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Blog

Book Review: The Scientist, the Psychic, and the Nut

August 23, 2024 Post a comment

The Scientist, the Psychic, and the Nut

Charlene Bell Dietz

 

A scientist is naturally filled with curiosity and a lot of questions, but when Beth discovers that her recently deceased Aunt Kathleen was her mother, Beth is filled with more questions and heartache about never truly knowing her biological mother, nor who her father was.

The Scientist, the Psychic, and the Nut is filled with suspense, history, and science — all happening simultaneously while Beth and her husband leave Colorado to go on a Caribbean vacation!

To escape the sadness of the loss of her aunt–mother (and honor a dying woman’s advice), Beth books a vacation to rekindle the love she had for her husband. However, Beth also plans to use the trip to look into the history of the area where her aunt–mother lived with her lover (and perhaps Beth’s father) for the last 50 years.

The author, Charlene Bell Dietz, captures the mundane in life while also adding a little bit of mystery to keep readers’ interest. She uses both dialogue and prose to show the bantering of two people who have been married for many years.

A book of love, loss, and change, The Scientist, the Psychic, and the Nut brings about mystery through Beth’s many questions and women’s intuition while her husband’s skepticism and the island residents aloofness keep her grounded in reality — but without any answers.

Categories: Book Reviews, Member Benefits

At-Will Training

August 16, 2024 Post a comment

NAIWE believes that training is essential to keep your skills up-to-date and even to gain new skills to boost your success.

With this in mind, NAIWE offers webinars each month, which members and nonmembers may attend, to become familiar with new subject matter, learn new skills, polish existing talents, and get their questions answered by experts.

All of these webinars are also recorded so you can access them in On-Demand Training at a time that is convenient to you!

 

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 four books.

Categories: Member Benefits, Professional Development

Member Benefit: Member’s Library

August 9, 2024 Post a comment

Member Benefit #18

The Member’s Library provides articles written by current and former members of our Board of Experts on many industry-related topics to help your business grow. Topics include

  • What to charge
  • Why you need a marketing plan
  • Power proofreading
  • Low-cost marketing ideas that can build your business
  • How to work with editors
  • Why you may want to work with a business coach
  • And many more!

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

Categories: Member Benefits

Amy Waters Yarsinske, NAIWE’s Nonfiction Expert

August 2, 2024 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know Amy Waters Yarsinske (NAIWE’s Nonfiction Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Is it considered professional for an editor to start a conversation with, “since I have not seen the manuscript, the price I am quoting is based on a manuscript in good condition”?

Absolutely yes. This is the way to professionally preface any conversation with someone who might want an editor’s services.

 

How often have you had a manuscript portrayed in better condition than it is?

Almost always. Whether I take the project as a professional courtesy or from an unsolicited query normally couched as “could you take a look?” the condition is relatively lower quality or just very bad. The services of a book doctor would be unnecessary if such manuscripts were in fair to good shape. Publishers’ in-house editors can handle those (in most cases, although publishers are increasingly kicking some of those to outside resources such as firms offering ghost/by-line writers to clean up a promising project).

 

Before accepting a project, do you advise that editors ask if the manuscript has been looked at by anyone else?

Yes, and when one of my publishers asks me to look at another writer’s work, it indicates they have had in-house editorial review at least once and attempted an edit to great frustration. Once such an in-house review rejects that editorial process, and if the publisher still wants the work, they either recommend the submitting author(s) engage a book doctor at their own expense or the publisher engages the same, as was the case more recently with me, to do an overhaul of the work. There are very few publishers who would pay for a book doctor on their own dime.

——————

A funny thing happened on the way to editing a large manuscript . . . A case of first impressions – not good ones – ended the editing effort before the end of the first chapter . . . section . . . it was hard to tell. The submission had come from someone who was not a writer but the publisher was anxious to acquire the subject matter for publication. This meant, for me, a book doctoring job more than an edit but it was proposed as a straight edit, oh, and sight unseen. But the manuscript was in bad shape on arrival and impossible to follow. When it takes months to plow through one “chapter” of a book of undefined scope, it is not an editing gig. This book forced me to wear two hats: developmental and copy editor – in basic terms – a book doctor with a patient on life support. Let’s talk about it.

You can join in this conversation on August 21 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on self-editing for your editor. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Amy Waters Yarsinske is the author of several best-selling, award-winning nonfiction books, published regionally, nationally, and internationally. Amy’s proposal technique was featured in literary agent/author Peter Rubie’s Telling the Story: How to Write and Sell Narrative Nonfiction; she also did a National Press Club panel with Rubie during the No One Left Behind press tour. She has been a regular contributor with international, national, and regional media, to include continued guest spots on national radio. An American in the Basement: The Betrayal of Captain Scott Speicher and the Cover-up of His Death won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Non-fiction in 2014, and No One Left Behind: The Lt. Comdr. Michael Scott Speicher Story earned her literary awards, an incredible press tour, and national/international recognition. With over 30 years in the publishing industry, Amy has published over 85 nonfiction books, most of them spotlighting current affairs, the military, history and the environment with a few biographies and corporate histories interspersed. Amy graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she earned her bachelor of arts in English and economics and the University of Virginia School of Architecture, where she earned her Master of Planning and was a DuPont Fellow and Lawn/Range resident.

Categories: Board of Experts, Events

Book Review: Find Me in the Time Before

July 29, 2024 Post a comment

2023 NAIWE Young Adult Book Winner

 

Find Me in the Time Before

Author: Robin Stevens Payes

In Find Me in the Time Before, the author Robin Stevens Payes has succeeded in the challenge of writing in the language used by teenagers as well as in first person and in present tense—and also finding ways to weave in history lessons!

Being that this is book 4 in the series, the reader may not have read the prior three books, but enough information is shared through the storyline to keep the reader from being lost. Also, the references to previous adventures will intrigue readers to enjoy all of Charley’s time travel books.

Payes keeps the plot in her book very close to real life. Charley wants to experience high school life by attending home coming, while Billy would rather be taking college courses, though his parents won’t let him. Charley and Billy are both highly intelligent students, leading them to have some difficulties in school with their peers, teachers, and parents, as well as even more adventures.

Through their time travel, Charley and Billy visit famous happenings of the past. Payes uses an entertaining plot to bring history to life to educate youth on some important events. To enhance the history, Payes uses images throughout her novel. She includes photos of statues, locations, and famous people that are visited or discussed by Charley and Billy. These photographs allow the reader to better understand what or who Charley and Billy are discussing and seeing.

Because Charley and Billy are highly intelligent, sometimes when they speak about time travel the story can become hard to follow, but the passages are never long, and they reinforce the intelligence of the characters.

Even at 400+ pages, this is a quick and entertaining read, in part because Charley speaks as a typical teenager in fragments and with a lot of hashtags and abbreviations. This informative read would be a nice supplemental book to accompany a student’s history lesson. It is representative of the joy of loving learning—being entertained while learning!

Congratulations, Robin Stevens Payes’s Find Me in the Time Before for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!

Categories: Book Award Winners, Book Reviews

Days to Celebrate in August

July 26, 2024 Post a comment

August: National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines.

August 3: National Play Outside Day. This is a day to spend a few extra minutes outside, enjoying the fresh air.

August 5: National Work Like a Dog Day. This is a day to pay attention to how hard you are working.

August 5-11: Simplify Your Life Week. This week was dedicated to be an encouragement to refocus your life and declutter. A suggestion is to eliminate things that cause stress or anxiety.

August 8: National Happiness Happens Day. Happiness is a choice. It is not a destination, but a life-long pursuit.

August 8: National Dollar Day. This day commemorates the day Congress established the U.S. monetary system in 1786.

August 9: National Book Lovers Day. A day for those who love to read to find a favorite reading place and settle in with a good book.

August 10: National Lazy Day. Nearing the end of summer, we all need a day to just kick back and do very little.

August 15: National Relaxation Day. Take this day to slow down, unwind, and relax!

August 25-31: Be Kind to Humankind Week. This is a week when we can make a difference in someone’s life by being kind to them.

August 27: National Just Because Day. This is a day to do something unexpected for another (or even for yourself) just because!

Categories: National Days

NAIWE Reinforcements Available to YOU

July 19, 2024 Post a comment

The primary focus of NAIWE is to support its members as they create multiple streams of income and develop the marketing components of their career.

Therefore, the members benefits that NAIWE highlights the most relate to marketing the products and services of its members.

Your NAIWE Website. You may have read about how a strong presence on the web can build your publishing-related career, but you may not have wanted to spend a lot of time and money creating a website from the ground up. As a member of NAIWE, a professionally-designed website will be available to you. Adding content to your new website is as easy as typing an email, and you will be provided simple how-to instructions to get you started.

Your NAIWE Blog. A feature of your NAIWE website is a blog where you can reach out to readers and potential clients with business breakthroughs, new books published, speaking engagements, articles, tips, news, resources, and more! Every time you post on your NAIWE blog, NAIWE will re-post it on its social media accounts, expanding your reach even further!

NAIWE Newsletter. Posts on your NAIWE blog may be promoted in The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work With Words, which is the NAIWE newsletter that has a subscriber list of over 9,000, as of January 2024. Both members and prospective clients subscribe to The Edge, so your blog posts promoted in the newsletter become calling cards to introduce yourself and advertise your books and services.

NAIWE Social Media Marketing. The posts you share on your member website are eligible to be promoted on NAIWE’s social media pages. Many post titles and links are posted on NAIWE’s social media to increase your readership.

Guest Posts on the NAIWE Blog. As a NAIWE member, you may guest post on the NAIWE blog. All guest posts will include a member byline and a link to the member’s active NAIWE website.

Guest Articles in The Edge. The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work with Words is the NAIWE monthly newsletter that encourages and equips publishing professionals. It features information about NAIWE, professional development opportunities, and engaging material written by NAIWE members.

NAIWE Podcast. Members have the opportunity to be interviewed on the NAIWE podcast. This benefit has great PR potential, as you can post the recording of your podcast interview on your own site. This interview will provide an opportunity for you to share your story with readers or potential clients and network with other members. And the positive press helps to build your career!

 

 

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 four books.

Categories: Member Benefits, News

Member Benefit: Personalized Consultation

July 12, 2024 Post a comment

Member Benefit #17

Personalized consultations with an expert of over 20 years in the publishing industry. Get free confidential business advice, help with keeping on track with business and marketing goals, assistance with completing a business plan, and tips for managing the business of your business.

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

Categories: Member Benefits

Jake Poinier, NAIWE’s Freelance Expert

July 5, 2024 Post a comment

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

What considerations should be factored into every price?

The more detail you can put in your calculation, the better. At a minimum, you want to know the length/format/content you are dealing with, what you’re expected to do to it, communications/meeting time, revisions anticipated, and deadline. A proper estimate also needs to incorporate a ton of gray areas. The more unknowns there are, the more conservative you should be about estimating–which is particularly true with new, unproven clients.

 

Is it ethical for freelancers to revisit a price in the midst of a project?

Everything about price should be spelled out and agreed upon prior to the start of the project; you can’t just change a price midstream because the project (or client!) turns out to be more challenging than you estimated. One of those elements would include price implications of tasks that are outside of the scope of work. So, if you agree that a project is a 5-page website and the client expands that to 10 pages, you need to have a contract that defines what happens–and you should be very clear with the client when they are making requests outside the scope. In other words, you don’t want to just surprise them with a bigger invoice.

 

Should freelancers set their prices to be comparable to other freelancers’ offering the same services?

In business, there’s no requirement to be comparable, so I’d say “should” doesn’t really apply. If you personally know freelancers who have similar skills, experience, and client types, however, you’re likely to be in the same range, simply because that’s what the market is willing to bear. This is why I don’t put much faith in industry surveys–you have no idea who is answering them.

——————

Freelance pricing isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition — and overlooking the nuances can leave you feeling overworked and underpaid. In this webinar, Jake “Dr. Freelance” Poinier discusses the principles of estimating, incorporating a range of diverse practice examples with real-world project descriptions and client scenarios.

You can join in this conversation on July 25 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on estimating your projects. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Jake Poinier made the leap into freelance writing and editing in 1999 after a decade of positions in the publishing industry, giving him key insights from both sides of the desk. As the founder and owner of Boomvang Creative Group, he has worked with a diverse array of Fortune 500 and small businesses, consumer and trade magazines, and independent authors. Jake is committed to helping freelancers improve their businesses and shares his knowledge and experiences frequently as a speaker at industry conferences, through webinars, and on his blog.

Categories: Board of Experts, Events, Professional Development

Days to Celebrate in July

June 28, 2024 Post a comment

July 4: Independence Day. The day after the first anniversary of American independence, John Adams wrote a letter to his daughter Abigail about the celebrations that occurred in Philadelphia. Take a moment to reflect and write a letter about how your town celebrates this holiday.

July 5: National Workaholics Day. Work isn’t everything! Use this day to remind you to have a proper work-life balance.

July 12: National Simplicity Day. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817. Thoreau was an advocate for living a life of simplicity. In our busy lifestyles, National Simplicity Day is the time to take a step back and begin to simplify our lives. One can start by decluttering and striving for balance.

July 15: National Give Something Away Day. In the United States, giving is on the rise. What can you give to your clients or to the publishing industry?

July 17. World Emoji Day. Emojis are images that express, similar to emoticons (emotions + icons) that are produced from an arrangement of keyboard characters.

July 18: Get to Know Your Customers Day. When businesses get to know your customers, you also get to know more about your need to grow. Reach out to your patrons and get to know them better.

July 19: National Play Day. Summer is in full swing, and today is a great day to to unleash your inner child, spark your creativity, and learn why play is an important part of living a happy life.

July 19: National Words with Friends Day. People have always challenged each other with word puzzles and games. Honor the intellectual spirit and camaraderie that come with playing word games.

July 21: National Be Someone Day. Through your business, be someone who betters a child’s life.

July 20: Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day. Created by author and motivational speaker Martha J. Ross-Rodgers, this day is intended for all to let go of the past and live for the present. Make a list of your business regrets and then throw it away and live for today.

July 26: National All or Nothing Day. Throw caution in the wind and go for broke. What is one business challenge that you would like to overcome?

July 26: National System Administrator Appreciation Day. Show appreciation to your IT professional.

Categories: National Days

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Member Benefit: Discount on Fictionary’s An Insider’s View of Story Editing Course

June 13, 2025

Book Review: Vampire Grooms and Spectre Brides

June 2, 2025

Days to Celebrate in June

May 30, 2025

Book Review: Sinking Your Teeth into Proper Dental Care

May 26, 2025

Book Review: Words Left Unspoken

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