When a client gives you chills — in a good way!

When a client gives you chills — in a good way!

I'm very privileged to be working with a new client on an important book, the working title of which is The Time to Heal. To preserve her confidentiality regarding topic, I'll just say it's a groundbreaking work about a misunderstood illness.

As part of our workflow, we have a standing appointment for a weekly phone call check-in, during which we review our progress, address questions and issues, and set the schedule for the following week's work.

Today, just before we got off the phone, my client said, "There's one more thing I want to do before we hang up. I want you to take note of these 6 questions, because as we go through the process of writing this book, I want to keep these in mind at every stage." Her questions nearly brought  me to tears:

• Is it true?
• Is it helpful?
• Is it kind?
• Is it clear and concise?
• What is healing about it?
• Who is healing from it?

What a thoughtful individual she is — and what a massively different world we'd live in if every author, writer, TV news commentator, blogger, social media user, individual would review these questions on a daily basis. My client's point was that although this will be a noteworthy book on what can be a terribly controversial issue, she wants her underlying purpose to be life-giving. Period.

Where can you apply these questions in your writing, work, and life?
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I invite you to do 3 things next:

1. Visit Write | Market | Design to download your free eBook copy of The First-Time Author's Guide to Hiring the Right Editor for YOU!
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Your thoughtful comments encouraged and appreciated.

Considerations when publishing an anthology of other writers' work

I received a very interesting question from life coach Nicole Bandes today:

I am working on my next book which will be a compilation of stories. The challenge I am running into is that many of the stories being submitted are already written on blogs somewhere.

I'm ... wondering if this is a problem or if I should request exclusive only stories. Maybe I can take the story written on the blog and rewrite them so they aren't identical (I'd need to do that with most anyway).

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?

My response to Nicole's question was 5-fold:

(1) Are you saying these stories have been posted by the writers on the writers' blogs? That's not an issue unless you make it one by insisting on original material.

(2) If the material has been submitted by the original author to another blog or article site, you'll need to find out who actually owns the piece because there could be fine print saying the blog owner/article site now owns the content.

(3) Make sure you insist on an affidavit or waiver from each story submitter stipulating that they wrote the material and have the rights to reproduce it.

(4) I would also insist on a signed release from each contributor, giving you express permission to reprint their material and agreeing to allow you to use it however you are planning to (e.g., book only, on your blog, in your marketing materials, etc.).

(5) You need to be VERY explicit about compensation — or lack thereof — especially if you're not offering cash payments for the stories. Maybe you're agreeing to give them a resource box at the bottom of each story in exchange for using it. Whatever the agreement is — make it clear that they know what they are agreeing to.

Brenda Warneka and Arlene Uslander, in an article titled "The Art of Assembling Anthologies," offer this additional valuable information:

Provisions to include in the contract with the contributors

Among other things, you must decide what story rights you will ask for, and what payment you will offer to contributors. We are aware of payment by the best selling anthologies of as much as $300 or more; others run contests for stories; new anthologies may pay with a copy of the book and a bio, which is an accepted practice. Many fine writers are willing to allow a one-time use of their work simply because they are interested in the theme of the book. New writers may be seeking the writing credentials provided by having a story in print.

There may be other money-making opportunities for contributors even if the anthology is nonpaying; e.g., the sale of reprint rights, speaking engagements, or other writing assignments as a result of the exposure.

Anthologies are a great, usually easy, way to put together an informative book. Just make sure you cover yourself and your contributors before embarking on such a project.

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I invite you to do 3 things next:

1. Visit Write | Market | Design to download your free eBook copy of The First-Time Author's Guide to Hiring the Right Editor for YOU!
2. Visit my Facebook page - and "Like" it if you like it.
3. Visit my new book marketing blog, Marcie Brock - Book Marketing Maven. If you like it, subscribe – and tell your friends!

Professional Editing - It's NOT Optional if You Want a Professional Book

Professional Editing - It's NOT Optional if You Want a Professional Book

Staying on top of one's industry takes a lot of time and effort, but it's essential if you want to be worthy of the expert status you should be claiming for yourself. One way I keep informed and in touch is through membership in several writing/editing/publishing groups on LinkedIn.

Yesterday, a man posted a question about the best way to sell a spiritually compelling autobiography. He was specifically interested in information about securing an agent and/or traditional publisher and how to craft a successful book proposal. I was the first in the thread to post a fairly comprehensive answer. As is the case with many of these "conversations," a number of people often chime in to offer their expertise. I have to imagine that is both good and bad for the question-asker. Good, because they can get a lot great of information; bad, because sometimes they have to wade through some dreck with a BS detector to discern the good info from the less useful remarks.


Case in point. One woman, in responding to my second comment on this particular thread, wrote the following. Please pay specific attention to the portions I have highlighted.

Laura is right. The first step is to write and not focus on how you write. It sounds as if you've done that. The next step is to either edit it yourself or pay someone to edit it. But nobody can write it like you can. I still suggest you study up as I did. Sometimes a critique group can help. Don't publish it until it is the best it can be. Have people read it and comment. Read other successful memoirs and see how they did it.

This is flat-out contradictory information. It doesn't matter how good a writer you are, a professional editor will ALWAYS improve it. In the past, I have likened this to an interview I once heard with Michael Jordan. The reporter asked him what made him such a great player. His answer: "I had great coaches." If even the great Michael Jordan, with undeniable natural basketball talent, needed good coaches, then even the best writer needs a good editor.

Another way to think about it is like preparing a succulent meatloaf. You select the choicest meats, add the perfect spices, choose the ideal baking dish, get the meat settled in just right ... and then decide not to cook it. Who would DO that? No one. But that's essentially what you're doing if you decide you don't really need the services of a skilled editor experienced in your genre.

Price is not always commensurate with skill, but it's a decent indicator. And quality editing is not inexpensive. But if you want to take the good part of the advice in the quote above – Don't publish it until it is the best it can be – you will spend the money and invest in a professional editor. Notice the use of the word "invest." If you really want to make a book you can be proud of, a book a publisher or agent WILL look at with interest, a book that will sell well, you will make an investment in editing. 

Of course, there are other expenses involved in creating a really good book: cover design, interior layout, and pagination, to name only a few. But think of it this way. The cover and title draw in the potential reader and get them to pull the book off the shelf, pick it up from the sales table, or "Look Inside." But it's the words that sell the book. If you have the best message in the world, but your words are not polished, you won't sell many copies, and you especially won't create the buzz that comes from word-of-mouth praise.

You've worked long and hard on this book. Don't you owe it to yourself – and your readers – to do everything possible to publish the best book possible?

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I invite you to do 3 things next:

1. Visit Write | Market | Design to download your free eBook copy of The First-Time Author's Guide to Hiring the Right Editor for YOU!
2. Visit my Facebook page - and "Like" it if you like it.
3. Visit my new book marketing blog, Marcie Brock - Book Marketing Maven. If you like it, subscribe – and tell your friends!

http://bit.ly/marciebrockbookmktmaven