More Writing Tools

Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute also has a new book out called Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. The essays in this book will be available online until July 1.

Thirty Tools for Writers

Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute has added ten more tools to sharpen a writer's saw. These tips are useful for writers and editors who want to continually hone their skills. Use these tools and keep them in your own Writer's Toolbox.

Clark says

"At times it helps to think of writing as carpentry. That way, writers and editors can work from a plan and use tools stored on their workbench. A writer or coaching editor can borrow a writing tool at any time. And here’s a secret: Unlike hammers and chisels, writing tools never have to be returned. They can be passed on to another journalist without losing them."

Collect them all!
All the tools you need to be a better journalist.

Share Some Comfort

Call for Submissions

A Cup of Comfort is a bestselling anthology series featuring compelling true stories about the experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich the lives of many readers. Engaging personal essays written by people from all walks of life are carefully selected for inclusion in A Cup of Comfort based on originality, creativity, emotional impact, and substance.

You can read guidelines and some tips for writing here.

Understanding Rejection Slips

by Jennifer Minar

You think you've nailed it.

You watch for the postman day after day, and finally he arrives with the SASE envelope you so lovingly sealed weeks before. Your heart pounding, you run to the mailbox (in your towel) and snatch it out of his hands. It feels awfully light, but you ignore that minor detail.

You dash back into the house and slam the door behind you. Letting the towel slip to the floor, somewhere between the foyer and living room, you now stand next to the kitchen counter.

Taking a deep breath, you pry it open. Then you read: Dear author, "Thank you for your submission. However this piece is not for us…"

Your breath catches in your throat. You feel your spirit being sucked from your very being. Reaching for your towel, you curse angrily. What does this person know anyway? He doesn't know me! But as your anger subsides and you realize that there's a reason this person is in the position he's in, you ultimately begin to do the worst thing possible: you begin to question your worth as a writer.

Why do you put yourself through this torture? I'll tell you why...because rejection slips go with the territory. For a writer, rejection slips are simply a rite of passage--and by understanding what they are and what they aren't, you may not only ease some of the pain, you'll grow as a writer.

All writers suffer rejection. Yes, even the greats. An editor from the San Francisco Examiner sent this in a rejection letter to Rudyard Kipling: "I am sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just do not know how to use the English language." Even e.e. Cummings wasn't immune to rejection. Did you know it was Cummings' mother who first published his poems after a dozen publishers rejected them? Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit was rejected at least six times before she published it herself. If these acclaimed authors faced rejection, why wouldn't you or I?

Rejections aren't personal. Publishing is a business, not an art. If the agent or editor thinks he can sell your idea or manuscript, he'll buy it. Perhaps your piece wasn't for that editor, that particular day. Maybe he had a similar piece in queue. In fact, there are many trivial factors that determine whether or not a publisher decides to buy your book. Most times it doesn't have anything to do with the quality of your manuscript. So don't take it personally.

Value criticism. If an agent/editor scribbles a note on your rejection letter, pay attention! More often than not, writers are simply sent a form letter, left to wonder why a piece was rejected. If he scribbles some advice, don't discount it just yet--there may be some merit to it. For instance, if you repeatedly get rejections on a certain piece, or a comment is made by more than one editor, you will want to consider the possibility that maybe it's not sharp enough...yet. Conversely, do not make changes you do not feel are right. Talk to someone who has read your work, and find out what they think about the suggestion.

Rejections should be seen as a sign of accomplishment. Rejections are a sign that you're working hard. Be proud that you actually wrote something, polished it, researched your markets, and mailed it out. That, in itself, is an accomplishment. Most people will go to their graves with the unrealized intention of getting this far!

Don't let rejection slips slow you down. You're chasing your dream--and if you want it badly enough, you won't quit. You'll keep chasing it until you catch it.

Jennifer Minar is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer and the managing editor of Writer's Break. She can be contacted at jminar@writersbreak.com.

Feature Article: What is a Ghostwriter?

by Gary McLaren

Do you believe in ghosts?

They are mostly unseen. Unnoticeable. And believe it or not they are moving behind the scenes in the publishing industry. If you're lucky you might catch a fleeting glimpse. They are officially called 'ghostwriters'.

A ghostwriter is a writer who writes on an assigned topic under someone else's name, with their consent. They often write books completely from scratch but sometimes their work involves rewriting or polishing an existing work.

Most books by famous personalities are actually written by ghostwriters. When you see an autobiography or memoir from a politician, businessperson, or celebrity, chances are that it has been written by a ghostwriter.

Here are a few examples. The autobiography "Ronald Reagan: An American Life" was ghosted by Robert Lindsey. "Learning to Sing", the autobiography of American Idol star Clay Aiken, was written with ghostwriter Allison Glock. The autobiographies of Doris Day and Sophie Loren were written by A.E. Hotchner.

So how popular is ghostwriting? Statistics are hard to come by since many people don't want to reveal that their book is ghosted. Some industry estimates suggest that up to fifty percent of all non-fiction books are ghostwritten.

A client may decide to hire a ghostwriter because the client does not have any writing talent or because they are too busy. Ghostwriters, for their part, are usually well-established writers already, and are selected on that basis.


What do Ghostwriters Write?
Ghostwriters are hired to write many types of documents, from autobiographies for famous personalities to e-books for internet marketing gurus, and even letters for politicians.

They also write fiction. Sometimes it is for a series of books written by several ghostwriters under one name, as with the stories of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. Ghostwriters also continue to write novels under the name of popular authors who have died, as in the case of Robert Ludlum.

Is Ghostwriting Ethical?
Although ghostwriting is a widely accepted practice within the publishing industry, some people outside of the industry complain that ghostwriting is deceptive. But that is not necessarily true. Consider for a moment the ghostwriting process. The client is the author of the work in that they are the person who is really behind the content. It is the client's ideas, the client's stories and experiences. It is the client's words recorded on hours of interview tapes. The ghostwriter is a professional consultant providing expertise in the area of bringing together all the information, organizing it, and writing it up in a way that will produce a marketable and readable masterpiece.


What Skills does a Ghostwriter Need?
A ghostwriter must be a good writer.

He or she should also have good interviewing skills, since they will spend many hours and days interviewing clients. They should have the ability to ask good questions that will draw out the best aspects of a story.

Another skill - which may need to be developed - is the ability to maintain the client's voice so that the book reads like the client, not the ghostwriter.


How is a Ghostwriter Paid?
Ghostwriters usually charge a flat fee for their work.

Sometimes they will reduce their ghostwriting fee in return for a percentage (perhaps 25-50%) of the royalties, or in rare cases they may waive their fee in return for a percentage of royalties.

The advantage of a flat fee is that a ghostwriter knows exactly how much he or she will be paid. The risk of relying on royalties is that even if the book is well-written, the ghostwriter has no control over the book's marketing and promotion.


Does a Ghostwriter get Any Credit?
More often than not, the public never knows that a book was ghostwritten. Sometimes ghostwriters are even legally bound to not reveal that they have ghosted a particular book.

Occasionally ghostwriters will receive some credit. The writer's name may appear on the cover as a co-author or it might read "as told to Jenny Ghost." Another way to thank the ghostwriter is under the acknowledgements, for example "...and thanks to Joe Ghoul without whom this book would never have been completed".


Are You Thinking of Becoming a Ghostwriter?
It could be an excellent career move. You've probably heard it said that everyone has a book inside them. Well, the fact of the matter is that not everyone has the time or the skill to write it.

As long as there is a story to be told, ghostwriters will continue to be in demand.


© Copyright 2006 Gary McLaren.

About The Author

Gary McLaren is the editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer, a leading source of information for freelance writers. If you would like more information on starting a ghostwriting business, check out http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/i/58.htm

Pointers for Interviewing

As I was rummaging through old files and notes from graduate school, I came across this list of pointers for interviewing. The tips are useful, practical and humorous, so I thought I'd share them with you.

Note: Some are taken from Dr. Ink of the Poynter Institute.

When conducting an interview, remember to do the following:

1. Shut up.
   
2. Shut up some more.
   
3. Work from a list of questions and never veer off.
   
4. Shut up again.
   
5. Get there early. Stay late. Take note of the surrounding.
   
6. Interview a person on his or her turf.
   
7. Ask for other sources e.g. articles about the topic, photos, etc.
   
8. Write down things you see and not just the answers to the question.
   
9. Use your notebook to show that you are conducting the interview.
   
10. Put your notebook away in the end, but keep on talking. Ask follow-up questions. A surplus of information is better.
    
11. Hang around and watch the person interact with others.
    
12. Ask the most important questions more than once and in different forms.
    
13. Ask the slam-the-door (controversial and sensitive) questions last.
    
14. Shut up. Listen to the interviewee.
    
15. Fill out or copy your notes as quickly as possible.

I've made it a habit to review these pointers before conducting an interview. They do help a lot, especially when you're not working around with a camera or a recorder. I just have to remind myself every now and again to shut up. ;o)