____________________________________

Sunday, February 09, 2025


Why I Love the Word: Next


By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

When you partially fill a glass, is this glass half full or half empty? Your perspective is going to make a difference what actions you will take in the future. I tend to take the optimistic view of life and see the glass as half full. Is that your perspective?

Lets face it. Writers hear the word “no” or “no thank you” often. Or they are ghosted with no response. If you are getting published or want to be published, then you need to be actively pitching. If you want to get published in a magazine, read the guidelines, craft a query letter to that editor and pitch. If you want to get a book published, then write a book proposal (your business plan even if you self-publish) and pitch. If you want to get on radio or podcasts, then you must pitch. Depending on your pitching skills and the person who receives you pitch, you get three possible response: yes, send it or no, not a fit or nothing (ghosted). From my years in publishing and being in some of the top editorial and literary offices in the country, from their questions to me, I know each of these professionals is actively reading their mail and email looking for the next bestseller (whether they respond to you or not). My question in this article is: how will you respond to their response to your pitch.

Rejection is a consistent part of the writing life--and for my life as an editor. The search for the right fit is hard. I pitch podcast hosts using PodMatch and do not get a response (ghosted) or turned down. I pitch authors on publishing with Morgan James and sometimes they do it and sometimes they pass on the opportunity. Ive learned the hard way through getting rejected over and over that I cant control the other persons response. I can only control my side of the pitching process and continue moving forward.

There is a forgotten story about one of the bestselling series of books in the English language: Chicken Soup for the Soul. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were rejected over 160 times in their search for a publisher. They recounted the story of their actions in Marks foreword to my Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams book. With each rejection, they could have tucked away their submission and stopped. Instead they looked at each other and said a single word, “Next.” This submission didnt work and now they are looking for the next opportunity.

 See the hope and action orientation of using that single word: next? I encourage you to adopt this practice as you face rejection in your writing life. 

When you speak or think the word: next, you show:
  • your commitment to this project and you will not give up but find the next place for it.
  • an affirmation to your belief in the pitch and you will not shove it into a drawer.
  • your continued commitment to search for the right fit for your idea and your pitch.
  • an affirmation that you believe the world is filled with opportunity and you will continue to lookfor the right one.
As I mentioned earlier, you cant control the response from any decision maker or gatekeeper or anyone else. You can only control your actions and commitment to continue the journey--in spite of the response.

Now you know why I love and use the word: next. How will you use it in your writing life? Or maybe you use another method to continue moving forward. Let me know in the comments below.

Podcasts:
The Raygacy Show Podcast: I enjoyed speaking with Rayson Choo LIVE about The Publishing Playbook: How to Succeed as an Author at: https://bit.ly/418conm 

Tweetable:

Throughout my years in publishing, I understand many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. As I’ve spoken with many authors, I learned many of them have unrealistic expectations about publishing. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

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: , , , , , ,

____________________________________

Sunday, February 02, 2025


The Importance and Cost of Consistency

    

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

In my writing life, I have a number of consistent actions that I take which play into my continued presence and impact on my world and readers. In this article, I want to detail some of those actions and the systems Ive created to execute them. Im writing about these elements with the hope you will emulate them for your own writing life--but also understand the cost and importance of consistency.

People love someone who is a regular and consistent communicator: newsletter, social media posts, article submissions to guest blogs, and writing on deadlines and processing manuscripts--doing what you say you will do. Yet many people are inconsistent and do not communicate on a regular basis. 

When you start something continue with it For example years ago I decided to post on my social media 12-15 times a day. Im still carrying out that decision on a consistent basis. Many years ago I decided to use Hootsuite as a scheduling tool then I created a system for the various types of articles I would post. For example, I begin each day with an inspirational quotation along with an image of that person making the quotation. I post every hour throughout the day but have created a pattern of these posts. I gather information from other writers that I read and plug these articles into my pattern. The fact that Ive made a pattern in my head, helps me to do it quickly and consistently. Also I only spend about 30 minutes a day on this task but it happens like clockwork whether I am in my office (as normal) or on the road and away from my office. This consistent effort to post on social media is important and also has a cost related to the consistent time I spend on it.

Last year I decided to be more consistent with my newsletter once a week and have carried forth on that decision over and over. Im using the scheduling feature on my newsletter program and formatting each one and faithfully sending it out to my targeted readers. 

These examples are only a few areas where Im practicing consistency. Other areas would be my work as an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. I process submissions, speak with authors to see if they are a fit for our program, answer emails with their questions, send them contracts then negotiate those contracts. Each detail in the process takes consistent effort and costs time and energy.

In these articles Ive mentioned working at booking Podcasts and using PodMatch. On a consistent basis Im pitching new podcasts, getting turned down by some of them but also booking others and then recording others. According to the internal documents on PodMatch, in my two months at this effort, I have reached over 2,750 downloads or new people. I can see from my results that it is beginning to work for me. It is not perfect or where I want to be in this area but Im continuing to consistently work at this area.

Also I am consistently making new connections with people. Maybe you are using the suggested connections on LinkedIN to connect with others in the publishing world. What steps do you take to reach out to them? Some people have annoying automatic responder messages on LinkedIN which ask me to set up a phone conference and chat with them. I am not interested and I instantly block these people. Instead I suggest you figure out how can you help that person. Can you write something they are looking for? Can you read their new book and write a review, then tell them about your review? Instead of trying to get them on the phone, look for ways to help and serve this new connection. 

Each of these areas involve planning, time commitment, consistency and persistence. If you arent achieving what you want in the publishing area, I encourage you to take some new and consistent actions. The opportunities are there but you have to seize the day. If I can do it, you can do it. What steps are you taking to consistently work on your writing. Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

After speaking with authors for years, I know many authors have a unrealistic ideas about the details of publishing—and these details are important for your book to succeed. 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

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: , , , , , , , ,