Now I am confused. Which thread do we ask the questions? I was hoping for an answer.

Cheers,
Cathi

Patrika,
In the spirit of helping out, you might want to go back and read the post on page 1 of this FEATURED AUTHOR section and also, the ones on this page (page 2). There are numerous questions and I know the women here would be thrilled to have your input/answers.

It might also be easier for everyone to follow the discussions and to keep up if we contained the post to this "Featured Author" page instead of starting new ones.

I can't wait to read everything you will share with us! Please do! We are eager to learn!

JJ

This was posted by Patrika:

Writing is communicating. If you're writing, you want your words seen (read 'be published'). That's where I come in. I'd like to share with you what I've learned over the past 25 years about how the writing and marketing and publishing work together to spell either success or failure for your works. So ask me questions!

For starters, have you thought about who you're writing FOR? Who is intended to read your words?It's a good idea to know this BEFORE you write.
Patrika
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smilinize
Member
Member # 141

posted August 08, 2005 07:23 PM
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Patrika,
Which do you begin with first, the message or the audience?
smile

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Plays and musicals written specifically for your town, event, or church. http://historytheater.org/index.html And here's some fun characters for Children http://www.geocities.com/chett4art

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Thistle Cove Farm
Member
Member # 154

posted August 09, 2005 01:31 AM
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Hello Patrika and thanks for your note. I'm going to ask some questions and am hopeful this many questions is all right.

I speak, write and teach folks how to increase their small farm income...folks who already have a small farm or folks dreaming about leaving the sidewalks.

A magazine editor e-mailed me for some information /which I was able to give speedily and correctly/ and I then pitched my book idea to her and asked if she could recommend a publisher...all the while knowing her magazine was affiliated with a publishing company.

The publisher has published a few farm related/type books. One on sheep, can't remember what the other one or two were. The "farm type" magazines include 2 horse magazines, a cat magazine, a bird magazine and a farm magazine. They are interested in publishing my book and are waiting on me to send them a table of contents.

*how do I know they are the right publisher for me/my book?

*if they aren't the right publisher, how do I find the right publisher?

*how do I approach the right publisher?

*do I need an agent to "do the deal"? I know nothing about what I should be paid, if I should get any copies of the book gratis, etc.

*if I need an agent, how do I find one that will be a good fit for me/my book?

*how does a publisher market my book? what should I expect of the publisher?

*what does the publisher expect of me?

It's late and I should have been in bed *hours* ago but then I saw your e-mail. Many thanks for your note and help...very greatly appreciated. When my head has had some sleep, I'll have more questions; hope that's okay.

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Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm where it's beautiful one day & perfect the next!
www.thistlecovefarm.com
http://www.thistlecovefarm.blogspot.com

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Optimumsteps
Member
Member # 301

posted August 09, 2005 11:25 AM
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Now I am confused. Which thread do we ask the questions? I was hoping for an answer.

Cheers,
Cathi

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Keeping the Hope

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Patrika Vaughn
Member
Member # 657

posted August 10, 2005 08:56 AM
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Smilinize:
You asked if a writer should begin with the message or the audience, and the answer is BOTH.
Once you know what it is you want to say, you have to decide who you want to say it to, because that will determine how you say it.
Example: If you're a 25 year old CPA with a new accounting method, addressing older, established CPAs, you would do beter to take a questioning rather than an authoratitive tone. Don't say, "The way you've been doing this for the past 30 years is wrong. Here's the way it should be done." (This will definitely annoy your audience.) Instead, say something like, "Your vast experience and expertise in accounting allows you to innovate. I'd like to introduce a cost-savings method that will allow you to better serve your clients and cut down on your work load." This approach doesn't insult the intended audience, but tells them what's in it for them if they listen to your ideas.
The same applies to fiction. You have to know who your audience is in order to decide the voice you'll use to tell your story.

For more on this, see pages 1-116 of Write Publish & market Your Book (www.acapela.com/books.htm)
Patrika
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Patrika Vaughn
Member
Member # 657

posted August 10, 2005 09:06 AM
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Sandra (Thistle Cove Farm):
First, congratulations on interesting a publisher - any publisher -in your book!This puts you way ahead of the majority of writers out there.
How do you know if this one is the right publisher for you? You don't, until you ask questions to find out. You have to know what you want out of a publishing deal....lots of money? Just getting your material out there? Lots of marketing exposure, so your future publications will have a built-in audience?
Decide your needs, then ask this publisher and any others who express interest where they stand on your pertinent issues.
You don't need an agent, particularly if you've already made contact with an interested publisher. A good attorney can handle the contract details for you (which should include details about how the publisher will market your book, because if it isn't well marketed, it won't sell.
You've asked a question that takes a book to answer and fortunately I have such a book. In Write Market & Publish Your Book (www.acappela.com/books.htm) I cover everything from query letters to marketing and choosing a publisher. It might save you time to read it before you sign a publishing deal.
Again, congratulations and good luck!
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Patrika Vaughn
Member
Member # 657

posted August 10, 2005 09:07 AM
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Cathy:
Got questions? Ask them here, on this thread.
Patrika
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chickadee
Member
Member # 246

posted August 10, 2005 09:40 AM
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What's in a name? When I began writing my book, I didn't have an appropriate name. A published author friend of mine told me,"The name will come, just keep writing." It did come and I wouldn't want it changed.
What if the publisher wants to change it, or would a publisher suggest such a thing?
chick

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Prayer is not the least but the most we can do for another human being

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Optimumsteps
Member
Member # 301

posted August 11, 2005 12:42 AM
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Patrika,

I have been to your web-site and wow, there is a wealth of information and a great variety of services.

I have not written before except for taking notes or journaling if you will, and writing some of the articles on my web-site. That is what I have done, as far as writing is concerned.

I do have a subject in mind, and I did ask the women here as to where should I start? Here is the link to that thread http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=25;t=000111

Now I am asking you, what would be the best way to get organized? What services do you recommend for first time writer's to start with?

Thanks and Cheers,
Cathi

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Keeping the Hope

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Thistle Cove Farm
Member
Member # 154

posted August 11, 2005 12:43 AM
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Patrika, thank you. Yes, I am pleased the publisher is interested and consider it a win-win situation. I've got plenty of useful information that will help other people and the publisher can put it before them.

God opens the doors and I walk through 'em. Hmmm...I'll just pay God ten percent and let Him be my agent.

Is your book sold through Amazon?

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Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm where it's beautiful one day & perfect the next!
www.thistlecovefarm.com
http://www.thistlecovefarm.blogspot.com

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Posts: 588 | From: Tazewell, VA, USA | IP: Logged

[ August 12, 2005, 06:04 PM: Message edited by: Dotsie ]

Ladies, I cut and pasted all the posts that were begun under another topic. Everything for Patrika is now in this topic. Thanks.

This is a first, but I think it should work.

Patrika, I thought your book was one of the best I've read as far as sharing very specific writing tips.

Ladies, please ask Patrika about writing effective beginnings, developing action and characters, plots and turning points for fiction. She has excellent advice to offer. All you have to do is ask.

Patrika,
I would be interested in knowing your personal favorite type of writing/reading. Do you have a favorite?

Also, in a recent interview, I was asked if I had any "lines" I wouldn't cross. Any boundaries. Of course immediately I said profanity, number one. However, I also said I would not use humor to make fun of another's distress.

Do you as a writer/speaker and public figure have boundaries as well? If so, would you share those with us?

Many thanks, JJ

#246 chickadee: What to do if a publisher wants to change the hard-won title you've given your book? Well, once you've signed the contract a publisher can do whatever (s)he wants, unless you have specifically made it part of the contract that the title must be retained. It's because of this that self-publishing is such a good idea. It allows you to retain complete control of your work. Another good reason is that it allows you to keep 80% of the book's profits rather than settling for 10% royalties.

#301 Optimumsteps: What's the best way to get started with writing? (Here comes an unabashed commercial) by taking my online class, START HERE at www.acapela.com/ It begins with the steps most skip over,leaving it to you to figure yout yeas later in hindsight. This class will help you understand why you want to write; what kinds of writing best suit your talents; how to get the rewards you want from writing. It will create a solid foundation under your writing, side-steppig a lot of the usual frustrations beginner writers suffer.
Hope to see you "in class."

#154 Thistle Cove Farm. Glad you're moving forward on the sale of your book. My book? Yes, it certainly is available on amazon -- though for faster delivery, go directly to www.acappela.com/books.htm. While you're there, check out the audiobooks, CDs and online classes too.

Dotsie:
Thanks for the kind words about my book, and for your assistance in getting everything on the right track. I'm looking forward to being asked some of those questions you suggested!