The Fabulist Flash

Issue 114

with Photography by Gregory A. Kompes

Ornament Cards (Package of 6)

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Cash in on Holi-daze
3. Odds and Ends
4. Vicki M. Taylor takes the 18Q
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

The past week has been about interviews. I've met dozens of pet owners, vets and vet technicians as I worked on a series of articles for a dog magazine. The experience caused several epiphanies.

First, if you don't have one, get one...what am I talking about? Not a dog (although they can be fun)...a digital voice recorder. I had an old mini-cassette recorder for live interviews. It's gotten me through many events and I'd learned to live with the poor sound quality and abundance of white noise. But, because I knew I was going to be doing hours and hours of live interviews it was time to upgrade. Boy, am I glad I did! The new purchase isn't top of the line. I found a new Olympus WS-100 for $65. What I like is this unit opens and there's a USB connection built right in. You just plug the recorder into your PC and treat it like a jump drive making copying files and listening to them on your PC easy. I don't know how I lived without it. Plus, I'm thinking of the many ways I can use this to get sound files up on my website!

Second, I really understand how to spin new articles from the original concept. While researching a 1000 word piece on animal emergency rooms I interviewed four vets. This netted about six hours of digital recordings. That's a lot of information and I couldn't use most of it in the original article. So, I now have all these quotes and material on vets, animal medicine, and emergencies and ideas on how to create several different articles. I'll be sending out queries this week.

Finally, I understand better why so many magazine editors shy away from new writers. It's one thing to come up with a great idea, but a lot of art and craft go into conducting good interviews and writing solid, tight articles. Writers without experience might not be able to follow through on their idea because they're unproven. It makes sense that we need to build our credentials writing for smaller publications first. We need to not only establish our writer's voice, but we also need to learn how to conduct interviews and write articles that use that material.

My challenge to you this week...for the next article you write, interview an expert on the subject or topic and incorporate information and quotes from that interview into your article. You'll learn a lot and your writing will be better. Plus, you'll be one step closer to getting that glossy magazine assignment you crave.

Holiday Promotion: 25% Off all my Art Cards! Discount cannot be combined with coupons or bulk order discounts. No code required; discount is automatically applied when you purchase Art Cards. Promotion ends on November 19, 2006, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).

The holidays are fast approaching. This week, Shaunna Privratsky shares her ideas on how we can cash in on them. There's also a collection of fun odds and ends and award winning author Vicki M. Taylor takes the 18Q.

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Preview 9 essential books for writers on The Writer's Bookshelf

2. Cash in on Holi-daze

Cash in on Holi-daze by Shaunna Privratsky

Twinkling lights, Chilly nights, Family fights

It's that time of year again. The pumpkins are put away, we're thankful for bulky sweaters to hide extra inches while sparkly decorations and fancy candles appear everywhere. The holiday season is upon us, ready or not.

We're cramming more into fewer daylight hours. Writing is sometimes the furthest thing from our minds. Yet now is the ideal time to cash in on the holiday craze. Editors at all your favorite markets are busier, too. If you send in pertinent, timely submission they are likely to snap it up.

Timely means it may already be too late for the national magazines. Their articles are planned and assigned three to six months ahead of time. However, you can capitalize by sending to newsletters, smaller markets or places you are familiar with and know turnaround times.

If you still want to go after the glossies, write your holiday memories while they're fresh, then revise and polish for submission next spring or early summer.

Fewer writers submit during this hectic season, so you will have a better than average chance of an acceptance. Also, you can use all those "priceless" holiday moments. Like when Uncle Joe broke up the party with his resounding belch or the dog lifted his leg against the freshly decorated tree.

My daughter got a new kitten for her birthday this fall. Fredy is so inquisitive and frisky I've been having nightmares. One kitten + One tree = Wreckage. Turn your disastrous, humorous or heartwarming moments into an article, story or essay for some quick holiday cash. "Ten ways to Keep Kitty off the Tree" comes to mind: does anyone have any tips?

Another reason to keep writing as much as possible is the coming new year. Savvy submitters are already querying and jockeying for assignments in 2007. You don't want to get left out in the cold.

You might have more time once the hoopla dies down. Children usually have a holiday break through New Year's Day and if you have extra time as well, don't let it go to waist. [pun intended] Instead of second helpings, help yourself to some writing time and keep submitting. Or you can finish that big project you started last summer.

Remember that it may take a bit longer than usual for editors to get back to you during the eventful holidays. Some may even take their own holiday break. Use the time to craft more stories. The more you write, the more ideas you will uncover.

An article about holiday decorating with your kids could lead to a heartwarming short story or an essay about the importance of traditions. Write about your madcap race through the Mall, searching for the final few gifts on your list.

Seize the moments of insanity the way only writers can and transform them into publishable prose. Just keep reminding yourself, the holidays only happen once a year!

Now, please pass the eggnog and cookies; I have a date with my computer.

About the Author
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Learn 1,000’s of writing tips in Shaunna Privratsky’s book, Pump Up Your Prose. She has authored over 250 articles in The Writer, Writer’s Digest Online, Writer’s Weekly, and Absolute Write, among others. FREE sign up to The Writer Within Newsletter at http://shaunna67.tripod.com/.

3. Odds and Ends

Get the Jargon Out
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To help you keep your writing and speaking free of jargon, the Communications Network is pleased to present Jargon finder - an online collection of foundation and nonprofit jargon. http://www.comnetwork.org/jargonmain.htm

Sell More Books – NOW
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It's nearly the end of the year, and you're probably wondering: where the heck are my sales? Well, your big sale time is right around the corner! As the holiday shopping season looms upon us, we're reminded again of one simple fact: books make great gifts, and autographed books make even better gifts. But if bookstores are giving you the brush-off, how in the world can you rack up sales? Well, how about the Internet? Driving traffic to your site is one thing, but turning it into a one-stop shop is even better, and here's how you can do it:

This year is expected to be the biggest ever for online shopping, with the busiest day of all falling on the Monday after Thanksgiving, also called "Black Monday." Since it's still early enough in November, you should have time to begin getting your web site and products in order for the holiday shopping season.

An online push is extremely important to a successful selling campaign. If you're not online, or haven't traversed the 'Net, then you need to. Get onto Google right now and start searching for sites, blogs, and discussion groups. Anything in your topic will do!

If you've toyed with adding to or enhancing your inventory, then now's the time to add content that compliments the book or books you're already selling. For example, you may want to add some audio, or finish up that journal or workbook you've been working on. The more you can "partner" products, the more you'll make in sales.

Offer specials exclusive to holiday shopping with "deals" your customer can't refuse. Consider offering a "buy one, get one at half price" deal or better yet, offer a freebie like a downloadable audio that won't cost you anything to ship. This is also a good time to offer sets of things or add a buyer suggestion box to your products. For example, you could say: "Shoppers who bought this also bought (list item)."

Especially during the holidays, it's important to guarantee everything you sell. Offer a "no questions asked" money-back guarantee, and you'll make those folks you've invited into your web site a whole lot more comfortable about buying your product.

If you've got a college kid looking for work, or if you want to put your own kids to work, you may want to offer complimentary gift wrapping and shipping to the various destinations on your shoppers' gift list. When Amazon started this service, it increased its holiday sales by 54%.

If you have an email list, it might not be a bad idea to send out a series of short, fun holiday announcements filled with shopping tips, holiday time-saver ideas, and of course, your gift suggestion list!

The holidays can be the biggest time of the year for your sales. Make sure your site is ready so those frustrated shoppers can find you when they do an online search for gift ideas. It doesn't take much to turn an average web site into a selling machine, and with so many people shopping online this year, it makes more sense than ever to sharpen your store and your web site as you prepare for a deluge of holiday traffic!

Happy Sales!

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

O, The Oprah Magazine
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O, The Oprah Magazine was established in April 2000 and written as a woman's personal growth guide for the new century. It provides women with information and tools needed to follow and reach their dreams and lead a more fulfilling life. Its circulation is 2,403,917.

Departments:

• The Mission Calendar
• What I Know for Sure
• Breathing Space
• Great Food
• Suze Orman (financial advice)
• Martha Beck (life coach)
• Ask Val (beauty advisor)
• Dr. Phil (life advice)

Feature articles include an Oprah Cut (celebrity interview), and guides to eating, nutrition, cooking, food, weight, fashion, beauty, sex, money, life coaching.

Pitching Tips

Read the magazine before pitching. Its motto is 'Live Your Best Life' so pitches should fit into that area. The magazine also focuses on solutions to problems. There is a mission every month and it's listed on the website. The site is interactive and allows you to talk to O editors on topics of interest. The magazine's lead time is 60 days.

Some contacts include:

Pat Towers, Features Director, prefers to be contacted by mail.

Liz Brody, Health & News Director, lbrody@hearst.com. Brody is the Health and News Director and is responsible for coordinating Health, News and Human Interest stories for the publication. She prefers to receive press releases by fax and to be contacted by e-mail.

Valerie Monroe, Beauty Director, prefers to be contacted via mail.

However, visit the website at www.oprah.com/omagazine to read the latest updates on the magazine and the stories editors are working on.

Contact information
O, The Oprah Magazine
300 W 57th St, Fl 36
New York, NY 10019-3741
Phone: (212) 903-5000
Fax: (212) 977-1947
www.oprah.com/omagazine

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

4. Vicki M. Taylor takes the 18Q

Vicki M. Taylor

Biography:
Award winning author, Vicki M. Taylor writes dramatic fiction with strong, unforgettable women characters. Vicki attacks the hard issues and brings them to the forefront with a deftness that outshines most other authors. Her ability to sink her teeth into these headline issues and pull the reader into the story makes her one of the best authors of this new century.

No issue is too controversial for Vicki. Murder, teenage suicide, domestic violence and more, you'll find her stories not only give you the harsh realities of the character's life but she wraps you up in their private emotional lives as well - daring you to not care, not feel, not read.

Active with various author and writing organizations like FWA and more, Vicki's a member of the National Association of Women Writers, Romance Writers Association, and Short Fiction Mystery Society. She's the past President and a founding member of the Florida Writers Association Inc.

Bibliography:
Not Without Anna
Trust in the Wind
Forever Until We Meet

URL
http://www.vickimtaylor.com/

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?
It chose me. I've always loved writing. I just had to figure out a way to make it a profession.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)
I have a degree in Computer Science. I started out as a programmer, but found I liked technical writing better so ended up with a career as a Technical Writer.

3. When did you 'know' you were a writer?
On some level, I've always known I was a writer. I've always known that I can communicate with the written word, but the moment was sealed when I held my book in my hand for the first time and knew that I could share my writing with others.

4. How would you describe your style of writing?
I write dramatic contemporary women's fiction with strong female characters. I think about my character first, then build her world and life story around her until she becomes as real as she possibly can.

5. What is your writing process?
I write in spurts. I'll write for days and then stop and not write for awhile, then start up again. Most of my writing takes place in the afternoon when I'm at my most creative.

6. What was your path to publication?
I was on medical leave from work when I realized I didn't want to go back to the office ever again. I thought about what I wanted to do and writing was my first choice. My only choice. I joined writers' groups, bought books on writing and immersed myself in the art. I learned a few hard lessons about how the publishing world works before I found Mundania Press.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?
Contests. I have a drawing for a gift card at each of my signings. It gives me a chance to give back to those who read my books and I get a chance to add more readers to my mailing list. I also do the same with contests on my website.

8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer?
How everyone seems to think that since you're an author, you must know so-and-so.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?
My writing is about real life. Real women. Reality inspires me. I find a lot of my ideas from the newspapers or magazines.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?
When my husband had the cover of my first novel blown up and framed. It was then that I really knew he supported my writing.

11. What's the best advice you were given about writing?
To not stop reading. It's so important to keep yourself immersed in the written word.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?
Standing in front of a group of people, and suddenly realizing they came to see me. To hear me talk. I freeze up for a few seconds and stumble my words until I can pull myself back together.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?
The business side of writing can be so boring. But it's necessary. Someone has to do it. Even if that someone is you. I tend to leave things until they pile up. Then I do them all at once.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?
Write from your heart. Make each book the best it can be.

15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun?
I love to read and watch movies. And, I have one weakness. My husband got me addicted to a computer game called World of Warcraft.

16. Who do you like to read?
I read a variety of authors. No one in particular order. Stephen King. Patricia Cornwell. Linda Howard. Sandra Brown. Lisa Gardner. Barbara Delinsky. Jodi Picoult. Piers Anthony. JK Rowling. There's so many others; just too many to list.

17. What's your advice for new writers?
Never give up on writing. And, keep reading. Feed the muse.

18. What are you currently working on?
A novel about an older woman with a large family who decides to open her home and heart to a young teenage mother and her baby.

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Are you a published writer? Take the 18Q today!

To read all the 18Q responses or take the 18Q visit EighteenQuestions.com

5. About The Fabulist Flash

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