Home
>
Writing
>
Be A Savvy Writer: Go Where The Business Is

Be A Savvy Writer: Go Where The Business Is

If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter whether you're writing picture books, or a self-help book for underachievers, or promotional material and flyers for anyone who wants it... YOU'RE IN BUSINESS.

Therefore, it makes sense to go where the business contacts are. I know, I know - it's tempting to just sit at home in front of the keyboard. No chance of getting rejected that way (at least not face to face!) But - don't do it. Get out there and meet people - you never know which contact might come in handy. Here are a few suggestions:

USEFUL CONTACTS

Librarians (what are people reading? Which books don't stay on the shelves? Visit regularly and stay abreast of the trends) Bookstore owners and managers (ditto). Bookstore employees and managers can also give you a good idea of what goes on behind the scenes - marketing, returns and so on.
Anyone in publishing - editors, art directors, marketing people, publicists, sales reps.
Secretaries and assistants who work with those people.
Other writers

WHERE YOU'LL FIND CONTACTS

Seminars and workshops. This seems so obvious... but how many people do you know who look at an ad for a writer's workshop and say 'I must get along to one of those one day...' but NEVER DO?

Book Fairs - filled with publishers and their latest books; editors galore. Go to some of the public addresses. Listen. Talk to people. Make contacts!

Writers' Retreats. A weekend or a week (or sometimes longer) to spend on your writing and talking to others about writing. Often a writers' retreat will have visiting editors/agents.

Book launches. Some are 'invitation only', but often you'll see them advertised in newspapers. Go along. See who's there. (At least the author will appreciate your being there!)

Book signings. Buy a book. Have it signed. Then stick around to see who else turns up, and wait for a chance to talk to the author in less busy times or at the end. Ask who his/her editor is - and ask if he/she has an agent.

Organisations such as Rotary, Lions, SWAP (Salespeople With a Purpose), the National Speakers' Association, Professional Business Women's Meetings. They're always looking for interesting speakers. And guess what? There's sure to be a business professional who wants to write a book - or have someone (like you) write it for them. Ghostwriting can bring in a very good income.

Join your state writer's centre. You'll get their regular newsletter full of news about workshops, competitions, seminars, and a whole range of opportunities for writers. DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE PROACTIVE

What level have you reached in your writing? Beyond the basics? Do you think you could run a workshop for others to teach them writing skills? If you feel you could put together a well- planned, interesting presentation, and you have good people skills, consider putting on a workshop. Arrange an article in the local paper if you can - if not, advertise.

If your writing skills are well developed, include a flyer in the course handouts offering your services. You could:

write promotional material
write business flyers
write resumes and job application letters
run a critique service
ghostwrite books or leaflets

For the proactive writer, the sky is the limit. Those who go out after what they want are the ones who are 'lucky' enough to get the rewards.

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.

UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.

Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.

Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.

A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.

Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.

Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.

Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.

Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.

Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.

Be A Savvy Writer: Go Where The Business Is

Writing