ISSN: 1554-0804
Issue 231
June 25, 2009Featured Product
Patchwork Path: Dad's Bow Tie
Visit Our Sponsors
In This Issue:
- This Week
- Fabulist Flash Recommends
- Behave like a Writer
- Submission Call
- 18Q
- Upcoming Events
- Seven Secrets of Creating Effective Email Campaigns
- About the Editor
- About The Fabulist Flash
1. This Week
Speaking at the Las Vegas Writers Group is always a treat. They have a nice meeting space at a local restaurant that includes cocktail service, and always fill a room with writers in a variety of genres and writing stages. Thanks for a super evening!
Last Saturday we had a table for Patchwork Path Books at a craft & gift show. It's always nice to be out and about, meeting folks and selling books.
The rest of the summer schedule is virtually unscheduled at the moment. I'm okay with that. I've been going almost nonstop with speaking and sales engagements since March, so a few quiet months is appreciated. Not that I won't be able to fill 'em up. I've got two books that both are calling me. And, there's lots of other projects to do around the house.
Keep Expanding,
Gregory
=================================================================
2. Fabulist Flash Recommends
Changing Your Email Subject LineTo make your email messages look more professional (and interesting), avoid sending a response with the original subject line verbatim with “Re:” in front of it.
Instead, when you click “Reply,” always change the subject line to show it’s a unique note back. For example, if you respond to the subject line “Friday’s meeting” you might change it to “Friday’s meeting — I’ll be there”
Also, don’t pull up an old email to get someone’s address and click “reply” without writing a new subject line. I once received an email with the subject line “Last night’s party” referring to a gathering from six months ago. Also, the email itself was about something entirely different.
=================================================================
3. Behave Like a Writer
by Sidney Goodman
I just finished reading an essay by Richard Lederer, the American author, speaker, and teacher best known for his books on word play and the English language. The essay was titled “How I Write,” and describes his approach to accomplishing his writing goals. Naturally as I digested his words, I kept comparing them to my “modus operandi”. No match!
I also thought of the 10-minute lecturers and visiting panelists at our conference who have addressed the same subject – the discipline of writing – in so many different ways. Lederer lists the peculiar habits of 13 different renown authors from Gertrude Stein (wrote in her car) to Honoré de Balzac (wearing a monk’s costume drinking 20 cups of coffee a day) to Edith Wharton and Truman Capote (in the nude).
Some of our own members have developed routines that they have shared with us. Don’t call one of us who sequesters himself from 9 am to 12 pm every day, no human contact at all. Another of our members writes best at 2 am and manages to complete a full day of family management when the sun comes up. I must admit, that I tend toward procrastination, and blame it on the muse abandoning me. I need to be undisturbed for a block of time and find it very hard to nibble at a project, a little piece at a time.
So what sage advice does Lederer conclude is the best an aspiring author can do?
“To be a writer, one must behave as writers behave. They write. And write. And write. The difference between a writer and a wannabe is that a writer is someone who can’t not write, while a wannabe says ‘one of these days when…, then I’ll….’ Unable not to write, I write every day that I’m home.”
Duly chastised, I resolve to try and write something every day, and curse the fates for having me believe I can put on paper what someone else might like to read.
*Note of Interest*
Richard Lederer’s two children, Howard Lederer and Annie Duke, are professional poker players. Howard has his PhD and Annie quit 6 months before she was to take her orals. They have earned more money from gambling than Richard has ever made publishing. Is there a lesson here?
About the Author
Mr. Goodman recently relocated from Southern California to Southern Nevada. During his career he specialized in high-tech Plastics and aerospace materials and published three major reference books, encyclopedic articles and numerous contributions to journals and governmental publications. He has turned to creative writing as a major element of his retirement activities. Since arriving in Las Vegas he has published a short story in the Henderson Writers’ Group Anthology Writer’s Bloc II and is in the final publication stages of his new children’s book – Grandpa’s Unfatootzer – with an anticipated release date of mid-2009.
=================================================================
4. Submissions
Patchwork Path: Wedding Bouquet
Choice Publishing Group is seeking stories and essays about weddings.
Submission Deadline: August 31, 2009.
Submission Guidelines: PatchworkPath.com
Patchwork Path: Christmas Stocking
Choice Publishing Group is seeking stories and essays about Christmas memories.
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2009.
Submission Guidelines: PatchworkPath.com
Presenters & Programs 2010
Advertise to 30,000 meeting and event planners in this full-color, glossy catalog from Fabulist Flash Publishing and Turning Point International.
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Details: PresentersandPrograms.com
=================================================================
5. Rita Antoinette Borg takes the 18Q
1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?
I chose the writing profession as a young girl. However, I tried to forget about it as I thought there would be no hope for me to write and publish in England and the US from Malta. I was proven wrong; thanks to the internet and a lot of work. So I guess I was re-chosen and I am glad I was.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)
As a child in New York City, I would devour the books in the Riverside Branch Library close to home. It was the only place my father let me go to by myself. Coming back to Malta changed everything. My hopes in becoming a writer were dashed. The one university had no courses for writing. I felt very isolated. Little by little correspondence courses began to filter into the country. I sent for three, from the UK and the USA.I did the Writing School program, the Institute of Children's Writing of Connecticut, and the ICL fiction writing course. Right now I am studying for my diploma in Child Psychology, ASDL Fiction Writing and soon to enroll in Illustrating for Children of the London School of Art. I became a storyteller by chance for my local council. I loved the job and now I get paid a decent salary for what I do. I have also been sending off poetry to various publishers and magazine articles which are often published.
3. When did you 'know' you were a writer?
In New York I often wrote poetry. My teacher enjoyed reading and complimenting some of the ones I wrote. Once I wrote an essay and started with a very descriptive scene of a campfire. I saw the teachers face and a boy I had a crush on said," Wow! that's really good writing." It would be a long time till I actually got published, but that moment I know what I wanted in life. It made me feel special and I had so much to say; so much to show.
4. How would you describe your style of writing?
My style of writing is finding out your inner self that is trying desperately to come out. We all live behind a mask and yet we are all so special. My style puts forth lots of emotions and feelings. I write mostly for children who somehow feel deprived and damaged. I want to reach out to them. I guess you have to think with my stories ,trying to dig out the meanings of what I write.
5. What is your writing process?
My writing process? I think. I think. I think. I ponder. I sleep. I imagine. I scribble. I write tentatively. I scratch out. Write some more. Write some more. revise. revise. revise. Stop. Put away. Take out. Revise. Revise. I mail it away. I pray.
6. What was your path to publication?
The writers' competition which my husband urged me to enter. He took the 3 kids to his mom's that day. Did not win the competition but an editor called and asked if she could publish the article. It was published on Mother's Day. I wrote more and more articles. Then I began to write and study children's stories. A publisher liked my original idea for a bilingual Maltese-English picture book. Now I am venturing into poetry.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?
I love to see children looking at children's books. Often I ask the mothers if their children love animals and reading. Then I show them my books, advise them on the importance of reading when young. Since I work in a popular bookshop on the island as a storyteller it is pure joy to see a child sitting down with an open book, hopefully smiling. I also love reading -aloud from my books to children.
8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer?
How children come up and hug you. I enjoy that so so much.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?
I read other authors. I like to write about home, family and good solid values. I speak to myelf and say," what makes you want to live another day?", "Whay made you happy being a child?", "What is so special about being me, and being alive?"
10. What is your proudest writer moment?
The proudest moments are when I won the Malta Literary Prive in 2003,and when a child asks, " Did you write this?" or " I have that book, I really like it."
11. What's the best advice you were given about writing?
Oh! I have read plenty of books about the craft of writing. I still need to learn more and more. But the best advise after reading and just writing is you have to crawl into your character's skin and get to know him/her very well.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?
When I wrote a poem for a young girl who left this world. I asked her fiancé to read it. He cried.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?
Marketing mostly.
14. What is your writer life philosophy?
This is another thing I face each day. I have a new office now after years of writing on the dining room table. My husband and the kids all have their rooms and desks. I needed a corner just for me. Every day I ask God to help me write, to try my best, to make my best better, and always, by my writing, to spread the word that you, the reader is special, and God loves us all. I write because I love writing and it is a way of life for me.
15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun?
Storytelling, drawing and painting, taking out the dog, talking to my children, traveling, swimming, reading, drinking hot chocolate and cooking, praying and hoping for a better tomorrow for the world's children.
16. Who do you like to read?
I love reading children's books. My favorite authors are Katherine Paterson, Kate Di Camillo, Eileen Spinelli. In Malta we usually get books by British authors in standarized English. I enjoy reading American literature. Yet I love Cornelia Funke's Inkheart trilogy and Michael Morpurgo. Good value stuff.
17. What’s your advice for new writers?
If you love writing, write. No matter what just write. And write what you love to write about. No matter what your inside and outside demons say.
18. What are you currently working on?
I am currently writing two more bilingual Maltese and English picture books. A Maltese publisher has taken on a Maltese- only text which I am waiting for it to get published. Am also collecting some poetry for an anthology-maybe. I also am thinking about a book about Outer Space.
Bibliography
On a Lonely Tree/ Fuq Sigra Mwarrba
The Frogs' Great Escape/ Harba taz Zringijiet (Malta Literary Award)
Rebecca's Choice/ L Ghazla ta Rebecca
Seasons: an anthology
Read more 18Q interviews
=================================================================
6. Upcoming Events
June 2009
Release of Patchwork Path: Dad's Bow Tie
July 22
Writer's Pen & Grill
A social evening for writers in Las Vegas, NV
July 29
Meet the Authors
(Clark County Library, NV)
Gregory and the production/publishing team for the Patchwork Path anthology series host a Q&A panel on getting published in anthologies
=================================================================
7. Seven Secrets of Creating Effective Email Campaigns
Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com
These days it seems you can't open up your inbox without seeing a dozen (or more) email pitches for something. Some are newsletters and others are special offers. But how many do you really open? And, an even better question is, do they still work? Well the answer is yes, they do, but there's a catch: they have to be good. Really, really good. Years ago when email newsletters and announcements came out everyone was pushing pretty much everything they could. From their next book signings to blasting Amazon to hit bestseller status, I even got one from someone I don't know with links to their Aunt Ethel's 86th birthday party. Well, bless little Aunt Ethel but honestly, why would I care? That's the point: relevancy above all.
So, why would you consider an email newsletter? Well, consider this. It's harder and harder these days to stay top of mind with your consumer. With so much coming at us it's easy to forget. Last week I had this very thing happen to me. I was looking for an editor with a specific specialty. I had worked with her a year ago and had lost her card, she didn't do any type of marketing such as a newsletter (she may have done a print mailing but I never saw it), so instead of sending her the business, I was forced to find someone else. See? The simple effort of staying in touch doesn't just garner you the attention of your consumer/reader, but it can also get you business, book sales and speaking gigs.
So what does it take to create an outstanding newsletter everyone will want to read? Here are a few simple steps you might want to consider:
1) Know your audience: this is first because it's most important. Know who you're writing for and who will be reading this. Make sure the information is relevant to them.
2) Go low on promotion: when it comes to promotional copy in a newsletter, I recommend the 95/5% rule: 95% helpful information and 5% sales copy. Trust me on this. I can't tell you how many newsletters I delete that are overly self-promotional. If the newsletter/email campaign is good, it will sell you. Trust me on this one.
3) Content, content, content: make sure the content is good and you've addressed the WIIFM factor (what's in it for me). If you don't ask this, your reader most certainly will. Over deliver on your content, you'll be glad you did.
4) Collaborate: if you're doing a newsletter and you don't think you have the bandwidth to write a whole newsletter yourself then collaborate with a few people who are in your industry but not direct competitors. Our newsletter does this, it's a collaboration of voices and, consequently, it is varied and rich in content.
5) Frequency: watch this one very closely. The general rule of thumb is that the more often you send out your newsletter the shorter it should be. So, if your newsletter goes out weekly, think of offering just a quick tip. If it goes out monthly then it can be longer. The same holds true for general email campaigns.
6) Give your newsletter a "voice." What I mean by this is give your newsletter a personality. You don't want a stale, monotone, unfriendly marketing piece that doesn't speak to your reader, do you? Show your personality, let it shine through. I like to think that our newsletter has a lot of our voice in it. In order to create "voice" you might want to follow some of the same rules that you do when blogging: don't hesitate to share an opinion, viewpoint, stance, advice, whatever. Speak to your reader, not at them.
7) Don't just sit there and read, do something! Make sure that you have a strong call to action in your newsletter, if you have several calls to action even better. Get your reader to do something, engage them in what you're writing, send them to helpful links, offer them bonuses, specials, exclusives. Remember, if they took the time to open and read your newsletter they should get something besides great content. Great links to helpful sites, maybe even a free download, all these things are enticing and will keep your reader coming back for more!
8) Don't sell 'em fluff. Ok, I know I said seven tips but I couldn't help but add a bonus one (see what you get for reading all the way through this article? That's what I mean by over-delivering). Readers want the information and they want it fast, don't use a lot of fluff words or extra (and sometimes useless) content just to puff up your newsletter and make it seem bigger than it is. Give readers the information they want in clear, concise language and then send them on their way.
When it comes to the timing of your newsletter that depends on you and your audience. Our newsletter goes out once every two weeks. We find that to be a good balance: not too much, not too little. But each audience is different so experiment with yours and see what gets readers to open your email.
And finally, get your newsletter edited. This is a big one. Don't put some disclaimer in it saying "it's not edited" because all that says is: you're not professional. I've seen this done and to me, it deters from the message. Also, don't hand email your list unless it's small (less than 100 people) Why? Because your cable or DSL provider might decide that you're spamming people and will cut you off. People who do this will tell you that if you keep it to less than 50 email addresses per message you're fine but I've found that even 20 names in an address line can set some service providers on alert. Trust me it's not worth the hassle.
Effective email campaigns can really help promote your book and your brand. When done right, they can become a critical and very effective piece of your marketing plan. We've had our newsletter for over seven years, in that time we've never placed a single ad for the company or my books, not anywhere. Why? Because I have never believed in ads. Frankly (and with all due respect to advertisement budgets everywhere), ad placement is easy and doesn't always bear the kind of return you want, especially in today's market where consumers are blocking out advertisement. What we're talking about here takes time and effort but if done right, the pay-offs can be enormous.
=================================================================
8. About the Editor
Gregory A. Kompes
Psychic Intuitive Gregory A. Kompes (www.kompes.com), The Writerpreneur, is the author of the bestselling 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, and the Writer’s Series that includes Endorsement Quest, Your Online Media Kit and Should You Write an eBook. He is also a contributor to The Complete Writer’s Journal, Writer’s Bloc I, Writer’s Bloc II, Chopped Liver for the Gentle Spirit, Chopped Liver for the Kindred Spirit, Patchwork Path: Grandma's Choice, Patchwork Path: Dad's Bow Tie, and Patchwork Path: Friendship Star. Gregory speaks frequently on internet marketing and publishing at writer and speaker events and conferences. The author is Production Director for Presenters & Programs, and editor of The Fabulist Flash, an informative newsletter for writers, and the award winning Eighteen Questions, a Q&A series that collects and shares the experiences of published authors. Gregory is co-founder of the Patchwork Path anthology series, Presenters & Programs (the Premier Catalog of Speakers), Laudably Tarnished, A Poetry Workshop, and the Writer’s Pen & Grill, a writer’s social evening held monthly in Las Vegas, NV. Gregory holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Columbia University, New York, a Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning, and a Masters of Science in Education from California State University, East Bay.
=================================================================
9. About The Fabulist Flash
ISSN: 1554-0804
The Fabulist Flash is dedicated to helping writers find resources and inspiration.
When you forward The Fabulist Flash to your friends please do so in its entirety.
If someone forwarded you this copy and you'd like to begin receiving The Fabulist Flash in your own inbox go to FabulistFlash.com to join the mailing list.
The Fabulist Flash thinks your privacy is important. We NEVER lend, sell, or distribute our email subscriber list to anyone.
Contact The Fabulist Flash:
Online
www.FabulistFlash.com
Editor@FabulistFlash.com
Snail Mail
Gregory A. Kompes, editor
The Fabulist Flash
PO Box 570368
Las Vegas, NV 89157
=================================================================
Thanks for reading The Fabulist Flash. Please forward it to all your writing friends.
A member of the Fabulist Flash Publishing family.
