Monday, August 31, 2009

My Book Update
Catchin' Up with my progress
It has really been a great week and I'm looking forward to this new one that is just now beginning! Lat week I had the chance to attend the Aledo Christian Writer's Group with Lori Boruff who acts as facilitator. It was terrific. I had the opportunity to share my learnings from the St. Louis Christian Writer's Conference promoted b the American Christian Writer's Association. I told them about my mentoring relationship with the conference speaker, John Riddle.

The group had turned in a group project to be edited by a professional editor. I was impressed with the editing program and went home to Google its name. I found it. Its called Wizard of Words Deluxe and it does much more than editing, it actually creates your entire book for you. I also discovered Stylewriter which is an incredible "plain English" syntax and grammar program. Both are worth every dime you pay and they are reasonably priced.

I have also been reading You Can Market Your Book, by Carmen Leal. Carmen escorts her reader, step-by-step through the entire marketing and promotional process. She offers amazing information and includes tons of priceless additional resources.

That's what I've been doing this last week. Directly concerning my book, tentatively called: "Invasion of the Occult In Health Care: The Changing Face of Spirituality in Medicine", I continue to work diligently. I have a fairly complete chapter outline. Most of my research on: Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Healing Touch is finished. I have some research to do on other chapters but the most difficult part of the fact finding is over. It has been a painstaking process, but I believe it has been worth it if I want to educate health care professionals, patients and families, as well as pastors and Christians sitting in the pew. I am excited because the book is taking shape and I am learning so much in the process.

If you would like further information on my book or on the writing and marketing process please contact me at  michaelelmorechristianwriter@mchsi.com

Friday, August 28, 2009

Building Your Promotional Piece
(Promo)

My mentor said that I could beg, borrow or steal from this promotional piece so here's your chance to do the same.

What is promo? A promo is the piece that you send by email to ask for freelance writing jobs. It tells the recipient a little about yourself but mostly about your experience as a writer. It doesn't matter if you have little experience because everyone has to start somewhere.

You should send your promo to send 10 job queries a day - 5 to the freelance job boards like craig's list, Yahoo, Google and others. The other 5 should be sent to the editors (identify them by name if possible) of papers, magazines, journals, publishers etc. That's it. Do it everyday and you will get results.

Always keep a of who you sent your promo to: company, editor, address and date. If you get the job, record who it was for, the genre and title of what you wrote as well as what you got paid.

The format that your promo should follow is as follows:
1. Send a compliment such as:
"I look forward to reading your journal every month. The layout, content and quality of articles is excellent. Great job!"

2. Identify who you are:
"By the way, do you need any freelance writers? "

3. Briefly list your writing experience:
"As a freelance writer for the last 24 years my byline has appeared in L.I.F.E. Magazine, the Happenings, the Newsleader and other publications. As a contributing author, my book, “Foundations of Pentecostal Theology” has been sold around the globe in 25 languages, I am currently writing another book about spirituality in healthcare."

"I also have experience writing for newspapers, newsletters, journals and Web sites. I am including my freelance resume for your review. Thank you for your consideration.


Freelance Resume

Michael W. Elmore
mailto:johnriddle@sprintmail.com

(Partial listing of writing credits)

Newspapers:
The Rochelle Newsleader, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the Hiawatha Happenings, the Quad Cities Times.

Magazines: L.I.F.E. Magazine

Journal: Ashland Theological Journal

Books:
The Handbook of Preaching
Foundations of Pentecostal Theology
Karl Barth’s Theology of Man and Woman

Newsletters: New Life News, Fresh Wind Spirit, Living Faith Communiqué, Shared Ministry Care Notes

Web Sites:
genesishealth.com, qctimes.com


4. The end product should look like this:

Do you need any freelance writers? As a freelance writer for the last 24 years my byline has appeared in L.I.F.E. Magazine, the Happenings, the Newsleader and other publications. As a contributing author, my book, “Foundations of Pentecostal Theology” has been sold around the globe in 25 languages, I am currently writing another book about spirituality in healthcare.

I also have experience writing for newspapers, newsletters, journals and Web sites. I am including my freelance resume for your review. Thank you for your consideration.


Freelance Resume

Michael W. Elmore

mailto:johnriddle@sprintmail.com

(Partial listing of writing credits)

Newspapers: The Rochelle Newsleader, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the Hiawatha Happenings, the Quad Cities Times.

Magazines: L.I.F.E. Magazine

Journal: Ashland Theological Journal

Books:
The Handbook of Preaching
Foundations of Pentecostal Theology
Karl Barth’s Theology of Man and Woman

Newsletters: New Life News, Fresh Wind Spirit, Living Faith Communiqué, Shared Ministry Care Notes

Web Sites:
genesishealth.com, qctimes.com

This is a tried and true promotional piece and you will get results - so use it.
Let's agree in prayer right this moment that this promtional piece will be effective in your writing ministry.



Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sometimes Its What NOT to Say
Secrets of writing a good query letter

What you should not do in your query letter
§ Do not mention who has rejected the piece before.
§ Do not include other people’s statements about your article.
§ Do not tell the editor how long and hard you have been working on this article.
§ Do not mention the assistance of others.
§ Do not tell them that the piece still needs work.
§ Do not request advice, comments, criticism or analysis.
§ Do not talk about how thrilling it would be to be published.
§ Do not include inappropriate or off-subject information about yourself.
§ Do not discuss the rights you wish to sell.
§ Do not discuss price or payment.
§ Do not give your social security number.
§ Do not give or discuss copyright information.
§ Do not wear out your welcome by writing too much or failing to get to the point.
§ Do not query without studying the publication enough to know whether your idea is appropriate.
§ Do not waste your time querying an unreceptive editor over and over again.
§ Do not present ideas for several different articles in the same letter. This can be done once you have established a rapport with an editor, but should not be done in a blind query.
§ Do not use obscenities or inappropriate content.
§ Do not send inappropriate, off-subject samples.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Query Letters:
make them interesting, specific and persuasive


Your query letter should be interesting
§ Your query should introduce a fresh idea/topic/angle.
§ The idea should be set off in the type so it is easily viewed.
§ Your idea should be presented at the very beginning of your letter.
§ Your lead-in should excite the editor.

Your query letter should be specific
§ Keep your query letter to a single page in length.
§ Lay out exactly what you intend to include and exclude from your article.
§ Give a proposed article length. Round to the nearest 100 for under 2000 words and to nearest 500 for articles over that length. The length should be appropriate for that publication.
§ Identify which section of the publication you believe your article fits within.

Your query letter should be persuasive
§ Include writing samples that are appropriate to the publication, article topic, and writing style you believe the publication is looking for.
§ Present any credentials or awards you have that show you are qualified to write, especially about this subject.
§ Identify other similar publications that have published your work.
§ Identify any sources you have that you feel would help persuade the editor.
§ Your article should show why you are the best and only person to write this article for them.
§ Close your letter with a phrase such as: “I look forward to hearing from you. Please write or call if you have any questions.”


Respond promptly when a query is accepted
§ When an editor expresses interest in (solicits) your article, send it to them promptly. In your cover letter, remind them of their request.
§ You do not need to enclose an SASE when sending your article.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Ideas to Share Your Story
Is God calling you to a new ministry?

Have you ever considered writing an article for your church newsletter? How about a publication mailed out by a community group you belong to? Maybe you subscribe to a magazine that accepts readers submissions such as "The Reader's Digest" and "Guide Posts". I would imagine that you have an experience that God has given you a burning desire to share with others. Not only is this a remarkable ministry that touches many lives, but sometimes offers payment for your story and gives you credit as an author. Think about it. I would be interested in hearing from you.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Query Letter - Professional Look
Your query letter should have a professional look.

§ There should be no spelling or grammar errors.
§ Be sure to include the date on your letter. This can be important if you feel later on that your idea has been stolen.
§ It should be addressed to the appropriate editor. Use their full name and do not use Mr. Mrs. or otherwise. The exception to this rule is Dr. or other professional title.
§ The publication name and address should be correct.
§ The salutation should be formal.
§ If mailed, the paper and the letterhead should be clean and professional. Standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper should be used.
§ Single-space your paragraphs and double-space between paragraphs.
§ If mailed, the Query should include Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE)
so that the editor can return your article or reply to you conveniently.
§ Include your name, postal address, email address and phone number in the letterhead or at the bottom of the letter.


These are just a few helpful comments. Use them - they will make the difference between being read and having your query thrown in the round-file. Good luck!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Where Did I Put That?
Secret to organizing everything

Ever get tired of doing research and filling out 3X5 cards? How about trying to organize chapters and subheadings for that latest fiction project? Maybe you need a way to organize recipes, DVDs or most anything.? I recommend Microsoft Windows One Note. This program is easy to use and designed especially for those who need to organize most anything. My highest rating -- check out a sample to use at Microsoft.com.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Writing Friends

Writing is hard work, its easy to get distracted, discouraged, lazy, whatever. Also, writing, publishing, promotion and marketing are complex subjects that take expert information in order to learn. For these reasons and others ( contrary to popular opinion I am not all-knowing) each one of us needs support, both personally and professionally. I recommend joining a Christian writers group near you, network on line with other Christian writers, join professional associations like ACW and connect. There's a hundred reasons to do this and probably not one reason to dissuade you from doing this. If you would like to follow my blog and leave your comments and ideas from time to time, I invite you do do so. Thank you for making me a better writer. I hope I can do the same for you.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Tid-bits about Query Letters
As you contact an editor about your manuscript one it is imperative that you: Know your target!

§ Study any publication before you submit a query letter.
§ Get writer’s guidelines for the publication if they are available.
§ Study the publication’s masthead to identify the appropriate editor for your query. Do not rely on Writer’s Market. Editors change jobs frequently.
§ You may send the same subject query to more than one publication, as long as they do not compete and you have taken the time to make sure the subject is appropriate for both publications.




Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Update On My Book

It takes time to write a non-fiction book. This is because in my case, it is research based. I am happy to report that I have pretty much concluded researching two of the three topics I have selected to explore and have narrowed the third topic to fit the overall theme of the book. I still have this last topic to research and then have to finalize additional chapter titles.

In the meantime, I continue to learn about publishing and marketing, and I am continuing to teach a Bible Study related to my book's topic. This is an exciting endeavor and I will keep you updated from time to time. Thanks for being there!

Monday, August 17, 2009

What Is A Query Letter
A query letter is a one page letter to entice a prospective agent or producer into requesting and reading your work - provides only brief and relevant information. - adapted from J. C. Hewitt


Here are some advantages to writing a formal query letter:

§ A well-written query letter helps prove to an editor that you are qualified to write the piece.
§ Sending completed articles blindly can indicate to an editor that you either failed to sell the article before, are submitting an article that was not written specifically for their publication or are attempting to resell a previously published article.
§ Short, informal queries will often go unread or will be given less weight by an editor if they are a stickler for the formal process.
§ A formal, detailed query gives you the opportunity to do preliminary research for a piece that can then be quickly converted into an article.
§ When submitting a query to an online publication, your query will look better than 90% of the other queries being submitted to that publication.
In the age of email, much can be said for the ability to quickly send off a brief query. This is very possible these days, and may result in more sales than writing a formal query for each publication you wish to write an article for. Still, if you want to impress an editor, online or otherwise, a formal, well-written query letter is a way to do it.


More on Query letters next time.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Freelance Opportunities
Do you know that there are over 50 book publishers who are currently seeking freelance writers for their book projects? Many of the school library publishers including Enslow, Rosen, Mason Crest and others. are seeking freelance writers for their book projects in the areas of history, science, health, biography and education.
Take a trip to the bookstore and select publishers you would like to work with. Shoot the editor an email with your promo attached, asking for information about "work for hire". Fees for these books range between $1500 and $20,000. Most of these publishers will offer you a second book if you come through on time.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Multi-tasking

I have unintentionally, because of the many tasks and life-demands I am engaged in, have fallen into the trap of multi-tasking. I am convinced that multi-tasking is something that a Microsoft Windows program performs admirably, but which human beings find stressful and causes not only a lack of efficiency but ultimately costs us our peace of mind.

The Bible tells us to "be still and know that I am God". Stillness is very different than multi-tasking. There is an inherent spiritual need withing the human heart that longs for and demands a place to quiet the intruding voices of this busy world and practice communion with God. St. Augustine said it well when he wrote, "My heart remains restless until it rests in thee".

In the midst of all the multi-tasking that society attempts to drive us to accomplish, I urge you to find that place of quiet introspection so you "can be still and know that He is God". Connection with God is imperative to discovering presence, communion and direction for our lives from the living God.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Jobs Lists

Here are some job boards you can use to seek writing opportunities that actually pay:


http://www.craigslist.com/

http://www.journalismjobs.com/

http://www.mediabistro.com/

http://www.freelancewriting.com/

http://www.writerswrite.com/


For over 40 Websites featuring job listings for writers, visit www.newsjobs.net These jobs change everday, throughout the day.


Blessings,

Michael

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

St. Louis Conference Notes Part I

Surfing the Web
Nothing beats surfing the Web looking for freelance work. While its true that job boards (like Craig's List and School Library's) are great resources for leads, the competition is strong. In addition to looking for those "writers want ads" on the Web, start searching for sites you would like to write for, especially Christian ones! Find your niche, or area of expertise, and look for sites that use freelance writers. Send the editor a brief e-mail asking them if they need any freelance writers. 100% of the 200 + Websites I have seen all have ideas for articles. You don't have to pitch your idea. Just start sending out 5 emails a day with a brief copy of your personal promo. Believe it or not, it works! -adapted from John Riddle www.ilovetowriteday.com

Monday, August 10, 2009

American Christian Writers Conference

American Christian Writer's Conference


I just arrived home from the American Christian Writers Conference in St. Louis, MO. It was a wonderful conference featuring John Riddle. John has published 34 books and 200 articles and Journal articles. He provided us with a wealth of information which I will be sharing on this site. Please stay tuned for the next few days to retrieve this information while I edit and condense it for your use.