Every Writer Needs the Right Connections

According to Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point, there are three basic types of people: Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. I believe each of us have characteristics of each of these types. If you don't have these characteristics, then you can learn and acquire them as a writer. In this article, I want to emphasize the importance of connections and talk about how you get connections in the first place.

For writers to succeed and get published, they need to send the right material at the right time to the right place and the right person.  You are searching for a champion to communicate with you and guide you to that right place. Admittedly you have to take action to find this place and experience some mis-steps and rejection in the process. The persistent search for the right connection is a key part of the writing life.

Whether you've been in publishing for many years or are just getting started you have connections. For each relationship, you need to collect information and preserve this information in a format which you can use. For example, I have an email list and for each email, it includes my mailing address and phone along with my email address. The information makes me easy to reach. A week ago, when I spoke at a writer's group, I brought business cards and made sure each person who attended, got one of my cards to reach me if needed.

As a writer you want to exchange information with others and carefully put this information where you can easily access it. I put much of it into my iPhone because the contact information is backed up automatically and preserved. I also collect it through my email account and online address book. I do not use the information carelessly—i.e. calling people and wasting time chatting on the phone.  I call or email when important to reach the other person—admittedly a judgement call on your part.

Last weekend, one of the websites that I use went down for the first time. The website is a critical piece in a teleseminar event. This particular site collects the questions from the participants in a teleseminar. I've been using this site for years and it has never gone down—until this weekend. I tried sending email messages for help to their support address and anything else that I could think of to reach the site. The bill that I get each month had a phone number attached to it—so I called that phone number—yet it was no longer a valid number.I was stuck. My event was stalled because of this missing piece. No one could register for the event because the site was down. What else could I do? As typical, this situation happened on the weekend and not during the week.

I recalled that the owner of this site was good friends with another one of my contacts. For this particular contact, I had his cell number in my phone. I sent a short text to this friend about the situation and asked if he knew how to reach the owner. It turns out this friend was in North Carolina in a mastermind meeting with the owner of the downed website. 

Since they were in a face to face meeting, they were away fro m their email and computers. Because I reached them, the owner immediately looked into his down website and in a short amount of time it was back up and running. My event can go forward since everything is working now.In fact, if you want to hear the event (which is now on replay), you can have immediate access to it—just follow this link.

I'm certain there were many others who were stuck with this down website. Yet through my contacts, I was able to creatively reach the right person and get it resolved. There are several action points from this story:

1. Always be working on increasing your connections with different types of people.

2. Keep their information in a format that you can easily access—on your phone or on your computer. I'm using tools which are internet based and can be accessed any place. If it only on a printed business card, then that information doesn't help you away from your office. You want the information in a format you can access any many different situations.

Last week I met with one of my new authors at Morgan James Publishing. He was in Colorado since his son was in a hockey tournament. Even though on the weekend, I drove up to his hotel and we spent some time together, talked and exchanged business cards.  As a writer, you always need to be working on your connections and relationships. You never know when a particular relationship will be important to you.
  
Tweetable:

Writers Need Connections. Here's Tips on How to Get Them & Keep Them. (ClickToTweet)
 

A Place to Get Publishing Answers

It is a challenge for writers to get answers to their publishing questions.  While there are many opportunities, editors and agents are often overwhelmed with email and physical mail—so they do not respond. Your submissions go into a black hole (no response) or you receive a form rejection letter which basically says “thanks but no thanks” or “your submission was not a fit for us” (no information or insight about the reasons). I understand the reasons for these form letters but they don't give you the specifics that you need.

I want to tell you about a place to get answers. One place I blogged about last week, the Christian Writer's Market Guide. For more than 25 years, The Christian Writer's Market Guide has been the most comprehensive and highly recommended resource on the market for Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and writing teachers. In addition to providing a wealth of ideas and tips for publishing in the Christian industry, The 2017 Christian Writer's Market Guide also includes up-to-date information on more than 200 book publishers, more than 200 periodicals, and 70 literary agents, contests, conferences, editorial services, niche markets, self-publishing services, and more. This is the ultimate reference tool for Christian writers. I blogged more details about this book here.

Have you heard of Steve Laube?

To refresh your memory, Steve Laube is a literary agent and the president of The Steve Laube Agency. He has been in the book industry for over 35 years, first as a bookstore manager where he was awarded the National Store of the year by the Christian Booksellers Association. Then Steve spent a decade with Bethany House Publishers and was named the Editor of the Year. Later he became an agent where he has
represented nearly 1,000 new books and was named Agent of the Year by the American Christian Fiction Writers. In addition, Steve is the publisher at Enclave Publishing, an imprint of Gilead Publishing, and also serves as president and owner of The Christian Writers Institute.

Why am I telling you this?

I'm telling you this because I have convinced Steve Laube to grill him during a LIVE  70-minute telewebcast on Tuesday, January 17th!

* * * Here's Our Small Request * * *

Rather than have the “content” to come out of my head (or Steve's head) for the January 17, 2017 telewebcast at  5 p.m. PDT / 8:00 p.m. EDT, I have decided to let you ask Steve a question.

Sound fair?

So, if you could ask Steve ANY question you wanted about publishing for the Christian writer, what would your question be?

Here's your chance to ask Steve directly and get registered for the call on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov).

Click the link below:

http://www.askstevelaube.com

* * Get a FREE Ebook, Book Proposal Tips & Tricks * * 

You will receive a 47-page Ebook, Book Proposal Tips & Tricks. It's FREE if you ask a question and
register for this telewebcast.

Click the link below:

http://www.askstevelaube.com

After your question gets submitted, you'll find out how to get phone access and webcast access to Steve Laube and I for the LIVE telewebcast,  January 17, 2017.

If you can't make the time of the call, please go ahead and sign up anyway. The entire teleseminar 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 Ebook right away.

I look forward to speaking with you on Tuesday as we answer your questions about writing for the Christian marketplace.

Tweetable:

If you write for the Christian market, where do you find answers to your questions? (ClickToTweet)
 

Are You Learning from Experienced Pros?

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.

Tweetable:

Are you Learning from Experienced Pros? Tap into this valuable resource. (ClickToTweet)

Get Answers for Your Book Proposal Questions

For over 25 years, I've been in the publishing business and I continue to learn new information every day. One of the keys (which no one controls) is making the right connection with the right person at the right time and the right place.

While you can't control that element, you CAN be actively working to learn all that you can about how to make the best possible pitch. Also you can get insights and answers from experienced editors.

I want to help deepen your understanding of how editors and agents make their decisions about your proposals and pitches. Remember editors and agents don't read manuscripts. They read book proposals.

Even if you are going to self-publish, you still need a book proposal because this document gives you a business plan for your book. It's true whether you are writing nonfiction, fiction or even children's books. 

As a frustrated acquisitions editor to help writers send better submissions, I wrote BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL, 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS. This book has helped many would-be authors to get an agent or a publisher. This book has over 130 Five Star reviews.

But don't get this book from Amazon. Why?

In recent weeks, I have purchased all of the remaining copies of the book from my former publisher. I slashed the price from $15 to $8 and created new bonuses for anyone who gets this book:

http://BookProposalsThatSell.com

On Tuesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. EST or 3 p.m. PST (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov), I'm going to be answering your questions in a FREE 70-minute teleseminar. You can sign up and ask me any question about proposal creation and proposal marketing at:

http://askaboutproposals.com

In addition, I've created a new FREE Ebook for everyone who signs up at the teleseminar: SOME BOOK PROPOSAL INSIGHTS. For the last few years I've written a column for Southern Writers Magazine. You can gain my proposal insights in this 30-page Ebook packed with content when you sign up at:

http://askaboutproposals.com


I'm excited to help many more writers to be successful 
with their publishing dreams as they read and study BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL) http://BookProposalsThatSell.com). I encourage everyone to ask a proposal question at:

http://askaboutproposals.com

I look forward to speaking with you on April 19th. If you can't make the time of the call, please go ahead and sign up anyway. The entire teleseminar 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 Ebook right away. This report is loaded with valuable advice.

Tweetable:
Get your book proposal questions answered during this free teleseminar. (ClickToTweet)

A Golden Opportunity--If You Take Action

It is an old saying, “To win the lottery, you have to buy a ticket.” It is impossible for you to win if you don't enter the drawing.  In life and the publishing world, it is the same sort of action. If you don't submit your proposal or manuscript to an agent or an editor, then it is hard for you to get a publishing contract and have your book published.

From my years in publishing, I've learned sometimes golden opportunities (if you seize them) can change your life. I'm about to offer you such an opportunity so please keep reading.

I have created a special event on Tuesday,  August 25th.  I know it is short notice. Have you heard of Rick Frishman, our publisher at Morgan James?

To refresh your memory, Rick Frishman is the founder of one of the largest PR firms in the U.S. Planned Television Arts (now called Media Connect). Also Rick is the host of the popular writers conference Author 101 University, which will be held October 22, 23 and 24th 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 hotseat for my questions during a LIVE 70-minute telewebcast on Tuesday, August 25th!

Here's My Small Request 

Rather than have the "content" come out of Rick's head (or my head) for the August 25, 2015 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 Tuesday, August 25, 2015 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov). Click the link below:

http://writersconf101.com

 Get Rick Frishman's FREE Special Report 

You will receive a FREE copy of Rick Frishman's special report, The Top Twenty Author Mistakes 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 25, 2015.

Your Golden Opportunity During Our Call

Rick has agreed to give away several registrations for Author 101 University during our live call. Each of these tickets is worth almost $400. You can be one of the winners. 

1) You must register for the call. Even if you don't have a question, then mark "no question" Then

2) You must be listening to the LIVE call in order to be one of the winners. Just winning this registration could be a life-changing moment for your writing.

What are you waiting for? Use the link below:

http://writersconf101.com

Golden opportunities are rare. I hope you will take action and register for Tuesday's event. Hope to hear you on the call and speak with you soon.

Showing Up Is The First Step

It may seem pretty basic but in the writing world (as well as other aspects of life), the first step is simply showing up. If a magazine requires the writer to send a one-page query letter, then you will need to learn how to write a query, then send an appropriate pitch to the publication. If you take one step, and then the next step, you will give yourself the best possible opportunity for success.

Many people wonder how I've managed to get my writing into more than 50 magazines or to write more than 60 books. I have never claimed to be a fantastic writer but I am a very consistent writer. If I'm at a conference talking with an editor about ideas and the editor says, “That's a great idea, Terry. Write that up and send it to me.” Immediately after the meeting, I make a note, go home and write up my idea and send it to that editor. 

Over the last few years, I've met with hundreds of writers at various conferences. These writers have pitched their idea either in writing or orally and I've told them, “Terrific idea. Write that up and send it to me.” Yet few people follow through and send me their material. Showing up is the first step.

Wednesday night (August 20th), you have one of these opportunities—but only if you show up to the live event. I'm going to be interviewing the Morgan James publisher, Rick Frishman. The questions for this teleseminar are not coming from me or from Rick but from the audience. Rick has been involved in the various aspects of book publishing for many years. Twice a year, Rick pulls together the illustrious faculty of Author 101 University, which is one of the premier writers conferences in the United States. It is not a Morgan James event—but there are a number of Morgan James authors at the event. Editors and agents from many different area of publishing attend Author 101 University.

While I'm confident Rick will provide great information during our 70–minute teleseminar, something else is happening during this session. Throughout the teleseminar, Rick will be giving away some registrations for the October Author 101 University event. To win one of these registrations, you must take the first step—show up at the live event and be prepared to possibly win.

Will you take the first step to show up? I encourage you to register. If you don't have a question, then put “no question” and keep going through the simple registration process until you reach the confirmation page where you can listen to the teleseminar or dial in on your telephone.

Hope to speak with you soon.

Get Experienced Answers to Your Questions

Where do you get experienced answers to your writing questions?

I hope you will join me tomorrow night, Tuesday, January 28^th with New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins. 

Bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins will answer your questions in a free live 70-minute telewebcast on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 5 p.m.. PST or 8 p.m. EST. As the host, I will be using the questions from various participants to grill Jenkins about the publication of the 29th Edition of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide (Tyndale House Publishers). Anyone can ask a question at:

www.askjerryjenkins.com and register for the free teleseminar.

The author of more than 180 books with sales of more than 70 million copies including the bestselling Left Behind Series, Jerry B. Jenkins has spent much of his life, writing, editing and publishing in the inspirational market.

Every registrant will receive a free 20-page Ebook, Keeping Your Soul Intact, an excerpt from Jenkins Writing for the Soul.
 
Don’t have time to listen during the workday? The event will be recorded and every registrant will receive access to the replay links which can be downloaded to a computer or iPod.

Hope to see you at the Live event.

This Session Could Change Your Publishing Life

I know I made a startling claim with this headline. Let me explain. I've attended many workshops and teaching sessions through the years—and some are more significant than others.


After more than 20 years in publishing, I've learned a key ingredient in the process is being at the right place at the right time with the right material. If you are open to it, you could find this right place on Wednesday night, January 15th. I'll be interviewing Rick Frishman, the publisher at Morgan James Publishing.


Have you heard of Rick? He's a publishing expert. Rick founded one of the largest PR Firms in the U.S. Planned Television Arts (now called Media Connect). 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. There will be about 400 to 500 people attending this event with a lot of energy and excitement.


Whether you have never been to a writers' conference or attended many writers' conferences now is a great time to jump into the book market. Why am I telling you this information about Rick?


I've convinced Rick to go on the hot seat and answer your publishing questions during a free LIVE 70-minute telewebcast on Wednesday, January 15th! Rather than have the "content" come out of Rick's head (or my head) for the January 15, 2014 telewebcast at 5 p.m. PST / 8:00 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, January 15, 2014 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov).


* * Get Rick Frishman's FREE Special Report * *


You will receive a FREE copy of Rick Frishman's special report, Agent ABCs: the Basics 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.


**Your Significant Opportunity During Our Call**


Rick has agreed to give away several registrations for Author 101 University during our live call. Each of these tickets is worth almost $500. You can be one of the winners.


1) You must register for the call. Even if you don't have a question, then mark "no question"


Then 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.


You must take action and join our event with Rick for you to have this opportunity.


Hope to speak with you on Wednesday evening. Get registered now—follow this link.

You Must Be There To Win

I watch the stories with great interest—the current Power Ball frenzy. The numbers are really high and someone is going to win that prize. Yet you must have a ticket to get into the game—and I've not bought a ticket.

I have an opportunity where you can win but the odds are a lot better than any lottery or powerball. Next Tuesday, September 10th, I will be interviewing the publisher at Morgan James Publishing, Rick Frishman.

Rick has an outstanding background in publishing and has worked with many bestselling authors on their publicity campaigns to promote their books. For the last 12 years, Rick has led Author 101 University twice a year. In March it is held in Los Angeles and in October the event is in Las Vegas. Next month, Author 101 will have another outstanding list of speakers and a wealth of bookselling information.

Next Tuesday you can ask Rick a question and if you are on the call (the action you have to take) you can be one of the winners of a free registration to Author 101. 

Yes during the call, Rick will be giving away several free registrations for the event. You will have to be listening to be one of the winners. 

From my experience of attending a number of Author 101 events, I know it can be life changing. I hope you will be one of the people on the live call listening to Rick, who is a wealth of practical publishing information.

Just for signing up for the Tuesday call, you will receive a free copy of Rick’s new Ebook, Agents and the Publishing Industry. Even if you don’t have a question, register and say “no question” when asked for a question.
You do not want to miss this live teleseminar because you could win a free registration to Author 101 Las Vegas.

Hope to see you on the call.

Get WordPress Help & Much More

Are you frustrated with working with Web people who take too long to build your website?

Would you like to take back control, and run things yourself?

My friend Christina Hills (who teaches non-techie people how to build their websites without a webmaster) just had a great webinar showing how you can (and should) have a life without a webmaster. Yes, even us non-techies can do this.

The feedback on the call was just amazing, she has just decided to do another LIVE webinar.

Don't miss this chance to join Christina, a WordPress expert to learn how!

————- Webinar Info ———————

Event: Fire Your Webmaster & Create Your Site in WordPress
Date: Wednesday February 20th
Time: 3:00pm Eastern /12:00pm Pacific
Duration: 75 -90 minutes
(You can listen by phone or computer)
To get registered for the webinar, go here.

—————————————————-

Christina has taught hundreds of non-techie people how to easily build their websites themselves in the Website Creation Workshop.

You can build virtually any kind of website you want with WordPress.

Here are some examples of the kinds of websites that people can build:

-Coaching/Consulting Websites
-Personal Passion Websites
-General Business Presence Websites
-Ecommerce Store Websites
-Sales Letter Websites
-Squeeze Page Websites
-Membership Websites
-Hybrid Blog + Static Page Websites
- and Straight up Blogging Websites

This call will have visuals with lots of pictures for you to follow along during the call.

So many entrepreneurs already learned from Christina how to be in charge of their websites. Join the webinar and learn it yourself.