Search Results for: The Mail I Get

POD: Prey On Dimwits?

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I got this email today. I have deleted the name of the book and the author: I read something you wrote about AuthorHouse and its too-good-to-be-true (because it is) package and stuff, ending with “whoever signs up for this ‘publishing package’ is a dimwit who deserves to be taken for every last cent he has”. … Read more

Out of Options?

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I got this email while I was away. The subject heading was "What to do after you’ve exhausted every resource in writing?" Greetings.  First off, I am a potential author.  I say potential cause I’ve yet to get anything published.  Have about four finished manuscripts under my belt and I’ve exhausted agents, publishers, some even … Read more

The Easy Way to Become a Professional Writer

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I have a confession to make. I’m a moron. I worked so hard to become a professional writer — spending years slogging away as a journalist, freelance magazine writer, non-fiction author, freelance TV writer, novelist, and writer-producer — when all I really had to do was join FanStory.com.  Now, thanks to those helpful folks at … Read more

THE F WORD

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Showtime is staging an unusual promotional event, inviting fans of THE L WORD to help a writer on the show pen a spec script for an episode. The press release calls it "the first network-sanctioned collaborative fan event." During the sponsored, multi-week event, the show’s millions of fans will be invited to collaborate on an … Read more

When to Go POD

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I got this email the other day: Hi. I’ve been enjoying your blog. Can you give me an opinion here? I’ve written a book for a local businessman here in XYZ. He wants to get 500-1000 copies published to give to customers, relatives, etc. I notice you say NEVER to pay anyone to publish your … Read more

Vanity Press Ethics

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I have been hammering Writers Digest and editor Kristin Godsey pretty hard here lately. So it should be noted that the latest "tips and updates" email from WD  includes a link to a very interesting article Godsey wrote about whether the POD industry should establish a code of professional conduct. While many such companies are … Read more

Writers Digest

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There was a time when Writer’s Digest offered useful tips on breaking into writing and sustaining a career in the biz… but over the years they have become a worthless shill for the vanity press industry. I’ve been getting countless emails from Writer’s Digest, hyping one vanity press or another as a way to break … Read more

Names is for Tombstones

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There’s been a lot of talk lately about mid-list writers adopting other names to get their books sold and keep their careers going. Author Tim Cockey has enjoyed some success with his HEARSE series of light-hearted mysteries — now he’s launching a new series under the name "Richard Hawke." He recently sent Bill Peschel an … Read more

Writing No Matter What

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I always get a kick out of aspiring writers who whine about not having the time to write, or not having enough "peace and quiet." Professional writers know they have to write with whatever time they have, regardless of the conditions.  This is especially true in television, where you need to generate a new script … Read more