Freelance Writers: Don’t Waste Your Time with Query Letters
Virtually everything ever written about freelance writing and getting published says that you need to write query letters. Yet in the Internet Age, the truth of the matter is that query letters are almost always a huge waste of time.
Certainly some people do get work by writing query letters. But the query process soon turns into a numbers game, almost like a direct mail campaign. You have to send out so many queries to get meaningful responses that you won’t have much time left to do any actual work. A good query letter must be carefully crafted and painstakingly personalized. To compose one that doesn’t sound cutesy or contrived is difficult and time-consuming.
The reality is that you must think of editors as your potential customers. They control the budget and whether or not to buy from you. It is NEVER a good idea to harass or inconvenience a customer. For many busy editors, query letters are annoying. Often they are just another form of junk mail.
Now you’re probably thinking, “If editors don’t read query letters, how does anyone ever get published?” What the writing books don’t tell you is that article topics are often defined far in advance. At many magazines, editors figure out a monthly or yearly plan. Barring some earth-shattering catastrophe, the editors stick to that plan. The standard query letter is usually a waste of time because with the calendar of topics decided well in advance, off-topic queries are ignored. In other words, your carefully crafted query letter gets round-filed, not because it’s bad, but because it had no hope of being used.
The fact that query letters are often thrown away doesn’t mean editors don’t use freelance writers; they do. But the reality is that editors tend to rely on a stable of writers who have proven themselves experts on the magazine’s chosen topics. So if you want to be published, your task is to discover those topics and become one of those experts.
From an editor’s point of view, few decent writers actually exist out there in the big world. Editors have simple needs: they want articles that are original, easy to read, accurate, and on time.
Flakey writers that don’t meet deadlines are the bane of every editor and publisher in the industry. If you meet your deadlines, every time with no excuses, you will stand out from the pack. If you consistently send articles that are:
* precisely focused on a topic the magazine wants to run;
* written in the magazine’s chosen style and tone;
* 100% accurate and error free;
* formatted the way the magazine wants them;
* and arrive BEFORE the deadline
an editor will notice you!
Okay, so what if you’ve never written for that magazine before? Instead of querying, do some research on the magazine. After you have read the magazine and any available writer’s guidelines, write a polite letter to the editor to ask for an editorial calendar and explain your expertise.
This method is far preferable to any query letter, no matter how clever or well-written. Why? With some concise information about you, often an editor can tell whether or not your writing will be a good fit for my publication.
For example, if you say that you have written articles for managers about “enterprise computing” and the editor works for a “how to use Microsoft Word step by step” magazine, it’s likely that you won’t be the right writer for that magazine.
However, if you explain that you spent two years teaching “introduction to word processing” classes at your local YMCA, and that you wrote handouts for your students about how to get started using Microsoft Word, that same editor might just encourage you to submit a few articles! At the very least, the editor might send you the editorial calendar.
Don’t forget the basics! Simple little things often make you stand out from the crowd and help your chances of getting published. For example, when writing an e-mail or letter to an editor, always remember that you are writing to someone who spends a lot of time with words and probably has a degree in English or Journalism. Double-check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Format properly. If you don’t compose your e-mail competently and professionally, editors won’t believe that you can write a good article.
And finally, be truthful. Don’t inflate your credentials. Don’t fib about how much you know about a topic. Don’t gush, and don’t sell. Just state your credentials concisely, clearly, and correctly. Editors don’t need to be sold and they have no tolerance for hype. They’re just too busy to put up with it.
Susan Daffron is the President of Logical Expressions, Inc. (http://www.logicalexpressions.com) and the author of books on pets, web business, computing, and vegetarian cooking. Visit http://www.publishize.com to receive a complimentary Publishize podcast or newsletter and bonus report.”
Write a Book, Be an Expert
“Write a book and get recognized as an expert.” How many times have you heard that? Hundreds? Thousands? It is a fact that people acknowledge you as the expert when you have put your knowledge in print. It could be a book, a column, a booklet or a white paper that has been published. If people find what you wrote helpful to them, you become an expert!
The good news is you can write about anything and become an expert. It doesn’t necessarily need to be something you know right now. Yet, I do encourage my writers to write about what they know as it is the easiest way to write your first book. It is important to write about what you know if you are promoting your business and want your clients to recognize you as an expert in your business.
Yet, I have learned from my clients that you can write about what you don’t know and be highly successful at it. Here are some tips to get any writer started writing about what he or she doesn’t know.
1. Have a passionate idea. Some of my clients wanted to do something different: Write a Zen book, a comic book, and produce a positive, motivational rap music CD. These passionate ideas had a thread of relationship to their business, yet they were obsessed with creating these projects. And that is the key: You have to want it so bad that it becomes an obsession. You think about it day and night and you know you will not rest until you do it.
2. Research your idea. Get some basic ideas and resource information by doing research. For many writers this is not fun: Then get a college student to do it for you. Tell the student what information you need to get started. For example, the comic book author would want to see if anything like an educational comic book for adults has been done before in the same topic she has chosen. She will want to check out comic book publishers and their criteria. Also, find some articles on comic book publications and “how to” articles. You can use the Internet, the library, and even the bookstore to get the information you need.
3. Find and ask the experts to help you. “Flattery will get you anywhere,” the saying goes. Experts love to hear that their ideas are helpful. They are willing to help you if you ask. For example, the author who wanted to create a comic book knew nothing about how to do that. She met someone who was a graphic designer. She told him about her dream to create her comic book. The designer was excited about it and showed her his drawings. Collaboration was born to create a comic book. Just keep on asking people who you know that can help you with your idea. The Law of Attraction will take over and in no time you will have the right person to help you write your book. Other ways are to visit networking groups or visit organizations that are related to your topic.
4. Go to seminars or take classes. There are many great writing seminars and classes available to learn more about your subject. We even have Internet online classes and teleseminars we can take without even leaving our house. Learning in an environment with other students is a valuable opportunity to make new like-minded friends. So don’t be a wallflower and keep to yourself. Share your ideas and be actively involved in the class so people will get to know you. Class participants could give you some great ideas for your book, especially if you are writing on a new topic and gathering information for your book.
5. Be an eagle-eye observer. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Read everything with an eagle eye. What are the latest, hottest topics? Do they fit your criteria? Is it something you might want to write about? Start watching TV differently–instead of just for entertainment watch special shows that give you information and news that might perk your interest in writing a book. My rap music CD client wanted to produce a positive rap CD to reach young adults. She began observing Gospel rap musicians and listening to music that had a positive influence. Observe other people’s point of view. Keep your eyes open and watch people in their daily lives. So by following these five simple steps–passionate idea, research, ask the experts, take classes, and be an eagle eye observer–you can write about what you don’t know. Remember you must be passionate about what you want to write, set up a writing plan, follow the plan, take action and write every day. In no time you will have written your book that makes you the expert.
America’s Book Coach, Joan Clout-Kruse, helps entrepreneurs and business professionals write a book that will get them recognized as an expert, attract more clients and boost their income. Claim your Free audio and tips on writing your great book at http://www.writemybizbook.com/ezine.html
You Wrote a Book! Now Where On Earth Do You Publish It?
If there’s a list of the “Ten most frequently asked questions about writing and publishing a book,” this question will be near the top:
“I want to write a book. Should I try to get a publisher, big (like Harpers) or niche (like New Harbinger)? Should I publish my own ebook? And if so, should I create an e-book to download? Or pay for hard copies?”
The answer (as usual): It depends. What do you hope to accomplish with your book?
Experienced authors will advise you, “Decide where to publish before you write the book.” Sales depend on choosing a title, topic, writing style and content strategy tailored to your publishing platform.
(1) Traditional publishers:
Cons:
Expect a long, arduous process to go from proposal to print. These days, most authors need an agent just to get past the mail room. Getting an agent will be just as tough as finding a publisher. Not all agents will be motivated to work to sell your book. I’ve heard many authors complain, “My agent just sat on the manuscript for 6 months.”
Once you sell to a publisher, your agent gets 15-20% of royalties plus expenses. You have little control over cover art and jacket copy. You create your own publicity and “buzz,” even if you just got a big advance. And unless you create a best-seller, you will not make a lot of money from the book.
Pros:
There is no better way to create credibility and even prestige. If your book is any good at all, you get media publicity and speaking opportunities. You probably will not make a lot of money from the book itself.
But you can enhance a coaching, consulting, speaking or therapy practice. I owe thousands of dollars to my own book, which is now available as a self-published download. I didn’t earn this revenue from the publisher but clients saw my book and called for consultations.
(2) Downloadable E-book
Cons:
Making money from e-books is more about marketing than about writing. You follow a formula. You need to identify a market, find a topic, write the book, and convert to pdf, the best cross-platform software for ebooks. You absolutely, positively need a hard-hitting sales letter, which means you learn copywriting or hire a pro. And you need to help buyers fix glitches when they try to download your book or pay with their credit cards. Software can do the work but it doesn’t come cheap.
Pros:
No delays! You are limited only by your writing time. Once you learn the system, you feel like you are counterfeiting money. Your ebook can enhance your other offerings as bonuses. Sure, you follow a formula. But if you follow the formula with care, you can earn a healthy income.
And, with a quality ebook and a well-designed business model, some of your readers will turn into clients.
(3) Hard copy self-publishing
Cons: This option can offer you the worst of both worlds. You pay and often warehouse the books in your garage. Yes, you can sign up for print on demand, but you pay considerably more for each book. Do not choose the cheapest package. Expect to pay hefty fees for cover art and design. Nearly everyone needs to hire an editor. Reviewers tend to regard self-publishers with suspicion, if not disdain.
Pros: This option can offer you the best of both worlds. If you regularly hold workshops or speak to large audiences, you can sell your book to your audience. This process is called “back of the room” or “from the platform,” even though you may not actually stand in the back of the room.
Coaching and consulting clients may not care who published your book: often they are impressed to see any book at all.
Which option is right for you? Review your goals and your business model. And most important: before you write even one line, plan how you will promote and distribute your book.
Regardless of your publishing path, you become a marketer rather than a writer as soon as you say, “I want to write a book.” By planning ahead for this role reversal, you can save considerably on your marketing investment and enjoy far greater success.
FREE 7 Best-Kept Secrets of Websites That Really Attract Clients: My Special Report gives you insider tips to convert tire-kickers to buyers and earn money while you sleep. From Cathy Goodwin, The Content Strategist, at http://www.copy-cat-copywriting.com.
7 Essential Book Title Templates to Create a Top Selling Book
Is your book title designed to hook your book readers? No. It should. Titles set the stage for your potential audience. They either work to grab your potential reader by the collar and pull them in for the read or they don’t.
Hot book titles create excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm for more. You want your titles to express the heart and passion of your message, right? Then write your book title to be ‘the match’ that ignites interest in reading your important message.
Develop this valuable skill and you add magnetic pulling power and punch to all your marketing tools including your front book cover, bullet points and chapter titles that get your message read. Start with these 7 top tips to sizzle your titles, headlines, bullets and sell more.
1. Include a Top Benefit.
“Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money that the Poor and Middle Class Do Not”
A winning non-fiction title immediately communicates the benefit readers will gain after reading your book. Benefit-oriented books often use the problem-solution approach. Master (A) this skill or technique and get (B) this benefit. Readers buy non-fiction books for a “benefit” for something that will help them, grow them, profit more, cut expense, avoid trouble, gain more time, decrease stress, gain better relationships, get better health, eliminate drama, evade trauma, get more energy and vitality and less fatigue.
2. Make a Big Promise.
“How to Increase Sales 400% by Using Article Marketing”
People will put your book down if they smell hype and never come back. But if you have big gun promises don’t be afraid to pull it out and use it. Consider carefully and use sparingly; then make your big promise and deliver. People will remember your promises and come back for more or purchase. Don’t forget to include the specific delivery or ‘how to’ inside your big promise titled book.
3. Use Alliteration.
“How to Be a Great Communicator In Person, On Paper and at the Podium!”
Alliteration is using words in succession that start with the same letter. Alliteration also happens when titles include parallel construction or repeated consonants as used in the title and sub-title. For example, a friend used alliteration in her title, “WOW! Women of Worth: Creating a Life Full of Passion, Power & Purpose.” The repeated consonants create a rhythm that cements the book’s title in a reader’s mind.
Tommy Newberry’s “Success is Not an Accident! Change Your Choices, Change Your Life”, the repeated consonants and the repeated word ‘change’ work together to emphasize the success technique.
4. Use Power Words like “How,” “Secret,” “Power.”
“How to Write and Publish Your Own Ebook In Less than 7 Days”
People love to learn with simple steps and fast. Combine it with a powerful benefit and you will reel your reader in every time. You decide. Does the title above, “How to Write and Publish Your Own Ebook In Less Than 7 Days” or “7 Ways to Create an Ebook” pull at your attention.
5. Make the Provocative Statement.
“5 Web Site Mistakes That Drive Your Web Visitors Away In Less Than 2 Minutes”
You mean my site could be driving my visitors away that fast. Especially, if you have been working hard to get site visitors you would want to know what would drive them away fast. Provocative statements pull at our attention like an electric shock. They make us curious. They sometimes make us mad. They make us feel a lot of different things but most of all they make us read.
6. Ask the Question.
“Do You Want More Traffic, More Free Publicity, More Sales?”
Most times people unconsciously answer the question you pose in their minds. The key is to provide the answers in your copy including statistics. For example, “Have you ever felt afraid to buy online? Like it or not, many are still cautious of buying on the web. A Boston Consulting Group Consumer Survey found that 70% of respondents worry about making purchases online.”
7. Perplex with the Confusing.
“Who Moved My Cheese?”
Develop curiosity into your title. A seemingly opposite simile works like a charm. Sometimes the title that doesn’t make a lot of sense will pull your audience in for the read. Would the title above arouse your curiosity? The confusing title can capture the attention of your audience just to see what it’s about.
Don’t wait to develop this valuable skill. Add magnetic pulling power to your to your front book cover. Ignite interest through your chapter titles. Keep your audiences reading through hot attention grabbing bullets. Title well and sell well. Best wishes on titling your top selling book.
Earma Brown, helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Author of ‘Write Your Best Book Now’, Send any email to iscribe@bookwritinghelp.com to receive Free ecourse ‘Jumpstart Writing Your Book’ or visit her at http://www.bookwritinghelp.com