Gemini Writing Services

The Freelancing Challenge

2011-11-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

Have you been a freelance writer or editor for a while, or are you just breaking into the field? Either way, you may find yourself having to scramble a little harder to find work. Either that, or tweaking your prices for jobs. Due to the continually faltering economy, people have less to spend on their writing and editing projects. Does that mean that help is out of reach for them?

Not in my book. As an experienced writer and editor, I've found it more than important than ever to offer clients payment terms that help them get their dreams of publication off the ground. We all know what it's like to have to scratch and save a few hundred bucks, so why make it harder on anyone?

Oh, don't get me wrong. I have to make a living and pay my bills like anyone else. My bills are due on certain dates, and the delightful people on the end of those don't want to hear things like, "But I'm waiting for my client to pay me!"

To avoid problems, create a contract for your freelance jobs that offers specific payment and payment term information - for each and every client. If you've worked with them a while, then you know what to expect, but if you have a new client, put the terms in writing before you start work.

Create a writer's contract or project agreement with every new job. Protect yourself as well as your client. Be very specific when setting delivery dates, payment dates and what you expect from the client, and what he or she can expect from you. Then stick to it.

I, like I'm sure many of you have experienced, have had clients disappear into the netherworld without paying. It happens. For large projects, or even anything over $100, request a non-refundable down payment to get started. This pays for your time and effort gathering research, looking over the client's manuscript or devising an outline.

While you want to make your skills available to anyone who needs your help, don't set yourself up to lose money or be taken advantage of. There's a fine line between working with your clients and having them walk all over you. You're in control, but compromise with your clients when necessary to make sure you're both taken care of.

Bottom line - get it in writing and then give your clients 110% of your efforts and skill. Doing so will pay off in the long run - for both of you.

Search Engines, Ranking and Keywords, Oh My!

2011-10-31T07:38:00.000-07:00

Argh, nothing is as easy as it used to be. Today's writers need to have a website if they want to market themselves or their books. Social media is important, but it's not just what you say, but how you say it. If you don't know how to build your own website, invest in someone who can do it for you. You have options. Still, that's the easy part.

To enable potential readers to find your website, you have to make sure your website and its content (including your blogs) are keyword and search engine optimized. "Huh?" you say? Well, that just means that certain words or phrases, when combined with the overall content of your website, make it easier for internet search engines to find YOU and bump your site closer to the top of the list when someone types certain words into the search bar. How high on pages you find your website is called ranking.

How to you optimize your website? Determine the words, or keywords, that someone might type into the search bar when looking for something about you or your work. If you offer writing services, choose words important to the services you offer, such as editing, proofreading, ghostwriting, fiction editing, nonfiction critiques, etc.

Research SEO (search engine optimzation), but don't place so much importance on it that you lose focus on what you do best - writing.

Writing's the Life for Me

2011-10-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Writing novels, non-fiction works, poetry or articles is something that many people aspire to do, but think they can't. Why not? Reasons vary. Some say they don't have the time. Others think they need a special education or degree. Still others don't know where to start.

Do you have a story inside you that wants to be told? If you can tell a story to your friends, you can tell a story on paper. Sure, you may not know all the grammar rules and publishing formats, but that can come later. You can even hire someone later down the line to edit your book for you, or proofread it, or just make suggestions for style and formatting.

The first thing you need to do is just get started. Figure out what you want to relate to your readers and then jump in. It's not easy, but it's not brain surgery, either. No one will get hurt if you don't do it right the first time, except perhaps your ego. Some people have to write. It's in their blood. Some people have a natural gift for it, while others have to work at it, take writing classes, and practice, practice, practice.

Whether you're a natural or someone who just thinks they have a story to tell, don't let all the excuses keep you from it. Get the story down first, then worry about the rest. Editing, polishing and tweaking can be done later. The important thing is to have fun. If you do, then the rest will fall into place.

Winter Writing

2011-10-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

Winter is the best time to write. It's cold and dreary outside, and it's warm - hopefully - inside. It's a great time to work on books or articles that got pushed to the back burner when it was warmer and the sun was shining...

In the course of my work for various clients wishing to submit book queries and proposals, I've realized that a new trend has pushed its way into the way things are done. Most literary agents now want to receive email queries rather than paper queries. Saves the trees, they say. Still, I'm not so sure this is a good idea. Who wants to sit at their computer every morning and stare at dozens, if not more, queries. How easy is it to just click the 'delete' button? When you send a paper query, it takes up space on the literary agent's desk. It's a physical, viable thing. They stare at it, watch the pile growing higher, and know they need to deal with it.

Sure, they can just pick up the pile and chuck it into the trash, but I don't think that's as easy as ignoring tons of email in the Inbox.

Not only that, but the attention span of an email reader is known to be less than that of a 'paper' reader. Many emails may receive only a cursory glance, especially on busy days.

However, I guess that we must all fully embrace the 21st century in all its glory, email submissions and electronic proposal submissions among tham. Still, you pour everything into that brief query letter, and you wonder if it will amount to anything... does the font look good on the other person's monitor? Are question marks or quotation marks really there, or will they show up as wierd symbols that detract from the professionalism you've tried to hard to convey?

I wonder sometimes if I'm the only one who worries about these things. Still, I shall strive to stay in step with the times, even if I believe that the good old-fashioned ways are sometimes so much better.

Are You Sweltering?

2011-07-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Do you have trouble sitting at the computer working on your novel when it's so hot outside you feel like you're going to disappear into a puddle any minute? Do you find yourself so distracted by the sound of a heat wave that you can't concentrate on anything but your discomfort?

What better time than to escape into your work. Shut everything else out - the sound of the neighbor kids splashing and screaming in their pool, the whir of the fan (aimed right at you hopefully) and for heaven's sake, quit looking out the window for signs of clouds that might produce the relief of a brief thunderstorm, a gust of wind and if you're lucky, a few drops of rain.

If you're in the middle of a novel, or just getting started, take the time to focus a moment on how you feel. Is your skin sticky? Are your feet hot inside your shoes and socks, or are your toes crunching the carpet beneath your feet? Is the air hot and dry, or moist with humidity? What is the heat doing to your hair?

Details such as these can help develop your writing style, help you evoke the emotions and the sensations that you use to develop empathy with your characters. Use weather to help you become a better writer. Is your novel set during winter? If so, have you ever stood outside without a jacket for a few minutes to feel - really feel - the cold air against your skin? When it's hot, do you go outside and just stand in the heat for a few minutes before running for shade or asking your hubby or kids to hose you off?

What does the wind do to your hair? When it rains, what do you see and smell? To me, there's nothing like the smell of rain on the desert floor, or the smell of rain in the pine trees to invigorate your senses.

So when it's hot, or freezing, take a moment to appreciate the weather. Use it to your advantage in developing the senses that will make your writing come alive.

Now, go get some ice water, stand in front of the fan for a minute, and then get back to it!

Happy writing!

First Impressions Count

2011-06-05T14:03:00.001-07:00

I know, we're all taught not to judge a book by its cover, but before you even sell your book, it's carefully scrutinized. If your manuscript isn't in tip-top shape before sending to a literary agent or publisher, you may risk rejection right off the bat.

In the 'old days' it didn't matter so much if a manuscript submitted to a publishing house editor had some typos or grammatical construction errors. However, such is not the case today. You've got to properly type and format your manuscript according to the exact specifications of the agent or house you're sending to or risk it finding its way to the bottom of the slush pile, or even worse, the wastebasket.

Despite precise guidelines, many authors figure they can do something different to get their manuscript noticed. Larger font, different typeface, maybe even borders around the pages. One word of advice - don't do it!

If an agent or editor believes you're unwilling to follow even the simplest instructions for preparing your manuscript for reading, they may feel you're difficult to work with. Until you're famous, follow their submission guidelines to the letter. In this case, first impressions do count.

Whether you're submitting a novel or a true crime or an autobiography, take the time to polish up your work, make sure it's as error-free as possible and then print out on fresh paper using fresh cartridges of ink. For online submissions, follow instructions regarding attachments or you'll risk your hard work being deleted in the blink of an eye, or more aptly, the click of a mouse.

It's simple really - agents and editors have to save their eyes and promote efficiency and get through as many manuscripts in their queues as possible. That's why they have guidelines to help streamline the process. If you don't follow the guidelines, you risk slowing them down, and they don't like that.

So, resist the urge to be fancy. Follow submission guidelines and give your manuscript the best chance of making it past the first page.

Fight the Good Fight

2011-05-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Some new writers get discouraged if their manuscript query or proposals don't receive glowing attention right away. They figure if they send out 5 to 10 queries requesting an editor or literary agent to read their book, that should do the trick. Unfortunately, except for a very few fortunate writers, this just isn't the case.

You may need to send dozens and dozens of queries and proposals out into the world before you find a publishing house editor or literary agent who even asks you to send a portion of your manuscript for review, let alone the entire draft. However, now is not the time to grow discouraged. Remember, what's worth having is worth working for. Writing the manuscript was the easy part. Selling it takes a lot of grit and determination.

Many writers have received so many rejection letters that they can literally wallpaper a room with them. Some of you may be lucky enough to receive a bit of personally written feedback or comment on your return query, while others won't hear anything for months, if ever.

The publishing world has changed in the past decade. Before, you were required to send a written query with SASE, including exactly what the agent or editor has asked for; anything from a single page synopsis and cover letter to those plus the first chapter, the first 30 or 50 pages of the manuscript, and some even want a proposed marketing plan.

Today, many agencies and publishing houses want and prefer electronic submissions via email. Now it's even more important to follow their submission guidelines to the letter or risk the 'instant delete' mode.

Huh? The key is to know and understand what each agent or editor wants. Send what they ask for - no more and no less. Their slush piles are already teetering and you don't want your query or proposal to end up in the trash bin. Follow their instructions to the letter. Don't second-guess them or think you'll wow them if you send 100 pages instead of their requested 30. Don't risk annoying those very people that you want to make a good impression with - not only through your writing, but with your ability to respect their wishes.

Also keep in mind that agents and editors move from place to place quite frequently. Consistently check to see which editors or agents are with literary agencies and publishing houses and resend your query or proposal again in six months, to a different agent or editor.

The bottom line is that if you believe in your manuscript, never give up. It may take you years to find an agent or a publisher, but imagine the joy of success. While you're waiting, continue honing your craft. Write another novel or start another project and keep yourself busy and distracted from racing to the mailbox every day.

Fight the good fight. You might not sell your first manuscript, but you may sell your second. Be patient, always look ahead and do what you do best - write.

Paying for Reviews

2011-05-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

As a freelancer, I'm continually amazed at the number of writers out there who inquire about the cost of providing a book review. The truth of the matter is, no author should ever pay someone to write a book review. Dozens of reader's websites are out there who gladly read and review novels, non-fiction works, short stories, poetry and genre fiction.

There's a difference between a book review and a professional critique however. If you're asking a professional to provide an evaluation or critique of your novel or work, you should pay for their time. However, in return, that professional should tell you what you're getting for your money. That's just fair.

A professional evaluation or manuscript critique should contain the basics, meaning evaluation of:

Character development

Plot and subplot development

Balance of action, dialog and narrative

Readability - i.e. is the manuscript compelling, enticing and developed or written in such a way as to create reader interest

Structure - is the manuscript easy to read and does it provide a progressive flow from beginning to end, without excessive and jarring transitions with POV

Are the characters likeable or sympathetic to the reader? It doesn't matter how well your book is written - if your readers don't have an invested interest in your characters, they'll put it down.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Now, if you're wanting reviews for your book that mean something, try some reputable sites like:

Midwest Book Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

Barnes & Noble Review

BiblioReview.com

Curled Up With a Good Book

Mostly Fiction

These are just a few of the dozens of book review sites on the Internet. Whether you write romance or sci-fi, or memoirs or true crime, get your novels read and honestly reviewed for free. That's the only way to ensure an unbiased review. No need to pay. Save your money for something else - like more ink for your printer so you can print out your next manuscript.

A First for Everything

2011-05-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

So, fellow freelancers and writers - whether you write fiction or nonfiction works, press releases, journalistic pieces or niche articles or short stories - I'm sure you've noticed by now that many former avenues of revenue have decreased due to the downturn in the economy. Many major publishing house imprints have closed or severely restricted their upcoming titles, literary agents seem to be even fussier than usual when it comes to accepting new writers, and a growing trend toward electronic media is on the rise.

Will actual books eventually see a demise in production? Is the younger generation so enamored with their iPods and Kindles that the thought of going to the bookstore or library brings a smirk to their faces? Take a look at eBooks today and you'll see them listed just about everywhere, including Amazon to eBay. After all, who wants to pay $10 or more for a hard copy of your favorite author when you can download them for a couple of bucks onto your Kindle?

Still, there's nothing quite like lying in bed at night, turning the crisp page of an exciting thriller or the feel of paper sliding through your fingers as you slide your finger behind the next page, ready to turn it just as you reach that last word, anxious to find out what happens next. Just the faint scent of dried ink is enough to bring back a bit of nostalgia for the good ol' days, when your library was one of the most visited places in town.

Today, newspapers, magazines, books and yes, even the classics, are available online for download into your favorite device. While I'm certainly not one to bemoan progress, I hope I never live to see the day when you can't pick up a copy of that newspaper, magazine or book and feel glossy or rough pages, hear the rustle of the page turning or enjoy the feel and smell of a good book between your hands. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think I could ever get used to reading something I can't hold between my own two hands.