National Association of Independent Writers & Editors
Geoff Hart has recently published the 4th edition of Effective Onscreen Editing, which covers Microsoft Word 2016 for both Macs and Windows. NAIWE members receive 22% off the print book or 25% off the e-book!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
It’s the end of the year. A time for holiday parties and festivities, and as a business owner, it is a time for me to touch my current and former clients with holiday cards.
While I have spent the month of November writing and addressing these cards, December is when they are mailed out, so for the rest of the month I spend it focusing on my business and planning for the new year.
I review my business’s mission statement and how it affects my marketing plan. I review the types of clients I have worked for and how our relationship has stayed true to my mission statement.
I also review my monthly marketing plan’s goals, to determine the ones I want to continue focusing on and ones that need to be updated. These goals allow me to proactively market each month without delays, as the marketing plan is one of my guides and maps to success!
NAIWE offers On-Demand Training to help freelancers with their marketing plans.
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.
We wanted to get to know Ashley Henyan (NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
What is the span of a social network?
A social network is not limited to those who follow your channel or like your page. A social network is, for the most part, unlimited — especially considering that it only takes one “like” or “retweet” to exponentially expand your reach.
What is the average number of items in a toolkit to help engage a network of social advocates?
A toolkit is really a fancy way of describing a single-page online guide for your social advocates — the friends, family members, and colleagues who support your work or business and already like your page. In that essence, a toolkit is a single-page, Word document. However, the amount of content you incorporate into that document is completely up to you.
Once I have created my toolkit, is it one and done?
No! As your products expand and your brand evolves, you will want to update your toolkit. You might want to considering doing so quarterly, seasonally, or even in alignment with a new product launch, campaign, or event. Being timely and relevant is essential to stand out in the digital world. Your brand’s toolkit should be timely and relevant too!
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Are you posting and posting and posting on your social media platforms only to find your high school best friend and your mom are the only two followers liking or sharing your content? Then our upcoming webinar is JUST FOR YOU!
Get tips and tricks for engaging your followers and gaining new ones. You will also learn how to create a toolkit to help engage a network of social advocates to work for you, bringing greater visibility to your brand.
You can join in this conversation on December 9, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on building your social media presence. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
Based on recent dialog in the NAIWE discussion group, publishing professionals use references (and many prefer to have them in hard copy, rather than digital). While some of our references may differ, depending on the services we offer, a lot of the references mentioned were the same no matter the services (or perhaps many of us offer several services).
With that in mind, here are some of the references mentioned that NAIWE members like to have:
Software mentioned include
NAIWE’s executive director April Michelle Davis was one of the selected speakers at the Eleventh Annual Navigating Your Writing Life Symposium. The 2021 theme for this event was Your Writing Journey: Shooting for the Stars; true to the theme, April Michelle presented her value packed seminar Critiquing Your First Pages.
In her webinar, April Michelle emphasized the importance of the opening pages, or the first 1,000 words: sharing her self-realized four goals and 10 components that help writers become authors with published books.
This webinar is also representation of NAIWE’s mission to learn how other freelancers use their skills to create financial stability and how you can do it too!
You have access via NAIWE’s On-Demand Training to listen to April Michelle’s complete presentation as the live session of this seminar was limited to just 45 minutes. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10. And just $30 for non-members.
Today’s podcast episode is a Book Chat episode, where we get to know one of the books that has been published by a fellow NAIWE member.
Our guest today is Marcia Rosen.
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen) is a marketing and public relations advisor for authors and a senior team member creating out-of-the-box strategies for a marketing/advertising agency and client projects. She was owner and founder of a business/marketing and public relations agency and consulting firm in New York City; The Hamptons; and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the company served as advisors to a wide range of national, regional, and local clientele. Marcia has presented book marketing and public relations programs at local and national events, including major book conferences, for nearly 20 years. In addition, she has worked with numerous authors developing and implementing plans to create an awareness of them as authors and gain recognition and sales for their books, including book launch campaigns and ongoing actions both through social media and traditional activities. Marcia is the author of ten books. She has published numerous articles and is a member of Sisters In Crime Los Angeles and Albuquerque, Central Coast Writers, Public Safety Writer’s Association, and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.
Q: How long have you been a writer? And what piqued your interest about this industry?
I’ve been writing books for almost twenty years, first business, then memoir and last eight two mystery series. I wanted to be a writer since I was 14.
Q: Is this your primary profession, or do you have other careers?
It is now. Prior to this, I owned a full-service marketing and public relations agency offices in New York, California, and New Mexico.
Q: When did you first have the idea for this book? And what inspired you to actually write this book?
The idea of the Senior Sleuths Mystery series was a combination of loving the Thin Man series and wanting to write mysteries and adventures with seniors being active, interesting, exciting, and adventurous with a touch of romance mixed in with murder.
Q: What prompted you to publish the book when you did?
Good timing for seniors and me as a senior.
Q: What did you learn while working on this book? And what were some challenges you faced during the writing or publication of this book?
I kept at it same as in business. I don’t listen to negative voices, only let people I trust read and edit it.
Q: What avenues have you used to market your book? And which ones were the most successful for you?
Lots! Signings at bookstores and conferences, social media actions, networking, guests on blogs and not going programs on zoom, which are very helpful.
Q: Where has this book been mentioned, and has it won any awards?
It has been mentioned on Goodreads, Amazon, social media, mystery blogs, Mystery Scene Magazine, and it placed second with Public Safety Writer’s Association—a great organization. It won first place for writing, “My Memoir Workbook.”
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our listeners?
Accept and act on how important it is to stay visible with your book and you as an author.
December: National Write a Business Plan Month. As a freelancer, you are a business owner, so consider writing a business plan this month!
December 26: National Thank-you Note Day. It is a day to get some note cards, paper, pen, envelopes and stamps to write special thank yous.
December 31: No Interruptions Day. This is a day set aside for getting organized for the new year by cleaning up your work space without interruptions.
Easy Relationship Application (EZRA) is a database to house all of the information for your small business! EZRA was developed by Editorial Inspirations to meet the record keeping needs of freelancers and their businesses. NAIWE members receive a $50 savings! And there’s a free 30-day trial available.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
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 the typical length of author podcast and Zoom interviews?
The average length is an hour with time included for questions and answers. It is very important in every way to be prepared!
Is it acceptable for authors to exchange guest appearances on each other’s podcasts?
Yes, if they are agreeable to the idea. Everyone is different.
What different approaches should authors use for podcast vs. Zoom?
Confirm who the audience is and let them know why you think their audience will be interested in what you have to say. Pitch an idea, not just promoting your book. I’ve pitched how to write a mystery or memoir, and the host always promotes my books.
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How do you reach your potential market, especially now with limited opportunities for in-person events at bookstores and many writers conferences cancelled? As a marketing/public relations professional and agency founder, Marcia Rosen knows authors are like any business and they should create a presence and consistent message by implementing various marketing strategies.
Two valuable marketing approaches to consider: Author Podcast and Zoom Interviews.
Millions of people are listening to podcasts. Online surveys have revealed over 70 million Americans listen to podcasts each month. Online statistics assert, “beyond any doubt, podcasts are a potential goldmine for promoting your book(s).”
Bookstores, libraries, and writing organizations offer Zoom programs, which include interviewing authors, presenting author talks on genre specific topics, and, of course, book marketing.
During this program Marcia will also discuss booking an appearance as a podcast or Zoom guest, do’s and don’ts of being a successful guest, and using these interviews to promote yourself on other social media platforms and your own website.
You can join in this conversation on November 16, at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on author marketing. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
The 2021 Be a Better Freelancer conference was three days of sessions orchestrated by April Michelle Davis, executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, and Ruth Thaler-Carter, founder of Communication Central.
The lineup of industry speakers, such as Laura Briggs, Nicole Evelina, and Jake Poinier, was representative of the best. Each one was knowledgeable in their field and kept our attention with a funny side of the subject, sharing their experiences to make our road easier. The topics were attention grabbers and right on target for the times, including topics such as pricing projects, saving for retirement, website usability, and selling your book.
This conference is top notch, and many are already looking forward to participating in next year’s conference.