected. And, since editors often don’t tell you why they’re rejecting the article, the writer keeps repeating the mistake.

Pitch your ideas before writing a full article. While with some publications you can submit a full article, you can save yourself time if you first pitch a few ideas to gauge whether the editor would have any interest. Send a short email offering three or four topics, with a one-paragraph synopsis of each. Add a brief bio highlighting your relevant credentials. The worst they can do is say “no,” and if they do you won’t have wasted your time writing an entire 700-word article, or whatever length was the target.
Be prepared to offer exclusivity. Many publications state up front that they will accept only articles that have not been previously published. They may also require the writer to promise that the article won’t be submitted to other publications until a specified number of days pass. Be sure to check the fine print! Or, the editor may tell you it’s OK to publish in magazines that it doesn’t directly compete with.

Sign up for Google Alerts. Don’t assume that the editor will contact you to let you know when the article has actually published. One of the best ways to track that is to sign up for Google Alerts, so you’ll be notified when the article is posted online. Once that happens, be sure to share the link on your website and in social media to get the most out of the moment.

Bylined articles help you establish your reputation as an expert, build your brand and gain visibility. They may lead to an invitation to be a regular contributor, as has happened with a number of our clients. And bylined articles can generate even more interest from other publications whose editors see your work and approach you wanting their own interview or story.

WRITE ON!

P.S. If you’d like professional help getting coverage in the press, or being interviewed on radio and TV, give us a call. We’ve been providing this service to clients for 27 years. We also offer a comprehensive social media marketing program for select clients, where we do it all for you. If you’re interested in our help, please call us at 727-443-7115 Ext. 231, or simply reply to this email or visit our site at: The PR Insider ~ EMSI We’d love to hear from you!

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About Marsha Friedman:

CEO & Founder, Marsha Friedman doesn’t like sitting still. As a prominent business woman, she has run her public relations firm successfully through prosperity and adversity, ironically having one of her best revenue years in the midst of 2009’s recession. As a publicity expert, she has authored the book Celebritize Yourself.

Marsha Friedman launched EMSI in 1990. Her PR company represents corporations and experts in a wide array of fields such as business, health, food, lifestyle, politics, finance, law, sports, and entertainment. Some of the more prominent names on her client roster are Sergeant’s Pet Care Products, Former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane, and the famous Motown Group, The Temptations.

She consults individuals and businesses on a daily basis and is frequently asked to speak at conferences about how to harness the power of publicity.

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My Author, Writer, and Blog Pick of The Week. Meet My Friend Stephen Who Needs Your Advice Blog Friends!

May 30, 2017May 30, 2017 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Author News, Featured Guest, Featured Guest Writer, Posts, Writing Tips 911 emt, Book, Featured Guest, meet stephen, Tips and Advice, Writing

Many of my friends and readers know I ENJOY meeting new authors and writers through social media. Isn’t that using social what using social media for besides maybe business, marketing, and promoting or supporting something…I met Stephen I believe on Facebook as we have a lot in common.

SO, I wanted to help support him and his awesome blog by sharing a recent post he has on “Seeking Advice” on his book project he working on. Here is more and I invite you all to share your tips, advice, and wisdom writers and authors. Even YOU Readers!

Meet Stephen Kavalkovich

Author/ Speaker/Recovery Advocate and Coach

I am a man who was given the gift of many experiences in life. For most of my adult life, I was a 911 Paramedic. I have seen tragedy and suffering first hand for many years. Little was I aware that I was the one who needed the saving. Through seeking peace within by using all things external, I wound up dead and ruined in every way.

My goal is simple, to use my experience to connect and give you a voice. I have expertise in Emergency Medical Care, First Responder and Addiction/Substance abuse issues, Recovery Coaching, Intervention, Leadership, and Spiritual Studies. I am available to serve your coaching, professional speaking, and journalistic needs.

HELP! FRIEND, I SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE…

Good evening, friends. I have taken to my blog to enlist your guidance. I have had a burning desire for many years to write a book. A few months ago, I sat down at my table and just began writing. I wanted it to be a memoir of sorts, but my research showed a massive selection of the same format in the marketplace. I wanted to do something different, so have decided to draw on my personal experiences and create a fiction novel. I also felt that it would give me more creative freedom regarding details and specifics. As you can see above, this is the book cover I have created along with a short description of its contents.

Now, for my humble request. I wanted to ask what it is you would want to read about when you see the title and cover design?
What is it that would keep you turning pages?

If you take the time to read my autobiographical story at https://www.facingaddiction.org/news/2017/05/25/paramedic-survives-911
this might help you to understand who I am and where I came from. I am so excited to embark on this project and really thought it would be a great idea to have as much of your input as possible.

For those who take my request for help seriously, there is a reward for you.

Any feedback or guidance offered will get a mention in the acknowledgments and 2 free autographed first editions. Would you want war stories? Factual events? What is it that would get you to purchase the book from a store display or on your Kindle or Ipad? I know what I would like to read but I really want to know what you would want.
I sincerely wish to express my gratitude for your current and hopefully continued support in the future. I pray for blessings and peace for each of you on your own journey of life and transformation…

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I would like to invite you to visit Stephen’s blog ~ Welcome to Tales from the Broadside. And connect with him on Social Media too!

On Twitter ~ Facebook ~ LinkedIn ~ And Instagram!

Thanks, Friends!

“Cat Lyon’s Reading Den”