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/

MORE RESOURCES:

MBA Writing Tips - BusinessWeek

Is the writing on the wall for Ricky Hatton? - EastsideBoxing.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2008/1118/hattonr_malignaggip.htmlcid=1270478891ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNHa8h284KuHVocSEaIdpWxBNWk0RAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=x2ox5TWSpzkJimgurl=dynimg.rte.ie/00017eac10dr.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2RTE.ie/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php%3Fp%3D17917%26more%3D1cid=1270478891ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNFkZzHY4fLcMZxgs54MrpdYifYcFAIs the bwriting/b on the wall for Ricky Hatton?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEastsideBoxing.comnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Alex McMillan: This Saturday night Ricky Hatton squares off against Paulie Malignaggi in what should be a terrific clash of styles. Or will it? b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-1fd=Rurl=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,13303_4519941,00.htmlcid=1270478891ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNGwkDtkwPYiNSZQiHJD9btoYyt3ugHitman hails the Hatton army/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSkySports/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-2fd=Rurl=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/3478431/Ricky-Hatton-a-better-fighter-under-new-trainer-Floyd-Mayweather-Snr-Boxing.htmlcid=1270478891ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNEAT_2V4kbcNW40iGYiasgUp8GRAwRicky Hatton #39;a better fighter#39; under new trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTelegraph.co.uk/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-3fd=Rurl=http://www.buzzle.com/articles/236594.htmlcid=1270478891ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNGiCWr8g8Gxnu7llHUiK971dtIPTgFit and Focused Hatton Bids for Las Vegas Redemption Against b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBuzzle/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-4fd=Rurl=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/boxing/s/1080544_quigg_beware_the_magic_mancid=1270478891ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNGSVuTAY1eTx3zUQVqPZcZZJmxbrwnobrManchester Evening News/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1270478891hl=ennobrall 244 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Bend outdoor reporter dies at age 50 - KPIC

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.kpic.com/news/local/34721054.htmlcid=1272116944ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNHQsdYIpzDRiqszE2qQbOGjU22_nQBend outdoor reporter dies at age 50/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKPIC,nbsp;ORnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1After several years reporting about the environment, he moved to bwriting/b exclusively about the Oregon outdoors. Witty took readers along on outings to b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-1fd=Rurl=http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081118/NEWS0107/811180394/1001cid=1272116944ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNHlyXa5n9oLM8zFhBVCPE9wiglbXgHiking, bwriting/b, music – Witty just loved it all/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBend Bulletin (registration)/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1272116944hl=ennobrall 5 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Bon Jovi writing new songs for hits set - Reuters Canada

Good writing vs. talented writing - Christian Science Monitor

Tech seniors still writing their ending - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Entries: 2009 Inspiration Awards/Bob Costas Grants for Teaching of ... - PNN

Middle schoolers hone writing skills - Calvin News

Latest #39;Heroes#39; Ep Has Bad Writing, Predictable Plot Points - Starpulse.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/heroes/heroes_aftergasm_one_hiro_down-24600.aspxcid=1271828040ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNF80ggJTAjt-MI7KC0VlpvohAVW6Qimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=VH5U1LRiLQYJimgurl=www.buddytv.com/articles/Image/heroes/heroes-s3e9aftergasm.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2BuddyTV/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/11/18/latest_heroes_ep_has_bad_writing_predictcid=1271828040ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNF30-MZlAAgCqJ-LW-M9u_W6as8GQLatest #39;Heroes#39; Ep Has Bad bWriting/b, Predictable Plot Points/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fStarpulse.com,nbsp;CTnbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1What a load of bad bwriting/b. This obscure reference only makes sense when the camera drops back to remind you of the severed African man#39;s head and then b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp%3Farticle%3D2911cid=1271828040ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNF5ZbdQ_o3S8LcfIax_qxnYWwCKdATV Review: HEROES - SEASON 3 - CHAPTER 9 - #39;It#39;s Coming#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobriFMagazine/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-2fd=Rurl=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/heroes/heroes_aftergasm_one_hiro_down-24600.aspxcid=1271828040ei=cCwkScnXCZ_S9QScn6G0AQusg=AFQjCNF80ggJTAjt-MI7KC0VlpvohAVW6Q#39;Heroes#39; Aftergasm: One Hiro Down/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBuddyTV/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1271828040hl=ennobrall 17 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Flournoy School students are right online in writing - Corning Observer

Writing - Google News

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