By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin Are you getting silence as you reach out to literary agents or editors during the holidays? Yes you might get a little response such as holiday greetings or Merry Christmas. From my years in this business, there is often a shift in the community from right before Thanksgiving until right after New Year's Day. People put off sending manuscripts. If they have a book contract from a publisher, they often delay to sign it until after January 2nd and any number of other decisions of this nature. My authors are Morgan James are still active and corresponding with me but little is finalizing and moving forward—so mostly silent in some ways. How do you handle this silence? Does it stop your writing and your work in the community? In this article, I want to give you some pro-active idea of what you can do to be productive and face the silence with action.
1. Read books on the craft of writing. As you read these books, use a highlighter and post-it notes to take action on what you are learning. For example, my book, 10 Publishing Myths will release on December 17th. I encourage you to go to my website—and use one of the four different ways I offer to get the book. Also you can immediately get the 11th Publishing Myth (a chapter not included in the book). I need your help to promote and tell other people about 10 Publishing Myths. Use this page for some social media posts as well as links to the various places to write reviews and much more. 2. Plan an event for January. Maybe you want to plan a webinar or a local speaking event. Send some emails or make some phone calls or take some action for this event to get schedule and promoted. 3. Write a new book proposal or begin a new book manuscript. You can also take my Write A Book Proposal course and begin step-by-step to learn the important craft of writing a book proposal. This proposal will be your blueprint for writing and marketing your book. Do this writing work during these days in December. 4. Make plans to get to a writers' conference in the new year. Which one will you select? Who will you pitch? Take this time to plan and strategize your next publishing steps. 5. Look for new writing markets. Get the first chapter in Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams (follow this link) and study the various writing opportunities. Pick one or two and try a new one. 6. Try some new ways to market your book. Get 1001 Ways to Market Your Book or a similar type of marketing book with proven ideas. Each of us have the same amount of time. Let's seize the day during these silent days and move forward into the new year with great action and expectations. How are you facing the silence in the publishing community? Let me know what actions you are taking in the comments below. Tweetable: How do you face the silence of the publishing community with action? Learn from a prolific author and editor. (ClickToTweet)
For many years, I've been attending and
teaching at conferences. Many of the articles that I've published and the
books that I've written have their beginnings with someone I met at an event. If
you have never been to a writers conference, I encourage you to make plans and attend
one this year. It will boost your writing life to a new level and help you on a
number of different fronts. A number of the people at each conference have never
been to a writers event and it is their first time. If you are holding off going
to a conference because you've never been, do it. It will change your life and
propel your writing forward. Editors and agents work with people that they know, like and trust. Yes we
get tons of pitches and proposals on email and online and in the mail. But if
you have met an editor or agent at an event, maybe even eaten a meal together or
sat in one of their classes, the relationship goes to a new level of depth. Many
of those relationships begin at
conferences. As an editor, I've been preparing for several events, updating
my handouts, critiquing a few manuscripts for people I will meet and
gathering my business cards and other materials for the events. I always bring
plenty of business cards to handout. Numerous times at conferences I've asked
an editor or an agent for a business card. This person forgot their cards and
had two or three and they've already handed them out. I do not want to be one of
those types of editors so I make a point to bring enough. For the person attending the conference, I want to give you
several ways to prepare for the conference: 1. Study the conference program ahead of time. Make some initial choices about
the classes you will attend. Also notice who is coming from different
publications and publishers. Be aware of their names and positions so when you
run into them in line or in the dining room, you can begin a conversation with
them. 2. Prepare pitches for particular editors and agents. You will
see some of the faculty are more relevant to your writing than others. Create a
small list of people you want to set appointments or sit at their table during a
meal. Because of the weight, editors and agents are some times reluctant to take
a full manuscript but they will often take a “one sheet” (where you summarize
your idea on a single piece of paper with your contact information—including
email and phone). I always like to see as much as someone wants to show me. I
will often take full proposals or manuscripts home with me (if available). Or
some authors bring their material on a flash drive to give to editors and agents. 3. Create and bring business cards. Even if you
have never been to a conference, create a business card with your name, email and phone number.
Also I like to include a mailing address so I can see the time zone where you
live. Also if you have a current photo, include it on the card. Bring plenty of
cards and hand them out generously throughout the event. In my view, it is
always best to trade cards. You give the editor one of your cards and you get
one of their cards. 4. Bring an attitude of learning and listening and
taking action. Throughout the conference, you will learn new things,
write them down in a little notebook. Ideas and requests should go on a separate
page that you can cross off as you handle them when you return home. As a
writer, you have invested a lot of time and money to attend these events. One of
the best ways to get your value from the event is to follow-up and send the
requested materials. If you take these actions, you will make a positive
impression on the agents and editors that you meet at conferences. Some people wonder how my writing has been published in more
than 50 magazines and I've written more than 60 books. There are many reasons
but one of the main ones is my follow-through. If someone asks me for an article or
a proposal, I send
it to them after I return home. You'd be surprised at the lack of follow through
from others at the event. Are there other keys to prepare for a conference? Tell me in the
comments below.
Each of us moving quickly but are you carefully managing your data? We meet people at conferences and exchange business cards. As a practice, if you don't get a card, ask for one. You return home from an event, what do you do with this information? Do you throw the card away or into a drawer? Do you follow-up or keep the information? 1. Follow-up exchange emails. Shortly after a conference, I reach out with a short email to the people who I've exchanged cards and met during the event. The exchange shows validates that I've put the correct email into my system and gives us a brief connection. 2. Get the information into your computer or phone so you can locate and use later. I put the information I've collected either in my computer or some of it on my phone. Then I can easily locate it and use it later if needed.
In recent weeks, I've been working on the audio book version of my Billy Graham biography. At first I was going to read the book myself, but I realize reading an audio book is a skill and one I would need to learn. Others can read the book. I selected a short sample for auditions and the audio book was put out for auditions. We received a record breaking 28 responses. I listened to most of the samples and working with my Morgan James colleagues we selected one excellent reader to record the book. I listen to a number of audio books. One of the ways to set apart the Billy Graham audio book is to add a short clip from the hymn Just As I Am. Searching online for a recording, I found a beautiful rendition from the Gaithers. You can watch this short video here:
To use any of this recording in my audio book, I needed permission. Thankfully over ten years ago, I met Gloria Gaither and exchanged emails with her back then. Now with a current need, I looked in my files and still had her contact information (which I had not used in ten years).
Because I still had Gloria Gaither's contact information, I wrote a short email, reminding her of our exchange years ago, then asking for permission for the short audio clip. Within a few hours, I got a response—and royalty-free permission to use the clip. To be clear, this audio book is still in process and I don't know yet if the short audio clip will be used in the final product--but at least it is being considered and possibly may appear in the final audio. The experience showed me again the power of information and the need to keep this information in a format you can easily access when needed. This basic skill is something I've been doing for many years as I travel to conferences and events. You can do it as well—whether you are just beginning as a writer or you are a seasoned professional. The information does little good in a stack of business cards. It should be put into some computer system where you can access it later and even transfer it from computer to computer. Yes every now and then we upgrade and change computers. Create a system for collecting this information that will transfer from machine to machine. Another resource in this area is LinkedIn. I've had a profile on LinkedIn many years and have many connections with primarily editors and others in the publishing business. Like any field, publishing is filled with continual shifts and changes. Yet if you have a connection with someone on LinkedIn, they will take that connection with them—even if they change companies. Sometimes when I do not have the information in my address book, then I go to LinkedIn and see if I have it there. It is rare that I reach out to many of my connections, but because I do it judiciously and in frequently, I find often they will respond to my requests and needs. By the same token, these responses are a two-way street. If I am asked to do something for them, my default answer is “yes” if at all possible. Do you gather and maintain this type of contact information on the different people who you meet and cross your paths? How are you using it? Tell us in the comment section below. Tweetable: Are you gathering and managing information on the people you meet? Get ideas here. (ClickToTweet)
This past weekend I was in Lakeland, Florida speaking at a
conference and meeting with writers. I love these opportunities to give back
to writers, listen to their ideas and encourage them. At this event, I attended
a number of amazing sessions from other speakers. Several of these speakers I
have admired from a distance but never had the opportunity to meet face to face
until attending this event. When they finished their session, I made a point to
connect with them personally for a few minutes, express my appreciation but also
exchange business cards. I asked for their card and if they did not have one
(which happens often), I asked for their contact information. Why take such actions? Because I want them to be
able to reach out to me. Also if I have a need, I want to be able to reach them.
As a consistent practice, I'm always looking for the next opportunity. These
possibilities are everywhere. Are you sensitive to them? Are you seizing them
when they come? Here's five action steps for every
writer: 1.Send a follow-up
email right away. During the weekend, I
reached out to one speaker and turns out he was working on a book proposal and
promised to send it to me in a few weeks. 2.Be generous with your
business cards and contact information. Ask for the contact information
from others. Make sure they can reach you and you can reach them. For example, I
included my contact information on my handouts. 3.Always be looking and
open to the possibilities. There are many different types of
opportunities. Sometimes the opportunity is to write and other times it is to
speak. The director of the conference this past weekend, I met a year ago at one
day event in Orlando with the Florida Writers Association. You have to be open to various
possibilities and see what happens. 4. If
possible, respond right away to the idea. Send email, respond
to their emails, etc. We are in the communication business. The reality is that
few people communicate—so if you do, you will stand out. 5. Express gratitude to others. I
can't emphasize enough the importance of gratitude. We live in a thankless world
where few people express gratitude. You will stand out and have other
opportunities if you express gratitude. Did someone give you a book? I received
on this past weekend. I will be writing this author a personal thank you note.
Bonus Action Step:
When you see that you've let an opportunity slip past you, take action on it
after the fact and see what happens. If you do nothing, then nothing will happen
but if you do something then something may happen. I've had authors send me
their book
proposal and submission years after we first met (yes years). As an
acquisitions editor, I continue to look for new authors and book projects
every day. When this author sent her book, I was still looking and she ended up
publishing her book with Morgan James and now it is out into the bookstore. I'm sure
this author hesitated to reach out to me months after we first met—yet she still
took action and it paid off. As writers, we must seize the opportunities
which come across our path. You never know where your next opportunity will take
you. Tweetable: Use these Five Actions to Seize Your NEXT Opportunity. (ClickToTweet)
It always bothers me when I look at the writing credentials of someone and learn they have written one or two books or just started writing. Yet now they are writing how-to information for others to learn from them. I appreciate their eagerness to tell others what they have learned from their experiences yet to me, they don't have the experience to merit their teaching. When I attend a conference or read a how-to book or read a magazine article, I want to learn from the experienced professionals or people who have been in the trenches for years with depth of experience to pour into their instruction. When I listen to these pros, I hang on their words, take notes and learn from their expertise. I want to give you such an opportunity this week to learn from an experienced publishing professional. From my experience,the online information is often conflicting. Here's some possible questions: What is the most effective way to promote your new book? Or your new novel? How do you find a good literary agent—especially as an unpublished author? One of the best ways to get answers to these questions--and others--is from an experienced person. Keep reading because I'm going to give you such an opportunity.
This week on Wednesday, August 31st, I'm interviewing Rick Frishman who is in his 40th year in publishing. For many years, Rick ran one of the largest public relations firms in the United States—Planned Television Arts in New York City (now called Media Connect). Rick has a huge list of bestselling authors that he has worked with and helped them propel their books into the marketplace. For over ten years, Rick has been the publisher at Morgan James Publishing. He knows this publishing industry inside and out. Here's your opportunity: I've convinced Rick Frishman to go on the hotseat for my questions during a LIVE 45-minute telewebcast on Wednesday, August 31st! * * * Here's My Small Request * * * Rather than have the “content” come out of Rick's head (or my head) for the August 31, 2016 telewebcast at 6 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST, I decided to let you ask Rick a question. Sound fair? So, if you could ask Rick Frishman ANY question you wanted about attending a writers conference like Author 101 University, what would your question be? Here's your chance to ask Rick directly and get registered for our call on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov). Click the link below:
http://writersconf101.com * * Get Rick Frishman's FREE Ebook * * You will receive a FREE copy of Rick Frishman's new ebook, Tips: The Top Twenty for Authors excerpted from his book, Author 101 that Rick wrote with Robyn Freedman Spizman. It's FREE if you ask a question and register for this telewebcast. Click the link below:
http://writersconf101.com After your question gets submitted, you'll find out how to get phone access and webcast access to Rick and myself for our LIVE telewebcast, August 31, 2016. If your schedule doesn't allow you to attend this LIVE event, I encourage you to go ahead and register—and ask your question. The event will be
recorded and everyone who registers for the event will receive the replay recording. Of the many people I know in publishing, Rick is one of the most experienced. I hope you will bring on your hard questions about various aspects of the publishing business. I will be reading these questions and then asking Rick on Wednesday. I hope to speak to you soon on the call. Here's one final detail about our call on Wednesday: During the call you will learn more about Author 101 University which has been a huge influence in my own writing life. The next Author 101 University will be in Los Angeles October 20, 21 and 22nd. Until Labor Day, the price for the conference has been reduced to only $197 AND bring a friend for FREE. Here's how to get an even better deal on this spectacular event: use my coupon code TERRYGUEST then it will save another $50. Hope to see you at Author 101 in October—and to be speaking with you on the LIVE teleseminar on Wednesday with Rick Frishman.
One of the life-changing events for me was Mega Book Marketing University in
2007, I wrote about it in this post. Now Mega Book Marketing University is called
Author 101 University and held twice a year in Los Angeles. The next one will be
April 9, 10 and 11th.
I’ll be on the stage in a panel with some of the world's leading marketing
and publishing experts at Author 101 University in Los Angeles. This is a POWERFUL event
– and SUPER AFFORDABLE –and you can bring an additional guest at NO cost).
Just go to http://author101-university.com/
(And be sure to use the code TERRY when you check out.) If you register before
March 1st, you can attend this conference at 50% off the normal conference
rate—but you must take action this week.
At this event, writers learn how to become bestselling authors, highly paid
speakers and coaches and respected authorities. AND you can meet & pitch
literary agents and publishers. The entire conference is focused on different
strategies to market and sell books.
-- Connect with literary agents who want to represent you
-- Get your new book published or your old book revitalized
-- Discover how to make your book a bestseller
-- Design the an impact-driven business that's right for you
-- Learn how to turn your online promotions into huge exposure (and
sales)
-- Transform your message into a mega success business
-- Meet and network with amazing people
-- And so much more...
I hope to see you there. The last Author 101 University sold out weeks before the event so
enroll now and BRING A FRIEND at NO cost. Go to Author 101 University
and remember to use the coupon code TERRY when you check out and register before
March 1st and you will get the conference at half off the normal price.
Last weekend I was in Hershey, Pennsylvania at the Hershey Lodge for a conference called Writer to Writer. It was a terrific event which will be repeated in the fall and I met some new writers. Also I got to hang out with a couple of my long-term friends. Jerry B. Jenkins taught the fiction track and Cecil Murphey taught the nonfiction track of the conference. I had the opportunity to speak at a breakfast to the group and also to teach a couple of workshops.
After the conference was completed, the Hershey Lodge was hosting a regional Christian bookseller conference. On Sunday afternoon, I signed over 125 copies of my Billy Graham biography as a way to introduce the book to these retail stores. The experience was a terrific way to help retailers know about the book and its availability. Also it gave me a chance to tell them about the benefits and distinctions of my biography for their customers. My biography is an easy-to-read 172 pages and in a couple of evenings readers can gain an overview of Mr. Graham's life. I included a number of new stories and the book is completely up-to-date.
If you don't know, I worked for Mr. Graham about 20 years ago as the Associate Editor at Decision, the official publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I gathered endorsements and a foreword from Luis Palau for my book. You can see these endorsements and a short book trailer on my website. You can order it different ways from my website—even get an autographed copy if you want.
Depending on the time of year, traveling can be challenging. It's exactly what I found on Monday when I traveled home. I was on the early flight from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. I had an hour and a half to change planes but my flight was delayed for over an hour. Supposedly it was because of weather—some other place than Harrisburg where the sun was shining with a blue sky. I missed my connection from Philadelphia to Denver and the next flight was about 6:30 p.m. Yes, I was stuck all day in the Philadelphia airport.
Since I had a lot of time on my hands, I wandered into Heritage Books. As I looked around, I discovered copies of my Billy Graham biography:
I asked the shopkeeper if I could sign my books. She called her manager to check and the manager said, “Yes.” I pulled out my pen and autographed all of the copies. Throughout November, December and January, my book has been in 25 different airports besides other bookstores across the country. Here's the list:
Travel delays are a nuisance but I made an unexpected discovery of my book in the Philadelphia airport. Fun.
To refresh your memory, Rick Frishman is the founder of one of the largest PR Firms in the U.S. Planned Television Arts. Also Rick is the creator and host of the popular writers conference Author 101 University, which will be held in early March in Los Angeles. I will also be attending this remarkable event.
Maybe you're wondering if you need to go to a writers' conference. Rick is an expert at these conferences. Now is a great time to jump into the book market and learn from Rick.
Why am I telling you this?
I'm telling you this because I've convinced Rick Frishman to go on the hot seat for myquestions during a LIVE 70-minute telewebcast on Tuesday, January 15th!
* * * Here's My Small Request * * *
Rather than have the "content" come out of Rick's head (or my head) for the January 15, 2013 telewebcast at 4 p.m. PST / 7:00 p.m. EST, I decided to let you ask Rick a question.
Sound fair?
So, if you could ask Rick Frishman ANY question you wanted about attending a writers conference like Author 101 University, what would your question be?
Here's your chance to ask Rick directly and get registered for our call on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov). Click the link below:
You will receive a FREE copy of Rick Frishman's special report, Agent Pitching Insights from his book, Author 101 Bestselling Secrets of Top Agents that Rick wrote with Robyn Freedman Spizman. It's FREE if you ask a question and register for this telewebcast.
After your question gets submitted, you'll find out how to get phone access and webcast access to Rick and myself for our LIVE telewebcast, January 15, 2013.
**Your Significant Opportunity During Our Call**
Rick has agreed to give away FIVE registrations for Author 101 University during our live call. Each of these tickets is worth almost $500. You can be one of the winners. But you have to take action on these two simple items:
1) You must register for the call. Even if you don't have a question, then mark "no question."
2) You must be listening to the LIVE call in order to be one of these five winners. Just winning this registration could be a life-changing moment for your writing.
If you can't make the time of the call, please go ahead and sign up anyway. The entireteleseminar will be recorded and EVERYONE who signs up will receive an email with the replay link. Also if you sign up, you will be able to download the FREE special report right away. This report is loaded with valuable advice.
Next month, I’m traveling to the Florida Christian Writers Conference and I look forward to it. I’ve been revising and updating my workshop on book proposal creation, Editors Read Proposals Not Manuscripts. I’ve been sorting through my 20+ years in publishing and preparing which stories to tell during my class.
Each conference is a grand idea haven to talk shop and learn from other writers. If you want to succeed in the writing business, I’ve got four keys to enhance your conference experience:
1. Take daily time to pray about the various people you will meet and the ideas you will discuss. Ask the Lord to guide you through each detail of the conference such as who you will sit with at the opening meeting or where you will sit at each meal and what will be discussed. Ask for God to give you divine appointments. These encounters will be far beyond anything that you could have orchestrated or planned. Be looking for the Lord’s handiwork at the conference.
Some people call those divine appointments or “a pack your bags experience.” That means if you had to leave the conference early for some reason, then you would have had such a great experience with the greatest personal benefit.
Through prayer you will come to the conference full of expectation and a spiritual sensitivity that God will work while you are on the conference grounds.
2. The second way is to come prepared to meet others and start new relationships. As a part of your preparation, create some business cards and be prepared to give them out to everyone you meet—but don’t make it a one way exchange. When you give a business card, make sure you receive a business card.
Double check your business card to see if it contains your complete information: name, mailing address, phone number and email address. It’s surprising how many participants do not create a simple business card—even if you buy blank cards at an office supply place and print your own.
Bring plenty of copies of your business card. It is frustrating to the other person when someone says they only brought a few cards and have given them out. Writing is a solitary occupation and we need each other. You will form new and lasting friendships at the conference if you come prepared for it.
3. The third key for your conference experience is to study the background for the various faculty members and get familiar with their different roles. Publishing is constantly changing. You want to know who you are meeting and their role. For example, I changed roles last year and became an acquisitions editor at a New York based publisher. Your familiarity with the different faculty will help you form deeper relationships during the conference. I believe your time in preparation will be rewarded.
4. The final key for your conference experience is to come with the right heart attitude. Many writers come to their first conference expecting to sell their book manuscript or magazine article. Yes, there will be some selling during the conference. A much more central part of every writer’s conference is where individuals learn new aspects of publishing and take great strides of personal growth. Come with expectations and a willingness to learn and grow. With the right heart attitude, I’m convinced that you will not be disappointed but your expectations will actually be exceeded.
How can I say that expectations will be exceeded? Because I know each member of the faculty is a Christian and a person who is filled with the Spirit of the Living God. I love the verse in Ephesians 3:20 which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
Today God is preparing for you the people and lives that will be touched during the time we are together. I will be coming with high expectations and anticipations. I’ve not ever been disappointed in the past.
Terry has written more than 60 nonfiction books plus been published in more than 50 magazines. For five years, he was an acquisitions editor at two book publishers and he's a former literary agent. Now for the last ten years Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, a New York based traditional publisher. Terry encourages writers of any level (from beginners to professionals) at Right-Writing.com. Terry's newest book is 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed. Follow the link to get the book for only $10, FREE shipping plus over $200 in instant bonuses.
