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Book writing, marketing, and publishing workbook $uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book keeping our readers abreast of the ever changing skills required to write, publish and sell a successful book.
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NoraLyn Ltd.
6322 S Sky CT
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 840-3420
info@noralyn.com
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$uccess BLOG
Your Path to a Successful Book
Our $uccess blog will feature writing, marketing, and publishing tips we continue to learn since writing our workbook $uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book keeping our readers abreast of the everchanging skills required to write, publish and sell a successful book.
We will also have guest commentators. Achieving your goals as a writer is what matters. Anything we can do to help you get there is our goal. We welcome your comments and hope you will sign up for our bi-monthly (or whenever we have enough material) newsletter.
Maralyn D. Hill
Brenda C. Hill
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$uccess
The Write Path to Writing, Marketing & Publishing Your Successful Book
more info. . .
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Previous
SLOG - Understanding Your Target Market 3
Saturday, February 28, 2009 |
SLOG - Understanding Your Target Market 2
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 |
SLOG - Understanding Your Target Market 1
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 |
SLOG-Goals: Identifying Needs & Competition -6
Sunday, February 15, 2009 |
SLOG-Goals: Identifying Needs & Competition -5
Thursday, February 12, 2009 |
SLOG - Goals - Identifying Needs & Competition 4
Monday, February 09, 2009 |
SLOG - Goals - Identifying Needs & Competition 3
Saturday, February 07, 2009 |
SLOG - Goals - Identifying Needs & Competition 2
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 |
SLOG-Goals: Identifying Needs & Competition 1
Saturday, January 31, 2009 |
SLOG-Marketing Intro-2
Thursday, January 29, 2009 |
Archives
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SLOG - Writers' Associations & Organizations
This is an excerpt from our book, $uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book.
We stress the importance of belonging to writers' associations and organizations. Each one has its strong points, but they are formed to assist writers in pursuing their goals in a professional manner. Whether conferences, blogs, online magazines, regional meetings or networking, they give you the opportunity to interface with others in your own genre.
Some may be more difficult to join, but not all. It is worth the time and effort to check them out to see which ones fill your personal needs.
Below is a list of a few organizations for your reference. There are many more that you can Google. We encourage you to join one or two, but not so many as to keep you from your writing:
• American Society of Journalists and Authors(ASJA). This is an organization of mainly newspaper and magazine writers who are seasoned professional journalists. They have strict qualifications for membership.
• Canadian Authors Association (CAA),offers support and development to Canadian writers.
• International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), is a resource base for professionals engaged in the food, wine and travel industries. Its writers report on all aspects of food, wine and travel. They are the oldest and only non-profit writers' association that focuses on food, wine and travel. IFWTWA offers media trips for its members to discover destinations in depth as well as other benefits. We are both members of this organization and Maralyn is on the Board of Directors. Are we biased? Yes. It meets our needs.
• Mystery Writers of America (MWA), is an organization for mystery and crime writers, professionals, aspirants, and those who love to read crime fiction.
• National Press Club (NPC), its mission statement is The club shall provide people who gather and disseminate news a center for the advancement of their professional standards and skills, the promotion of free expression, mutual support and social fellowship.
• National Writers Union (NWU),is a writers’ union for freelance and contract writers.
• Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), promotes responsible journalism, provides support and development at annual conferences.
• Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), is a labor union for writers who write television shows, movies, news programs, documentaries, animation, CD-ROMs, and content for new media technologies.
We encourage you to join and become involved in a writers group or organization. For a workbook loaded with tips and resources, check out $uccess.
Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill
Books By Hills
$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book
SLOG
GLOGLabels: book by hills, books, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, success, writers, writers associations, writers organizations
posted by Maralyn Friday, October 31, 2008
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Technorati Link
This is quite interesting. In order to get Technorati to recognize my Slog, Success Log, I need to publish this link Technorati Profile. So pardon the confusion, but here it is.
posted by Maralyn Thursday, October 30, 2008
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SLOG-Write with Passion
An excerpt from $uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book.
"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are gone, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing." -Benjamin Franklin
When we wrote our book about chefs, we called it Our Love Affairs with Food & Travel. After interviewing over a hundred chefs around the globe, we found the common denominator that singled out the successful chefs and cooks from the other... who often come and go. It's called passion.
Writers, who possess that elusive, yet essential quality, passion, have the edge over even the best of published and wealthy authors.
Author Brian Jud in Beyond the Bookstore comments on passion: "...A sense of enthusiastic expectations is your most valuable asset. Without passion, in your voice and actions, your pursuit of success will be more difficult. Invest in your attitude regularly, build interest in it and protect it from depreciation as you would any other asset."
When we talk about success, even though we stuck a dollar sign in our title, what we mean is this: $UCCESS is recognizing your passion and writing it. If you follow your passion, the dollars may follow you. And, if they do not, you are still doing what you love in life... the true meaning of success!
Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill
Books By Hills
$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book
SLOG
GLOGLabels: books, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, success, writers, writing, writing books, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Wednesday, October 29, 2008
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SLOG - Where to Find Writers' Conferences
This is an excerpt from Success.
There are many well-known writers' conferences and workshops. However, there are lesser known ones that cost less, and can offer exceptional experiences. Listed are a variety of well-established conferences or workshops—something for everyone. If you want a detailed list with thorough descriptions including dates and cost of more than 800 conferences, visit Shaw Guides ...Two other great sources are the magazines, The Writer and Writers Digest. Your own state will generally have several conferences.
Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: Authors, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, SLOG, success, writers conferences, writers workshops, writing
posted by Maralyn Monday, October 27, 2008
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It's All About Marketing
To successfully market your book, you have to keep plugging along. Thinking outside the box helps considerably.
We are taking part in a marketing effort for a political book by displaying the Cotton For President banner. This campaign ends November 4th and we will share the results once we receive them.
It's quite interesting as it is an unusual creative interactive approach to get people interested in the book. If you have an opportunity, check out the site. Let us know what you think.
Maralyn D. Hill
Books By Hills
SLOG: Success Log
GLOG: Global LogLabels: book by hills, book marketing, book promotions, maralyn d hill, success, writers, writing books
posted by Maralyn Saturday, October 25, 2008
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SLOG - The Writer's Life and Tips
This week the two Hill's have a second printing on their book called Success, Your Path to a Successful Book. Since we obtained endorsements from Dan Poynter and Brian Jud, we felt the book deserved a new cover. We are overjoyed at the positive reviews we've received.
In chapter one, we quoted Mark Twain. "Life does not consist mainly, or even largely-of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that is forever blowing through ones head."
This new column on our blog will offer quick and effective writer's tips, mainly to jump start your writing day on a positive note.
We receive our incentive from others, some famous like Twain, and other tips we pick up along our writing path from beginning and seasoned authors.
Here is Brenda's favorite, from Lou Willett Stanek, author of So You Want to Write a Novel. I forgot to include in our book, so here it is.Labels: Authors, book by hills, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, writers, writing, writing books, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Saturday, October 25, 2008
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SLOG - Additional Tips on Writers' Conferences
This is an excerpt from $uccess.
• When called upon to read, do not describe what you are reading. Simply stand up and begin. We cannot repeat the cardinal rule of writing enough... show, don't tell.
• Make and practice an elevator speech about your book. That translates to giving a synopsis in 30 seconds or less.
• Take a one page synopsis for the book/s you are going to pitch. Put a brief bio (with publishing credits) on the back of the same page. Agents and publishers do not want a copy of your manuscript at the conference. For good luck, keep a copy in your room.
If you’ve signed up for a pitch session, look up the person online and discover interests.
Know about the agency.
• Be sure to have some marketing ideas ready in case you are asked.
• Don't be intimidated by the agents and publishers. They are attending a conference because they are interested in finding new material. But, stalking is not suggested.
Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: Authors, books, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, SLOG, success, writers conferences, writers workshops, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Thursday, October 23, 2008
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SLOG-More Tips on Attending Writers' Conference
Excerpt from $uccess.
The following are tips while you're attending a writers' conference or workshop, especially if it is your first time:
• Often it costs less to stay nearby instead of the workshop site. Even so, pay the money and be with the group. We have found that the networking and camaraderie happening behind the scenes can be as valuable as the workshop itself... schmoozing is a positive word.
• Arrive to class early, well dressed, with your papers packed neatly in a file with a good pen. It is a myth that writers are just creative hippie types who look disheveled or artistic. Do be yourself. However, the truth is that most SUCCESSFUL writers are well-dressed, well organized, business people.
• One of the most valuable tools we have learned is to read aloud to a friend, or... at least, yourself, before you finish your last draft. Do this before you read aloud to a writing group.
Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: book by hills, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, writers, writers conferences, writers workshops, writing, writing books, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Sunday, October 19, 2008
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SLOG and GLOG - Defined
For writing and publishing hints, our blog is nicknamed, SLOG (perseverance in writing). We think of it as a Success Log.
I have to give Brenda the credit for coming up with SLOG. She wanted us to be different.
I agreed that we persevere in our writing and it is a great idea.
GLOG for the Where & What in the World Blog is for Global Log. We continue to always be on the learning path discovering what's new.
Hope this answers the questions about SLOG and GLOG.
Maralyn D. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: Authors, book by hills, brenda c hill, Glog, maralyn d hill, SLOG, writing books
posted by Maralyn Friday, October 17, 2008
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SLOG - Excerpt from $uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book
Tips we have learned from writers' workshops in order to prepare for the workshop, editor or publisher:
• Are you writing in the first or third person? The present or past tense? Whichever you choose, stick it to it like Krazy Glue.
• Tempting as it is, refrain from editing your own work... at least until the first draft is complete.
• Show one or two chapters and the synopsis to an EDITOR. Resist the urge to let your family or friends read it until it is published. This is difficult. You may have one or two read it, but once editing starts, keep it to yourself and your editor. Reading parts in a writers’ group is fine for feedback.
• Even if writing a book is not your only job, it is a vital priority, not an afterthought. Be willing to commit, before you begin the project.
Maralyn D. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: Authors, books, brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, SLOG, success, writers, writers conferences, writing books, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Saturday, October 11, 2008
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SLOG-Tip from $uccess Your Path to a Successful Book
Writers’ workshops and conferences
We had been attending writers’ workshops and classes before we decided to write our first book in tandem. We both find this ongoing learning process to be invaluable. We owe the success of our recent books to the fact that we continue to study and to improve by doing two things:
• One is to seek advice from those who know… for example, best selling New York Times author, Barnaby Conrad, who began and ran the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference for many years.
• The other tip we call our Nike philosophy is to stop thinking and talking about writing a book and Just do it. It will never be finished or be perfect, but it will be published and read. Then you can learn, grow and go on to the next project with increased success.
Presently, we speak at workshops on writing and POD publishing in several states. Maralyn also conducts monthly writing, marketing, coaching, editing and POD seminars in the Phoenix area.
Maralyn D. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: Authors, book by hills, maralyn d hill, SLOG, writers, writers conferences, writers workshops, writing, writing books, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Wednesday, October 08, 2008
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SLOG - Writing Tips from Success
We are passing along one of favorite tips from our book. The editors on our team find this one invaluable.
Cork Millner taught us this simple, effective method to streamline your copy:
Take a pen to almost every and, but, yet, so, however and too that does not add meaning to your story. Circle those little words. Now look at your edited page. It may resemble cheerios, or little lifesavers. Now your story will flow.
Brenda C. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOGLabels: brenda c hill, maralyn d hill, SLOG, success, writers, writing books, Writing tips
posted by Brenda Monday, October 06, 2008
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SLOG-Publicity
Publicity
It is worthwhile to spend time and money promoting your book. Brenda and I believe promotional advertising is more cost-effective. Tie this with FREE publicity and you will have a combination that can create a "buz" and demand. You pay for advertising, publicity is free.
"Publicity is to books what oxygen is to lungs. Without it, sales suffocate and die." Kent Carroll.
The more publicity you receive, the better. We cover in depth in, $uccess, Your Guide to a Successful Book.
Maralyn D. Hill
Books By Hills
$LOG
GLOG
NoraLyn Ltd.Labels: Authors, book by hills, book marketing, book promotions, maralyn d hill, publicity, SLOG, writers
posted by Maralyn Saturday, October 04, 2008
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SLOG - Writing "Style Books"
When checking magazines, they may say to use a particular "stylebook." You may wonder if it's worth it. Yes, if you want a chance at having your article submitted.
We cover this topic in "Success, Your Path to a Successful Book," but, we wanted to share the three we feel are at the top of the list.
"The Associated Press Stylebook," by Associated Press.
"The Chicago Manual of Style," by University of Chicago Press Staff.
"The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage: Of Official Style Guide Used by the Writers and Editors of the World's Most Authoritative Newspaper," by Allan M. Siegan and William G. Connolly.
You usually can find one or more of the three in your local library. If you are going to purchasae one, I'd consider the paperback as they are updated annually. Or, a great alternative is the individual styleguides' online service. Then you always have the latest updates.
Maralyn D. Hill
$LOG
Books By Hills
Where & What in the World BlogLabels: Authors, book by hills, maralyn d hill, SLOG, styleguides, writers, Writing tips
posted by Maralyn Thursday, October 02, 2008
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