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Blog

Growth Is Seasonless

October 11, 2021 Post a comment

Some of my clients have a seasonal schedule. They have a busy season and a season when there is almost no work. When I first picked up these clients, this dry spell worried me. I worried about having little work, which led to few checks in the mail.

However, as time passed, I began to manage my budget better to save during the feast to survive the famine, but even then I had time to fill.

I joined a few associations and became active in them, growing my online presence and credibility and networking with fellow professionals. I used this time to grow relationships by attending in-person and online networking events.

I also began using this down time to expand my skills through live webinars and on-demand training so I could be more valuable to my clients and provide them with additional knowledge.

Finally, I used this time to do or prepare for speaking engagements and work on my own projects, such as writing my own book or preparing to teach a new class resulting in multiple streams of income.

Here at NAIWE, we emphasize the importance of building multiple streams of income. That way, if one stream dries up, you have others to rely on while you create a new one.

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published three books.

Categories: Events, Member Benefits

Marcia Rosen, The Public Relations and Book Marketing Expert

October 8, 2021 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know Marcia Rosen (NAIWE’s Public Relations and Book Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What is unique to the pandemic that is beneficial to writers?

Zoom book marketing events and meetings have proven to be valuable for writers during the pandemic. Writing organizations, libraries, and bookstores have all given authors an opportunity to talk about writing and their books. I’ve found this to be very beneficial.

What can writers capitalize on to stay motivated to write?

Staying connected to other writers, attending in-person or Zoom writing events and meetings may be motivating. Being a guest on writing blogs or writing articles to have your voice heard. I also teach writing classes, and responses from others is very motivating for me.

Are there any stats for the success rate of writers?

Measurements of success are having your book listed on a best-seller list or winning a writing award. Also, success can be relative depending on the author and what they are looking for as a writer.
——————

From staying on track to not giving up or giving in, from not listening to negative voices, including your own, the purpose of this presentation is to encourage you to stay determined, confident, courageous, hopeful, inspired, and motivated with respect to your writing. We’ll talk some of what can inhibit and interfere with writing goals and how to move past them.

There are times it’s possible to be discouraged and unsure and wondering why you’re even bothering. But your soul cannot and does not really want to give up. So, write on, tell the negative voice in your head and from others to go away! Each writer needs the promise of possibility and hopefulness that their dreams and ambitions can be fulfilled.

In this presentation we’ll cover:

  • Having your voice heard during this pandemic!
  • Knowing you have the right to be a writer
  • Perseverance
  • Trusting your own voice
  • Dealing with and ignoring negative voices
  • Planning, preparing, pushing forward
  • Motivation and staying motivated
  • Setting a writing schedule or routine
  • Setting deadlines for yourself
  • Avoiding distractions and distracting people
  • Being comfortable with the plans for your work and your ideas on issues such as dialogue, character development, point of view, tone, and your storyline.

You can join in this conversation on October 19, at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on motivation. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!

Categories: Board of Experts, Events, Writing

John McIntyre, The Grammar Expert

October 5, 2021 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know John McIntyre (NAIWE’s Grammar Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here are some thoughts he shared with us.

Do grammar rules change based on genre?

Something we all understand intuitively, but which some people find troublesome, is that we have many Englishes, and each one has its own grammar. “Me and Emily are going to the mall” is an error in formal, standard English, but the conjoined subject is immediately understood, widely in use, conformed to a recognized pattern, and, therefore, grammatical in the informal dialect in which it is used. Similarly, double negatives are an error in standard English but a recognized grammatical pattern for emphasis in African American English.

Is there one reliable grammar source?

The thing you half-remember from high school English is probably not. A good bit of the advice you can find online is trash. (See my little book, Bad Advice: The Most Unreliable Counsel Available on Grammar, Usage, and Writing.) If you need to consult an authority on formal English, Garner’s Modern English Usage by Bryan A. Garner furnishes the best-informed prescriptivist advice you can find. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage provides historical background and leaves choices to you. Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer is recent, informed, and lively. You would do well to keep all three close at hand for when you have serious concerns about grammar and usage.

What do you find fascinating about grammar?

I spent half of my forty years as an editor learning things and the second half unlearning them. The traditional schoolroom grammar was drummed into me in school in rural Kentucky. In my time as an editor, talking over issues with other editors, and later becoming acquainted with linguists and lexicographers, I arrived at a much broader understanding of English grammar. It’s so much more varied and interesting to explore than the tired, stale, and unhelpful prescriptivist/descriptivist categories, or the erroneous belief that English is in decline, would have you believe. I try to keep in mind something that H.L. Mencken wrote in The American Language: “The error of . . . viewers with alarm is in assuming that there is enough magic in pedagogy to teach ‘correct’ English to the plain people. There is, in fact, too little; even the fearsome abracadabra of Teachers College, Columbia, will never suffice for the purpose. The plain people will always make their own language, and the best that grammarians can do is to follow after it, haltingly, and often without much insight. Their lives would be more comfortable if they ceased to repine over it, and instead gave it some hard study. It is very amusing, and not a little instructive.”
——————

John, who was a working newspaper editor for 40 years, has watched writers grapple with changing patterns of English usage and wants to help you make reasonable decisions. You can send him questions that concern you, and he will answer them at the webinar. Anticipating your concerns, he is preparing advice on perennial concerns: Should we give up on “whom”? Is singular “they” here to stay and acceptable everywhere? What can we do about “lie” and “lay”? You will get the best advice available.

You can join in this conversation on October 12, at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on your burning grammar questions. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!

Categories: Board of Experts, Events, Grammar

NAIWE on the Radio

October 1, 2021 Post a comment

http://news.naiwe.com/files/Triangle-Media.mp4

April Michelle Davis had her first interview as the executive director of NAIWE. April Michelle was excited to share her story with Suzanne Lynn of Triangle Media at WQBQ 1410 to let the public know of her devotion to the members of NAIWE and to the industry. April has been working in the industry for over 20 years and strives to make a difference through NAIWE by providing opportunities for her fellow freelancers to grow, develop, and create multiple streams of income. April Michelle invites freelancers of all genres and stages in their careers to join NAIWE where they will receive a warm welcome and many insights from their fellow colleagues.

Categories: Events, Member Benefits

2021 Summer Challenge

September 27, 2021 1 Comment

This summer, NAIWE is challenging you and your fellow NAIWE members to be the best version of yourselves. You may personalize this challenge to fit your needs and summer goals. Choose a book to read that you classify as a self-help book even though its genre is far from that. Choose a project that has been nagging at you but will also produce great reward upon completion. And finish the challenge by spending some quality time with our experts learning how they mastered creating multiple steams of income. Throughout the challenge, be true to yourself and your goals!

There are three parts to this challenge:

  1. Read one book that will stretch your mind and inspire your creative spirit. The 2021 Summer Challenge is a great way for you to catch up on those business reads that have been piling up.
  2. Finish one project that’s been nagging at you for longer than you care to admit. This is not so much about the length of time to complete the project as it is about finishing what you started. (For some motivational tips, listen to NAIWE’s Productivity Expert Meggin McIntosh’s teleclass on How to Complete Your Projects, Especially the Ones that Have Been Bugging You.)
  3. Brainstorm a new project that will bring you an additional stream of income, then take the first step to make it happen. NAIWE is willing to be your partner and advocate to bounce ideas off of.

As you brainstorm your new project, leave a comment below and we will help you with some ideas.

Categories: Events

Days to Celebrate in October

September 24, 2021 Post a comment

October: National Book Month. Curl up on the couch with a good book.

October: National Reading Group Month. Gather a group of friends, and meet weekly to discuss a great book!

October: National Work and Family Month. Focus on one way to improve your work/life balance. The Be a Better Freelancer conference can help with this.

October: Self-Promotion Month. Promote your skills to gain some new clients. The Be a Better Freelancer conference has a session to help with this.

October 3-9: Mystery Series Week.

October 3-9: National Newspaper Week.

October 4-8: Customer Service Week.

October 5: National Fruit at Work Day. Take a break today to enjoy a piece of seasonal fruit at work.

October 5: National Do Something Nice Day. Do something nice for one of your clients today!

October 13: National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day. Spend a day with a cuddly friend to make you smile. 🙂

October 13-19: National Work at Home Week.

October 17-23: National Business Women’s Week.

October 17-23: National Friends of Libraries Week.

October 23: National Make a Difference Day. Do something to make a difference in the life of someone else.

Categories: National Days

Member Benefit: Discount on Cadman Training

September 17, 2021 Post a comment

Cadman Training aims to help writers and editors to save time and improve quality. Its online, self-paced courses combine videos, exercises, and quizzes, making it easy to track your progress. And lifetime access means you can return to the courses whenever you need to. Cadman Training currently offer courses in PerfectIt and EndNote, for both PC and Mac users. NAIWE members receive 25% off all courses!

 

 

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Categories: Member Benefits

2021 Summer Challenge

September 13, 2021 Post a comment

This summer, NAIWE is challenging you and your fellow NAIWE members to be the best version of yourselves. You may personalize this challenge to fit your needs and summer goals. Choose a book to read that you classify as a self-help book even though its genre is far from that. Choose a project that has been nagging at you but will also produce great reward upon completion. And finish the challenge by spending some quality time with our experts learning how they mastered creating multiple steams of income. Throughout the challenge, be true to yourself and your goals!

There are three parts to this challenge:

  1. Read one book that will stretch your mind and inspire your creative spirit. The 2021 Summer Challenge is a great way for you to catch up on those business reads that have been piling up.
  2. Finish one project that’s been nagging at you for longer than you care to admit. This is not so much about the length of time to complete the project as it is about finishing what you started. (For some motivational tips, listen to NAIWE’s Productivity Expert Meggin McIntosh’s teleclass on How to Complete Your Projects, Especially the Ones that Have Been Bugging You.)
  3. Brainstorm a new project that will bring you an additional stream of income, then take the first step to make it happen. NAIWE is willing to be your partner and advocate to bounce ideas off of.

As you finish your one nagging project, leave a comment below about your accomplishment and how it made you feel.

Categories: Events

Greg Smith, The Novel Writing Expert

September 10, 2021 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know Greg Smith (NAIWE’s Novel Writing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here are some thoughts he shared with us.

Is this a guide to follow at will?

The Agile Writer Method is something you can do at your own pace and on your own schedule. However, it is structured for 10 pages per week for 25 weeks. I recommend you find two critique partners and have weekly meetings where you review your weekly 10-page output. This creates a sense of accountability that motivates you to write each week. However, you can follow the program and write your novel at whatever pace works best for you.

Do all the steps need to be in order to write a good novel?

Yes, and no. The big idea behind the Agile Writer Method is successive refinement. You’ll start with a single sentence describing your story. Then write an elevator pitch (one paragraph). Then a synopsis (one page). During the plotting phase, you create an eight-stage Storyboard (or outline) that structures your story. Then you write 10 pages a week for 25 weeks. So, yes, there is a progression that you need to follow. However, many Agile Writers will write their beginning, then their ending, and then fill in the middle! So, it’s a pretty flexible method.

Do you offer a template?

Yes, there are templates for the Hero Abstract, the Story Abstract, and the eight-stage storyboard (or outline). These templates will get you started. Most Agile Writers are pretty creative; they’ve embellished and augmented the templates to suit their needs. As I have said, The Agile Writer Method is very flexible!
——————

Storytelling is as old as the human race. Over the ages we’ve come to expect a pattern to storytelling. In this webinar, Greg Smith lays out this time-worn pattern. Based on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, mythology, psychology, and screenwriting techniques, the “The Eight Stages of the Novel” will help you plot your story before you put pen to paper.

You can join in this conversation on September 13, at 8:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on writing your novel. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!

Categories: Board of Experts, Events, Writing

Member of the Month: Ruth Thaler-Carter

September 3, 2021 Post a comment

Today’s podcast episode is a Member of the Month episode, where we get to know one of our fellow NAIWE members.

Our guest today is Ruth Thaler-Carter.

Ruth E. “I can write about anything!” Thaler-Carter, NAIWE’s Networking Expert, provides writing, editing, proofreading, website critiques and updates, and presentations to publications, associations, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and individuals in diversity, decorative arts, cats, landscaping/gardening, education, facilities management, healthcare and wellness, communications, freelancing, business, law, public relations/marketing, and much more.

Thaler-Carter is the author/publisher of “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer” and the short story “Sometimes You Save the Cat …” and co-author of the 2020 editions of “Freelancing 101: Launching Your Editorial Business” and “Resumés for Freelancers” for the Editorial Freelancers Association. She owns Communication Central, which co-hosts with NAIWE an annual conference for freelancers; A Flair for Writing, which helps aspiring authors get published; and the An American Editor blog.

Thaler-Carter has received awards for her writing and editing skills; contributions to the Rochester, NY-area literary community; and support of fellow freelancers. She is a popular presenter at conferences and in webinars about freelancing, websites, editing and proofreading, grammar, websites, working with associations, specializing vs. generalizing, networking, and other topics related to the world of writing, editing, proofreading and publishing.

Known as the “Queen of Networking,” Thaler-Carter is active in the NAIWE, EFA, Cat Writers Association, Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: The Society for Editing, and several more.

 

Q: Please share a little of your professional history with our readers.

I did my first freelance writing back in high school, first by creating my own literary magazine after being turned down for the one published by the school and then by writing a column for a local community newspaper. In college at Indiana University-Bloomington and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, I wrote for the campus newspapers and typed and edited papers for other students, which expanded my skills in editing. I had several full-time jobs in communications before going freelance full-time and have never regretted that decision. Over the years, I’ve expanded my independent business from writing only to writing, editing, proofreading, website work, speaking, and conference host. I’ve also become known as the “Queen of Networking” through my active involvement in, and support for, professional associations.

 

Q: How and when did you make this business a reality?

I was freelancing on the side for several years while working in full-time, in-house communications jobs until I hit burnout with the day-to-day routine and went full-time freelance at the end of 1984. It was a reality from the jump, because I negotiated a contract with my job and set up two part-time gigs, so I started with a good flow of work and income.

 

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?

Two things, actually: Diversify, and never give up!

 

Q: Are you working on any personal writing projects at this time?

I’m trying to be better about posting regularly to the An American Editor blog and playing with some fiction possibilities.

 

Q: Are you working on any special projects you’d like to tell us about?

Starting to plan the 2021 “Be a Better Freelancer®” conference!

 

Q: What are some of the teachers, books, or authors who have influenced your professional life in a positive way?

My parents, who brought me up to love reading and learning; my sixth-grade English teacher, who instilled never-forgotten and constantly used grammar skills in me; my 11th-grade “Critical Reading and Writing” and 12th-grade AP English teacher, who gave me confidence in my skills. I’ve been a voracious reader my whole life and couldn’t begin to pinpoint any specific books or authors as influences.

 

Q: As a seasoned professional, what advice would you offer an independent writer or editor who is just beginning a career?

Learn something about the type of work you want to do as a freelancer, ideally by getting real experience; save money before you launch; identify what you need to earn so you can set your rates accordingly; network to learn from—and give back to—colleagues.

 

Q: What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the memory of my parents’ and husband’s pride in what I do; my parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle as Holocaust survivors; and how great it feels to do good work.

 

Q: How has your membership in NAIWE benefited you professionally?

Belonging to NAIWE has introduced me to new colleagues and brought a welcome partnership for my “Be a Better Freelancer”® conference.

 

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

The beauty of being an independent writer and editor (etc.) is that I’m never bored by my work, am always meeting new people and learning new things, and have a life I enjoy. I wish colleagues the best of luck in all of your freelancing endeavors and hope you’ll all participate in the “Be a Better Freelancer”® conference!

Categories: Member Benefits, Member of the Month, The Freelance Life Podcast

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Days to Celebrate in August

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