Writer's Workshop

Summer School

2011-06-16T14:30:00.007-05:00

I'm teaching a writing class tonight on how
to get your book published at the Community Learning Center, 8750 Tesoro Drive, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Fee is $27.

From Book Proposal to a Published Book

2010-02-19T08:46:00.021-06:00

Since many writers are well on their path to publication and want specific information on how to write and submit a book proposal, we’ve just published From Book Proposal to a Published Book, a short version of The Write Way.

This book offers everything you need
to know about writing a perfect book proposal that will get you an offer and a publishing contract for your nonfiction book--from finding the right publisher or agent for your book, to creating an author platform, developing a marketing and promotion plan, knowing what editors and agents are really looking for, writing your query letter and book proposal and making it the best it can be, submitting it in a professional manner, understanding and negotiating a book contract, being edited, and seeing your book on the bookstore shelf… this book has it all. It clearly explains what to do and how to do it, and what NOT to do to get your book published.

It’s 138 pages; available on Amazon for $12.95 .

Computer Crash

2010-02-17T12:45:00.014-06:00

One of the worst things that can happen to a writer is losing his/her words... words that you've put your time, energy, effort, and heart and soul into. It feels like you've lost something personal; it's not just words...
it's who you are on paper.

It happened to me last Wednesday. My computer crashed due to a Windows automatic update. There was nothing that my Internet security people could do to revive it. The computer was dead... gone... a.k.a. the blue screen of death.

The worst part was that I hadn't backed up my words or printed out a hard copy of most of my work, so my words were gone... completely obliterated into the oblivion of cyberspace. So my advice to writers
is to BACK UP YOUR WRITING!!!

I was completely lost without my computer and my words for the past week. I didn't know what to do with myself. My writing so defines me that I felt as if I'd lost a big part of me. I just got my computer back yesterday from the Geek Squad and have started rewriting the lost words. And yes, I will back up my words so I don't ever lose them again.

Blogging and a Book Giveaway

2010-01-31T18:24:00.026-06:00

Looking for something to get you into the swing of writing every day? Why not try NaBloPoMo -- National Blog Posting Month -- where you commit to blogging every day for
a month?

I've done this before at Foods and Flavors of San Antonio last March when my cookbook was first published, serving a fiesta of food. And... I've decided to do NaBloPoMo again at Chadwick Pages.

One of the purposes of blogging is to gain readership and visibility. I've been neglecting Chadwick Pages, so I'm going to grow my blog and write a post every day in February. I'll be offering a look inside my books and doing a book giveaway. The drawing will be done on
the last day of the month; the winner can choose the book he or she wants from all the books I've blogged about.

Come on over and visit Chadwick Pages as I blog my books.

Breakthrough Novel

2010-01-13T11:22:00.020-06:00

Have you written a novel and want to get
it published? Amazon, along with Penguin
Group and CreateSpace, is sponsoring the Breakthrough Novel Award.

There are two grand prizes--one for general fiction and one for young adult fiction. Each winner receives a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance. Open submissions for manuscripts is January 25th through February 7th. Click the link for more details.

I know what's it's like to write a novel... to live, breathe, and sleep with it every day and night... to become best friends with your characters, to know they're real, even though they're imaginary, and to love your book like you've never loved anything else. I also know what it's like to receive 93 rejections on your beloved book, and I know the passion for getting it into print.

New this year, for the first time, the breakthrough novel award is open to novels that have been previously self-published. WooHoo!! I'm entering my novel, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

New Year, New Look

2010-01-02T18:58:00.025-06:00

You've heard the adage, You can't judge
a book by its cover. In the publishing industry, this doesn't hold true. A book
is judged by its cover. Your book cover
is so important... it can make or break
your book. If distributors don't like your book cover, they won't represent it to bookstores. If readers don't like your cover, there's a really good chance they'll pass it over in favor of a book with a good looking cover, even if your book is much better.

Sooo... I'm in the process of updating How To Write Your Book And Get It Published The Write Way with more information and a new cover, all dressed up in a better looking package.

While we're on the subject of book covers, what kind of vision do
you have for your book cover? It doesn't matter if you're still in the process of writing your book or if you have an offer from a publisher (and they'll be designing your cover with little or no say-so from you), it's good to have a cover concept of what you want your cover to look like.

Seeing your book cover in your mind and creating a picture of your cover says to your subconscious that your book is complete. This will actually help you write your book because you see it in finished form. Play with your book cover concept, put that picture on the wall above your computer, and see what happens with your writing.

And speaking of how your book cover represents what's inside your book, I also created a new header for this blog... to represent what
a writer really looks like.

Book Promotion

2009-11-20T18:32:00.006-06:00

The most important thing in
selling your book, whether it's commercially published and especially if it's self-published, is Promotion. You've got to promote your book; you have to let people know about your book and entice them to buy it by sharing blurbs
to show potential readers (book buyers) what your book is about, what's inside, and why your book will interest them.

Your book isn't going to sell itself. That's something you have to do. The very first thing to do, even before you finish writing your book,
is create an online presence with a blog and/or a website about your book. This doesn't have to cost you a ton of money; you can do it for free and the exposure is priceless. Two good sites for blogging are WordPress and Blogger.

Blogs are a powerful promotion tool and can also be a lot of fun because they're interactive. If you blog on a regular basis--at least once a week with fresh content, posting relevant subject matter and perhaps sharing brief excerpts--your blog will get good rankings and search engines will send people who are looking for the information
in your book to your blog.

After you've set up your blog, showcase your book on the sidebar and provide links where people can buy your book. Start a blog. Your book will thank you. Your publisher will thank you. Your bank account (think royalties) will thank you. Most important, your readers will thank you.

Pueblo Publishing

2009-09-21T18:25:00.003-05:00

Pueblo Publishing, which focuses on books of the Southwest, is a new imprint of my publishing company, Mystical Mindscapes. We're planning to launch it after the first of the year. We're looking for book proposals for cookbooks and books on Southwest shamanism, Native American arts and crafts, myths and legends from the Land of Enchantment, and tall tales from Texas.

If you're writing a book on any of these topics, we'd be interested in hearing from you. Visit Pueblo Publishing for more information. If you think your book will be a good fit for us, please read and follow the submission guidelines.

Riverstone Publishing

2009-09-16T08:30:00.006-05:00

I've just created a new website -- Riverstone Publishing -- which features "how-to" books on writing. Come on over and visit.

Explore the path to publication...

Steps to Successful Self-Publishing

2009-08-20T12:21:00.008-05:00

Are you thinking about self-publishing your book? Would you like someone to walk you through it, step-by-step, and show you the way?

Self-publishing your own book can be a wonderful adventure. There are many steps along the path to self-publishing. Your venture into self-publishing and all that it involves will be unique and individual to the type of book you are writing and how you plan to market and promote it.

Steps to Successful Self-Publishing is a guide into the world of self-publishing, offering the basics to get you started. Included are hundreds of current contacts to help you market your book as well as proven Internet strategies for selling your book online. Inside these pages you'll learn how to:

Apply for a publisher name and set up your publishing business as a sole proprietorship;
Obtain an ISBN Log and credential your book;
Create a workable budget and a financial plan;
Determine your selling strategies and personal promotion plans;
Create a descriptive selling handle;
Professionally layout and typeset your book;
Write a powerful back cover blurb;
Write an effective press release to gather media attention;
Get your book into bookstores and libraries;
Interest a distributor in representing your book;
Launch your book locally and to the world;
Obtain book reviews and other free publicity; and
Sell subsidiary rights, including book clubs and foreign translations.

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, like to be in control of and in charge of everything, and are a do-it-yourselfer, publishing your own book may be the right path for you. While it is a lot of hard work and there are many pitfalls, the rewards are plentiful. The best one is that you are now a published author. If you decide the self-publishing path is right for you, go for it. Get your book into print.

Want to browse through the book before you buy to see if it's right for you? Look through the table of contents to see what's inside Steps to Successful Self-Publishing.

Introduction

To Be or Not to Be... Published

One. Beginning at the Beginning

Choosing Your Publisher Name
Being a Self-Publisher
Taxes
ISBN
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number
Advance Book Information
Copyrighting Your Book
Print Run, Pricing, and Profit
Beginning Your Budget
Self-Publishing on a Shoestring

Two. Mapping Your Markets

Your Book Vision
Defining Your Book's Market
Selling Strategies
Creating a Marketing Plan

Three. Before and Between the Covers

Terrific Titles
Creating Your Cover
Selling Handle
Proofing and Editing
Interior Layout and Typesetting
Binding
Putting Your Book Together
Back Cover Blurb
Bar Code

Four. Printing and Promotional Materials

Offset Printing
Print-on-Demand (POD)
Promotional Materials
Press Release

Five. Bookstores and Beyond

Bookstores
Libraries
Distributors and Wholesalers
Online Bookstores
Orders and Returns

Six. Publicity and Promotion

Launching Your Book
Media Blitz
Book Reviews
Direct Mail
Book Clubs
Catalogs and Newsletters
Contests and Awards
Foreign Sales
Trade Shows
Book Fairs
Internet Promotions
Building Buzz
Workshops and Lectures
Articles and Excerpts

Writing Workshops

2009-08-13T13:26:00.039-05:00

I'll be teaching three writing classes in October through NEISD Community Education at Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio. If you'd like to register for a class, please click on the
course links. Here's the info, along with class blurbs:

Get Your Book Published
You've got your book in mind or on
paper, but you're wondering how to get it published. You'll learn the ins and outs of getting your book published, along with finding an agent or targeting the right publisher for your book, how to sell your not-yet-written book to a publisher and how to write a submit a perfect book proposal. There are tips on writing a book, ranging from developing an outline to using writer's block to your advantage.

The Path to Publishing Your Book will be available for purchase in class for $14.95 or you can buy it now by clicking on the PayPal link
on the sidebar. Churchill High School, Room A101, 12049 Blanco Road, San Antonio. Thursday, October 15th, 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. $27.00.

Self-Publishing Your Book
Offers the nuts and bolts of publishing your own book, starting with filing for a publisher name, and including filing for an ISBN Log and credentialing your book. You'll learn how to prepare your book for printing and how to find the right printer for your project. But that's just the beginning. You'll learn how to get your book into bookstores and libraries, as well as valuable information on Internet marketing to help you grow your book into a bestseller.

The newly-revised Steps to Successful Self-Publishing will be available for purchase in class for $12.95 or you can buy it ahead of time by clicking on the link. Churchill High School, Room A101, 12049 Blanco Road, San Antonio. Thursday, October 22nd, 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. $27.00.

Recipe for a Cookbook
Have you always wanted to write a cookbook and have it published? This
class has all the ingredients you need to write, publish, and promote your cookbook. You'll be guided through creating all parts
of your cookbook--choosing a theme and selecting a story line, creating a cover, coming up with a workable budget, writing, editing, and testing your recipes, laying out and typesetting your cookbook, finding the
right publisher or self-publishing, and
how to market your cookbook, both in bookstores and online.

Recipe for a Cookbook: How to Write, Publish, and Promote Your Cookbook will be available for purchase in class for $14.95 or can be bought ahead of time by clicking on the link. Churchill High School, Room A101, 12049 Blanco Road, San Antonio. Thursday, October 29th, 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. $27.00.

For more information about writing and publishing a cookbook, please visit my Recipe for a Cookbook blog. If you'd like
to have a look at my newest cookbook, published in March, you can read the press release here. If you're hungry, please visit my foodie blog, Foods and Flavors of San Antonio for lots of Tex-Mex recipes.

Hope to see you in class! :)

Author Pages at Amazon

2009-08-11T12:20:00.011-05:00

Amazon is offering authors an author page where you can upload
a bio and a photo, write blog posts, and engage in discussions with your readers. It's new... still in Beta, but it looks like it's going to be
a wonderful way to promote your books. Have a look at my Author Page. I just started working on it today. It's missing most of my books, but I'm told they're being added.

If you have a book listed on Amazon, you already have an author page. Go to Amazon, search by your name, and your author page is linked at the top of your book listings. Click on the link to join Author Central and get started.

NEW!! Cookbook Writing Class

2009-04-14T11:33:00.010-05:00

Would you like to learn how to write a cookbook and get it published? I'll be teaching a Cookbook Writing Class on Thursday, June 11th, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio through NEISD Community Educa tion. The cost is $23.00.

The class is based on my book, Recipe for
a Cookbook: How to Write, Publish, and Promote Your Cookbook.

The book is available on Amazon and will also be available in class for an optional purchase of $14.95.

Writer's Workshops

2009-03-03T11:35:00.005-06:00

There are two writer's workshops this month. Wednesday, March 4th, at Barnes & Noble in the San Pedro Crossing Shopping Center in San Antonio, 7:00 to 9:00 PM. It's an open forum for all writers to discuss all aspects of writing your book, preparing a book proposal, getting published, and promoting your book. We also talk about whatever is on your mind in relation to words and writing. FREE.

Thursday, March 5th, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, I'll be teaching a Get Your Book Published class at Churchill High School, Room A201, on Blanco Road in San Antonio. Look on the sidebar for more information or click the link for a description of the class. $23.00.

Listening to the Words

2009-01-14T22:36:00.008-06:00

Sometimes the most important words you write are the words you don't write.

The words that flow softly and quietly through your mind, giving you ideas and inspiration. The words that whisper to you in your dreams. The words you hear while meditating or slowly savoring a steaming cup of coffee. Take the time and listen to those words. Hear what they say.

Hellooo? Is Anyone Out There?

2009-01-10T14:03:00.007-06:00

I kind of feel like I'm talking to myself here on this blog and am wondering if anyone is listening?

My words seem to be echoing through the cavernous reaches of cyberspace...

Beginning Your Book

2009-01-01T07:00:00.008-06:00

Today is the day to begin writing a new book. I'd like to invite you on a writing journey, to write your book and get it published. Sometimes the hardest part of writing a book is putting words on paper. Begin your book by putting the first word on paper or on your computer screen. Let the thoughts and ideas you have for your book swirl through your mind and find their way to paper. Maybe you'd like to start your book by writing down notes about your book, about where you want your book to go and what you want it to say.

Since I teach writer's workshops and facilitate a writer's group, I always give homework assignments. Your assignment for this month, should you choose to accept it is: Write a ten-page, detailed outline of your book. Come up with tentative chapter titles and group your notes for each chapter under the title. One of the best things about creating an outline is that it gives you a focus and a great place to start letting your words run all over the page, to grow and become a book. Another wonderful part about creating an outline is that you can re-work it into the chapter summaries section of a book proposal.

Please leave me a comment, telling me in general terms about the book you're writing. If you have any questions, please ask, and I'll post a response. Every month, we'll work on another part of writing a book, complete with homework assignments. We'll also be working on putting together a book proposal and getting your book published.

Happy book writing! Let this be the year you write your book and get it published!

New Year, New Book

2008-12-29T13:52:00.013-06:00

2009 is right around the corner and perhaps you're thinking about your New Year's resolutions. Maybe one of them is that this is the year you'll begin to write your book, finish a work-in-progress, or get your book published. Wherever you are in the process of writing your book, think about where you'd like to go
with it and what you'd like to have happen. Having a good sense of direction in where your book is going will help you achieve your goal.

If you haven't put your words on paper yet and are just thinking (a lot) about writing a book, then decide that this year, you will write your book. The best way to begin writing a book is to put your notes on paper. Most books, at least none of mine, have ever appeared in a format of chapters following chapters or words going perfectly where they're supposed to go. My books all began with an idea followed by lots of scribbled notes. It's overwhelming to think you have to write a whole book, but if you break it down into easy steps, your book will begin to write itself. Write an outline of what you want your book to say before you begin writing your book. The words in the outline will create the basis of your book and your words will begin to flow on to the page or the computer screen. And before you know it, you'll have the beginnings of a new book.

How to Write Your Book and Get it Published

2008-12-18T13:02:00.019-06:00

Getting your book published is a bit like following the yellow brick road. There are only two steps on the path to publishing: You have to begin to write your book, then you have to write a book proposal. On your journey to the publishing house, you might find some twists and turns along the way and a few unexpected surprises--some nice; some not so nice. The Write Way serves as a guide to help you find your way on the publishing path to a literary home for your book.

Want to browse before you buy to make sure the book is right for you? Please visit The Write Way to look through the contents and
read an overview. The book is 196 pages, $15.95, and available
at Amazon.

I wish you well on your journey of writing your book and hope to see your book in the bookstore. :)

Booksigning at Barnes & Noble

2008-10-08T10:56:00.006-05:00

I'll be signing copies of two of my books -- Future Lives which was published in March
by Sterling Publishing and The Path to Publishing Your Book, which was published last September by Riverstone Publishing -- at Barnes & Noble in the San Pedro Crossing Shopping Center, 321 NW Loop 410 in San Antonio on October 16th from 7 to 9 pm. Please come on over and say hi.

Advances and Royalties

2008-10-05T12:46:00.010-05:00

I taught a writing class last week and the question came up, as it always does, about advances and royalties. It's really exciting to be offered a book contract. When you receive that much-awaited-for phone call from an editor offering to publish your book, he or she will say what they're offering for an advance and what your percentage of royalties will be. The average advance is from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the publisher, the genre of your book, and how many copies the publisher thinks they can sell. Royalties are usually based on 10% of net income received by the publisher after discounting your book for bookstores.

An advance isn't a gift; it isn't a loan, and you don't have to pay it back if your book doesn't sell well. It's a prepayment of your expected royalties. An advance is earned out through the sales of your book. For example, let's say you receive a $10,000 advance and your book sells for $14.95. After a standard 40% discount, your publisher will receive $8.97. Your 10% net royalty will be $0.87 on each book. To earn out the advance, your book will have to sell 11,494 copies before you start earning royalties.

Many books also sell first and second serial rights, book club rights, and foreign rights. Your publisher will usually take a 50/50 split on these so the income from these sales will also accrue to your royalty account, helping to earn out your advance.

Now for the bad news: 7 out of 10 books never earn out their advance. The good news: You don't have to pay back any unearned portion of your advance. It's yours to keep. More bad news: Most books are given a shelf life in the bookstore of anywhere from 7 days to 3 months. If your book doesn't sell, or develop wings and fly, or grow legs and walk, your book is removed from the bookstore. The good news: Your publisher will help by sending out press releases, obtaining book reviews, selling subsidiary rights, and by pre-selling your book to bookstores through their sales reps.

You can help boost your book sales and ensure a long shelf life, accompanied by regular royalty payments, by promoting your book through booksignings, lectures, and other personal appearances. Perhaps the most powerful marketing tool you have to help get the word out about your book and sell mega copies is through your online presence--your website and a blog.

Zen Coffee is Finished

2008-09-12T14:32:00.015-05:00

It's been a long journey from the beginning
of this book to its completion. Along the way, Zen Coffee traveled a winding path toward publication. I first had the idea for this book about seven years ago. I scribbled some notes and put them in my file cabinet where they sat, neglected, for the next five years.

Then the book started calling to me, running through my thoughts and whispering in my dreams, "Write me." So I pulled out my very sketchy, drafty notes and decided it was time. My notes consisted of the title and eight chapter names. That was it; all there was. But now, I had lots of ideas swirling through my mind for how to develop this book, so I did what any writer would do. I sat down and began to write the book. As the words poured on to the page, more and more ideas came to me.

I talked to my agent about this book and she totally loved the idea.
I developed a proposal and sent it off to her. She sent it to eighteen publishers and while some of them liked the idea, they didn't think it was commercial enough. But I believed in this book enough to keep writing it. Besides that, by this time the words had gotten hold of me and I couldn't not write the book. Many agents will advise you not to write the complete book until it is sold to a publisher, but I've never followed that advice. Once I get an idea in my head and it begins to grow, there's no way I'm going to put the book to the side to see if
it sells. After those eighteen rejections, my agent told me the manuscript wasn't salable and returned the rights to me.

Being one never to give up, I revamped the proposal a bit, gave it
a new slant, and sent it out on my own to thirty more publishers. Two requested more material, but ultimately, there were no offers. I kept on writing the book. But then I got busy with other things like moving to a new apartment, writing another book that my agent easily sold, and developing websites to create an online presence, and I put the book aside for another year.

Zen Coffee kept calling to me, wanting to be written. So I dug it out of its hiding place in a desk drawer, played with the words until they stopped dancing on the pages, and now it's finished, almost ready for publication. The only thing that remains is a final read-through and finessing. Being no stranger to self-publishing, having published a
few of my books, I decided this was the way to go for this book.

In between writing the words, I created a Zen Coffee blog a few months ago to start building buzz for the book. I'll be typesetting the book next week and uploading it to an online POD (print on demand) publisher. And then I'll have a published book!

Then the real work begins: Promotion. You have to let other people know about your book and get it into bookstores, both the brick-and-mortar kind and online bookstores like Amazon. But that's for another post, another time. Just wanted to let all of you know that Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation is about to make its appearance.

Writer at Work: Do Not Disturb

2008-08-25T16:13:00.012-05:00

There comes a time in every writer's life when he or she needs to hang a sign on the door, either literally or figuratively, that reads: Writer at Work: Do Not Disturb. Writing is a solitary craft and to write a book, a writer needs solitude. A writer needs to have the peace and quiet to become one with his or her words, to transcribe them from his/her mind on to paper or the computer screen. A writer needs time to focus, to listen to his/her inner muse. I love solitude,
I love writing, and I'm in the process of finishing a book. I'm nearing the end of Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation, so I'm hanging a sign on this blog that reads: Writer at Work: Won't Be Posting for a While. I need to devote my full attention to finishing my book.

I'll be back when the words for Zen Coffee have finished dancing on the pages. When I return, I'll be talking about starting a new book and inviting you on my journey with me through the pages and the process of writing a book from beginning to end. Actually, the book is already started. It began with an idea and scribbled notes. I have a rough draft of an outline in place and have begun a new blog to start building buzz. See ya later!

Plagiarism

2008-08-17T12:45:00.019-05:00

Plagiarism is a really ugly word and a widespread problem on the web. Ripping off words, whether it's from a blog, a book, an article, or a website and claiming them as your own and/or reprinting them without permission is STEALING!

Pam posted about plagiarism at Antique or Not about her experience with her words being ripped off, with a link to one of her favorite blogs. I clicked on the link to Chickens in the Road and discovered that Suzanne has had her words ripped off and used in other blogs, with the perpetrator claiming them as her own.

Both Pam and Suzanne, and many of the people who left comments, offered some really great links about how to protect your words. Copyscape is a site where you can type in your blog or website url and see who's stealing your stuff. The top ten results are free. They offer a subscription service for $4.95 a month which searches the web and notifies you immediately when your words are stolen. They also offer single searches for $.05 for offline content that is reproduced on the web without permission. This is so much easier and more efficient than doing a Google search for sentences or phrases you've written to see where else they appear on the web.

I've had some blog posts and website content ripped off, even with a copyright notice posted on all my blogs and websites, and the words All Rights Reserved. I've also had entire books ripped off. I knew when I started blogging that my words might be used elsewhere on the web; to make it easy for people who wanted to copy my words to be upstanding and honest, I posted a copyright notice on the sidebar, giving permission to use my blog content on the web provided that I was given credit and a link back to my blog.

Your words, once you've written them, are yours and yours alone. They belong to you. No one can use them without your permission. That's copyright law. Enforcing it is another matter entirely. Here's an article about copyright laws relating to Internet use. What can you do when someone has stolen your words? First, let them know that they are a thief. Leave a comment on their blog. Flag their blog, then file a claim with their blog host. When people want to use your words, it's the law that they have to have written permission to do so. Without permission, they are infringing your copyright. They are stealing your words, words that you've written from your heart and soul.

If any plagiarists are reading this, I give you permission to copy and put this post on your blog. But this post is probably something you won't want to steal. It would show you up for what you really are: a low-life and bottom-dweller who isn't intelligent enough to write your own words. And for all you honest writers out there, please blog about this problem and take action when someone steals your words.

Where Would We Be Without Words?

2008-08-16T13:38:00.011-05:00

Without words, we wouldn't be a writer. Words are the tools of our trade. They're as necessary to a writer as breathing is to being alive. Words are how we express our thoughts and feelings, our ideas and information. They're how we convey knowledge, emotions, and entertainment for our readers.

Looking for just the right word to say what you mean? Scroll down a bit on the sidebar
and you'll see a link to an online dictionary
and thesaurus. It's a wonderful way to find just the right word, to put meaning into
what you write.

Wednesday Writer's Workshop

2008-08-05T09:52:00.006-05:00

The monthly writer's workshop will be held from 7 pm to 9 pm at
Barnes & Noble in the San Pedro Crossing Shopping Center, 321 NW Loop 410, in San Antonio (210/342-0008). It's free and is an open forum for writers where we discuss all aspects of writing, getting published, and promoting our books. We'll be discussing outlining
your book and creating chapter summaries from your outline for a book proposal. We'll also be talking about how to clearly target your books' readers--the market for your book. Hope to see you there!

Finding a Publisher

2008-07-28T18:00:00.007-05:00

How do you find a publisher for your book or an agent to represent you? Look through Writer's Market, published annually by Writer’s Digest Books. They offer several specific guides depending on whether you write nonfiction, novels, children's stories, or poetry. If you're searching for an agent, look through Writer's Market Guide to Literary Agents. Another good reference book is Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents.

They all include helpful articles on getting your book published and discuss issues important to writers. Each contain a comprehensive
list of publishers and the type of books they publish, the acquiring editor’s name, the address, phone number, email, website, and submission information. The listing may include the number of books they publish per year, a few current titles, the average advance and percentage of royalties, tips on what they’re looking for, and whether they accept submissions from unagented writers.

Go through these reference guides and make a list of the publishers you think are perfect for your book that you’d like to submit your proposal to. After you’ve done this, visit their website to look through the titles they’ve published. Read through the online catalog carefully to be certain your book is appropriate for them. This gives you clearer information on whether they’re the right publisher for your book. Be sure to read and follow their author submission guidelines.

When you’ve found publishers and/or agents who you think would be perfect for your book, write a query letter and book proposal, and send it off with a hope and a prayer, on wings on optimism.

These reference books are available at your local library and bookstore. If you'd prefer to buy them online, click the links. Also check out the Writer's Bookstore on the sidebar, which offers these books and many others on writing book proposals and promoting your book.

Procrastination is the Pits

2008-07-25T09:49:00.025-05:00

I've been thinking about writing this post about procrastination for quite a while now but other things kept getting in the way. Things like reading and writing comments on the writer's forum I belong to; things like checking my email to read my google alerts and to see if anyone has posted on one of my blogs; things like reading other blogs on Zen and writing, and leaving comments; things like blogging about the coffee controversy; things like blogging about where you can win a free cookbook; and things like working on the final edits for Who Were You? A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Past Life Regression that the project manager at Sterling sent me last week. (I know that was an incredibly transparent plug but we writers have to promote our work!) While playing on the web this morning, I found a blog about managing the writing life and the need for Zen. Hmm, so I'm not the only one afflicted with procrastination. Good to know.

But seriously, procrastination is not a good thing and there's really nothing productive about it. You know you want to write; you've got a bajillion ideas running through your mind; you can see the finished book in your mind, but your computer screen is blank and the outline for your book only has a few scribbles on paper. (I seem to have a thing today for semi-colons.)

In the above-referenced article, Claire talks about finding your focus and a quiet place to write. Both are good and necessary things for a writer. She also mentions managing your time. Another good thing. A system that works for her is creating a schedule for her writing time. And this probably works for a lot of writers, but it doesn't work for me. It's way too regimented and I like being in the flow. I think what both she and I are saying is that it's really important to create the time to write, to find your focus and take it from there. I also like that she mentions the Zen of writing in her post. The mindfulness of Zen is always a good thing, whether it's applied to writing, drinking coffee, or simply taking and/or making the time to do what you love.

I know that we all have very busy lives with so much to do that even finding time for yourself seems next to impossible. We tend to multi-task, another concept Claire covers in her post, but to simplify our lives and get more done, maybe we could single-task. This is very Zen, being mindfully aware of what we are engaging in, focusing on one thing at a time. I'm a firm believer in starting your day off right so that no matter what you do, you can be mindful. I start my day with a morning meditation. It works for me and then everytime I find myself procrastinating or doing too many things at once, I come back to my Zen coffee; I return to mindfulness.

At this point, I'm well aware that I'm rambling, but indulge me for one more moment. When I was in high school (a way long time ago), I had a humongous crush on this guy, but only knew him well enough to say "hi" when I saw him walking through the halls. Anyway, the point of the story is this: In our high school yearbook, we could include a favorite quote or saying. His was, "Do it! Do it! Do it!" I'm sure it didn't relate to writing, but these are words of wisdom. Just Do It! Just sit down and write. Write one word at a time, then write another word. And then an amazing thing happens: All those single words somehow magically turn into a book.

I'd like to hear how other writers handle procrastination; how you create the time to write and what works for you.

Building Book Buzz

2008-07-10T17:19:00.020-05:00

I started blogging a few days ago for several reasons. First, I love to write and share information that I hope is useful to readers. Second, blogging is a wonderful promotional tool; it gives you web exposure and visibility, and helps build your author platform. Third, blogging creates book buzz. "Buzz" is word-of-mouth. It's one person telling another person about something they found that they thought was interesting.

I've been teaching writing workshops for the past twelve years, helping writers get their books published. One of the things I stress, after perfecting the query letter and book proposal, and researching appropriate literary agents and/or publishers, is building an author platform and developing an online presence before you submit your book proposal. This is soooo important to publishers. It's one of the major deciding factors in whether a publisher makes an offer on your book. A publisher wants to know how you're going to promote your book and increase sales, what networking opportunities you have, whether you give lectures or teach workshops on the subject of your book, and the many other ways you can help sell your book.

A website is essential; in addition to presenting a professional image of yourself, it shows the publisher that you can promote your books online. A beginning website for first-time authors doesn't have to be a big deal. It just needs to show your expertise in the subject matter of your book. A website is easy to set up and maintain. You don't need to hire a website designer. You can do it yourself for free. A good site for building a free website is Webs. I built one of my sites using this host. And I'm a non-techie so if I can do it, you can, too.

Since this is a free site, it's ad supported but they offer an ad-free option which is very reasonable. Buy the ad-free option; you want your site to look professional. Buy a domain name that is descriptive of your book or your area of expertise. But a word to the wise here. Buy your domain name from your host. If you buy it elsewhere you'll have to forward the name to your site and Google won't be able to crawl it so your site won't come up in google searches.

For your web content, write articles relevant to the subject matter of your book and put these on your website and/or blog. Give visitors something of value; offer interesting information so they will want to talk about your book, your website, and your blog to other people. In other words, build buzz. Include an author bio and your speaking engagements or workshop schedule if this is something you do.

In addition to creating a website, explore opportunities to write articles online that you can also put on your site. Two that come to mind are www.helium.com and www.ezinearticles.com. While you won't get paid for these articles, you will begin to create interest in your book online and this is where the value of writing for free comes in. Plus, you can link back to your website and blog, bringing more traffic to your website and blog, and increasing awareness of your book.

Creating a blog on the subject matter of your book is another free promotional tool you have available to you. A blog will increase your online visibility and allow people who are interested in the subject matter of your book to interact with you. Blogger is easy to use. Blogging gives you some serious credibility in the publisher's eyes. They know that you can create interest in your book before it's published and then promote the heck out of it after it's published. Plus, there's a ready audience for your book; all those people who leave comments on your blog will probably want to buy your book.

I decided to start blogging because my newest book, Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation, will be published in September and I want to create lots of buzz for it. In addition to this blog, I created
a Zen Coffee blog to increase the buzz about my book.

The best advice I can give you to get a publisher interested in making an offer on your book is: First, have a very marketable, unique book idea. Second, write the best book proposal you possibly can. Third, build your author platform. And last, but definitely not least, create a website and a blog and start building buzz about your book. It's never too soon to do this. The more you have to offer a publisher, the more likely it is that they will want your book.

Writing a Book Proposal

2008-07-07T11:23:00.003-05:00

There are two steps on the path to publishing. First you have to begin to write your book, then you have to write a book proposal. No easy task--either writing your book or creating a powerful book proposal that editors and agents will be interested in.

A book proposal is composed of several elements. Here's a bird's-eye view of what a nonfiction book proposal should include:

Query Letter. Introduces you and your book.

Title Page. Shows the title of your book, copyright year, your name, address, phone number, fax, email, and website.

Proposal Contents. Shows the structure and order of your proposal. It allows editors to find appropriate sections of your proposal easily.

Author Bio. An author bio is essential; it shows who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re qualified to write your book. Editors want to know about your experience and expertise. If your book is based, in whole or in part, on research, they want to see a statement of your reference sources or other qualifying information.

Overview. This is a brief summary or synopsis; it shows editors at a glance what your book is about. Think in terms of a back cover blurb.

Book Table of Contents with Chapter Summaries. This is your chapter titles with a short summary of each one. It shows the editor how you’re developing your book, what direction it takes, and what your book will include.

Comparing the Competition. This is where you evaluate and assess competing books. Editors want to see a comparison to other books that are similar to yours, the ones your book will be competing with. They want to know why your book is better or different, or how it is unique and what it offers that other books on the same topic don’t.

Marketing/Promotion. This is your list of potential readers and the places they will buy your book. Editors want to know who the book will appeal to and why these people will buy it. They want to see a comprehensive list of your book’s inherent selling strengths and potential markets outside of bookstores and libraries. Show personal promotion plans and selling strategies you can do yourself. List connections or business affiliations that will be interested in helping to sell your book. Show your marketing plans. Editors want to know your intended promotional efforts and ideas, to know that you’re ready, willing, and able to promote and sell your book. Aside from your book idea and how you plan to write it, this is perhaps the most important part of your proposal. Most publishing houses won’t even consider a book, even if it’s a great idea for a book and they like it, if the author isn’t promotable and doesn’t have a strong platform.

Book Specs. Editors want to know your estimated word count and manuscript information, such as if you plan to include sidebars, charts, or illustrations, and if there are appendices, a bibliography, or an index. Show your computer software and your projected delivery date.

Sample Chapters. Choose the best; the ones that are most descriptive and show your best writing. Editors want to read several sample chapters to see your style of writing and to determine whether you really can write the book you propose.

SASE. Last, but not least, always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to receive a reply.

A fiction proposal will follow a somewhat different format than a nonfiction proposal. A brief introduction to the book is given instead of an overview, and an in-depth synopsis is given instead of chapter summaries. If your novel has chapter titles, include them as a table of contents. Otherwise, the proposal includes all the other necessary elements.

The Write Way

2008-07-03T15:05:00.018-05:00

Have you always wanted to write a book? Do you dream about writing
a book? Are you in the process of writing your book? Have you written
a book and are wondering how to get
it published?

If you're looking for a "how-to" that
will guide you every step of the way through writing your book, putting together a book proposal, finding a publisher or an agent, and seeing your book on the bookstore shelf, look no further. The Write Way offers you all this and more, from putting the first word on paper to promoting your book into a bestseller.

Have a look inside at the overview and table of contents to show you what the book covers:

You can turn your dream of writing a book into a reality. Packed full of encouragement, ideas, and inspiration to get you going and keep you moving, The Write Way guides you through writing your book and putting together a proposal that will help you get your book published. Inside these pages you’ll learn how to:

Write from your heart and find your voice;
Listen to the muse in your mind;
Develop and enhance your manuscript by looking inside your ideas and seeing what your imagination is showing you;
Create a workable outline and structure that will show you the way to writing your manuscript;
Let your words speak for themselves;
Do market research to target the appropriate publishers for your book or find the right literary agent;
Write a perfect book proposal that will greatly improve your chances of getting your book published; and
Understand and negotiate a book contract.

"As a literary agent, I tell writers: Write from the heart. Gloria Chadwick embodies these words in her book. She offers powerful, practical advice that every writer, from beginner to professional,
can use in every phase of the publishing process. Rarely have I seen the key elements of writing a book and getting it published so clearly explained. It's all here—everything a writer needs from start to finish. Ms. Chadwick is clearly a pro in the know; I heartily recommend her book as a unique and indispensable resource for novice and veteran writers alike."
— Bob Silverstein, Quicksilver Books, Literary Agents

The Write Way ~ Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I. Write From Your Heart

One. Birthing Your Book—A Labor of Love

Two. Becoming and Being a Writer

The Soul and Psyche of a Writer
Author Affirmations
The Writer’s Mystique
Writer’s Workshops

Three. Tools of Your Trade

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Inspiration and Intuition
Seeding Your Subconscious
Going With the Flow
The Art and Science of Writing
Doing Your Dreams

Four. The Writing World

Finding Your Voice
The Writer Within
Solitude and Seclusion
True to Type
Pursuing Your Passion
The Muse in Your Mind

Five. Before You Begin

Terrific Titles
Picture Perfect
Sacred Spaces
Making Time to Write
Writing Rituals
The Power of Secrecy

Six. Beginning Your Book

Scratching the Surface
Getting Into the Write Frame of Mind
Drifting and Drafting
Developing and Doing
Beginning at the End
Distractions and Disturbances
Putting off Procrastination

Seven. Writing Your Book

Finding Your Focus
Show and Tell
Perils and Pitfalls of Perfection
Writer’s Block
Brain Burn-Out
Rewriting Your Book
Leaving a Legacy

Part II. Marketing Your Manuscript

Eight. Finding the Perfect Publisher

Market Research
Bookstore Browsing
Shelf Searching
Internet Exploring
Editor or Agent?
Book Expo
Soul Searching
Writer’s Conferences

Nine. The Parts and Pieces of Your Proposal

Query Letter
Title Page
Proposal Contents
Author Bio
Overview
Book Table of Contents with Chapter Summaries
Comparing the Competition
Marketing / Promotion
Book Specs
SASE
Sample Chapters
Optional Items to Include
Perfecting Your Proposal Package

Ten. Submitting Your Proposal

Putting Your Proposal Together
Sidestepping the Slush Pile
Packaging Your Proposal
Mailing Your Proposal Package
Simultaneous Submissions
Agent / Editor Etiquette
Blessing Your Book Proposal
Keeping Track of Your Submissions

Eleven. The Self-Publishing Path

To Be or Not to Be… Published

Twelve. Rejections and Requests

Dealing with Disappointment
Reasons for Rejection
Perseverance Pays
Author Questionnaire
Holding on to Hope

Thirteen. After the Offer

Advances / Royalties
Rights to Keep and Give Away
Catchy Clauses
Important Items
Some Words on Being Edited

Fourteen. It’s a Book!

Sending Out Birth Announcements
Launching Your Book
Growing Your Baby Into a Bestseller

Appendix A. Sample Proposals

Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation
The Complete Do-it-Yourself Guide to Past Life Regression
Recipe for a Cookbook: How to Write, Publish, and Promote Your Cookbook

Appendix B. References and Resources

Reference Books
Writer’s Magazines
Writer’s Websites

Appendix C. Recommended Reading List

Books on Writing, Publishing, and Book Proposals
Books on Marketing, Promotion, and Self-Publishing

Appendix D. Little Legal Things

Concerning Copyright
Those Terrible Taxes

Appendix E. Sample Book Contract

Index

Riverstone Publishing, 196 pages.
ISBN: 978-1-883717-71-1.
Available at Amazon for $15.95.

Welcome to the Writer's Workshop

2008-07-01T15:33:00.016-05:00

I've created this site to guide you on the path to publishing--how to get your book published, how to write a book proposal, how to self-publish (if that's the path you choose), and how to promote your book, along with inside information and advice, to help you on your journey as you travel the path of finding a literary home for your book--from someone who has "been there, done that."

Whether you're looking for a commercial publisher or are thinking about self-publishing your book, I have a few words to say on the subject and some inside tips that can help you on your publishing path. Of course I don't have all the answers, but I can guide you in the right (write) direction.

The writer behind this Writer's Workshop is me--Gloria Chadwick--author of 30 books, 12 of which are self-published (not necessarily because I couldn't interest a publisher but because I like to do things my way). My first book, Discovering Your Past Lives, was published in 1988 by McGraw-Hill. It has sold over 300,000 copies, been translated into 14 foreign languages and is still selling on the bookstore shelves.

I was a literary agent for 6 years, specializing in foreign sales, and have been an independent publisher--Mystical Mindscapes--for the past 17 years. I also teach writing workshops and self-publishing seminars.

Most of all, I'm a writer. I love to write. I have to write. I can't not write. Writing is as necessary to me as breathing. I write mostly New Age nonfiction books in the areas of reincarnation, meditation, positive mind power, holistic healing, and dreams; I've also written a novel, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, as well as several reference guides for writers (you'll find them on this blog)
and a few cookbooks... because even writers have to eat.

I hope you'll enjoy this blog and that it will be helpful to you in writing your book and getting it published... The Write Way.