The Write Way.

Don’t you get tired of reading the same over-published, randomly copied Craigslist jobs for freelance writers? These gigs are mostly trash, don’t pay, and some are even out-right scams. However, there are work-at-home, telecommute jobs for writers — jobs that pay decent money. Here’s one of my best finds.

A site called Cheapism hires freelancers to write short reviews of low-price, high-value consumer goods. Here’s their ad:

Are you a thorough researcher, fluid writer, and cautious spender? If the answer to all three is yes, Cheapism.com would like to meet you. We are a new website that aims to be consumers’ first stop on the way to finding the best inexpensive goods and services.

We are looking for freelance writers who will learn about a product category, identify the low-priced products, assess what the experts and users say about them, and write an article that tells consumers what they need to know and recommends the best budget buys.

In this time of economic stress, you can help put some lining back into consumers’ pockets and cash into your wallet; last but not least, you’ll have the good fortune of working with a collegial and easy-going crowd.

Contact us today at jobs@cheapism.com

I went through the application process with these folks a while back. They are serious about their business and looking for long-term relationships with good writers who can produce quickly.

Cheapism pays adequately. You will be asked to submit samples and suggestions. You will undergo an in-depth telephone interview and the company principals will take a few days to decide if you’re a good match. Feel free to ask questions.

Let us know how you fared with them and what you thought of the hiring process and the job.

More to read:

How to stop bitching and sell your writing

Make $30K annually from your blog

Self publishing is the modern way

Why don’t some people take self-published books seriously? Not everyone can interest an agent or publisher in their work, just as not everyone (no matter how talented) can play in the NFL. Some writers make the effort and pay the cost and self-publish. Writers sell writing to live, you know.

Some really skilled football players get turned down by the NFL, and sometimes for one single reason. There just aren’t enough positions on all the teams put together, for every one to play football on a pro team. Other good players play on regional leagues. Some coach. Some teach. Some even write books about football. That doesn’t make them bad players, or dumb players, or trashy players.

It makes them non-NFL players.

How self publishing is like football

It’s not. Except in a single way: not everyone can get an agent or publisher – a single, fallible, mistake-making human – to slow down and buy their manuscript. That’s the breaks. There aren’t enough slots in publishers lists for all the books that want to get written. About 80% of Americans believe they have an important book in their head. Do the math – lot of books. There aren’t that many football players, and look at their  chances to go pro.

Sidebar

Lately, some of the biggest writing names on the planet are going with self-publishing either in print or digitally. Steven King. John Grisham, Libby Hellmann, Stephen R. Covey, Maryan Pelland. Now read below why some people won’t even consider a self-published book.

One really terrible reason not to read self-published books

I subscribe to a newsletter called TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home. It’s a good read, packed with current info and published what feels like way too often (just my humble…)

The newsletter writer said this today:

“But on the other hand, there are still people who won’t read self-published books—I have a friend who says he won’t look even at ones friends recommend to him simply because he knows there are already more books that passed by a professional publishing gatekeeper than he could ever read and sees no reason to look outside those lines at something that may be awful. And it’s not clear yet whether a replacement gatekeeper will be found.

Italics are mine. This thinking says never go to an off-Broadway show. Never try an ethnic restaurant. Never watch a minor-league, or indeed, a little league game. Never listen to an unknown musician. They might be bad.

TeleRead, I really like subscribing to your site, but choose some more open-minded friends, will you, before all the up and coming talent in the world starves? Wait a minute. Aren’t you self-publishing??

Read more Ontext

Which is better – self publishing or traditional publishing?

Can writers find jobs through social media?

You’re a great writer. Your family and friends always said you have a book inside you. So you wrote the novel and now you’re scared to death—what if it fails? What if you actually succeed? Your book needs a professional editor or a ghost, whether you’re going to self-publish, shop it to publishers, or engage an agent.

Getting the ideas into words puts you miles ahead of the other 84% of Americans who know they have a book in them. Your next steps will make or break your project.

About a million paper-based books are published each year in the U.S. through known houses. If you don’t have an edge, you don’t have a book.

• Create an original story with an unusual arc.
• Write your best and polish it until it shines.
• Every word must advance your reader and your story.
• Build an author platform as you write, so you’re ready when the book is ready.
• Hire a substantive editor or ghost to put the book in the condition demanded by publishers. This is not arbitrary – manuscript format and condition is an absolute. Don’t know the rules? Slush pile, here you come.

I talked to a first-time novelist about to launch her book. She took a path that made complete sense. She engaged one of the industry’s most successful ghosts to polish her novel and mentor her:

Why did you hire a ghostwriter/editor?

I didn’t even know what ghost writing was – till I looked up her (the ghostwriter’s) website. I finished writing this book – a year’s project, and was about to turn 40. It’s a nervous breakdown book. I plunked down in front of computer and wrote it in four months. I knew, as an avid reader, it wouldn’t get published the way it was. I kept revising, editing. I read a book or two on how to get published, but I didn’t know how to polish it.

I emailed Janet Evanovich, since she wrote a book on polishing. I was desperate, going on and on about what do I do next? How do I do this?

Look online for editors and thousands of things come up. Who’s legitimate; who isn’t?  Ken Wilson, Janet’s associate, gave me a name. I heard an angel chorus and my life changed.

What was the process like with your new editor?

I told her a great story was inside me with great characters. She listened, calmed me, made me breathe. I had researched her. It was evident she knew her stuff. I hired her as an editor. The book was already written, but she taught me first how to be a writer. It was such a process. Recognizing the dynamics of active vs passive, and forward plot movement. Every sentence must move your forward. We took 150K words to 90K. It’s so good now, I’m so excited, I can’t stand it.

I’d send her chapter 1, she’d look at it and send me recommendations. We talked about show not tell, pare down narration. Point of view. Then I’d redo it and send it back to her. She has patience, a soothing manner, a way to put things in perspective. She’s brutally honest — good and bad. I didn’t need another family member to tell me the book was good. She told me what was wrong, combined with what was right.

About half through, I got better at reworking stuff before I sent it to her – I got what she was saying, internalized it and it found its way into the work. Miracle.

She was mentor, coach, teacher. I never had a writing class in my life. Later, she did some ghosting, but I felt comfortable. It was my voice, my thinking, my story that I love and my characters.  I loved them before, but if I couldn’t get it out there in a way that readers could meet them and know how awesome they are, what’s the point? I’m accepted the help unashamedly.

What would you say to a writer hesitating to find a mentor/editor/ghost?

1. Your book will be raw. No matter what your friends say.
2. You have to believe in your mentor/editor’s skill. It’s an intimate relationship based on trust.
3. Research before you hire someone. The worst thing would be to find an egotist whose goal is to shred your work and do it her way.
4. Know that it will take months to polish the book.

Diana, the author I interviewed, concluded,

I was driven. The writing had to be done quickly — it’s my personality. I couldn’t sleep. I had to finish. My editor has read it cover to cover, and I love the slinky flow now. It sings to me – it was always singing in my head, and now it sings on paper. This is what I was trying to do; I had to learn it and my characters thanked me a thousand times. Get help.

Everything you need is in there, but may not be in the right place. The story is born as you write it. It may be a tangle, and the book is born in the edit.  If it means that much to you, and it’s bothering you as much as it haunted me, you need to find a professional to help. Friends are fine. Family is fine, but you need a professional if your work is to stand out and be respected.

Why people buy self-published books

Contract, rights, and agents — a guide for writers

Maryan at Twitter

Self publishing was good enough for Milton

In a recent LinkedIn discussion a couple people flamed over a comment I made. I advised doing thorough homework before paying a publishing company to handle your book and reading contracts carefully before signing anything. It’s good advice whether you self-publish, work with Simon and Shuster, use  POD, or crank the stuff out on your desktop and hawk it out of the trunk of your car. The discussion evolved into why do I, or why would anyone buy PODs or self-published books.

I’ve read many. I review them often. Why? Because they’re books. Yes, I have seen real stinkers. I don’t review those – I write to the author and politely suggest that I’m not the right reviewer – then make a few suggestions for improvement. After all, I’m an authors’ coach. I know my business. And I empathize with writers’ challenges. Many of “those” books, the self-pubs and PODs, are worth reading. Here are some reasons the obsolete argument about  non-traditionally published books is obsolete:

• I work in the publishing world and have lots of contacts, so I become aware of non-traditionally published books.
• I read a lot and keep up with the industry.
• I follow Web leads and use social networking to keep me connected.
• I know agents, publishers, other ghosts, teachers, academics, etc so, by osmosis I suppose, I become aware of books available.
• There are websites out there that catalog self-pubs.
• Bookstores carry such books, too, major bookstores.

Why? They’re the future of a portion of our industry

A LinkedIn associate asked me why I acquire such books. I use them as references. I read them for self-edification. I have half a dozen self-pub cookbooks because I love to cook and my husband loves to eat great food. I acquire non-traditionally published books for the same reasons I buy traditionally published books. A perk – they often cost less. I also buy ebooks. Same reasons.

Do I buy them to review was another question. My answer:  I seldom buy review copies – people send me more than I can handle. I’d go broke if I bought them but good or bad review (and I do both because I review honestly) the author gets fair coverage from me and frequently, unasked-for advice, but always, in my humble opinion, advice of at least some value. I get thank you notes.

Like Chicago snow in March, whatever stigma was once attached to self pubs melts with every passing day. The quality of your book will determine how it is received if your marketing is in place. Attention to detail – content, mechanics, cover, subject, now means more than the idea of self-published. Vanity press is entirely different and another whole can of worms.

Do you all know that major players in the publishing world are delving into POD and self-pub alternatives for revenue streams? Stick around – this argument is losing its feet even as we speak.

Write as though your career depends upon it. Be brutally honest with yourself about your work. Hire a mentor, editor, coach, ghost, or any combination as you need help. Learn how to craft a book. Junk is junk in any field. Make your book the highest possible quality, and your options are almost unlimited. Self publishing is maturing and is here to stay.

More reading:

Here are some books I wrote – not self-published

Book review on a sort of self-pub, Shoot to Thrill

The 4th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) announces a call for submissions for their book competition. Excellence in independent publishing is the focus.

The award program is coordinated by Beverly Hills, California based book shepherd Ellen Reid, who says,

“The goal is to recognize excellence in independent- and self-published books, a rapidly growing segment of a publishing industry that is going through constant growth and transformation.”

Books published from 2007 to the present by self-published authors, small press, and independent publishers can be submitted for consideration in categories of their choice. Winners and finalists will be announced nationally in mid May 2009.

Winners and finalists are promised extensive media coverage, and top award recipients are eligible to win prizes valued in excess of $12,000. Prizes include sessions with outstanding media and PR consultants, marketing experts, and others in a position to assist authors and publishers in creating greater success with their books.

Last years’ grand prize winner was the book Global Warming Is Good for Business: How Savvy Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations, and Others are Making Money While Saving the Planet by Kimberley B. Keilbach.

For information about the contest and to learn how to make a submission, visit Indie Excellence web site. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2010.