The Writing Life

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Sunday, August 09, 2026

Are You Looking for Magic?

From my experience in book publishing and working with authors, most of them are looking for magic. They may or may not call it magic but they are searching for an instant way to sell books--without doing anything for that sales process to happen. If that were possible, it would be magic.

Authors want to write and it’s important to learn the storytelling skills then craft a book for the marketplace. This foundation is important. Join a critique group and get feedback on your book. Hire an outside editor to help you shape the book. Gather endorsements and work with the right publisher to launch your book into the world. Each of these steps take effort and are important to the foundation of your book.

Then boom, your book enters the world. How is it selling for you? Are you happy with those results? Most authors are not. Instead of complaining or moaning about how much you dislike marketing, I want to give you a different course of action in this article. I hope you will keep reading and take it to heart.

First, you need a little reality check. Publishing experts say between 6,000 and 11,000 new books are published every day. That’s a lot of competition for your book. With a different mindset and action plan, you can sell your book. Someone has to hear about the benefits of your book a dozen or two dozen times before they purchase your book. You can touch your reader in many different ways but here’s the critical part: as the author you have to do it. Sure you can hire others but at the end of the day you have to take your 100% responsibility for your actions.

I’ve spoken and worked with hundreds of authors. Here’s a couple of recent examples. Last spring, an author came with a new book manuscript and wanted it published in June. In his contract he asked for bonus clauses if it reached the bestseller list and had an intriguing marketing plan. I applaud the pitches but how did the author take action? When this book released to the bookstores, it had zero pre-sales (which tells me the author didn’t work at presales). On release day, this book sold less than 100 copies and mostly through a large online retailer. This situation can be changed but the author has to take steady and continued action.

Also last week I spoke with a second author about his lackluster sales. He told me he was marketing his book once a quarter. How can you reach readers and remind them of your book with limited actions? It simply does not move the sales needle with good reason.

I’m convinced authors with successful book sales leave traces about how they achieved these sales. Other authors can follow these traces for their book but they have to take persistent and consistent action. Also they have to experiment and try different options.

In April 2016, I wrote about the success of Chicken Soup for the Soul and how the authors achieved it. Follow this link to read the entire article. Here’s a key paragraph with a valuable link:

“Often I read about someone who is an “overnight” success. They have suddenly skyrocketed on to the national front through a book or a YouTube video or a media outlet. Yet if you carefully examine the life of that “overnight” success you will learn (as I have) the person has been faithfully in the trenches and taking action. Many people tout the best-selling success of Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Throughout the first year of this series, each author followed the “Rule of Five.” It is a stellar example for each of us.”

If you want to be the exception and sell more books, it can begin at any time--even with an older book which isn’t selling. As the author you take consistent and persistent action. If you need ideas and action steps, get John Kremer’s 1001 Ways to Market and Sell Your Book which is over 700 pages. Try different methods and ideas--which means taking consistent action.

The process isn’t magic but involves something author resist: hard work. I may want to be a professional athlete but I’ve never invested the hours and days into learning that craft. Any of us can learn the craft of writing and marketing. What actions are you going to take from reading this article? Let me know in the comments below and then keep moving forward.

Tweetable:

While authors might not label it, many are looking for magic to sell their books. This bestselling author gives the simple truth for success: consistent hard work. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

Throughout my many years in publishing, I’ve co-authored over a dozen books and reviewed thousands of submissions (no exaggeration). As a part of the process of working with these authors, I speak with them about their dreams and plans. Many of these authors have unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the details of publishing are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

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Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Labels: 1001 ways to market your book, action, Are You Looking for Magic?, book publishing, consistency, experimentation, John Kremer, marketing, persistence, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

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Sunday, June 28, 2026

Deadline Driven

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Early on in my writing life, I learned the importance of meeting a deadline. Through my writing for newspapers, I learned how to compose my stories at the typewriter and give my writing to an editor in a timely fashion. More than almost any other type of writing, newspapers have strict deadlines. At 7 am, we would have story meetings, get our assignments then deliver our writing to the city editor on or before 11 am. The editor worked on my story, handed it to typesetting and my story rolled off the printing press at 3 pm. This simple pattern was repeated each day including the weekends. If you missed a deadline, your story did not get published.

When I moved into the magazine world as an editor, I discovered a different deadline pattern. The deadline depended on the publication schedule but in general it was monthly deadlines. In general, book publishing has longer deadlines but they still exist. At one publisher, we had weekly schedule meetings with our spreadsheets. During these sessions, we gave updates about the authors and if they were meeting their production deadlines. If authors were late, then we had to delay or change their release date and other production details. While the author didn't realize it, his manuscript is needed within the publishing house to write the back cover copy, the words for the catalog, press release and other media materials. If the manuscript wasn’t available or comes in late, sometimes these elements are skipped or inaccurate. The author wonders how this happened but they missed their internal deadline and actually caused these errors.

During my years working with book authors, I noticed many of them (even some bestselling authors) turn in their manuscripts late. They have little or no understanding of how that late submissions affects the chain of production events for the release of their book (and could affect their sales).

Here’s a simple way for writers to standout to their editor or literary agent: always meet or beat your deadline. As an editor, I’ve heard almost every possible author excuse why they need an extension or could not meet their deadline. I understand life happens. Also I understand as a writer, you have to choose to meet the deadline. Years ago, I accepted a tight book deadline even though I had a full-time day job. To meet that deadline, I worked at my computer all night and skipped going to bed. I met that deadline, prepared for work and went into the office. It’s an example of the type of choices you might have to make to meet a deadline.

If you meet the deadlines (even the unreasonable ones), you will become someone dependable for that publishing professional. If your manuscript is projected to be 60,000 words, then break that deadline into something manageable like 1,500 words, then add it to your writing schedule. If you are consistent writing these words then you will meet and exceed your deadline. You will become a deadline driven writer.

Today I have a number of deadlines. I will spell them out and put different benchmarks in my phone reminders. You can use another method but this works for me. It's how I write these articles each week about The Writing Life. It’s how I contribute to other blogs and podcasts. We live in a world abundant with opportunity. Each of us have to determine which opportunities to seize and which ones to ignore.

What techniques to you use to meet your deadlines? Are you deadline driven? If not, how can you change and move in this direction? Let me know in the comments below. I look forward to learning from you.

Tweetable:

Becoming deadline driven is a simple way for every writer to standout. This prolific author and editor gives some examples and ideas in this article. (ClickToTweet)

My Writing In Other Places:

With these articles, I encourage you to publish your work beyond your blog in other places. Below are three articles which were published in other online locations than this blog. I haven’t added this feature for a couple of months yet I have continued to write each month on each of these websites. Find your opportunities to get your work into some other websites through guest blogging.

I wrote about the importance of follow-up for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference blog called Follow up After A Writing Conference.

Every writer needs persistence and I wrote about this quality for Writers on the Move in an article called Persist For The Right Fit.

Book proposal creation is one of my areas of speciality. Each month I write about proposals for Almost An Author. My latest story is Write a Standout Proposal.

As I’ve worked in the publishing world for years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations and dreams for their books. I’ve found many of these authors have unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help and take actions no matter what the publisher does for your book. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. Click the link to learn more details.

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Labels: action, consistency, Deadline Driven, discipline, persistence, submissions, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

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Sunday, June 21, 2026

When Writers Don't Respond

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

It happens quite often with writers: I reach out to them--even with a publishing contract--and they do not respond. I could be calling or emailing them and encouraging their submission or any number of other publishing details. Instead of a response, I get nothing. In case you don’t know, I’m an acquisitions editor at a New York publishing house, Morgan James Publishing. We have a 21-year track record with over 6,000 published books, 29 New York Times bestsellers and over 200 times on the Well Street Journal or USA Today bestseller list. This bestselling detail is important because it shows that MJP is not just making books but selling books.

From my many years in publishing, when an author gets a book publishing contract from Morgan James, that event is a huge cause for celebration--even if they don’t sign it. Silence or no response from the author is not what I expect.

Morgan James is not a self-publisher but one of the top independent publishers (10 times on a list from Publishers Weekly). In fact, we receive over 5,000 submissions every year and only publish about 150 books a year. Behind the scenes, there is a detailed team approach procedure that I have to use to reach the opportunity to offer an author a publishing contract. I’ve worked for this company doing this work for the last 14 years. Despite emailing and calling these authors about their contract, they do not respond.

In this article I want to give some of my speculation reasons then a consistent pattern that I've seen from my years in publishing. First some possible reasons why the author didn’t respond via email, phone or text:

--the author was traveling or on vacation and away from their computer

--this author is working on other publishing paths such as finding a literary agent or crafting a book proposal or pitch for a traditional publisher. Each of these paths take time and could be a reason for a delayed response.

--the author doesn’t have the financial resources to work with Morgan James. While I understand this concern, I also know there are many possible creative ways for the author to get these resources like Publishizer (follow this link to learn more and explore).

If I have sent the author a publishing contract, I will follow-up multiple times and still I receive silence for a response. Through the years, I’ve learned the longer the author does not respond (even a short email or call), the less likely they will publish with Morgan James Publishing. Over the years, it has happened a few times but overall I know the silence is heading in the direction of “no thank you” (even if all I receive is silence).

Because of my years in publishing, I understand the different options and paths. If you want to increase your understanding, I encourage you to get this free Ebook, The Babylon Blueprint for Authors (follow the link). This book has many marketing ideas and strategies along with 40+ pages comparing traditional, self-publishing and independent or hybrid publishing.

If you are in one of these situations where you have not responded. I encourage you to communicate with the editor or agent--even if you send a short email. The development and continuation of your relationship is important. You may need this relationship in the days ahead--even if you can’t see it now. For my part as the editor, I will continue to follow-up and reach out to these silent authors. I can’t control their response but I can do my part in the process. I encourage you to do your part.

What reasons am I missing that writers do not respond to an offer to publish their book? Let me know in the comments. I look forward to reading them and learning some new perspectives.

Tweetable:

Sometimes when writers receive a New York publishing contract, they do not respond. This editor gives some ideas and encourages maintaining your relationship. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week three new podcast recordings launched:

Ali Alhajji and I spoke on the Reading the World Podcast about Publishing Myths: Why Being Published Is Not the Same as Being Read. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3Sv0QIZ

Imma and I spoke on the Beyond the Draft Podcast about The Truth About Publishing Nobody Else Will Tell You. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4xGergJ

Noah May (@noahspodcasts)and I spoke on the Southern Reads Podcast about Publishing Myths. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4oFfsRZ

Throughout my many years in publishing, I’ve co-authored over a dozen books and reviewed thousands of submissions (no exaggeration). As a part of the process of working with these authors, I speak with them about their dreams and plans. Many of these authors have unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the details of publishing are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

Get these articles on your email:

Labels: action, authors, books, editor, Morgan James Publishing, publishing, submission, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life, When Writers Don't Respond

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Sunday, April 12, 2026

Two Critical Author Actions

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Every day thousands of new books pour into the market. How can you standout and sell books? Are you depending on someone else to sell your books? Maybe you have a traditional publisher or have hired a publicist or marketing person. As the author, you have the greatest passion and investment in your book. I continue to encourage you to take 100% responsibility for your own success and selling your book. If you aren’t taking consistent action, then you aren't reaching new readers and telling them about the benefits of your book. It’s why last week I recorded another podcast about publishing expectations and told listeners about 10 Publishing Myths. Follow the link to get it, read it and take action.

Today, I’m giving you the stories about two critical actions that every author needs to take to sell books: positioning and follow-up.

First, position your book for readers to know about it and easily purchase your book. Several years ago right before the pandemic, I made a large investment in 10 Publishing Myths. With eight other authors I took three days away from home to attend a book funnel book bootcamp. The hours and work at this camp were long and intense. We brainstormed about each other’s work, learned how to use new tools and launched this effort. In the years since, several of my fellow participants have removed their book funnel and given up on these tools. I have continued to promote it and use it which is one of the keys for me. If you give up and quit, the effort stops.

In addition to this website, I have continued promotion and used PodMatch to book or record over 70 podcasts. I do not have a podcast but have been guesting and promoting the podcasts of others. Before each podcast (whether it is live or recorded), I review my talking points or stories that I want to make sure I tell during these sessions. I can only control my part of the process but I can thoughtfully take that control. I purchased a website Publishing Offer.com. On this website, I forward to my book funnel site. The words are clear and easy for every listener to recall and use. People listen to podcasts when exercising or driving in their car or any number of other places away from a computer. I consider my listeners and want to make it easy for them to get to my website.

I’m telling you these specific actions so you can apply them to your own books and your readers. How you position your book and continue to promote it is an important aspect of this work.

Last Saturday, I spent three hours listening to about 15 pitches online from different writers. Over the last several years, as an acquisitions editor, I’ve participated in this conference. I have a track record of results from these pitches because Morgan James Publishing has published several books from these authors.

The leaders of this conference understand that I’m eager to get the email addresses and contact information from these various authors who pitched their books. During a five or ten minute author pitch, I did not gather or exchange any contact information with these authors. It is the second action, I want to write about in this article: followup. Without follow-up the chain of commuication is broken. Unless I communicate, they don't how how to reach me and likely will not submit their manuscript to me. This communication gap is necessary to fill or I will miss an opportunity. I emailed the leaders and requested the information (even though they told me orally that they were going to send it). When I received the information, I carefully entered their names, emails and phone numbers into my address book. Then early last week or a few days after our meeting, I sent each one an email asking for their submission. This follow-up step is critical for every author. These authors may send their submission in months or even next year. The timing is unimportant but the followup is critical.

For a moment, let’s return to book positioning. In my email signature, I include several links and the first one says:

Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 at:

http://publishingoffer.com/

One of those authors who pitched bought my book. When I mailed the printed book, I made a point to personalize the book (sign and date it on the title page) and include my business cards which have additional links and information.

I’m writing about these details because every author (including you) can take these types of actions. It involves thoughtful preparation, continued effort and action. It is through these actions you seize opportunities for your book.

One final idea for you: below this article, each week I create a ClickToTweet. I take this simple action to encourage you to easily pass this information to others. Can you please pass on this information?

What actions are you taking to reach new readers? How are you positioning your book? What followup steps are you taking to knock on doors and open opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

This prolific author and editor details two critical actions that every author can take. Read the stories here. (ClickToTweet)

For many years, I have spoken with individuals who want to publish a book. I’ve listened to their plans and found many of them have an unrealistic idea about the details of publishing. To sell books and succeed, these details are important. 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of

bonuses.

Every author needs a better submission for editors or literary agents. I’m teaching a free Live Webinar on Tuesday, April 21st at 6 pm Eastern. Register and details at: https://bit.ly/4lIx91y

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Labels: 10 Publishing Myths, action, book funnel bootcamp, email signature, marketing, readers, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life, Two Critical Author Actions

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Sunday, October 12, 2025

A World of Possibilites

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Take a moment and think about your life as a writer. As you look around your world, what do you see in your mind? Is the world full of opportunities or is it limited and scarce?

In this article, I want to help you have a wide mindset about your writing life and the possibilities for you. These possibilities only exist if you have the right mindset and take continued and steady action.

Whether you are brand new to the writing world or a bestselling author with many books (like me), no one is beating on your door asking you to go here or there or to do this or that. Every one of us have to craft our emails, phone calls, text, book proposals and query letters. We have to pitch the right person for the opportunity to happen.

As I’ve often written in these articles, who you know is as important as what you know. Only you can write and tell your story.

Maybe you want to publish a book. How can you get a connection to the right person who can help you? Maybe you exchange business cards with them at a writers conference.

Today a writer that I met at a large conference last May reached out to me with simple email. She reminded me of our meeting (wise) and then asked the best way to get started (another wise action). I responded with those answers.

Another author that I’ve known for years reached out to me about a friend with a possible book project. She asked the best way to get started. I encouraged her to send a brief introductory email to me and to her friend. This method is another way to open the door of opportunity.

LinkedIN has millions of people and business relationships. Reach out to someone you want to know on linkedIN and send them a connection invitation. Or look at their contact information and see if you find an email address. The craft an email with your pitch or whatever you need.

Email is often the best communication tool and method to begin the process. In general, everyone reads their email. Sometimes email has it’s own challenges. I receive a lot of email and sometimes when I do not receive a response in a few days, I will send a second email. Or sometimes through the joy of technology, my personal email terry@terrywhalin.com doesn’t always reach me. It’s weird but it happens.

If you met someone at a conference and got their business card, then reach out to them. It doesn’t matter that you met them months (or even years) ago. In the opening paragraph remind them of where you met and then briefly ask for what you need from them.

There is a wise verse in the book of James.”You have not because you ask not.” (James 4:2) Learn to ask in a way which gets a response.

This week I was talking with another author. He mentioned sending his manuscript out to key leaders and asking for their endorsement. I admired his initiative in asking for these endorsements. Yet I also understand mny of these busy professionals will not have the time to read the manuscript. The easiest response for them is “no” or silence (no response).

When you make the endorsement request, craft your request in a different way so you get a positive response. Offer to write a draft endorsement or even write a couple of them (from the endorsers perspective) then send those sentenes with your request. It’s strange to write a couple of glowing sentences about yourself. For the recipient, it is easier for them to revise your sentence and say yes than to write their own endorsement. Your creative request will be different and potentially pay off with a yes response instead of a no.

You can use these examples in other areas like to speak at an event or to be a guest on a podcast or to write for an online publication or a magazine.

Before you pitch, take a few minutes to look at their website, listen to some of their podcasts, read their guidelines for the publication. This groudwork will help you craft your pitch into something they need or will respond positively,

We live in one of the greatest times in human history. In your pocket through your phone, you have the ability to reach people around the world. The possibilities are endless for you and your writing—but only if you take action and keep pitching.

It’s what I’m doing every day. I knock on new doors. I pitch podcast hosts. I propose new writing opportunities. The opportunities are there but only if you seize them.

Several Statements of Truth

The work is never finished. There is always more writing and places of opportunity.

Continue to make new connections.

Continue to explore new publications and places to publish (online and in print).

Continue to learn and explore (and fail) with your reach.

Your persistence and consistency and commitment to not quit will be the difference maker.

I can not do anything about the choices of others. I can try and help but each person controls their own life. There is only one person where I have any control: me.

What am I missing here? Or what opportunities are you seizing or missing? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

When you look at the writing world, do you see limitations or possibilities? This prolific author and editor sees unlimited opportunity. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

A great deal of the publishing process is outside of our control as writers. When I speak with authors, I find many of these authors have unrealistic expectations. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

Get these articles on your email:

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Labels: A World of Possibilites, abundance, action, ask, book, connection, consistency, magazine, opportunity, publishing, scarcity, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

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Sunday, August 17, 2025

Forgotten Follow-up

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

In some ways, my continual pitching podcast hosts is like putting together a puzzle. You have to turn the different pieces around so they fit into the right picture. If you’ve done puzzles, sometimes toward the end you discover you are missing a key piece.

I’ve had this sort of experience with PodMatch which has a database of over 90,000 podcasts. I reached out for help from support and for a couple of days, I had more matches of podcast hosts to pitch. In fact, I booked a couple more podcasts, then the matches again stopped. I asked support what else could I do and received a short list of suggestions.

The first suggestion almost leaped off the page:

1. Go through your messages and send some follow-ups.

During the months I’ve been with PodMatch, I have not gone back to any of the podcast hosts who did not respond and follow-up with a second pitch. I had forgotten to follow-up.

I’m aware there are many reasons why I didn’t get a response. Some of those podcast hosts didn’t see my pitch as a fit for their show. But there are many other reasons why they didn’t respond and a second pitch may generate interest. Here’s a few of the other reasons (speculation on my part) why they didn’t respond:

--Maybe they never received my pitch

--Possibly the pitch went into their spam

--Or my pitch arrived at the wrong time when their schedule was stacked.

--Or maybe they were distracted and rushed when they read my first pitch and didn’t give it careful consideration.

Through PodMatch, I do not have their email address to follow-up. I do have the ability to send a follow-up message. My plan is to return to the first matches (even six months ago) and craft a second follow-up pitch. In my pitch, I’m going to highlight my own connections and how I promote each podcast. The suggestion from the PodMatch help support was brilliant and worth some of my effort.

Sometimes in these articles, I confess to being behind as an acquisitions editor processing the flurry of Morgan James Publishing submissions. In some cases, I’m many weeks behind in reaching out to an author and processing their work. Last week I got a creative follow-up email from an author. He reached out and said it had been weeks since we communicated and he believed my silence told him that we were not interested in his submission. Then he said he was leaning toward self-publishing.

His unusual and pointed follow-up caught my attention. For the first-time I looked at his submission and scheduled a time to explore publishing this book. He used a brilliant and attention getting strategy.

As editors we have mounds of material to process and a simple gentle follow-up is a good way to catch the editor’s or literary agent’s attention. Everyone needs to follow up no matter what you are pitching--books, magazine, speaking gigs or anything else.

Each of us have limited time to pitch our books or our writing. There are also crazy things that happen which prevent others getting our pitches. Timing is a huge element with pitches--which is another reason a gentle follow-up is important.

What are you neglecting to follow-up? Do you have other ideas about follow-up? I look forward to your comments.

Tweetable:

Follow-up is one of the most important skills for every writer according to this prolific editor and author. Read the stories and learn the details here. (ClickToTweet)

Many authors have an unrealistic idea about the details of publishing. 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

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Labels: action, craft, Forgotten Follow-up, perserverance, persistence, pitching, podcasting, puzzle, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

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Sunday, August 10, 2025

Practice Short Writing

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Thousands of new books are published every day. Two of my bestselling author friends released a new book over four weeks ago. I heard about the book and requested a review copy which they sent. I have read the book and I’m trying to find a few minutes to write my review. I checked Amazon and Goodreads for this book and they have zero reviews.

Why are these reviews important? It’s been proven that 98% of people who purchase a product online have read a review before they buy it. In general, book reviews are short articles and can be written in a brief amount of time. It’s an important skill to write a book review and every writer can learn this skill. In these articles, I’ve written a number of articles about book reviews (follow this link to easily find some of them).

Another bestselling author friend hired me to write some profiles for a large project. As we spoke, she admitted that her skill was writing longer pieces of writing like books but not in the shorter profiles. This friend was placing limitations on her writing through her resistance to write the shorter pieces. When you write a short piece, you learn to write for a particular audience. You also gain the insight of which sentences are extra or fluff and can be easily eliminated. You improve as a writer and a commuicator through the continual practice and execution of these short articles.

After a recent writer’s conference, another writer reached out to me asking where she could publish her writing. I suggested magazine articles because they are short pieces and when published you can reach thousands of readers. As we exchanged emails, this author was a grief chaplain and wanted to know where to publish her writing.

Without knowing it, this chaplain had a wealth of writing possibilities. As a former magazine editor, I know editors are actively looking for writers. It’s why they publish writer’s guidelines (use google to find them). I encouraged this author to use her Christian Writer’s Market Guide which had over 150 magazines in their listing. You need a current guide because a great deal of the information changes every year. Editors move and magazines close or new publications begin. The current guide gives you the best possible chance with your pitch. Some publications require a query letter (learn how to write one) while others want the full manuscript.

The chaplain asked me what she could write? Almost every magazine will publish personal experience stories. This writer had a vast number of experiences that she could easily write into a 500 to 1200 word article. Yes, she would have to learn how to write a magazine article and how to properly format it and pitch it to the editor. Each of these skills can be easily learned. At the end of your articles, you have a simple statement like: Terry Whalin is the author of more than 60 books including 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed. (with a link to my book and website)

If you follow these simple steps, you get published. Then editors and literary agents will be more interested in your submissions because you move from an unpublished author into a professional writer.

There are many types of short pieces that you can learn, practice and submit over and over including (but not limited to) book reviews, devotions, jokes, short filler pieces, magazine articles, quotes, and short social media posts. The possibilities and the opportunities are endless.

My bottom-line emphasis in this article is that short pieces of writing is a valuable skill which can be learned and exercised over and over throughout your writing career. What am I missing here? Does it stir some ideas for your writing? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

What is the value of writing short pieces? How can you expand your publishing efforts and reach more readers? This prolific author and editor gives the details and the reasons here. (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcast recording launched:

Mike Wagner and I spoke about publishing expectations on The Mike Wagner Show. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4oniMkn

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Labels: action, book reviews, fillers, jokes, magazine articles, personal experience, Practice Short Writing, query, submissions, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

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Sunday, April 27, 2025

Take Control of Your Interview

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Whenever you are interviewed, the questions and shape of the conversation is mostly outside of your control. You can only control your answers and the stories you will tell during that conversation. In the business, this interview control is called media training.

I enjoy watching an author get interviewed on The Today Show or Good Morning America or some other program. As I watch it, I’m listening carefully to see if the author answers the questions. I notice that sometimes they do and sometimes they do not. Also I want to see how they weave the name of their book into their answer. Some authors do it too much and it becomes annoying while other authors don’t even include the name of their book. How you answer the question, what stories you tell and how you include your information is something you can control (if you think about it and take action).

Some media experts will charge large amounts of money to train an author for a six to eight minute interview on a national program. During this training, they will role play with the author, ask questions and coach them on how to talk aboutd their book and weave that information into the stories they tell. The information should look like a natural part of the answer and not something contrived. To do this process successfully takes forethought and planning for the author.

Also I’ve watched this interview process go in the wrong direction for the author and her book. Years ago on a short deadline, I wrote Vonetta Flowers’ book, Running on Ice. She and her partner, Jill Bakken, won the gold medal in the bobsled during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.

Four years later, Vonetta and Jill defended their title in Turin, Italy during the 2006 Winter Games. Katie Couric interviewed Vonetta on The Today Show. While the interview was interesting and well-done, I was yelling at my television because Vonetta made no mention of her book, Running On Ice. It was a missed opportunity when she appeared before millions of potential readers.

To be honest, it was a failure that the publisher didn’t invest in any media training for Vonetta to help her. The author can’t weave the name of her book and availability of it into the conversation without media training.

As I’ve mentioned in these articles, someone has to hear about the benefits of your book and the name at least a dozen times before they will decide to purchase the book.

As authors, we need to seize each of these opportunities and take control of which stories you tell and how you answer the various questions.

Here’s some additional action steps:

1. Before you are interviewed, take a few moments to review your talking points or the specific stories and information you want to give during the interview. This review will put the action firmly in your mind and action plans.

2. Take the time to review whatever you can find about the person who is going to be interviewing you.What is the purpose of their program? Take a guess at some of their agenda in interviewing you. Then use this information to merge it with your talking points and the information you want to convey during the conversation.

3. During the interview, you take control of your answers and no matter what is asked, make sure you include your key points.

As I’ve written in these articles, during the last six months, I’ve been using PodMatch to book conversations with different podcasters. In fact, I’ve recorded or booked over 50 interviews. In this process, I provide a list of quesions and an introduction (what I can control). The focus of each podcast host is different and nothing that I can control.

During the podcast recording (some are live and some are recorded), I make sure my agenda is achieved. I want to tell people about my social offer where they can go to Publishing Offer and get a printed copy 10 Publishing Myths including the shipping along with over $20 of valuable bonuses. Besides this special offer, I also mention the missing 11th Myth which a listener can get for free at terrylinks.com/11thmyth. This second offer is a free way the listener can get on my email list and I can continue to build a relationship with that person.

I want to finish this article with several resources:

1. Be aware of your control and responsibility during the interview.

2. Get Brad Phillips book, The Media Training Bible: 101 Things You Absolutely, Positively Need To Know Before Your Next Interview. Read this book and apply the information to your interviews.

3. Several years ago, I interviewed media expert Gayl Murphy. Listen to this free webinar and get her free ebook, Interview Tactics Special Report.

When you are interviewed, are you taking control? Do you know of some other resources in this media training area? I look forward to reading your comments.

Tweetable:

As an author, when you are interviewed, do you take control of your interview and make sure you include your talking points? Get some action steps and resources from this prolific author and editor. (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week two more podcast recordings launched.

Linda Goldfarb (@Lindagoldfarb) and I spoke about Publishing Myths That Ruin the Success of Writers on the Your Best Writing Life Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3EETRXi

Nathan Bollman (@nathan_bollman) and I debunked publishing myths on the Just A Dude Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4cNghCC

Ana del Valle and I spoke about Hybrid Publishing Exposed: What No One Tells Writers… on The Novelist Studio Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3RsAaFa

Dr. Doug Gulbrandsen (@DougGulbrandsen) and I spoke about busting publishing myths on the Inspire Vision Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/44ytNaY

Currently I’m working with my third publisher as an acquisitions editor. During these years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations, dreams and desires for their books. I find many unrealistic expectations. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

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Labels: 10 Publishing Myths, action, Media Training, podcasting, PodMatch, storytelling, Take Control of Your Interview, Terry Whalin, The Writing Life

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