Welcome to the SPARREW Newsletter!
The newsletter for Self-Publishers, Authors, Readers, Reviewers, Editors and Writers!
Welcome to the latest issue of the newsletter! This newsletter is just for writers, book reviewers, booklovers, self-publishers, editors and authors. So glad to have you on board!
This issue is a little bit different! Because of the formatting issue from last month, I jumped at the opportunity to change things up a little to make the newsletter easier for subscribers to navigate. Subscribers of this newsletter got a NEW design to check out and enjoy. I hope it works better than the old, text-only design!
We got a great issue put together for you this month.
When I learned about the success experienced by self-publisher Michal Stawicki, I knew I had to interview him for this newsletter! I was stunned by his success with his self-published book. Check out the interview to find out how he did it!
You'll also get to meet author Shannon Kennedy, whose new YA novel, Throw Away Teen, has piqued this reader's interest! Learn all about her amazing journey as a writer and her determination to accomplish her dream to be an author.
Don't miss the editor interview with editor Shayla Raquel! She shares some awesome editing advice for writers.
An interview with freelance writer Kat Gál highlights the quest many freelancers face in finding their footing in the industry. Read all about how she found her way towards the right niche and started collecting writing assignments to keep her freelancing going strong.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson returns with the latest editing trick for her "Tricky Edits" column. Check it out and see just how her tip can be a game-changer for writers.
This month’s feature article is all about how you can “give back” with your writing. Ever since I started writing again, after first losing a job as a DSP then as a member of a cleaning team, I felt a strong need to give back to others in some way. It wasn’t long before my writing helped me understand how to do that! I love seeing other writers “giving back” by teaching, mentoring, coaching and critiquing, so if you’ve ever wanted to help other writers out in some way, your skill and knowledge with writing can make it happen!
I hope you enjoy this issue! Feel free to drop me a note or connect with me on social media! I'd love to connect with you!
This issue’s feature article is about something which I feel a lot of writers might be able to relate to: How writing first thing in the morning seems to be the only chance they have ever been able to find time to write! My writing schedule and “working hours” went out the window this summer. My oldest does not use the PC very often, but my youngest definitely grabs time to use it whenever they can! And they usually end up being on the computer for hours – since, of course, they don’t have school! Morning writing has helped me to manage getting a lot of writing done this summer, although sadly, the same can’t be said about work on my books. Hopefully I can get back to working on them soon!
Enjoy this issue!
Check out archived issues of the SPARREW Newsletter here:
https://sparrewarchives.blogspot.com/
All current issues will be posted on my website here:
https://www.dmcwriter.com/the-sparrew-newsletter
Meanwhile, here are my most recent blog posts:
Dawn Colclasure’s Blog: “You Will Always Be a Writer”
I welcome submissions from subscribers!
Are you a booklover who wants to have your book blog featured?
Are you a writer with news?
Are you an author looking for reviewers of your latest book?
Are you a book reviewer whose review just went live?
Are you a self-publisher with a new release?
Are you an editor who wants to share your thoughts on editing, complete with a bio advertising your business?
Please feel free to submit any of these notes to me at DMCWriter@gmail.com for the next issue of the newsletter!
Self-Publisher Interview with Mikal Stawicki
1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?
I published my first book, A Personal Mission Statement: Your Road Map to Happiness in May 2013. Since then, I published 19 books on Amazon. One of them is just a public domain work, two others are co-authored, the rest of them are short personal development books written from my experience.
English is not my first language, but I write mostly in English. Apart from writing books, I also write answers on Quora.com (I have about 1,700 answers there, viewed over 11 million times), and on my own blog.
I translated my books into Spanish, German, and Chinese, and produced six audiobooks so far.
2. What made you decide to write a book?
When, in September 2012, I decided to transform my life, I quickly rediscovered my childhood dream of being a writer. I stumbled for several months trying to write fiction in Polish, or a personal development blog in English.
Then, one of my friends remarked that one of my blog posts would have made a nice eBook. Her encouragement motivated me enough to write the first book.
3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?
It was a no-brainer: no publisher would have published my book. I had no experience, no brand, no following, and English wasn’t my first language!
And even if anyone would have accepted my submission, traditional publishing would have taken a year or longer. Self-publishing speed is unrivaled. It took me exactly 49 days from writing the first word to publishing my book on Amazon.
4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?
A mixed bag. A steep learning curve, not only about the publishing process, but even more about the marketing process. It was overwhelming! I got close to the burnout point a few times.
On the other hand, the freedom to do whatever I wish with the creative, publishing, and marketing processes was incredible. I don’t think I could now fit in the shoes of a traditionally published author anymore.
5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?
I ignore it. So I guess, I don’t respond to it at all.
My own books were derided as botches by ‘wise’ heads. So what? Those derided books sold thousands of copies and got hundreds of positive reviews.
6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher?
I’m responsible for my own success. And the lack of it. I made only $8,500 on Amazon in 2022. Why? Because I did almost nothing to promote and market my books.
I know highly successful self-published authors, I know success in this realm is possible. But I’m not willing to pour the hours they are pouring to sell so many copies.
7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?
Collaboration is the shortcut to success. And it doesn’t even have to be an active cooperation. I upped my game significantly by just being among successful authors in Facebook groups.
8. A lot of authors of self-published books have reservations about promoting and marketing their book. Some even feel that it is a form of vanity or self-importance. What is your opinion about this?
Those authors are shooting themselves in the foot. Who else is going to promote and market their books? The most probable answer is: nobody. Then, how would their books land in the hands of readers? They won’t.
9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?
My friend, Denis Caron, the author of Catch the Unicorn, says that only two things work in the book promotion realm: your email list and Amazon ads.
I would add two more promotional vehicles: email lists of other authors and a selected narrow group of book promotion websites. Denis’ objection about the book promo sites is that it takes a lot of trial and error. I firmly agree. But I paid that price and I use three websites worth their salt for nonfiction.
Recently, I experimented with podcast interviews as a way to create a steady evergreen trickle of sales. It’s too early to tell if it’s working.
10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?
Spending money on the pre-production phase is an investment. I published the first four of my books by spending only about $100. I saved on everything – from editing to covers. I perceived every dime spent as a cost.
But it was an investment! If you will make $2,000 from your book royalties, it is a no-brainer to spend $1,000 on producing the book.
11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?
I feel it’s the only choice for new authors. Instead of knocking on the gatekeepers’ doors, which may take literally forever, you immediately start writing and publishing.
Even if you traditionally published before, it’s a better economic choice. If my books were traditionally-published, I’d have been lucky to make $850 this year!
12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?
Hey, it is about recognition only for the very top authors and books who are getting it.
For me, self-publishing is about equal opportunity and connection with readers. I don’t care about the recognition. But I care about my readers. I sold over 83,000 copies of my books; they got over 1,000 reviews on Amazon, meaning that thousands of people got enough from them to care about writing a positive review.
If I’d have tried the traditional path, probably I would’ve been still knocking at the doors of publishers. And thousands of my readers wouldn’t have had the chance to improve their lives.
ABOUT MICHAL:
Nicknamed Mr. Consistency, Michal Stawicki is a bestselling author in the personal development field and a business coach. He is obsessed with changing the world through daily habits, starting with his own habits and his world.
In the last decade he published 19 books, sold over 83,000 copies of them, created dozens of new good habits, coached over 100 people in developing new habits, started a book advertising business, and quit his day job as a database administrator.
Michal preaches and practices consistent daily action. He believes this is the means to achieve success in any area of life, from parenting to business.
New Release!
Smokey is an American shorthair cat who likes to get into lots of mischief! But when it's time to join a new family, Smokey finds out that life will be a little different from now on. But different in a good way! His new family loves him to pieces and his new life brings new adventure! Now if only one of those adventures meant some way to get rid of their dog...
Get it FREE on Smashwords here.
Coming Soon!
Dana Mitchells leads a shattered life – until the day she decides to fight back against her abusers. This choice leads her on a dark road that leads to homelessness and despair. Can she find her way out of the darkness before it’s too late?
News in Self-Publishing
"Want to write a book? Experienced authors share the perks and pitfalls ofself-publishing" by Michelle Talsma Everson
via MarketWatch
"I’ve Self-Published 9 Books. Here’s What I’ll Do Differently Next Time" by Natasha Khullar Relph
via The Wordling
AUTHOR CORNER
Author Interview with Shannon Kennedy
1. When did you start writing?
I am a writer. I have always been a story-teller. I hope to always be one. It’s a family tradition, learned from my grandmother, the queen of pithy comments who served putdowns at her Sunday dinners. Attendance was mandatory, not only for my immediate family, but also for my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Grandma never swore. It wasn’t ladylike, but she raised insulting someone’s intelligence, morality, behavior, manners, children, and mates to an art form. My grandparents owned the Pine Tree Tavern below First Avenue in downtown Seattle which Grandma operated. She kept a “cuss jar” for her clientele who were not allowed to use inappropriate language in her presence, even if many of the “ladies” actually weren’t, and their “gentlemen” friends paid for the “pleasure” of their company.
I began to write down Grandma’s stories as a young teen, although I knew nothing about the techniques or mechanics of what would become my passion. Many listeners squirmed at her turn of a phrase. However, I always admired Grandma’s use of language, which made her the powerful matriarch of our extended family. She supported my writing, repeating stories of her family numerous times, warning me to get my facts straight and asking me to repeat the stories back to her. This became a foundation for my writing.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
When I graduated from high school, I was determined to be a writer. My creative writing teacher had told me I had talent and suggested college. No one in our extended family had ever attended college. The girls married and the boys went to work. I was different. The last thing I wanted was a husband. Life in a single-parent household taught reality. As I told Grandma then, I knew men came with baggage and expected women to buy the suitcases. Grandma told me she’d planned to remain single but when she was 22, she met Grand-dad and he refused to “live in sin” with her.
My grandparents had worked hard all their lives, but they didn’t have the money to send me to college and neither did my mother. I came from a poor, single-parent household. I went to work for a temporary office service and washed dishes at night in a restaurant. I wasn’t able to fulfill my dream of joining the Army for a life of adventure because I was needed at home to raise my younger sisters, so I enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve instead. When the wolf was at the door with a litter of pups, as my grandfather used to say, or when times were even harder, the civilian liaison of my Army Reserve unit put me “on orders.”
This meant I did office work for him, answered phones, and taught myself to type on his new electric machine. He didn’t care what I typed as long as I looked busy and didn’t allow anyone at his desk when he was out playing golf with the general who commanded Fort Lawton. So, I began my first novel. At nearly nineteen, romances fascinated me. They were my favorite fantasy. I always wanted a hero on a white horse to rescue me although I knew it would never happen. I’d seen too many real-life struggles at too young an age, but romance novels were about hopes and dreams, not the monotony of every-day life. I knew I could write a great love story.
While I happily typed away on my masterpiece, my boss occasionally looked over my shoulder. If he felt my hero was turning into a jerk, or worse, was acting like a coward, he told me so. My orders ran out about the time I finished the novel, so I bundled up my baby and shipped it off to Harlequin Books in Canada. I didn’t know anything about the publishing business, so I mailed the only copy I had. In addition to this no-no, I also didn’t have a clue about setting up a manuscript. I finished each chapter and began the next one on the same page, a fatal flaw. I also wrote on every scrap of paper and didn’t worry about such things as margins. Worst of all, while the man my heroine thought she loved was dashing, romantic and charming – he was also unfaithful, dishonest, and nasty.
My father served as the perfect model for this sleazy character, and I practiced the first rule of novelists everywhere. “Write what you know, or in this case, who you know!” I also used Grandma’s rule of understatement or as Grand-dad said it, “I wouldn’t slam an outhouse door that hard.” Harlequin eventually turned down my manuscript, but I was hooked. I was determined to write my stories and I knew someday I would sell a book. Along the way, I kept working at a variety of jobs, went to college, took classes from published authors, and never gave up on my stories or my dreams.
I sold two middle-grade novels, then when that publisher folded, went on to write for magazines and newspapers. In 2010, I sold my first romance novel to SirenBookStrand. I needed a pseudonym, so I opted for a variation of my grandmother’s name, Josie Malone. Today, I write four different series, two paranormal romance series as Josie Malone and two young adult series as Shannon Kennedy. I love writing and I always remember what my grandmother told me. Her love of language was the legacy she passed on to me. As she said more than once, “Your words have power. Use it wisely. Don’t shout when a whisper will do.”
3. What can you tell me about your latest book?
Throw Away Teen, Book 1 in the Stewart Falls Cheerleaders series came out from Fire and Ice YA this September. Set in and around a private school, Stewart Falls Academy, twelve girls deal with timely issues while they learn to interact and build a winning cheer squad. The life lesson their coach wants them to learn is that “Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader!”
Characters grow and change in a variety of ways which may surprise the writer as much as it does the reader. When B.J. Larson, a street-smart foster kid moves to small town Stewart Falls, she’s the Princess of Passing Though, but has she found a “forever” home, somewhere it will be safe to unpack and stay a while?
This is an updated re-release as are some of the others in the series. Asking For It, the second book is a story about dating violence will soon be released.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
I have a fabulous VA or Virtual Assistant who handles my social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Book Bub. In addition, we do blog tours for every book whether it’s a Josie Malone or Shannon Kennedy title. My VA also does the two newsletters for Josie and Shannon. We talk either on the phone or connect through email several times a week. My fabulous publisher does Amazon ads for my new releases, but I also arrange for other ads. In addition, I belong to writer groups and that helps me promote too. Now that the pandemic is coming to an end (we hope), one of those groups organizes booths at local events and I appear in person on those occasions.
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
They come from everywhere; books, newspapers, articles, documentaries, conversations – like other authors, I’m always playing the “what if” game in my mind. Sometimes, an idea won’t be appropriate for a teen drama or YA book, but it’s perfect for one of my paranormal romances. I also brainstorm ideas with writer friends at critique groups. We tend to meet virtually right now, but I can’t wait until we’re able to meet in person again.
6. What are you working on right now?
I’m editing upcoming releases in the Stewart Falls Cheerleader series, plotting and rough-drafting book 6 in that series. I’m polishing the final draft of Book 6 in the Shamrock Stable series. I’m also writing the next two Josie Malone romances. Since I have new releases, I’m also promoting those books with the wonderful help of my VA. A new blog tour for Throw Away Teen starts on Friday (9/29/22).
7. Any advice for other authors?
I always dreamed of someday being a writer. Then I wanted to be a published writer, and this is when I quote the cliché, “You’re never given a dream without being given the power to make it come true.” You may have to work for it, however. As the old Frank Sinatra song goes, “..and as funny as it may seem, some people get their kicks stomping on a dream..” Be true to yourself and never quit writing.
ABOUT SHANNON:
Shannon Kennedy lives and works at the family riding stable in Washington State. Teaching kids to ride and know about horses since 1967, she finds in many cases, she's taught three generations of families. Her life experiences span adventures from dealing cards in a casino, attending graduate school to get her master’s in teaching degree, being a middle and high school teacher, and serving in the Army Reserve - all leading to her second career as a published author. She recently retired from teaching school and plans to write more books for Fire & Ice YA, the Stewart Falls Cheerleaders realistic fiction series and the Shamrock Stable series about teen girls and their horses. Visit her at her website to learn about her YA books. To learn about her paranormal romances, visit this link.
Author News
"Conflict + Choices = Character Agency" by Becca Puglisi
via Writers Helping Writers Become Authors
"3 Ways That Writerly Grit Leads to Publishing Success" by Susan DeFreitas
via Jane Friedman
"Local author Lora Senf introduces kids to horror writing through her debut novel, TheClackity" by Madison Pearson
via Insider
"The Villain’s Journey" by Debbie Burke
via Kill Zone
"6 Ways to Refresh Your Speculative Fiction" by Clee McKenzie
via Insecure Writers Support Group
"How To Create A Writing Schedule" by Stuart Conover
via Horror Tree
"7 Simple Mistakes That Will Stagnate Your Book Sales (And How to AvoidThem)" by William Opar
via WritersWeekly
My Reviews:
My review of ByTheWay by Dennis Santos
"When Love Bends the Rules: Sunflowers and Lavender is a YA Story of Love, Friendship and Trust"
via Dawn Reviews Books
Other Book Reviews:
"Book review: What the Chickadee Knows: Poems in Anishinaabemowin and English"
via Anishinabek News
"Book Review-The Fountain (Second Chance Book 1)-John A Heldt"
via Miki's Hope
“Ghostly Howls” by Stephanie Hansen
via Reader Views
“Almost Full Circle” by Jacqueline Greer Graham
via Reader Views
via Reader Views Kids
"How to Get Book Reviews & Endorsements" by Jacquelyn Lynn
via Medium
Calls for Reviews
I’d love to find reviewers for my latest release, The Smokey Files: Adventures of a Lovable Housecat. Available only as an ebook. Contact me at DMCWriter@gmail.com if interested.
Book Blogs
Book News:
"How Poetry is Grounding Me When I Feel Hopeless" by Nikki DeMarco
via Book Riot
via BuzzFeed
"At 21,450 Pages, the Longest Book in the World Is Impossible to Read" by Sarah Kuta
via Smithsonian Magazine
"Celebrating Banned Books Week 2022" by Nikki DeMarco
via Book Riot
New Books
Dark Observation by Catherine Cavendish
Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans
Natural History: Stories by Andrea Barrett
Lessons: A novel by Ian McEwan
Lungfish: A Novel by Meghan Gilliss
The House Party: A Novel by Rita Cameron
The Village Idiot by Steve Stern
I Walk Between the Raindrops: Stories by T.C. Boyle
Two Nurses, Smoking: Stories by David Means
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure by Bryn Nelson PhD
The Family Izquierdo: A Novel by Rubén Degollado
The Ways We Hide: A Novel by Kristina McMorris
Sacrificio by Ernesto Mestre-Reed
The Marriage Portrait :A novel by Maggie O'Farrell
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
What We Fed to the Manticore by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson
Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora
Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent by Dipo Faloyin
Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman
Tricky Edits from Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Excerpt from 3rd Edition of The Frugal Editor,
to be released Fall, 2022
Writers often forget that should is a word that has psychological impact. Tweeters and authors of nonfiction how-to books are notorious overusers of the word. The word should can impart an unintended (or intended!) tone of authoritarianism. A good chunk of the population dislikes being preached or dictated to. There are many ways to suggest that a person should do something without being blatant about it. Even authors of how-to books where readers expect to be told what they should do should try to use the word as rarely as possible. We can soften should’s annoying quality by using the pronoun we instead of you as the subject of the verb.
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Once a month Carolyn Howard-Johnson shares a tricky edit excerpted from her The Frugal Editor, the second multi award-winning book in her HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers. Find it on Amazon in paper or as an e-book at bit.ly/FrugalEditor or learn more at her website, https://HowToDoItFrugally.com. Find all the books in that series at http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile
Editor Interview with Shayla Raquel
How did you become an editor?
In 2010, I started as a copywriter for a small publishing company, and within six months, I was asked to apply for the copyediting position. I drafted an email to say no thank you because I didn’t think I was old enough, smart enough, good enough. But I deleted the email and said I wanted to apply.
When I took the copyediting test, I was certain I had failed. When the supervisor offered me the job, I said, “But didn’t I fail the test?”
She laughed and said, “Normally, editors miss fourteen errors on that test. You missed four.”
I was dumbfounded! I took the job, enjoyed my time there, and by 2013, I started my own company.
What kind of editing do you do? And will you work with a client who asks for the kind of editing you don't normally provide?
I provide developmental editing, content editing, copyediting, and proofreading. If I choose not to work with an author, it’s not because of the services I don’t provide, but because of the things I will not tolerate in a client. (I have learned my lesson!)
I’ve rejected projects and fired clients if/when: they will not listen to instructions; they do not know how to use a computer (your investment into my services shouldn’t be “How do I attach a PDF?”); they hire me but refuse to listen to me; they insist on my doing work way outside the scope of our project; they don’t listen to me about genres (e.g., If I made it crystal clear that a children’s picture book is 400–700 words, I am not going to work on one that’s nearly 2,000).
What editing tools do you feel are the most helpful?
The Chicago Manual of Style (online and the book) is my bible, that’s for sure. Second to that is M-W.com so I can ensure accuracy in my spellings. I use Google Docs every single day to create my style sheets, keep up with client to-do lists, and even paste my favorite quotes in the doc for their future book launch use. I have the Pomodoro Method app (Pomofocus) on my laptop so I can make the most of my time without straining my eyes. Word Hippo is my favorite thesaurus. And Dubsado is the CRM I use.
What are the most common mistakes you see?
I wrote a blog post about this called “Manuscript Errors Novice Authors Keep Making.” However, there is one area that I wish authors would listen to me about: formatting. When you send in your manuscript via Microsoft Word, I want the most boring, black-and-white, graphics-free manuscript you can give me. It should be Times New Roman, 11-point font, first line indent of .5, and that’s it! Very boring.
If you don’t do this, I will . . . and all the hours of fancy formatting? Yes, that all gets stripped away.
The two “But my English teacher said so!” conundrums I deal with most often? Prepositions at the end of a sentence are not wrong. It’s a remnant from Latin grammar, which should never straitjacket American grammar. And for the love of all things pure and holy, stop using two spaces after a period. I will delete them, your book formatter will delete them, and you will save money with printing.
Which books do you feel are helpful to writers who want to write better?
It depends on the genre, and I list my top favorites here, but for novelists, they should have three books that they read front to back: 1) Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody; 2) Beyond the First Draft: Deep Novel Revision by Laurel Yourke; and 3) The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Other books I highly recommend, no matter the genre, are: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and Pep Talks for Writers by Grant Faulkner.
I also highly recommend that whatever genre you want to write in, you must study those genres. Not just read them! But study them. If you want to write your memoir, you need to read and study memoirs. (Interesting fact: I will turn away a client if they don’t read in their genre.)
How do you handle a situation where a client often questions or argues your edits done on their work?
I first start with proof. Usually, that proof is already there in my comments within the manuscript or in the style sheet. But let’s say the proof doesn’t work. I first have to decide if that’s a hill I want to die on. (Oxford comma? I’m dying on that hill.)
If it’s not that big of a deal, then I’ll shrug and say okay. It is the author’s book, after all.
But what happens if it’s something big, like what happened to me recently: a children’s picture book that went from 28–32 pages (standard) to 80 pages. I kindly bowed out of the project and offered a partial refund (since I still had a storyboard and proofread left). If I stayed on that project, I would’ve made a huge compromise and I would’ve disrespected the readers.
That said, please describe your ideal client.
The one who signs the contract, pays their invoice, and sends their manuscript. And leaves me alone to work! They listen to me because they respect my twelve years of experience in this industry, trust that I am taking exceptional care of their book, and try to learn from me along the way.
In terms of genre, I love thrillers, horror, science fiction, business leadership, self-help, and poetry.
What should a client expect when working with you as their editor?
A lot of resources! I love to create my own checklists and articles and how-to videos so my clients have the knowledge they need to succeed. Even though I’m an editor, I’m also a marketer, so when I finish edits, I love to suggest marketing and book launch ideas.
What do you do in the event that you feel the client’s work needs more in-depth editing than what they have asked for?
I actually have a boilerplate for this! Basically, I praise them for writing their first book (that is no small feat!) and tell them: “At this time, your book is not ready for editing, but I want to give you the steps needed to get it ready.” I encourage them with resources and books, suggested online writing courses, and an invitation to resubmit.
Do you negotiate your rates?
Not anymore, no. I know my value and my worth. If I’m out of someone’s budget, I simply recommend other editors who can meet their budget.
ABOUT SHAYLA:
A self-publishing mentor, best-selling author, and public speaker, Shayla Raquel works one-on-one with writers every day. A lifelong lover of books, she has been in the publishing industry for twelve years and teaches on author branding, indie publishing, book marketing, and the craft of writing.
Her award-winning blog teaches new and established authors how to write, publish, and market their books.
She is the author of the Pre-Publishing Checklist, “The Rotting” (in Shivers in the Night), The Suicide Tree, The 10 Commandments of Author Branding, All the Things I Should’ve Told You, and “Savage Indulgence.” In her not-so-free time, she studies all things true crime and obsesses over squirrels. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three fur babies.
Learn more at shaylaraquel.com.
News in Editing
“Sewvs. So vs. Sow (Grammar Rules)” by Robert Lee Brewer
via Writer’s Digest
"The Powerhouse Of Writing 6: Colons, Semicolons, & Dashes" by Susanne Bennett
via Writers Write
Interview with Freelance Writer Kat Gál
1. How long have you been writing?
I’m a freelance health writer. I’ve been writing online health content for nearly a decade.
2. What drew you to becoming a freelance writer?
I’ve always enjoyed writing. Whether it was creative writing, scribbling to pen pals, taking notes in class, working on school papers, writing my thesis, writing research reports, or anything else. I just love writing. I never thought making money writing was possible.
Beyond writing, other things that drew me to freelance writing were an opportunity to learn new things every day, my love for the research process, and of course, freedom, daily flexibility, and an opportunity to organize my work around my life, not the other way around.
3. How did it feel when you first got published?
The first time I got published was way before I started freelance writing. It was unpaid, and it was amazing. My first paid gig was unexpected. I didn’t seek the opportunity out, someone offered it to me. It was amazing.
4. What are some of the challenges you ran into when you started freelancing? How did you overcome them?
Not getting paid enough and not getting consistent clients and work. Cold emailing was a game-changer for me.
5. What are some of the things you use to help you with freelance writing?
I assume you are asking about helping my own writing business. Honestly, I’m super basic. I write and submit my work in Google docs. I use Grammarly. I don’t use any other tools, apps, software, or anything. I use my paper Passion Planners and notepads to plan things. I track my projects, income, and spending in Google sheets.
6. Are there any books you can recommend to anyone interested in becoming a freelance writer?
Big Magic by Liz Gilbert is my creativity bible. And Catching Big Fish by David Lynch. I highly recommend The Copywriter Handbook by Robert W Blyte for more writing-specific advice.
7. Please describe your typical workday as a freelance writer.
It really depends. I generally don’t get up until about 9 am. I may get to my desk by 10 am or 11 am. I may work for a few hours and then go for a run or walk. I may work again once I’m back, then go for a walk later in the afternoon or early evening. Some days I work in the evenings instead of the morning or afternoon. Some weeks I work every day but only for a few hours. Other weeks, I may only work 3 or 4 days. It really depends on what else I have going on. I work part-time hours by choice (but work a full-time income!). I really don’t have a set schedule and I prefer it that way.
8. What was the hardest market for you to break into and how did you succeed?
I’m a health writer, and I only write in the health niche. I work with functional medicine, integrative medicine, and naturopathic medicine doctors and health/nutrition brands.
But based on my experience helping other freelance writers, I don’t think that there is any niche that’s harder to break into than into another one. As long as you have a quality and relevant portfolio, you are golden.
Now, certain niches will pay better than others. SaaS, B2B, tech, and finance generally pay the best, health, real estate, cannabis, lifestyle, and some other niches are pretty good too. In certain niches, like spirituality and music, it’s very difficult or impossible to get clients that pay more than pennies or pay at all.
9. What's one thing about freelance writing that surprised you after you were at it for some time?
The community. At the beginning, I was worried that other freelance writers would be my competition. It’s not the case. Everyone has a place. There are a lot of freelance writers, but there are also a lot of clients. And the freelance writing community is incredibly amazing.
10. What advice do you have for a writer thinking of becoming a freelance writer?
Choose a writing specialty and, ideally, a niche. Nail down your ideal clients. Create a high-quality portfolio that’s relevant to your ideal clients. Posting on Medium and mock-ups count as long as they are quality. Start cold emailing your ideal clients. Be patient and consistent. Stop comparing yourself to other writers.
ABOUT KAT:
Kat Gál is a freelance health writer and freelance writing mentor. If you are a freelance writer looking for freelance writing tips, check out her newsletter, website, Linkedin, and upcoming course. If you are looking for a freelance health writer, check out her writing website here.
News for Writers
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"Content Marketing Experts Share How to Improve Writing and SEO" by Annie Pilon
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"How To Become A Content Writer" by Andra Picincu
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"Thomas C. Foster on the Seven Deadly Sins of Writing" by Thomas C. Foster
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"How to Use Chapter Cliffhangers in Your Fiction" by K.M. Weiland
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"5 Tips on How To Write Fast—And Well!" by Kate Hewitt
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"A Dozen Good Reasons To Freelance" by Jon Younger
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"Oregon journalist arrested while reporting on homeless sweep sues Medford and itspolice department" by Maxine Bernstein
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"13-year-oldwriter wins climate journalism award"
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Feature Article
How You Can Give Back with Your Writing
By Dawn Colclasure
If you’re the kind of person who wants to do something nice for someone, or if you want to give back to a certain group, writing is one way for you to do it.
Whether you are writing a poem for someone or using your skill with words to spread awareness about something, your writing can really make a difference. You can brighten someone’s day or help someone to understand something better.
While these are small gestures, they can really stand out for the people it was written for. A sweet poem written in a greeting card could make someone smile and a blog post you write about a topic someone doesn’t understand can help clear their confusion.
One reason why I chose to pursue a job assisting individuals with disabilities is because I myself have received that kind of help from others. Because of my burn accident injuries and my deafness, a large group of medical professionals, therapists, volunteers and even friends have helped me to manage a “new normal” as a person with disabilities.
I wanted to give back, so I got a job as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Working as a DSP and supporting individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) was extremely rewarding, but when I could no longer work that job, I wanted to find some way to still give back to others.
It wasn’t enough to volunteer to help friends in need.
It wasn’t enough to be there to talk to when a friend was struggling.
I wanted to do something more.
Writing gave me that “something more.”
With my writing, I have written blog posts aimed at supporting and helping other writers. For the month of September, I posted one blog post every day on my writing blog aimed at inspiring, encouraging, helping and guiding writers. I also wrote a few blog posts on my personal blog that were meant to dispel myths about the Deaf for Deaf Awareness Month.
With my writing, I have spread awareness about deafness and an aspect of life as lived by a Deaf person. My essay collection, Parenting Pauses: Life as a Deaf Parent, is one example of that effort. My essays published online also serve that purpose.
With my writing, I have been able to inform readers about a variety of topics and curate useful information into one piece. You can see what I mean by checking out such efforts here.
I have also written free ebooks which serve as tools to help and inform readers.
Of course, there are other ways writing can be a way to “give back” to others.
There is the option of teaching a writing course as well as hosting informative webinars that help other writers.
Another way you can give back with your writing is to write books that would be useful or inspirational to a certain audience.
Finally, you can use your writing talent to create things such as songs, movies, plays, public service announcements and even video scripts to help or inform others. This way, your writing would be serving a purpose outside of just entertaining people. It would spread awareness, bring the truth out of the shadows, and take a stand for marginalized groups.
Whatever you choose to pursue with your writing and no matter what you write, keep in mind that your gift with words can serve as a way of giving back to others. Your writing can make a difference in the world. Your writing may just be the one thing that helps someone when nothing else worked. If anything, using your writing as a way of giving back or to help others can be even better than getting a five-star review.
BIO:
Dawn Colclasure is a writer who lives in Oregon with her husband and children. She is the author and co-author of over two dozen books, among them 365 Tips for Writers: Inspiration, Writing Prompts and Beat the Block Tips to Turbo Charge Your Creativity and the horror novel, Shadow of Samhain. She is also a content writer, freelance writer, book reviewer and ghostwriter. She is also a self-publisher. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. She publishes the SPARREW Newsletter each month. Her websites are https://dawnsbooks.com/ and https://www.dmcwriter.com/. She’s on Twitter @dawncolclasure.
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Thanks for reading! See you next month!
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