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Do You Dream of Being a Published Author?

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By Barbara McNichol

Imagine that moment when you finally hold your book in your hands. And how good it will feel to hear from all those readers who’ve been inspired, even transformed, by your story, insights, and ideas.

But dreaming about it and doing it are two different things, right?

I’m excited to tell you about an upcoming free webinar with Lisa Tener and Samantha Bennett, Bring Your Book to Life® in 2018 on Wednesday, January 17 at 8:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm PT.

On this free call, Lisa and Sam will demystify the process of becoming a published author and help you:

  • Discover how to make your book a “Must Read” for your tribe.
  • Break through any self-doubt that’s been getting in the way.
  • Unlock your unique voice as a writer.
  • Learn our best techniques and tips for staying the course and completing your book, so nothing gets in the way of becoming a published author.
  • Learn 3 tips to write a high quality, fresh and transformative book quickly.
  • Bring Your Book to Life® in 2018!

Lisa is an award-winning book writing and publishing coach who has helped hundreds of first-time authors write, publish and leverage their books into a multitude of profitable, life-changing opportunities. Many of her clients have landed 5-to 6-figure publishing deals and appeared on Oprah, Today, CBS Early Show and other syndicated shows.

Sam Bennett is a creativity specialist and bestselling author of multiple books, including Get It Done, which Seth Godin called ‘an instant classic’.

Plus…Lisa will share secrets that get her private clients 5- and 6-figure book deals with top publishers.

If you feel you have a message to share or a story to tell, one with the power to help, encourage, and inspire other people, reserve your seat now for Bring Your Book to Life® in 2018 on January 17.

Reserve your seat today. And I’ll meet you there!

Swing into the New Year with the Gift of Accuracy

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Treat YEnglish language resourceourself to the Gift of Accuracy

Get a head start on your New Year’s resolutions with a resource that makes you a better writer all year long.This 52-week subscription program provides Word Tripper of the Week, a multitude of writing tips, and even two crossword puzzles!

Full details here.

Praise for Word Trippers Tips

“Barbara’s Word Trippers material should be in everyone’s back pocket. It is a quintessential reference for those words that can stump us with their appropriate use. Highly recommended.” – Mary Shaefer, author

“You don’t want to embarrass yourself in print. But figuring out the differences can be time-consuming and sometimes confusing. You’ll find clear explanations for each of the commonly confused word pairs. That makes it quick and easy to select the option that applies and then get back to the task at hand.” – Lynette Smith, editor, author

The Last Straw – a Serious Request from Mrs. Green

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Barbara’s Note: This post deviates from writing help to put out a cry from my client, the author of Your Mother Called Mother Earth…You’d better call her back!

DON’T BE A SUCKER–The Last Straw

by Gina Murphy Darling aka Mrs. Green, Mrs. Green’s World

Here’s how not to be a sucker. Hopefully after reading this, you will never want to look at, think about, nor consider using a straw again – not ever. You will become straw phobic like me! To put it bluntly, straws really do suck!

The backstory: Americans consume over 500,000,000 million straws EVERY SINGLE DAY. Stop, take a deep breath, and reflect. That’s enough to fill 127 school buses EVERY SINGLE DAY. Could I make that up? Based on the national average of 1.5 straws per person per day, each person in the US will use approximately 38,000 or more straws between the ages of 5 and 65. Without question, straw production is one of THE most energy intensive processes on the planet.

The carbon footprint:

  • Straws are made from petroleum. Oil has to be drilled to make them. Yikes!
  • Straws then have to be manufactured, packaged, shipped and distributed. Big carbon footprint.

The harsh realities/impact:

  • Straws never biodegrade. The earth simply does not know how to absorb them. Remnants of the first straw ever manufactured are somewhere out there – buried in a landfill or in the belly of a bird or sea mammal – but out there.
  • Straws are not recycled but at this point, one might conclude that once a straw is made, most of the damage is already done.
  • Some straws are incinerated generating toxic emissions which pollute the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
  • Most straws go to landfills, are buried in the ground and leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater. Sick and sad – right?

The worst:

  • Straws are BIG beach and ocean polluters. They are one of the top 10 items found in beach clean ups.
  • It is estimated that over a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals and fish, too numerous to count, are killed by plastic pollution each year and straws are a big part of the reason why. Do you want YOUR straw to be the one that ends up stuck in the nose of a magical sea turtle? I think not.

The solutions:

  • Stop using them. Just say no to straws.
  • Purchase reusable straws and USE THEM! Mrs. Green’s pick is Glass Dharma because they are glass and you can get some really fun ones or Ukonserve.
  • Join the One Less Straw Campaign, started by our friends at One More Generation (OMG), take the pledge and spread the word.
  • Encourage restaurants you frequent to stop serving them or, at the very least, request your beverage of choice to be served straw free.

Don’t be a sucker – just say no to straws.

Find out more about how to help Mother Earth at MrsGreensWorld.com

7 Tips for Getting Book Endorsements

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by Mary Walewski (used with permission)

book testimonialsWhen you’re publishing your first book, it’s easy to overlook getting endorsements. These are the blurbs on the front and back cover of your book. A great book blurb – or endorsement – by an expert in your field, a known author, or even a celebrity can give your book a seal of approval and help sales.

Getting a book blurb or two sounds easier than you think now that the experts you want to contact have websites and are on social media. No more contacting publishers or agents – your prospects may have assistants helping with their online profiles, but at least you can skip a few of the middlemen.

Here are my top 7 tips for getting book endorsements:

  1. Start your prospect list early – ideally when you’re still writing the book. At least, be working on your list when your book is still in editing. Visit your prospects’ websites and look for a contact page or email. Friend and follow them on social media.
  2. Your list should consist of people your audience would know and respect. Look for fellow authors in your genre, experts in your field, and celebrities who have a connection to your topic. Don’t count on the big names to respond – but you never know.
  3. Outline a general query letter for your prospects, then customize it for each person you’re approaching. You have a better chance of snagging an endorsement of your favorite authors if you show you’re a fan of theirs. Also include info on how you’ll be marketing and selling your book – nobody wants to endorse a book that nobody will see. If your book sells, your endorser benefits too!
  4. In your letter, include sample endorsements for your prospects to edit as they please. Some may choose to write their own, and that’s great.
  5. After they say yes, ask them whether they’d like a paper copy or an ebook, the entire book, or just an excerpt. You can have ARCs – advance reader copies made through your local POD publisher or even at the local office supply store.
  6. Ask four times as many prospects as you think you’ll need. You only have room for 1 blurb on the front and maybe two more on the back. If you get more, put them on the inside front page. Whatever you do, don’t NOT use a good blurb. If someone goes to the trouble of reading your work and writing an endorsement, use it.
  7. Give your endorsers a reasonable deadline and follow up tactfully. Don’t be a pest – remember, they’re doing you a favor! Lastly, after your book comes out, send your endorsers a copy of your book with a nice inscription and a thank you note.

Mary Walewski of Buy The Book Marketing is a book marketing consultant for indie authors and publishers. You can contact her at https://buythebookmarketing.com.

What tips have helped you? Please add to this list below.

A Distinction Between “Optimal” and “Optimum”?

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by Kathleen Watson

According to merriam-webster.com, scientists in the mid-19th century needed a word to describe the most favorable point, degree or amount; the best condition for the growth and reproduction of an organism. They took “optimus” from Latin to create the noun optimum.

It filled the scientific need, and optimum eventually gained use beyond the scientific community to broadly imply the best or most desirable.

A few decades later, optimum was being used as an adjective as well as a noun. That’s when optimal was coined to serve as an adjective, but the distinction is either not understood or not accepted by everyone.

A popular resource for writers, Garner’s Modern American Usage, prefers “optimum” as the noun and “optimal” the adjective.

Noun Examples: optimum

These examples show how optimum is used as a noun (the best condition or amount):

Professor Albertson was pleased that the soil conditions of the test garden finally reached their optimum.

The pass interception yielded the optimum the coach could have hoped for.

Your thorough preparation resulted in the optimum your job search could have achieved.

Adjective examples: optimal

These examples show how optimal is used as an adjective (the most desirable, most favorable, most effective). Note that optimal is followed by the element it modifies:

Once students achieved optimal soil conditions for the test garden, the plants thrived.

The quarterback’s injury contributed to an optimal opportunity for a pass interception.

Because of your thorough preparation, your achieved optimal results from your job search.

I align with those who recognize and appreciate the distinction between optimum and optimal. Consider these pairs of words that follow the same noun / adjective pattern as do optimum and optimal:

bacterium / bacterial

cerebrum / cerebral

cranium / cranial

minimum / minimal

If optimum and optimal mean the same thing — if they are interchangeable — why do both words exist? Choosing one word over another because of its precise meaning or nuance separates the thorough writer, editor, or publication from the rest.

Kathleen calls herself the Ruthless Editor. She has created Grammar for People Who Hate Rules to help people write and speak with authority and confidence. Kathleen can be reached at kathy@ruthlesseditor.com.

In your opinion, are these two words interchangeable?

What Editors Tell Authors About Improving Their Writing

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by Barbara McNichol

What can editors tell writers and authors about improving their writing? Consider these five common writing mistakes even conscientious writers make:

Mistake #1: Being self-absorbed as a writer. With too much talk about the author’s experience of writing, you risk overlooking the reader’s experience. The fix? Use “you” more than “I” in your sentences and stay close to your core message.

Mistake #2: Addressing readers in plural rather than as a single person whose interest you want to capture. Remember, reading is a solitary pastime. The fix? Keep one person in your target audience in your mind’s eye as you write.

Mistake #3: Using a long noun phrase when an active verb will do. The fix? Whenever possible, get an active verb to do the “work” of the sentence. Instead of “the examination of the report was done by the director,” change the noun phrase to a verb and rewrite the sentence: “The director examined the report.” In this way, passive construction becomes active, reduces the word count, and delivers a more direct message.

Mistake #4: Having no clear order to the paragraphs. The fix? Once you’ve crafted a solid, compelling opening, think through how the organization and flow of your main points will best guide your reader logically to your desired conclusion. If possible, test the result with colleagues or actual readers who will give you honest feedback.

Mistake #5: Writing sentences that ramble (on and on and on and on). The fix? Limit your sentences to 15-21 words maximum. Be sure to vary sentence length to create interest.

Bonus mistake: Flat-out choosing the wrong word. Yes, in English, it’s easy to confuse common words such as “advice” instead of “advise” (among hundreds more). The fix? Use a comprehensive resource such as Word Trippers (print or ebook) to help you select the perfect word when it really matters. Want a free mini-version of Word Trippers (the ebook)? Go to http://www.WordTrippers.com

What common writing mistakes would you add to this list?

Do You Feel Stuck in Advancing Your Book?

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Editor’s Note: You’ll benefit greatly from this program if you’re dealing with inertia on making your book-writing dreams come true. Gail Woodard is a consummate pro who has taught me a lot about the publishing process. The best part? You don’t have to go it alone!

Consider this program to kick off your new year with forward momentum!

Barbara

Forward

 

 

Do you have a book in you that wants to come out?

Do you worry that your book isn’t good enough?

Are you unsure what to do next to advance your project?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, expert help is on the way!

Move Me Forward is a live, six-session online video program for people who need support and guidance as they work on their books.

Hosted by Gail Woodard, CEO and publisher at Dudley Court Press, Move Me Forward helps any writer at any stage of any writing project. During every session, you’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Feel inspired and supported as you get unstuck.
  • See how other authors have dealt with challenges like yours.
  • Get tools and answers to advance your writing project.
  • Be accountable to make solid progress between meetings.

Move Me Forward Schedule

Intro session is on December 7, 2017, then every three weeks, on Thursdays, January 4 through March 29, 2018. All sessions at 7:30 pm EST. $225 for full program. No payment due until after first session. Register here.  

Is this Program Suitable for a Beginning Writer?

Gail’s response: it depends.

If you are at a point where you know you need help with the craft of writing  itself – with issues like how to creat vibrant dialogue or ways to organize for best plot development, this is not likely the first course I would recommend. However, if you are tackling questions of strategy around your writing business, wondering how to think about marketing or even goal-setting, or you are overwhelmed by what you think you should do next, then this program could be very helpful.

We’ll be covering the 7 steps you need to follow to be a successful author. There will be ample time for Q&A – on any aspect of “authordom.” And I think you’ll find camaraderie and accountability – both to serve you as you move forward with your writing project.

Come to the first session and try it out for free. If it feel like a great match for you, great. You’ll be moving forward before the year is out.

How Hyphens Add Clarity to Your Writing

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by Kathleen Watson

When I had boarded and settled in for a recent flight, I reached for the airline magazine in the back-of-the-seat pouch in front of me.

True to form for this ruthless editor, I selected articles for not only enjoyment but also for illumination, keeping my grammar radar on high alert. How do other writers use words and punctuation?

Two articles — one about Pioneertown, a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles, and one about Fishtown, a residential area not far from Philadelphia’s historic district — were packed with examples of well-crafted, rich descriptions of American burgs and the colorful locals who inhabit them.

Narrowing my focus, I became acutely aware of the number of compound modifiers used throughout. Because examples instruct so well, I’m listing several here.

Imagine these modifiers without the hyphen. Can you see how hyphens add clarity?

  • a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles
  • a cup of high-octane coffee
  • a well-worn Formica counter
  • a pair of steel-toed boots
  • his working-class roots
  • the top-floor music venue
  • a whole-animal butchery
  • the ever-present sound of the overhead train
  • a tight-knit community
  • a cash-only shot-and-beer joint
  • a high-end Italian restaurant
  • role-playing games
  • long-term residents
  • a down-to-earth approach
  • largely blue-collar residential neighborhoods
  • a settlement of fully functional Western-style buildings

Note in the last two examples that modifiers ending in ly don’t require a hyphen: largely blue-collar residents, fully functional buildings.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction or for business or pleasure, reading well-written pieces by others can inspire and instruct. How often do you approach reading through that lens?

Kathy Watson

Kathy Watson has a love/hate relationship with grammar; she loves words and the punctuation that helps them make sense, yet she hates those pesky rules. A self-proclaimed ruthless editor, she prefers standard usage guidelines of The Associated Press Stylebook. Her easy-to-use Grammar for People Who Hate Rules helps people write and speak with authority and confidence.

Compound modifiers streamline the writing and reading experience. Share your own examples here. Request a one-word-or-two reference sheet by emailing editor@barbaramcnichol.com

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