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Member Benefit: Webinars

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Each month, we feature a member of the NAIWE Board of Experts on a topic that is designed to help you grow in your field. Our experts are successful full-time writers and editors, and they impart a lot of wisdom in an hour (or sometimes more).

Members attend at a discounted rate of $10 for each webinar. Nonmembers may register for individual webinars at $30 each. Just attending the classes without joining the association would add up to $348 for a year, so this is a benefit of great value.

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

Greg Smith, The Agile Writing Expert

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

 

Do you offer any marketing ploys unique to a story line with a villain?

Creating a unique villain, one that is compelling, will make your novel more interesting–perhaps even more-so than creating an interesting hero. You see, your hero can only be as strong as your villain. If you have a weak villain, he is easy to defeat–and so your hero doesn’t have much to fight against. But create a strong villain–one that is even stronger than your hero–then the villain’s defeat is even more powerful.

 

Can you suggest some advertising websites that cater to a villain in the story line?

One great website–not just for villains–but for anything having to do with stories is TV Tropes. You’ll find a vast encyclopedia dedicated to all the tropes, symbols, devices, and stereotypes used in fiction. Also, check out BookBub to create an instant media presence for your book. It’s advertised as a site for readers, but they will advertise your book to thousands of readers on their list as well.

 

Belonging to an association is key for all freelancers. What associations do you recommend and why?

Of course, NAIWE is a great start. The Independent Book Publishers Association is a super organization for self-published authors. And if you haven’t already, check out Publisher’s Weekly. Get on their mailing list to keep abreast of everything going on in the publishing industry. I was one of the first in my circle to know of a Barnes & Nobles sale and alerted all my followers to the demise of the Romance Writers of America, thanks to Publisher’s Weekly.

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You’ve probably heard of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey.” This is the time-worn pattern of stories that dates to antiquity. But as every story must have a hero (or protagonist), there must also be a villain (or antagonist). In this hour-long webinar, Greg Smith will review the Hero’s Journey, then lay out the Villain’s Journey—its similarities and differences. Greg will describe why you need an oppositional character (who is not always villainous) and how a villain becomes a villain. Greg will also describe the pitfalls of creating the “pure evil” villain and how to avoid a weak villain. Tune in and learn how to craft “The Villain’s Journey.”

You can join in this conversation on January 23, at 8 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on the importance of a strong villain.

The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. To register for this webinar, send an email with your name and telephone number and an invoice will be sent to you for the amount owed.

Days to Celebrate in January

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January 2: National Science Fiction Day. American author and Boston University professor of biochemistry Isaac Asimov was born on January 2, 1920. He was best known for his works of science fiction and his popular science books.

January 5: National Screenwriters Day. Inside the industry, these screenwriters are well known for their ability to crack the story, create great roles for actors, and write memorable dialogue.

January 6: National Technology Day. From the wheel to smartphones, technology has been changing the world. Recognize those achievements and look to the future for more advancements in technology.

January 13: National Clean off Your Desk Day. This day is an opportunity to begin your new year with a clean and organized work space. Whether your desk is in a private or shared office, cubicle, home, or a make-shift desk on the counter, having your work space uncluttered, organized, refreshed, and clean will help you work more efficiently and give you a sense of serenity.

January 16: Get to Know Your Customers Day. When businesses get to know your customers, you also get to know more about what you need to grow.

January 18: National Thesaurus Day. Whether you are looking for a new word or trying to complete a sentence, the thesaurus can be your best friend. Expanding your vocabulary improves both written and spoken communication skills and creative writing abilities and can be helpful in advancing your career.

January 23: National Handwriting Day. Reintroduce yourself to a pen or pencil and a piece of paper. According to the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association, it is a chance for all to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.

January 24: National Compliment Day. What a wonderful way to brighten someone’s day or to give credit for a job well done!

January 28: National Fun at Work Day. Many people spend a good portion of their lives at work, so why should they not try to enjoy it?

Member Benefit: Affiliate Bonuses

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AFFILIATE BONUSES

Because your professional affiliations are part of your résumé, a “Member of NAIWE” badge image is provided so that you can add it to your social media profiles or other websites you own. Then when someone clicks on the link from your page and joins NAIWE, you earn 10% of their initial dues payment. It’s NAIWE’s way of saying, “Thank you for posting your NAIWE affiliation.”

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

MJ Courchesne, NAIWE’s Copyright & Permissions Expert

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We wanted to get to know MJ Courchesne (NAIWE’s Copyright & Permissions Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

 

What aspects of publishing can be turned into avenues for marketing?

Whenever you execute a license of your material to a third party by way of an excerpt, new edition (think audio), permission, or other adaptation, you can think of that as a sort of “ad” for your book and your publishing brand (you as an author or you as a publisher). Essentially, any new venue that you can reach beyond traditional sales is a good opportunity to call back to the original publication and generate more sales or at the least awareness of your product. Of course, you need to ensure that the license includes an appropriate credit line, thumbnail of your cover, or other callback to your original work so that people can read more!

 

Can protecting your intellectual property with a copyright be an advantage when it comes to advertising it?

Copyright vests with the creator from the moment of creation, but registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is a useful (and recommended) way to protect your intellectual property from possible infringement that may occur online or in other venues. Although I’d still say it’s rare for someone to be infringed from an advertisement of their work, it’s good to have that protection in place. Registration is certainly not a requirement, but I usually recommend my clients take that extra step for the peace of mind it offers, especially once that title is out there in the world.

 

You belong to several associations. Do you find that being a member of associations leads to more advertising opportunities? 

Membership in professional organizations and associations certainly helps me to network and find those people who might need my services, so I always look forward to joining associations where I might be of use to their members. Education is a big part of my business, and so webinars, talks, and simple networking are useful in educating authors and publishers about issues surrounding copyright and permissions. It’s all about finding people when they need you.

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As a writer, you know the value in your work, and have a keen interest in protecting it. You also may know that your work is copyrighted to you as soon as you put thoughts into a fixed medium, so why should you bother registering your copyright with the US Copyright Office? Using case studies and scenarios, this webinar will review the basics of copyright law in the US, why you should register your work, how to go about registration, and some common misconceptions of copyright, permissions, and fair use.

You can join in this conversation on December 16, at 3 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on copyright and your works.

The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. To register, send an email with your name and telephone number.

Days to Celebrate in December

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December: National Write a Business Plan Month. As a freelancer, you are a business owner, so consider writing a business plan this month!

December 3: National Day of Giving. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

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.

John McIntyre, NAIWE’s Grammar Expert

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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.

What is one thing that you learned about your craft (or grammar) the hard way, and what benefits have you received from it?

In an early post on my blog, “You Don’t Say” at Baltimoresun.com, I published a simplistic explanation of the that/which distinction and was smartly rapped on the knuckles by Geoffrey Pullum, the distinguished linguist. The discovery that having been a newsroom grammar expert did not make me a full-fledged expert was humbling, and it led me to a reexamination—continuing—of what I think and know about grammar and usage. I learn, and unlearn, something nearly every day.

 

What has been your most rewarding grammar experience (or correction), and how was it rewarding? Self? Monetary? Clients?

Blogging since 2005 has given me an audience across the United States and internationally of people who are interested in language and receptive to learning more. I’ve formed friendships with fellow editors, linguists, and lexicographers, some of the smartest and funniest people you could ever expect to encounter. (One of the people I’ve come to know is Professor Pullum, who has endorsed some of my better-informed posts.)

 

What do you associate with grammar expertise?

I call myself an informed presctiptivist. Editing is inherently prescriptive, because it involves making choices, often subjective ones, about what would be better in the text. But I have no truck with the stale pedantry of shibboleths, bogus rules, and superstitions about language retailed by some people who call themselves prescriptivists and embrace the false prescriptivist/descriptivist dichotomy.

Grammar expertise requires flexibility, attention to register, and awareness that the fundamental rule of grammar and usage is “generally, with exceptions.”

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We know that split infinitives are okay, sentences can begin with conjunctions, sentence-ending prepositions are perfectly good English, and it’s okay to use hopefully as a sentence adverb. We know this because grammarians and linguists have been gleefully exploding shibboleths and bogus rules. But what rules or usages are worth maintaining? In this webinar, John McIntyre of The Baltimore Sun will examine some defensibles. Should we maintain the imply/infer distinction? Is the traditional sense of “beg the question” in logic hopelessly lost? Is “whom” dead to us?

Sign up, take part, and work out where you want to stand your ground.

You can join in this conversation on November 19, at 2 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on grammar.

The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. To register, send an email with your name and telephone number.

Days to Celebrate in November

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November: Family Stories Month. Record or listen to stories from relatives of all ages.

November: National Family Literacy Month. Enjoy some family readings.

November: National Life Writing Month. Write about yourself and your life as you have experiences it thus far.

November: National Novel Writing Month. Use this month to write the first draft draft of your novel.

November 1: National Author’s Day. Celebrate your favorite authors and the books they have written.

November 1: National Family Literacy Day. Read a book with your family today.

November 4: Job Action Day. Get the tools and resources to master a new job search and land the career of your dreams!

November 6: National Stress Awareness Day. Develop a routine to help you manage your stress.

November 11-16: National Young Readers Week.

November 29: Electronic Greetings Day. Send an electronic greeting to each of the clients you haven’t heard from in a while.

November 29: You’re Welcomegiving Day. Share a “You’re welcome” with at least one client today.

November 30: Computer Security Day. Help secure your computer by installing and running antivirus software

November 30: Small Business Saturday. Support at your local small businesses.

Carol Tice, NAIWE’s Content Marketing Expert

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We wanted to get to know Carol Tice (NAIWE’s Content Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What wins have you personally seen from LinkedIn marketing?

I’ve been hired by three Fortune 500 companies after they found me on LinkedIn—Costco, Alaska Airlines/Horizon, and Labor Ready (now TrueBlue)—among many other inbound leads I’ve received through my profile and the content I post.

Why bother with content marketing on LinkedIn—what’s the upside here?

LinkedIn is THE social platform for connecting with prospective clients all over the world—it’s the only place where you can overtly state you’re looking for clients without getting blocked or banned. It’s also an easy place to quickly build authority with posts on LinkedIn’s blog, a/k/a Pulse. In my mastermind program, I’ve coached students for several years on how to attract clients on LinkedIn, and they’ve seen reliable success in a fairly short time.

I’ve posted on LinkedIn, but nothing ever happens. Why?

There are a few fundamentals you need in order to attract attention on LinkedIn—your profile needs to be enticing and complete (including keyword phrases for your industries or types of writing, so LinkedIn knows who you’re looking for), you need to build up your connection count, and be active on the platform.

Once you complete your profile, you have to know what to post and how to write a STRONG headline to make your content on LinkedIn work for you. I see many writers posting about writing topics or their personal life, rather than on topics their target clients would be likely to click on and read. I’ll be discussing the differences there, and how to craft content that moves your marketing forward.

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So you’ve got your LinkedIn profile set up. Now what? What do you write in your status updates, or in LinkedIn’s articles section, to build your authority and attract the clients you want?

This example-filled presentation will show you multiple strategies and approaches for creating content for LinkedIn that builds your business — even if you don’t have much time to spare.

You can join in this conversation on October 23, at 2 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on book marketing.

The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. To register, send an email with your name and telephone number.

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