About Writing

Here's everything I know about improving your writing,				took
publishing it electronically and in print, and promoting it				two tries, because my first "editor" was a rip-off artist
after the sale.Two questions you should ask:(1) What				charging over ten times market value for incomplete
will it cost me?(2) What does this Michael LaRocca				advice.That editor, incidentally, is named Edit Ink, and
guy know about it?Answer #1 -- It won't cost you a				they're listed
thing. The single most				on many "scam warning" sites. They take kickbacks
important bit of advice I can give you, and I say it				from every fake
often, is				agent who sends them a client. (I'll talk about fake
don't pay for publication.My successes have come				agents later.)If you choose to hire an editor, check
from investing time. Some of it was well				price and reputation. (For a
spent, but most of it was wasted. It costs me nothing				ballpark figure, I charge $3 per 1000 words for a
to share				proofread, twice
what I've learned. It costs you nothing to read it				that for an in-depth edit.) Consider that you might
except some				never make
of your time.Answer #2 -- "Michael LaRocca has				enough selling your books to get back what you pay
been researching the				that editor. Do
publishing field for over ten years."This quote, from an				you care? That's your decision.Your first, most
ezine (electronic newsletter) called Authors				important step on the road to publication is to
Wordsmith, was a kind way of saying I've received a				make your writing the best it can be.** PUBLICATION
lot of				**My goal is to be published in both mediums, ebook
rejections. Also, my "research" required 20 years.But				and print.
in my "breakout" year (2000), I finished writing four				There are some readers who prefer ebooks, and
books				some who prefer
and scheduled them all for publication in 2001. I also				print books. The latter group is larger, but those
began				publishers
editing for one of my publishers, a job I've been				are harder to sell your writing to. I want to be
enjoying ever				published in
since.After my first book was published, both my				both mediums, because I want all the readers I can
publishers closed.				get.Thus, I advocate something of a stepping-stone
Two weeks and three publishers later, I was back on				approach.
track. All				Publish electronically with a quality place, and enjoy the
four books were published, and a fifth was released				benefits of free editing. Later, if you think you can sell
in 2004.				your book to a traditional print publisher, you have a
Written in 2003, no rejections. Another scheduled for				professionally edited manuscript to submit. Free
2005				editing.Before you epublish, check the contract to be
publication, no rejections.See how much faster it was				sure you can
the second time around? That's				publish the edited work in print later.If you know your
because I learned a lot.Also, I found more editing jobs.				book just plain won't ever make it into
That's what I do when I'm not				traditional print, print-on-demand (POD) is an option.
writing, doing legal transcription, or teaching English in				Some
China				of my books fall into this category. The best
(my new home). But the thing is, if I'd become an				epublishers will
editor before				simultaneously publish your work electronically and in
learning how to write, I'd have stunk.2005 EPPIE				POD
Award finalist. 2004 EPPIE Award finalist. 2002 EPPIE				format, at no cost to you.A lot of authors swear by
Award finalist. Listed by Writers Digest as one of The				self-publication, but the prospect
Best 101				just plain scares me. All that promo, all that self-editing,
Websites For Writers in 2001 and 2002. Sime-Gen				maybe driving around the countryside with a back
Readers Choice				seat full of
Awards for Favorite Author (Nonfiction & Writing) and				books. I'm a writer, not a salesman. Maybe you're
Favorite				different.I self-published once, in the pre-POD days.
Book (Nonfiction & Writing). 1982 Who's Who In				Mom handled the
American Writing.Excuse me for bragging, but it beats				sales. I had fun and broke even. With POD, at least it's
having you think I'm				easier (and probably cheaper) to self-publish than it
unqualified.I'll tell you what's missing from this course.				was in
What to write				1989, because you'll never get stuck with a large
about, where I get my ideas from, stuff like that.				unsold
Maybe I don't				inventory.POD setup fees can range anywhere from
answer this question because I think you should do it				US$100 to over $1000.
your way,				Don't pay the higher price! Price shop. Also, remember
not mine. Or maybe because I don't know how I do it.				that
Or maybe				POD places publish any author who pays, giving them
both.Once you've done your writing, this course will				a real
help you with				credibility problem with some reviewers and readers,
the other stuff involved in being a writer. Writing				and that
involves				they do no marketing.** PROMOTING YOUR
wearing at least four different hats. Writer, editor,				PUBLISHED WRITING **It doesn't matter how you
publication seeker, post-sale self-promoter.Here's what				publish your book. Self-published,
I can tell you about my writing.Sometimes an idea just				epublished, POD, or traditional print publishing from a
comes to me out of nowhere and refuses				small
to leave me alone until I write about it. So, I do.And,				press or an absolute powerhouse. Marketing falls
whenever I read a book that really fires me up, I think, "I				largely on you,
wish I could write like that." So, I just keep trying. I'll				and the same things always work. Book signings,
never				book reviews and
write THE best, but I'll always write MY best. And get				interviews in the local newspapers and on radio. (Or
better				Oprah,
every time. That's the "secret" of the writing				but what are our chances?)Start with It will
"business," same as				allow you to look up all the local media outlets in your
any other business. Always deliver the goods.I read				area
voraciously, a habit I recommend to any author who				that have websites.If you write to them all, you're a
doesn't already have it. You'll subconsciously pick up				spammer. Plus, it'll take
on what				ages. Look for the ones with a legitimate interest and
does and doesn't work. Characterization, dialogue,				fire
pacing, plot,				away.If you find a stale URL, and I think you will, look
story, setting, description, etc. But more importantly,				for the name
someone				of that media outlet at some place like Google. Spend
who doesn't enjoy reading will never write something				some time
that someone				looking for the right press contacts, spend some time
else will enjoy reading.I don't write "for the market." I				writing
know I can't, so I just write				your press release, and do what you can.Most of
for me and then try to find readers who like what I				these sites list email, snail mail, and phone numbers.
like. I'm				Since I live in China, I've only used email.Book reviews,
not trying to whip up the next bestseller and get rich.				author interviews, book listing sites, and book
Not that				contests are something we can all do, regardless of
I'd complain. But I have to write what's in my heart,				where we
then find a				live.HOW TO GET PUBLISHED (my free ebook)
market later. It makes marketing a challenge at times,				contains my list of
but I				resources. of the sites I mention review ebooks, and
wouldn't have it any other way.When you write, be a				some do not. The
dreamer. Go nuts. Know that you're writing				POD option can help e-authors here, but balance cost
pure gold. That fire is why we write.An author I				vs.
admire, Kurt Vonnegut, sweats out each individual				likelihood of gaining enough readers to offset that
sentence. He writes it, rewrites it, and doesn't leave it				cost.Some are ezines and some are websites. Some
alone				are printed
until it's perfect. Then when he's done, he's done.I				newsletters, some are printed magazines, and some
doubt most of write like that. I don't. I let it fly as fast				are
as my fingers can move across the paper or				newspapers. This is just a starting point. If you visit
keyboard, rushing to				them
capture my ideas before they get away. Later, I				all, and you have time for more promotion, you can
change and				find many
shuffle and slice.James Michener writes the last				more.Aside from two radio interviews and a seminar
sentence first, then has his goal				in Hong Kong, and
before him as he writes his way to it.Then there's me.				some emailed press releases to the LOCAL media
No outline whatsoever. I create characters				back in the US
and conflict, spending days and weeks on that task,				which may or may not have succeeded in anything,
until the				my marketing
first chapter leaves me wondering "How will this end?"				has come from the Internet.I have a website. I have a
Then my				newsletter. I write free articles
characters take over, and I'm as surprised as the				such as this one. I give away a free ebook, the
reader when I				essence of which
finish my story.Some authors set aside a certain				you're reading now. You found me somehow,
number of hours every day for				right?Here's the type of message I receive often in
writing, or a certain number of words. In short, a writing				email. To be more
schedule.Then there's me. No writing for three or six				precise, in spam."If a million people see your ad, and
months, then a				you get 1% of them, that's10,000 readers and
flurry of activity where I forget to eat, sleep, bathe,				therefore $15,000 profit and you only paid
change				$1000 for those million addresses."NO!! It doesn't work
the cat's litter... I'm a walking stereotype. To assuage				that way. Need I use the words dot-com
the				bust?My website is free. My newsletter is free. I don't
guilt, I tell myself that my unconscious is hard at work.				buy mailing
As				lists, I don't harvest email addresses, and I don't spam. I
Hemingway would say, long periods of thinking and				want interested traffic, not just sheer numbers.Do you
short periods				think the Phoenicians tried to sell sails to people a
of writing.I've shown you the extremes in writing				thousand miles from water?Internet marketing isn't a
styles. I think most				replacement for the methods mentioned
authors fall in the middle somewhere. But my point is,				above, but a complement to them. And by using it, I
find out				got you here.Your goal in marketing is this. There are
what works for you. You can read about how other				people in the world who
writers do it,				like what you like. And since you like your book, they
and if that works for you, great. But in the end, find				probably
your own				will too. You have to find those readers and make
way. That's what writers do.Just don't do it halfway.If				them interested,
you're doing what I do, writing a story that entertains				without spamming them and without "playing the
and				numbers game."If you're an e-author, let me state the
moves you, you'll find readers who share your tastes.				obvious. Nobody buys
For some				ebooks who doesn't have Internet access. Do they?
of us that means a niche market and for others it				So you
means regular				definitely need a website.Traditional print authors need
appearances on the bestseller list.Writing is a calling,				websites too. Even blockbuster
but publishing is a business. Remember				authors like J.R. Rowling and Stephen King, who I
that AFTER you've written your manuscript. Not				doubt could
during.I've told you how I write. For me.** EDITING				garner any more name recognition, have websites. So
**The next step is self-editing. Fixing the mistakes I				does every
made in my				long-established inescapable monstro-business like
rush to write it before my Muse took a holiday.				McDonalds and
Several				Coke.Okay, those folks pay web designers. I'm not
rewrites. Running through it repeatedly with a				doing that. I can't
fine-toothed				generate sales like that. And yes, I've been employed
comb and eliminating cliches like "fine-toothed				as an HTML
comb."Then what?There are stories that get rejected				programmer. But you can write your own website
because the potential				without learning
publisher hates them, but more are shot down for				HTML if you want. It's no harder than writing a
other reasons.				manuscript with
Stilted dialogue. Boring descriptions. Weak characters.				a word processor.It won't be super-flashy like the big
Underdeveloped story. Unbelievable or inconsistent				boys, but it'll
plot. Sloppy				communicate the information. Remember, you can
writing.That's what you have to fix.I started by using				communicate.
Free Online Creative Writing Workshops. What				You're an author! That's what keeps people coming
I needed most was input from strangers. After all,				back to a
once you're				website after the thrill of the flash wears off.
published, your readers will be strangers. Every				Information.
publisher you				Content. Your specialty.I consider my website and my
submit to will be a stranger. What will they think? I				newsletter to be successful, and I've
always get				analyzed how they got that way, in the free ebook I
too close to my writing to answer that.Whenever I				mentioned above.
got some advice, I considered it. Some I just threw				There are legitimate ways to bring traffic to your
out as wrong, or because I couldn't make the changes				website and your
without				newsletter. Not massive numbers overnight, but slow
abandoning part of what made the story special to				steady growth over
me. Some I				the long term. CLOSING THOUGHTS **Here's
embraced. But the point is, I decided. It's my				something you've heard before. When your manuscript
writing.After a time, I didn't feel the need for the				is
workshops anymore.				rejected -- and it will be -- remember that you aren't
I'm fortunate enough to have a wife whose advice I				being
will always				rejected. Your manuscript is.One reader took me to
treasure, and after a while that was all I needed. But				task for that statement, claiming he'd
early				never been rejected. I'm very happy for him. But why,
on, it would've been unfair to ask her to read my				if I may be
drivel. (Not				so bold as to ask, would he need advice on "How To
that I didn't anyway, but she married me in spite of				Get Published?"
it.)Your goal when you self-edit is to get your book as				I'd rather he write some advice so I can hang up my
close to				"helper guy"
"ready to read" as you possibly can. Do not be lazy				hat and learn from a master.But I digress. You aren't
and do not				being rejected. Your manuscript is.Did you ever hang
rush. You want your editor to find what you				up the phone on a telemarketer, delete spam,
overlooked, not what				or close the door in the face of a salesman? Of
you didn't know about, and you want it to be easy for				course, and yet
him/her.Your story is your story. You write it from your				that salesman just moves on to the next potential
heart, and				customer. He
when it looks like something you'd enjoy reading, you				knows you're rejecting his product, not him.Okay, in
set out to				my case I'm rejecting both, but I'd never do that to an
find a publisher who shares your tastes. What you				author. Neither will a publisher or an agent. All authors
don't want is				tell
for that first reader to lose sight of what makes your				other authors not to take rejection personally, and yet
story				we all
special because you've bogged it down with silly				do. Consider it a target to shoot for, then. Just keep
mistakes.Authors don't pay to be published. They are				submitting, and just keep writing.The best way to
paid for publication.				cope with waiting times is to "submit and
Always. It's just that simple. Later, I'll tell you where to				forget," writing or editing other stuff while the time
get				passes.And finally, feel free to send an e-mail to me
some free editing. But there's a limit to how much				anytime.
editing you can				or .
get without paying for it. Do you need more than				I'll gladly share what I know with you, and it won't cost
that? I don't				you a
know because I've never read your writing. But if you				cent.I would wish you luck in your publishing
evaluate it				endeavors, but I know
honestly, I think you'll know the answer.As an editor,				there's no luck involved. It's all skill and
I've worked with some authors who simply couldn't				diligence.Congratulations on completing the course! No
self-edit. Non-native English speakers, guys who slept				ceremonies, no
through				degrees, and no diplomas. But on the bright side, no
English class, whatever. To them, paying for editing				student
was an				loan to repay.Best regards,
option. This isn't paying for publication. This is paying				Michael LaRocca
for				2005, Michael LaRoccaMichael LaRocca's website at
a service, training. Just like paying to take a Creative				was
Writing				chosen by WRITER'S DIGEST as one of The 101
class at the local community college.By the way, I				Best Websites
don't believe creativity can be taught. Writing,				For Writers in 2001 and 2002. His response was to
certainly. I took a Creative Writing class in high school,				throw it
free,				out and start over again because he's insane. He
and treasure the experience. But I already had the				teaches
creativity,				English at a university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province,
or else it would've been a waste of the teacher's time				China, and publishes the free weekly newsletter
and mine.If you hire an editor worthy of the name, you				WHO MOVED
should learn from				MY RICE?
that editor how to self-edit in the future. In my case it

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About Writing