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Posts Tagged ‘self-publishing’

Where’s Wendy?

Posted in General, Nonprofit Forays, tagged , , , , on July 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I have been so swamped lately that I have unintentionally turned this into a cob web!

I set up my business back in 1994, focusing on writing and editing for business (especially technical companies). I learned some valuable lessons when I studied marketing, as an undergrad and grad student and then on my own. One of my most helpful resources was Robert Cialdini’s “Principles of Persuasion.” (I read his book when there were six, and now there are seven. I’ll have to read his more recent book to catch up!)

From Cialdini, I learned this, for example: When you are busiest is when you need to do the most marketing. You’re probably thinking, “Right, I’ll just clone myself.” But it’s good to do. That way, when the large wave of current work ebbs, you have some potential work on the horizon.

So while I have been not updating my web page, I have been working for my clients, publishing my own writing, and polishing what I hope will be my 11th book. (More on that later.) I also retired from my tutoring job. I loved it, but something had to give. Since I started my business, I juggled my own writing and editing/writing for others.

So while I haven’t been posting on my web page, I have been working on my next big project.

“Didn’t you just contradict yourself?” you wonder.

Yes, I did. Rules were made to be broken. Truth be told, the number of times my web page has led to my getting actual work can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

So for those of you who haven’t interacted with me before, I have published 10 books to date, all nonfiction, many for juvenile readers, and all of them traditionally published. My client on one special job was for the University of Cincinnati. It was a work for hire, where UC was the one who paid me, not the publisher. So UC self-published it after paying me to write it. UC holds the copyright, as is the case with work-for-hire jobs.

Fiction usually does not pay until your novel is complete. With my first nonfiction book, I submitted an outline and a sample chapter, and voilà: they gave me the contract for the book and my advance. As my relationship with two of my publishing houses has continued to grow, my editors have called me with a book idea and asked if I thought I could do it. They would then send me an e-mail documenting our phone discussion. And boom! I’d get my advance.

While I have been writing and publishing nonfiction, I have a few novels banging around in my head. So I have decided to self-publish the first novel to see how it goes. Although I have led many writers’ workshops wherein I have discussed self-publishing, this is the first time I am actually trying it with one of my own books.

I’ll keep you posted.

I promise.

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Write in Yellow Springs

Posted in Teaching, Writing Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 31, 2017| 8 Comments »

Retreat to the Springs! is a roaming writers’ workshop that takes place in such places as Capon Springs WV, Yellow Springs OH and Steamboat Springs CO. Here’s our next one!

Oct. 26 to 28, 2018
Yellow Springs OH

Yellow Springs, Ohio
John Bryan Community Center
October 26 to 28, 2018

Join us for a retreat in a fantastic village setting, where you’ll receive expert instruction from fantastic writers: Ann Hagedorn, creative nonfiction; Donna MacMeans, romance; Jason Sanford, scifi/fantasy; and Valerie Coleman, self-publishing. Learn the strategies and tactics of being a successful, published author. Sign up for an optional one-on-one manuscript critique! (One-on-one manuscript critiques cost an additional $25.) Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning are yours for only $195. Manuscript guidelines are here.


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Faculty

Ann Hagedorn, narrative nonfiction

Ann Hagedorn is the award-winning author of The Invisible Soldiers: How America Outsourced Our Security and four previous books: Wild Ride, Ransom, Beyond the River, and Savage Peace: Hope and Fear in America, 1919. She has been a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, and The San Jose Mercury News. She has taught writing at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Xavier University, and Miami University. She holds an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University and an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Denison University. Learn more about Ann at http://annhagedorn.com/. Hear from Ann in our Q&A.

Romantic fiction writer Donna MacMeans

Donna MacMeans, romantic fiction

Donna MacMeans is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart from Romance Writers of America in 2006 and has since written sensuous Historical Romance for Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random), romantic suspense for a small press, and indie published fun paranormals just for her. She has won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Historical Love & Laughter, and has been a finalist for several times and in several categories. She has won or finaled in many regional contests as well. Her books consistently receive high praise and glowing reviews, and have been published around the world. A licensed CPA, Donna currently serves as the Treasurer for Romance Writers of America, as well as maintains a small tax practice. She received the 2013 RWA Service Award and the 2014 RWA Pro Mentor award for her work with unpublished writers. She has taught workshops for the Nora Roberts Institute, the Writer’s Boot camp for RT, The Thurber House, the Antioch Genre Fiction day, several libraries, several RWA conventions and numerous RWA chapters. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband of 40+ years, along with a demanding cat who likes to dive bomb her from the bed headboard at five o’clock in the morning. Please contact her at https://www.DonnaMacMeans.com. Learn more about Donna in our Q&A.

Jason Sanford

Jason Sanford, scifi/fantasy

Jason Sanford is an award-winning short story author and an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Jason has published more than a dozen stories in the British SF magazine Interzone, which also devoted a special issue to his fiction. Other publications include multiple stories in Asimov’s Science Fiction along with stories in Year’s Best SF, The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, Analog, InterGalactic Medicine Show, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and other magazines and anthologies. Jason is a two-time finalist for the Nebula Award, a three-time winner of the Interzone Readers’ Poll, and the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship. His stories have also been named to the Locus Recommended Reading Lists along with being translated into a number of languages including Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Italian, and Czech. Jason co-founded the literary journal storySouth, through which he ran the annual Million Writers Award for best online fiction. His critical essays and book reviews have been published in SF Signal, The New York Review of Science Fiction, The Pedestal Magazine and other places. He also writes a monthly column for the Czech SF magazine XB-1. His website is www.jasonsanford.com. Learn more about Jason in our Q&A.

Valerie J Lewis Coleman

Valerie J. Lewis Coleman, self-publishing

Valerie J. Lewis Coleman serves experts and professional speakers to magnify and monetize their message by publishing quality books. She co-founded the Dayton Book Expo, the city’s premiere book event. Since its inception in 2010, the expo has hosted over 500 authors and thousands of book lovers. As a best-selling author and award-winning publisher, Valerie has helped thousands of aspiring authors navigate the mysterious labyrinth of self-publishing. With over fifteen years of experience in the book business, this expert divulges industry secrets on avoiding the top five mistakes made by new authors, pricing your book to sell and identifying dishonest publishers. Her dynamic presentation and knowledge of the business saves thousands of dollars, hours of research and tons of frustration by making publishing quick, easy and affordable. PenOfTheWriter.com | QueenVPublishing.com 888.802.1802

Restoring stepfamilies, empowering women, equipping writers to be greater!
Multi-bestselling author of “The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box” and “Blended Families An Anthology”
Like Valerie on Facebook for relationship advice and giveaways:

 

Facilitator

Wendy Hart Beckman

Wendy Beckman, facilitator

Wendy Hart Beckman is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, and author. She has published nine books of nonfiction (including 8 Wonders of Cincinnati, Founders and Famous Families of Cincinnati and Harlem Renaissance Artists and Writers), as well as more than 300 articles in print and online. She has an M.A. in English, with a concentration in editing and publishing, and a graduate certificate in professional writing. She has taught at the University of Cincinnati, Miami University, and Sinclair Community College, and has owned her own writing and editing business since 1994. She frequently speaks at writers’ workshops and retreats, including the Antioch Writers’ Workshop and Midwest Writers Workshop. Follow her at www.wendyonwriting.


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Other useful pages

www.yellowspringsohio.org/ About the town of Yellow Springs

http://www.stayyellowsprings.com/ Lodging in Yellow Springs

(If this form prompts you with my name and email address, change them to yours.)

Go there. Do that. Buy the t-shirt now.

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