“Prey” a Horror Fiction Podcast

I’m happy to report that a flash fiction piece I had written, entitled “Prey” will be published on http://pseudopod.org/ tomorrow. This piece was really fun to write; it is a Lovecraftian-horror scene written from the mind of a bird of prey. I had submitted it to Pseudopod months ago, after winning an Honorable Mention through a Neil Gaiman Mirrormask Competition hosted through http://www.futurefire.net.

It will be really cool to hear someone speak the piece, this will be the first time that my work will be acted out in a podcast.

February 4, 2008
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POD People

Beating the Print-on-Demand Stigma

POD People. Seems like they’re everywhere all of a sudden. Thousands of authors are publishing their books via print-on-demand, but only a very small percentage of them find any kind of success. Why? POD People must not only act as author, but also publisher, advertiser, editor, agent and graphic designer.

The sad truth is that many POD People don’t know what to do when they’re starting out and plunge blindfolded into the publishing world. Most POD books fade into obscurity, selling only a few copies and leaving the author disappointed and in many cases, broke.

This failure is due primarily to the negative POD stigma. Many people avoid self- published books and loathe POD books even more. It’s a harsh reality, but there is hope. Bestselling POD author, Jeremy Robinson, reveals how to beat the POD stigma and make your book stand out.

About the Author: Jeremy Robinson is the author of the wildly successful Print-On-Demand novel, The Didymus Contingency, which was a Barnes&Noble.com bestseller, an Amazon.ca bestseller and is now available in several languages from various traditional publishers.

POD People is available at Amazon.com

February 1, 2008
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Hone your Writing Skills – Take a Free Class!

When I was going to college, online courses were not really accessible to me as a student. The channel I could go through to “try before I decide” was either the local technical college or places like the UW-Extension office, both of which you have to pay for.

One of the great debates about building a career in writing, is the question of whether or not an author, editor, or freelancer needs a formal education in the craft. I have a BA, and several of my colleagues have Master’s degrees in the field. This whole idea of “formal education” may not work for everyone (universities are not very tolerant nor kind to “genre” authors), but at the very least it’s a good idea to hone your craft and “try” things out.

Read More…

January 31, 2008
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Highlights from Previous Seminars: Freelance Writing 101

Digging through the archive of handouts and seminar presentations, I thought I’d post the notes from one of the roundtables I participated in.

What is a freelance writer?

  • An independent contractor “for hire”
  • A savvy business owner
  • Has great “time-management” skills
  • Knows what they are worth
  • Has realistic expectations and goals
  • A qualified individual performing a service
  • An “expert” in their field

How do I promote myself?

    Online

  • Establish your identity
  • Follow-up emails and thank yous
  • Be professional
  • Avoid “flame wars”
  • Distinguish yourself from fans
  • Network through social media
  • Use proper “grammar” (avoid L33t or LOL-speak)
  • Referrals

    Offline

  • Non-Gaming Seminars
  • Business groups
  • Community organizations
  • Conventions
  • “Best” Time to talk to publishers
  • Dos and Donts of what to say
  • Portfolio/Resume or not to Portfolio

How do I find work?

  • Develop your Own criteria
  • What will you accept as payment?
  • What do you want to write?
  • Who do you want to work for?
  • Be realistic based on experience
January 29, 2008
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Marketing 101: What has Changed for Novelists Selling their Books

Straight out of the comments from this previous post about writing unconventional fantasy settings, author Joe Cooke asked:

If we write stories that are outside the bounds of the tried-and-true, how do we get them to market?

Dear readers, that is the million dollar question and one that I have heard many, many times. It’s also the reason why I’ve been extraordinarily hesitant to make leaps and bounds into the foray of (what has been described by some) as “writer’s purgatory.”

How the Market Has Changed

Before I talk about how to bring an unconventional work to market, I’d like to first cover why and how much the market has changed. Simply, three factors have reshaped the industry forever; the internet, the rising costs of publishing, and new forms of electronic media like the eBook readers. No longer do publishing houses have hosts of “readers” who glance through slush piles; several have “closed” submissions to first-time authors and even more prefer “named” authors only. There are a few that still have an open door policy, and agents do still exist.
Read More…

January 28, 2008
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