NAIWE NEWS: Recent Episodes
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Member Benefit #24
NAIWE is pleased to promote Hilary Cadman’s online courses in PerfectIt and EndNote. Hilary has been editing and training for over 20 years. The 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.
NAIWE members receive 25% off all courses!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
2024 NAIWE Children’s Book WinnerImmune Heroes
Author: Namita Gandhi
Children are naturally very curious creatures, and they usually have many questions. Children often enjoy exploring and learning. And most small children enjoy learning about and discovering their bodies.
Namita Gandhi’s latest book, Immune Heroes, helps kids learn what happens inside their bodies when they fall and get an “ouchie.”
In the book, all of the cells have names that play on their technical names but are also much easier for children to say and remember. Captain T, the helper thymus cell or T cell, leads the team, enlisting the help of the necessary cells to protect the body from the enemy bacteria.
The book describes the entire process of how the body protects itself from bacteria and which cells are called on to perform certain duties. The images in the book aid children in visualizing what they may have read about in textbooks and encourage children to enjoy exploring science.
Immune Heroes brings out the fun in learning with children!
Congratulations, Namita Ganghi’s Immune Heroes for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!
February: National Self-Check Month. Take charge of your health, and increase your odds of avoiding chronic diseases or other preventable diseases.
February: Free and Open Source Software Month. Recognize the cooperative approach to computer programming, open licensing, and free distribution of software.
February: National Library Lover’s Month. Enjoy your library, but also consider volunteering your time this month in a library.
February 1: National Get Up Day. This is a day to persevere, to pick ourselves up when we’ve fallen. We never know when our efforts to seek a goal or overcome an obstacle will encourage another person.
February 1: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.
February 4: National Thank a Mail Carrier Day. As a small business, you likely work your mail carrier a little harder. Let’s take time out of our day to thank the mail person who is responsible for getting your mail in your mailbox six days a week.
February 7: National Send a Card to a Friend Day. Send a note to a colleague or client to let them know you are thinking about them.
February 9-15: National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week. Celebrate these hardworking writers by showing some gratitude, highlighting a fun behind-the-scenes moment.
February 10: National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Over time, files and programs that are unused clog the memory of your computer. This is a day to take some time to do the needed care on your computers. Organize your files and folders. Delete junk files. Delete duplicate files. Delete old files and programs that are not being used.
February 11: National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. Think positive. Don’t worry and don’t stress over the little things. Life is too short.
February 11: National Make a Friend Day. Get to know one of your clients a little better. Meeting new people can help sharpen your social skills and keep you from becoming lonely.
February 13: National Giving Hearts Day. Make a donation from your business to a charity that you love.
February 17: National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Write a note or do something nice for one of your clients today.
February 20. National Leadership Day. Throughout every day, someone influences another person in every interaction. Take a moment today to thank someone who has had a positive effect on your life.
February 20. National Comfy Day. Spend a few moments today to get comfy and enjoy a good book!
February 26: National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Share a favorite fairy tale with friends or family.
NAIWE is open to all people. Our members are publishing professionals who have been in the industry for many years, and our members are also those just starting out or interested in joining the publishing industry.
All of our members are treated with respect and valued within the NAIWE community, and we are thankful to have all of these voices.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #23
Bowker offers a wide range of tools and resources authors can use to publish and promote their titles. We make books easier to discover, evaluate, and experience — connecting publishers, authors, and booksellers with readers. Wherever you are in your writing or publishing journey, Bowker has what you need.
NAIWE members receive 15% off select marketing and editorial products and services.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Karin Beery (NAIWE’s Fiction Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
Why do writers get caught in a telling cycle?
It depends on which type of telling you’re referring to, as there are two types, which I refer to as “big” telling and “little” telling. Big telling refers to info dumps — any time an author stops the story to explain something, usually back story. In most of those cases, I don’t think the authors trust themselves or their readers: they don’t trust themselves to weave the details into the story and they don’t trust their readers to notice and remember those details. Little telling is often a case of rushing. It’s faster (and easier) to write she was beautiful than to describe her through the point-of-view of the character’s eyes.
Do you recommend that writers develop characters before writing the scenes?
It depends on the writer. If the writer is okay making revisions to the story, then it’s okay to draft scenes before knowing all the details about a character (I’m a better editor than writer, so I rewrite a lot). If the writer doesn’t want to make a lot of revisions to the story, it’s crucial to understand as much as possible about a character before beginning to write the story. In either case, having a basic knowledge of characters is a must.
Would you suggest writers work with developmental editors to help fix mistakes?
Again, it depends on the writer and their goals. If writers are in a rush to finish a story and submit it, developmental editors can speed up the process, as it takes years to develop fiction-writing skills. I do recommend developmental editors to new writers who aren’t getting any responses to their query letters–a good editor can help them spot any plot/character issues that might be turning away agents and publishers.
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Take your self-editing skills to the next level.
- Have you eliminated all the telling?
- Are the characters complex?
- Is every scene necessary?
Most authors will answer “yes!” to these questions. But then editors and readers tell them the descriptions don’t engage them, the characters are stereotypical, and the story dragged.
How do you fix it? By training your writer’s brain to read with an editor’s eye and by recruiting some outside help. In this workshop, we’ll look at common mistakes novelists make, then learn how to identify and fix them.
You can join in this conversation on January 13 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on improving your self-editing skills. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Karin Beery is an award-winning author and editor with experience in traditional and self-publishing, freelance editing, and editing for publishers. She is an active member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, and the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network. Karin’s specialty is substantive fiction editing with an emphasis in romance and women’s fiction.
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 Christine Benner Dixon.
Christine Benner Dixon and her co-author Sharon McDermott have recently published Millions of Suns: On Writing and Life, a collection of craft-of-writing essays. Christine Benner Dixon came to editing from an academic background, with a Ph.D. in English and years in the classroom. Since launching her editing and consulting business in 2019, she has also found more time to write than the teaching life afforded.
Here is a sneak peak of what we discussed.
Q: When did you first have the idea for this book? And what inspired you to actually write this book?
My co-author Sharon and I taught at the same school for several years. As creative writers and creative writing teachers, we had lots in common — even if our approach to our writing practice and instruction were vastly different. In the early pandemic days, Sharon convened a group of writers for an online workshop. It was a beautiful experience, giving us a means of connecting through writing in a fraught time. After one of these workshops, Sharon pulled me aside and asked if I would be interested in writing a book with her. I said yes immediately. We knew very little about what this book would be except for two things: it would be about writing, and it would not be a how-to manual.
Q: Please describe one of your favorite characters from your book.
Although these are nonfiction essays and so do not have traditional characters, it was a happy coincidence that both Sharon and I decided to write about our grandmothers. Mine was a very meek Mennonite woman who found one moment of boldness that became a family story. Sharon’s was a woman so audacious that even the great hereafter couldn’t stop her from coming back to visit her granddaughter and set her straight.
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 learned so much during the writing and publication of this book, both about the act of writing itself and the publication process. Because this was my first book, I encountered every step with our publisher totally fresh: working with an editor at a university press, learning to read a contract, navigating permissions, etc. But of course the greatest learning really was about myself as a writer. It has been enlightening to put a finger on the role that writing plays in my relationships and my sense of self. It forced me to articulate something that has always been implicit in my life.
To learn more about Christine Benner Dixon and her new book Millions of Suns: On Writing and Life, listen to the podcast episode.
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 4: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.
January 5: National Screenwriters Day. Inside the industry, 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 Plan for Vacation Day. It takes planning to work hard, but many people forget to plan to play hard as well. Spend a few moments deciding where you want to go on vacation this year.
January 31: National Fun at Work Day. Many people spend a good portion of their lives at work, so why not enjoy it?
It is always a great time to join NAIWE and become part of a publishing community. However, right now NAIWE is having its winter promotion. Any new member who signs up for automatic renewal membership can receive 50% off their first year’s membership (code: HOLIDAYS)!
Your membership in an association demonstrates commitment, credibility, and professionalism.
Why choose NAIWE?
- You have an immediate internet presence, even if you’re not a technical wizard.
- You’ll learn from our unique focus on building an online presence with multiple streams of income.
- You will benefit from instruction from the NAIWE Board of Experts.
- You are welcome here, even if you are a freelancer who doesn’t fit neatly into a genre or specialty.
- Your business will benefit from our commitment to research, ongoing professional development, and marketing.
- You have a partner who is committed to helping you build your career.
- And finally, NAIWE is the association that truly believes in the power of working independently; setting your own hours; working with people you enjoy; being there for family; having time for friends, travel, and great books; developing multiple streams of income; and marketing with the end goal in mind.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #22
AutoCrit is the online home for authors. We are a software platform where you can plan, write, self-edit, and format your book, all in one place. Join our vibrant Pro Member Community with Pro Member exclusive events and clubs offered every month. If you are looking to grow your craft, enroll in one of our many writing courses or workshops available through AutoCrit Academy. No matter what stage you are in on your writing journey, we’re here to support you. AutoCrit helps you write better, right now.
NAIWE members receive 20% off annual Pro Memberships!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Member Benefit #21
Marlowe Pro from Authors A.I. is a powerful manuscript assessment tool for fiction authors, editors, and publishing industry professionals. Marlowe is the creation of Matthew Jockers, Ph.D., co-author of The Bestseller Code, and a team of data scientists and bestselling authors. Marlowe provides an in-depth critique of your novel within five minutes of uploading it to a secure server.
Marlowe will analyze your novel’s plot structure, pacing, story beats, character traits, subject matter, percentage of dialogue vs. narrative, and readability. Marlowe provides both subject matter and stylistic bestselling comp titles with each manuscript analysis and will also track clichés, repetitive phrases, profane words, misspellings, etc., and deliver the results in an illustrated 32-page, full-color report with actionable insights based on its large database of bestsellers across fiction genres. Authors A.I. is a writers’ community and tech startup founded by more than 100 bestselling authors.
NAIWE members receive (1) 20% off an annual or monthly Marlowe Pro subscription or (2) one complimentary Marlowe Pro Analysis!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Hope Has a Cold Nose
Christine Hassing
Many Americans hold true to the values of our country and feel a calling to serve our country in the military. However, this military experience can take its toll on our service people, leading to veteran lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Christine Hassing, in her book Hope Has a Cold Nose, shares stories of over 20 military veterans and how their service dogs have helped them cope with PTSD. These amazing dogs have been able to sense the onset of a nightmare and wake the veteran before the emotions take hold.
Many of these stories begin with the veteran sharing why they chose to join the military and their commitment to serving their fellow Americans, their low point in feeling lost and unable to reintegrate into society, and then how working with service dogs have benefited their lives.
In these pages, the author uses these powerful and very insightful stories to show how PTSD can change the entirety of a person’s life and how a trained dog can help heal emotional wounds. This collection of stories gives hope to those suffering from PTSD and their families and friends.
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 experienced it thus far.
November: National Novel Writing Month. Use this month to write the first 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 11-15: National Young Readers Week. The focus of the week demonstrates to youth the importance of reading.
November 29: You’re Welcomegiving Day. Share a “You’re welcome” with at least one client today.
November 30: Small Business Saturday. Support your local small businesses.
November 29: Electronic Greetings Day. Send an electronic greeting to the clients you haven’t heard from in a while.
November 30: Computer Security Day. Help secure your computer by installing and running antivirus software.
NAIWE encourages those with a love of the word to be active within the community.
During the first full week of March, NAIWE sponsors Words Matter Week, a holiday that delights in honoring the importance of words. During this week, libraries and other community locations have sponsored events related to the importance of words for people to gather, learn, and have fun.
In the summer, NAIWE leads a summer challenge, incentivizing people to complete those resolutions, piles of paperwork, and outreach projects that have been on their to-do list for too long.
In December, NAIWE announces the winners of that year’s Book Awards contest, promoting well-written books that have been written in the last five years in categories, such as children’s books, coffee table books, genre fiction, graphic novels, informational nonfiction, literary fiction, middle grade books, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and young adult books. Participating in a book award contest allows writers to connect with one another and promote their hard work.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
NAIWE’s Copyediting Expert Rachel Bradley was recently interviewed on “Unemployable,” the Opolis podcast.
In this episode, Freelance Editor, Indexer, and NAIWE Board Expert Rachel E. Bradley opens up about her personal journey, sharing how she overcame the loss of her husband and found balance in her life with her new partner. Rachel offers invaluable advice on setting the right prices for your services, and taking daily steps toward achieving your business goals. Hosted by Opolis Steward Joshua Lapidus, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration for freelancers looking to overcome challenges and build a successful writing career.
In this podcast, you can learn more about how being a NAIWE member gives you special access to health and payroll benefits!
Rachel E. Bradley holds a BS degree in paralegal studies from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and graduated summa cum laude in 2006. She is a gold member of the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, is an established freelance editor with the Christian Editor Connection, is an instructor with the PEN Institute, is a judge for the Editors’ Choice Award, and has served as faculty for PENCON, the only conference for editors in the Christian market. After serving nine years in the legal field and becoming an advanced certified paralegal, Rachel started her business as a freelance editor and indexer. She now owns Revisions by Rachel Inc. In 2018, she lost her first husband, Matthew, after an intense battle with brain cancer. She now edits with a new understanding and a fierce compassion for people who feel broken and hurt. In celebration of continued life and hope, she became a licensed skydiver and takes to the skies with her rainbow canopy, “Promises,” any chance she gets. In early 2021, she asked God to choose her next husband. In an incredible tale of trusting God and giving him her yes without exception, she is now joyfully married to Alexander Bradley. They have been assigned the awe-inspiring and continually humbling task of raising two incredible children. Beyond reading, Rachel enjoys Bible studies, dancing during church worship, skydiving, swing dancing, rock climbing, reading, teaching, discussing important issues, watching Star Trek, sewing, cooking, Pilates, horseback riding, water sports, playing guitar, and snow skiing.
Member Benefit #20
The National Association of Independent Writers and Editors has hundreds of recorded webinars that are available to you to aid you in building up your skills and opening new windows to expand your income streams. NAIWE members receive $20 off any on-demand training!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Jeanne Grunert (NAIWE’s Branding & Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
How many micro niches should a freelancer serve?
I recommend focusing on no more than three micro niches. This helps you develop a positive reputation in each niche, which naturally leads to recommendations and more work. If you choose to focus on more than one niche, it is helpful if the other niches are related. For example, I focus on two niches: my micro niche is content marketing for SaaS (software as a service) companies, but I added several micro niches around manufacturing software, enterprise integration, and education software (before opening my own company and going independent, I led marketing for large education companies, so it was natural niche extension for me). Spreading yourself beyond 1-3 micro niches dilutes the marketing effect. It is the focus and the area of specialization that helps build recognition quickly among potential customers. Diluting that focus confuses the market, and anytime potential customers are confused, they walk away.
In fiction, it is common for writers to use pen names to more easily develop brand recognition in a micro niche and more easily attract loyal readers eager to read their next work. A good example is Nora Roberts, whose work I enjoy reading. She writes under the name J.D. Robb for her sci-fi murder mystery series “In Death” and under her own name, Nora Roberts, when she writes what I would consider traditional contemporary romance novels. It might confuse loyal Nora Roberts fans, who expect a small town girl to attract the bad boy newcomer to town (her typical plot) to open a book with the sci fi elements of the “In Death” series. Instead of risking alienating readers by publishing in a vastly different genre, she developed a second pen name and micro niche, with the result that she has a loyal following in both niches. That’s just one example, but I think you get the idea of why both nonfiction/business writers and fiction writers can benefit from tapping into micro niches.
Do micro niches lend to a regular income stream?
Yes! The best part about finding your micro niche and gaining the first few projects in that niche is that once you develop a reputation within that niche, work comes to you – you don’t have to chase after freelance opportunities. As you develop a positive reputation as the “XYZ Expert” or expert in your micro niche, it becomes easier to attract the right clients to your doorstep.
For me, it was a game changer. I was first introduced to the concept of micro niches around 2020 and decided to take two weeks to reorganize my business at the end of 2020 around my chosen micro niche (I’ll go into details of how to find a potential niche during our webinar). Within four months, I had increased my existing work with clients in the micro niche AND landed two major monthly retainer clients! I no longer had to send out pitches, look for freelance writing work, etc. I now get good leads through my website and referrals. I firmly believe in the power of micro niches and personal branding within a micro niche to build a strong online presence that helps independent writers and editors attract and retain their ideal clients.
Are micro niches new to the publishing industry?
Not really – my Nora Roberts example is a good indicator that they have been around a while. She published the first time under the pen name “J.D. Robb” in 1995. I think within the publishing industry micro niches have become more prevalent and popular with the rise of e-books because readers who love a specific micro niche can find and purchase them more easily.
For freelance writers who may focus on business writing (articles, blogging, marketing or sales materials, etc.), micro niches aren’t really new, but they can be a challenging area for independent writers/freelancers to understand and undertake with confidence. Many freelance writers get nervous when they hear that they should specialize, or focus on a micro niche. They fear they will lose work if they put their stake in the ground and market themselves exclusively as writers who specialize in SaaS platforms, medical manufacturing, cat dental health, and so on (each of these are examples of micro niches). I’ve found it to be the opposite – by focusing on a specific area within a niche, and developing a solid client list, samples, and highly specialized knowledge, I’ve gotten more business than I did before.
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Are you a freelance writer or editor looking to stand out in a crowded market? Join us for an insightful webinar on “Discovering Your Micro Niche” and learn how to carve out a unique space for yourself in the industry.
In this webinar, you’ll gain:
- Understanding of Micro Niches: Learn what a micro niche is and why it’s crucial for freelancers.
- Market Research Techniques: Discover effective methods to identify underserved and profitable micro niches.
- Tailoring Your Services: Find out how to adapt your writing or editing services to meet the specific needs of your chosen niche.
- Building Authority: Learn strategies to establish yourself as an expert in your micro niche, attracting more clients and higher rates.
- Case Studies: Explore real-life examples of successful freelance writers and editors who have thrived by focusing on micro niches.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your current offerings, this webinar will provide you with the tools and insights needed to find and dominate your micro niche. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your freelance career!
You can join in this conversation on October 24 and then November 7 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on maximizing your marketing efforts. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Jeanne Grunert is the president and founder of Seven Oaks Consulting, a business-to-business content marketing agency. She is an award-winning writer and direct marketing expert with over 30 years of writing, marketing, and business experience. Prior to founding Seven Oaks Consulting, Jeanne led marketing for divisions of McGraw-Hill Education, Teachers College Columbia University, The College Board, and retail, publishing, and financial service companies in the New York City area. Known worldwide for her exceptional leadership and communication skills, Jeanne works seamlessly across cultural and corporate barriers to achieve outstanding results. She holds an M.A. in writing and an M.S. in direct and digital marketing (awarded with distinction) from New York University, as well as certifications in social media marketing, content marketing, and adult education. Originally from the New York City area, Jeanne currently resides with her husband, John, and many pets on a 17-acre farm in rural Virginia. When not leading marketing teams through her work at Seven Oaks Consulting, she enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, and writing mystery novels.
In the Time of Madmen
Author: Mark A. Prelas
This is a biographical and autobiographical story, primarily about the author’s parents through their struggles of hiding their true identities of Jewish ancestry.
Mark Prelas begins by describing what life was like during the Great Depression when his mother, Katheryn, who was born in 1921, was growing up. Life was hard — bartering was a regular occurrence and using money was a rare luxury — but it was good. And then at the age of 18, his mother was taken from her home to become a slave laborer in Germany.
The author shares a lot of historical information so the reader can understand what life was like for each of his parents growing up before and during the Great Depression, and then the effect of Germany invading Poland. The author describes each parent’s numerous near-death experiences and then the encounter of his parents meeting one another.
While not written in a narrative format, this journey relays important information about historical events that should be captured in time and in words for others to experience and learn from. This book provides remarkable details that the author was able to obtain before his mother’s passing in 2014.
As a special addition to the book, the author includes family photos and further holocaust resource information. The publication of this book is a wonderful tribute to the author’s parents.
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 recordings include suggestions to help with this.
October: Self-Promotion Month. Promote your skills to gain some new clients. Some of the Be a Better Freelancer conference recordings are of sessions on this topic to help with this.
October 1: National Fruit at Work Day. Take a break today to enjoy a piece of seasonal fruit at work.
October 1-7: Mystery Series Week.
October 1-7: National Newspaper Week.
October 5: National Do Something Nice Day. Do something nice for one of your clients today!
October 7-11: Customer Service Week. Take notice of other industries and the good customer service they provide and strive to provide the best customer service you can.
October 9: 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. Reevaluate your home office for functionality and ergonomics.
October 20-26: National Business Women’s Week. Is there a woman in business who you have looked to as a mentor?
October 20-26: National Friends of Libraries Week. Use this week to support your local library.
October 26: National Make a Difference Day. Do something to make a difference in the life of someone else.
Many people find the need to hire a freelancer, but where can they find one that takes their career seriously? At NAIWE, we offer a free searchable database, which can be accessed by members and nonmembers.
NAIWE members can be listed in NAIWE’s free searchable database once they have completed their business information! Instead of just hoping for traffic, NAIWE members have the confidence that anyone can easily find your NAIWE website. You’ll be able to communicate with readers and potential clients through the information on your NAIWE site.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #19
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 publishing professionals, and they impart a lot of wisdom in an hour (or sometimes more).
Members attend at a discounted rate of $10 for each webinar. (Some webinars are even free to members!) Nonmembers may register for individual webinars at $30 each. Just attending the monthly classes without joining the association would add up to $360 for a year, so this is a benefit of great value.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Pamela K. Kinney (NAIWE’s Paranormal Writing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
How did you learn to write a book blurb?
For my first book I went with the publisher Schiffer Publishing, and at that time, they looked to the authors to write their own book blurbs. The publisher edited the authors’ blurbs into the format needed while educating the authors. The next blurb I wrote was for my own self-published novel, How the Vortex Changed My Life.
What is the normal length of a book blurb?
100–200 words. Any more than that, readers will be catching the quickest ride off your page . . . by jumping to another author’s page and buying their book instead. You only have 7 seconds to impress a reader, especially one reading it online.
Are book blurbs written differently for different formats?
When it comes to writing book blurbs, each genre has a different style. I know how to write for nonfiction ghost books and horror, science fiction, and fantasy. In the long run, writing a synopsis/blurb for a book is selling your story/article/nonfiction book to a reader, tempting them to read your book.
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I had to learn to write the book blurbs for my nonfiction ghost books. When self-publishing my urban fantasy/horror novel, I wrote the blurb for the back of my book. Since then, I have continued writing blurbs for my books, including for my latest, a YA dark fantasy novel.
Readers check out the cover first, then they read the blurb. It is all about selling your book, capturing readers’ interests with that blurb. In this webinar, writers will learn how they can write effective blurbs.
You can join in this conversation on September 30 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on writing marketing material for your books. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Pamela K. Kinney gave up long ago ignoring the demanding voices in her head and has been writing ever since. Her horror short story, “Bottled Spirits,” was runner-up for the 2013 WSFA Small Press Award and considered one of the seven best genre short fiction for that year. Pamela has various short stories and poems published in fiction and nonfiction anthologies, magazines, and online zines, a science fiction novella, an urban fantasy novel, five nonfiction ghost books, and a nonfiction cryptid book. Her horror poem, “Dementia,” got her mentioned in Best Horror of the Year, Volume Thirteen. Pamela has stories and poems in two horror anthologies to be released in 2024, plus a YA dark fantasy novel, Demon Memories, the first book in the Moon Ridge trilogy.
September: Self-Improvement Month. Take some time to improve yourself. What class will you take or conference will you attend to improve your business self? Think ahead and sign up for an on-demand training through NAIWE!
September 2: Labor Day. This day recognizes the men and women who labor to build this country. As self-employed professionals, many tend to work on this day, but what will you do to celebrate?
September 6: National Read a Book Day. Grab a book (a fun read or even one for professional development) and spend the day reading.
September 7: National Play Outside Day. This is a day to spend a few extra minutes outside, enjoying the fresh air.
September 10: National Swap Ideas Day. Share a creative or helpful idea with a client or colleague.
September 12: National Day of Encouragement. This day is dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact. Who can you encourage?
September 15: National Online Learning Day. This day recognizes the advantages and vast potential of online learning and the accomplishments of these students. What can you study today to improve your skills? NAIWE hosts monthly webinars, 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!
September 17: National IT Professionals Day. This day is set aside to honor the venerable geeks of the world we all rely on to keep us connected.
September 22: American Business Women’s Day. A day set aside to honor and reflect on the contributions and accomplishments of the millions of women in the workforce and the millions of women business owners in the United States.
September 24: National Punctuation Day. A period, a comma, a semicolon, a question mark, and an exclamation point are examples of some of the punctuation used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. National Punctuation Day commemorates these and all punctuation marks.
September 29. National Coffee Day. According to an expert cupper (a professional coffee taster), there are four components of a perfect cup: aroma, body, acidity, and flavor. Linger over a cup today while examining the importance of your words.
2023 NAIWE Informational Nonfiction Book WinnerUnemployable: How I Hired Myself
Author: Alysia Silberg
People grow into one of two mindsets. One group of people are really good at what they do, and they are also good at following directions. Therefore, they are good at being employees. There is another group of people who have a set of skills and are also good at seeing opportunities. They are independent minded, marching to their own beat.
In Unemployable: How I Hired Myself, the author Alysia Silberg describes her upbringing in the poor and crime-ridden side of Johannesburg, South Africa. However, her father, a former Hollywood makeup artist, brought light into her world through his pharmacy and costume store. He would tell her that she was a gifted seller, that she had a “divine sparkle.”
Even beginning at the young age of five, Alysia Silberg could spot an opportunity. Desiring to purchase a pair of roller skates, she decided to highlight a product her father had in his store and sell it on the sidewalk in front of the shop to earn enough money for the skates. She accomplished this goal, and after purchasing the skates she realized that it wasn’t actually the skates she had wanted. She had had a goal, one that seemed unattainable, and she found an opportunity to help her reach the goal.
At the age of nine, she spotted another opportunity and tried to convince her parents to buy a piece of land between two major cities. Her parents laughed, probably in part because it was an unattainable goal with their poor living situation, but she was so convinced of this opportunity that she went to the bank, seeking a loan. Though she did not get the loan to buy the land, she had been correct, and the piece of property became “one of the most valuable stretches of property in all of South Africa.”
As Alysia Silberg grow up, she continues to struggle with the limited opportunities she is afforded, but that doesn’t stop her. She is always open to seeing opportunities and beginning new business adventures. This outlook on life led her to starting her first business at age 11, and this outlook has continued as she has gone through life and spotted bigger and better opportunities.
This book presents a positive outlook to show that it doesn’t matter where one come from, that it is the person’s mindset and the outlook on life that will take someone on an incredible journey. The challenges and the heartaches don’t matter as well, perhaps they even help to mold the person in their natural bent. This is an inspiring and delightful book that helps to encourage one going through the struggles of an entrepreneurial life. Perseverance and love of the American Dream can be desired no matter where one lives.
Congratulations, Alysia Silberg’s Unemployable: How I Hired Myself for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!
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.
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 DirectorApril 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.
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.
2023 NAIWE Young Adult Book WinnerFind 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!
August: National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines.
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!
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.
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 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 21: National Be Someone Day. Through your business, be someone who changes a child’s life for the good.
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.
2023 NAIWE Genre Book WinnerStolen Diary
Author: Kathryn Lane
The author Kathryn Lane has a strong grasp of the English language and a vast knowledge of the life and culture of those living in Mexico. In Stolen Diary, the author periodically includes Spanish words and phrases to remind the reader that the characters are speaking Spanish to one another. To keep the reader from becoming confused by the Spanish language, Kathryn Lane includes a glossary in the beginning of the book with all of the Spanish phrases that will be included.
Kathryn Lane does an excellent job of introducing the characters to the reader. She descriptively describes them and skillfully places them into the storyline. Since this novel has many characters, Kathryn Lane also includes a list of characters at the beginning of the novel.
Kathryn Lane is an accomplished writer who draws upon her own life experiences and then builds upon those to develop exciting and intriguing stories. This book makes the reader aware that every family has secrets and what can happen because of those secrets.
Even with over 250 pages, many readers will not put this novel down without first reading it from cover to cover.
Congratulations, Kathryn Lane’s Stolen Diary for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!
NAIWE offers a discussion list for its members to ask questions and talk about grammar, business, new book releases, and other publishing-related topics.
Our goal for the NAIWE discussion list is to provide a positive environment where publishing professionals can connect with one another, ask questions, and share ideas. It is a place for learning, support, collaboration, and brainstorming.
NAIWE members are automatically subscribed to the discussion list during the first full month of their membership, and they can remain a member of the discussion list as long as they are an active member of the organization.
On the discussion list, NAIWE members agree to the following standards:
- Be respectful. Discussion list members are respectful, professional, polite, and considerate. They use positive words to build up or educate one another.
- Stay on topic. Discussion list members help keep threads organized by making sure the discussion matches the subject line and hashtag.
- Respect others’ privacy. Discussion list members refrain from sharing sensitive or personal information about others.
- Include your name. Discussion list members use their names in posts.
- Include the correct hashtag. Discussion list members use hashtags in the subject line to aid members in searching for specific discussions.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #16
You may mail an autographed copy of your published book to NAIWE headquarters to be read and reviewed by NAIWE staff. The review will be posted on NAIWE’s blog, as well as on NAIWE’s social media’s sites. Then, the book will be added to the Book Promotions pile for a new member to read and post a review!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
How many questions should be asked in an interview?
There’s no standard limit for the number of questions to ask someone in an interview. Sometimes the client will provide the questions they want to answer; sometimes the interviewer handles that aspect. I always prefer to ask more questions than I might need, even if that means having to spend some time on editing responses to fit a word limit. I love it when there’s no word limit! The absolute minimum would be three questions: Please confirm your name, title, and affiliation. What is important about your job or project? What (else) would you like our readers to know about you/your topic?
As the interviewee, how can you get the interviewer to ask the questions you want to answer?
The interviewee can say something ahead of time, by email or phone, about the topics you see as most important to cover. Let the interviewer know something like, “I’m most passionate about …,” “Let’s be sure to include X as my favorite [whatever],” “I think achievement X is my most important contribution,” etc.
What ways can interviewees get selected for an interview?
Being visible in social media and professional association outlets, having a blog with regular posts, speaking at events, presenting webinars, disseminating press releases about achievements, writing letters to the editor with opinions about local or national issues, and similar outreach can get attention that leads to interviews. You can even contact someone with a blog or publication where you’d like to be interviewed and let them know what you would like to talk about and why it might be of interest to their audience. In turn, the interviews can result in more invitations to speak, contribute blog posts, participate in events, and so on. It’s a self-propelling process or cycle. All of these activities feed each other and help establish you as an expert.
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Interviews are key to a variety of writing and editing work. Whether you’re doing an interview with a subject for a project or are the subject of one yourself, interviewing is an art and a skill. This webinar will focus on how to craft interviews that make the topic and subject come to life, along with tips on being a better subject oneself.
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter has been interviewing experts and colleagues on a wide range of topics for many years and has been the subject of varied interviews herself.
You can join in this conversation on June 24 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on becoming an expert interviewer. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 30 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer annual conference, now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the A Flair for Writing publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing, and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.
June 1: National Say Something Nice Day. Make the day pleasant for someone today by saying something nice.
June 3: National Leave the Office Early Day. This day is an incentive to many who often work more than 40 hours each week.
June 3. National Repeat Day. Take this opportunity to repeat something you needed or wanted to do again.
June 6: National Higher Education Day. Spend a moment educating or inspiring others who are interested in pursuing a similar career.
June 10: National Ballpoint Pen Day. Write a client a note today with a ballpoint pen to commemorate the patent filing on June 10, 1943.
June 11: National Making Life Beautiful Day. Celebrate those who make life beautiful through their words.
June 13: National Random Acts of Light Day. Bring light to a colleague by sharing some encouraging words.
June 21: National Selfie Day. Take some selfies that show you are balancing work-life activities.
June 30: Social Media Day. Post on all of your social media accounts today, letting potential clients know you are available for hire.
2023 NAIWE Poetry Book WinnerChanging Tides: Poetry of Love, Loss and New Life
Author: Katy Hoover
Life includes love, loss, and new life, but it seems unnatural every time a parent outlives a child. In Changing Tides, a collection of poems shares how one mother can feel love, loss, and joy all at the same time. Through the processing of her grief, Katy Hoover has discovered how these emotions can be connected while not allowing one emotion to overtake another. She learns how some choices and some relationships mean more to her now than they once did.
You lost a child
I did not know
I said, “so heartbreaking”
And went on to happier things
Now I know
I look to you
to see that I too, can survive
Grief has a way of sneaking up on the living, and Katy Hoover relays just how it has done so during holidays, at a particular location, or while driving down a road. However, as time has passed, the author has learned to control the grief and allow herself to feel joy in the moment.
In a second
I decided
Not to feed the grief
For today
I will feel it
Not share it
Not be overwhelmed by it
The prologue, titled “Journey,” introduces the voyage of the loss of the author’s son, but as one reads the poems, the reader goes on this ride with Katy Hoover as she works through the grief, learns about her son’s unborn child, and helps his other children to not forget their father.
We would be a family
A few weeks later
Kody’s widow sent an ultrasound image
Of their precious unborn daughter
Zoey
As I looked at this miracle of life
I experienced pure joy
In that moment I knew that I had a choice
To mentally review all the reasons
That made her life bittersweet
Or to choose…..Joy
This collection of poems is a beautiful, comforting compilation to help others process their grief. Many of the poems can be read over and over again and bring a bittersweet hug from one person to another, to help one not feel quite so alone.
Congratulations, Katy Hoover’s Changing Tides: Poetry of Love, Loss and New Life for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!
The Red Gondola and the Cova
Author: Patricia Crandall
Caroline Wilkes is a bright-eyed and independent nine year old facing her parents’ divorce, her mother’s alcohol abuse, and her father’s drug habit. She tries to understand her surroundings and muses, “Adults sure are weird.” Caroline knows she isn’t supposed to go to the state park alone, but she is constantly seeking her older brother’s attention and wants to surprise him with an unexpected gift. Therefore, she sneaks away from his graduation party to get a ticket for a gondola ride. Only to never return.
The Red Gondola and the Cova is an action-packed novel about the hard facts of life written in an introductory manner for young audiences.
The author Patricia Crandall quickly builds suspense to keep the reader involved in Caroline’s journey and kidnapping. With Caroline sneaking out of the house, the reader first wonders whether Caroline will make it home without getting caught, but then this suspense is quickly overridden by the buildup of Caroline trying to escape an attacker.
Crandall has a way with words, and she is quickly able to create vivid descriptions of the scenes making them come to life in the reader’s mind. A page turner. A thriller. A book the reader won’t want to put down without first reading it from cover to cover.
Member Benefit #15
If you have published a book, you may mail autographed copies to NAIWE headquarters. When new members sign up to support a member, they will receive a copy of a member’s book, along with a request that they post a review online. This is a great way to build your book’s audience and reviews!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
2023 NAIWE Narrative Nonfiction Book WinnerTo Where You Are
Author: Jason Fisher
When a couple gets married and makes the commitment until death do us part, they often imagine that the parting will occur many years later, likely when they are old and have had a long life together. However, that is not what happened to Jason Fisher.
In his memoir, To Where You Are, Jason Fisher opens the book with only 15 minutes before an early morning conference call. He helps his daughter with breakfast and then to the playroom, and his wife to their bed to rest after experiencing back pain.
By 9:15 am, Jason is calling an ambulance, and a few hours later his wife is dead.
The introduction to this novel was very compelling and powerful, allowing the reader to feel the roller coaster that the author was on that fateful day. Before the reader can catch their breath, Jason takes them to the days when he and his wife met, their dreams, and their short marriage together.
The Fishers had dreams of having three children and a dog. They were excited by the news that they were pregnant and thought it would be best to move back to Alabama to be close to family. Sadly, compilations arose, forcing their baby girl to be born at 27 weeks via emergency C-section weighing a mere 1 ½ pounds. Their daughter, Mackenzie, would spend the next four months in NICU and face many challenges, including being born with a brain bleed and later being diagnosed with a rare syndrome.
Jason Fisher writes about the love and heartache that filled his life for nearly a decade and how he created a new path in life with his nonverbal daughter.
To Where You Are emphasizes that one can find the strength and the reason to continue living in the midst of shattered dreams and without the love and support of a spouse.
Congratulations, Jason Fisher’s To Where You Are for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!
April 28 – May 4: Small Business Week. Small businesses account for half of America’s workforce, and more new jobs come from small business than any other source.
May: National Get Caught Reading Month. Wherever you go, the campaign challenges you to get caught reading.
May 1: National Mother Goose Day. This day honors Mother Goose, the imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes we loved as children and also as adults.
May 12: National Limerick Day. Celebrate the birthday of English artist, illustrator, author, and poet Edward Lear who wrote A Book of Nonsense.
May 16: National Biographer’s Day. Commemorate the anniversary of the first meeting of Samuel Johnson and his biographer James Boswell in 1763 by honoring biographers.
May 30: National Creativity Day. Celebrate you and your creative pursuit!
May 31: National Speak in Complete Sentences Day. This day is dedicated to using proper sentence structure while speaking.
NAIWE and its members agree to adhere to the highest standards of ethical behavior in all publishing and business transactions.
We will:
- Be honest: We will seek to negotiate contracts that are mutually beneficial and will abide by all applicable intellectual property and business laws.
- Be loyal: We will support the artistic, academic, and/or business goals of those we work with. We will treat each client’s creative works as private and confidential, and protect the integrity of information or documents entrusted to us for writing or editing.
- Be fair: If contracted to provide writing or editing services, we pledge to do so in a fair and unbiased manner, providing outstanding service based upon our knowledge and understanding of the subject as well as our professional expertise.
- Be competent: We will not accept contracts that we are unable to fulfill. This includes work that is outside the scope of the writer or editor’s expertise, or jobs that are presented with an inadequate time for satisfactory completion.
In addition, NAIWE will:
- Offer professional development: NAIWE will host monthly webinars on a variety of topics of interest to writers and editors, as well as maintain and expand its list of on-demand trainings. In addition, NAIWE will co-sponsor the Be a Better Freelance conference.
- Communicate promptly and courteously: NAIWE will communicate on a monthly basis to members about upcoming professional development opportunities as well as poll members to discover what topics they would like to see covered.
In addition, NAIWE members will:
- Continue professional development: Members will maintain, improve, and update their knowledge and skills through reading, classes, and networking with others.
- Communicate promptly and courteously: Members will use the preferred method agreed upon with the client while maintaining professional courtesies.
NAIWE and its members are bound by the NAIWE Code of Ethics. We commit to working with each other, our clients, and our agents, editors, and publishers with honesty and integrity. NAIWE invites you to join us and let the world know these are also the values that you live and work by and that you believe that business ethics and business success can work together for the good of the publishing community!
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #14
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. And 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.
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 a characteristic of a detective that will aid in developing a memoir?
Persistent, determined, willing to ask questions to anyone who might have answers to knowing the truth. A good detective needs to be tenacious, patient, look at the truths of a situation and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter. These qualities are exactly what is needed to write a good memoir. How do you search for clues about your history and their impact on your life?
Are there characteristics or situations for a detective that do not align with developing a memoir?
Of course, being involved in murder cases for example. Putting your life in danger when working on a case.
Is there a particular detective skill that is essential in the prep work for a memoir?
Willingness to spend time searching for answers to your questions about your life and history. Asking serious questions about your life.
n
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A good detective needs to be tenacious and patient. A good detective needs to look at the truths of a situation and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter. Those same skills are needed to write a good memoir. How do you search for clues about your history and their impact on your life?
You can join in this conversation on April 30 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on becoming the detective for your novel. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen) is an award-winning author of eleven books including her newest one, An Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock and Me Mystery: Murder at the Zoo plus The Senior Sleuths, Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series, and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus (menus by her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award-winning My Memoir Workbook and has given memoir writing presentations and classes for close to 20 years. She has assisted many authors in developing, writing, publishing, and promoting their books. For 25 years, she was the owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency. Marcia has frequently been a speaker or program moderator at organization meetings and conferences, bookstores, libraries, and Zoom programs. Topics she has taught and presented over the past 20 years include Encouraging the Writer Within You, Marketing for Authors, Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery, Writing Your Memoir, and recently Anatomy of Writing a Murder. Many articles on these topics have been published on mystery reader blogs and in newsletters and magazines and her newest articles include Location, Location, Location: Murders Have Their Places; Hearing Voices of Past Famous Detectives: Their Impact and Influences; and Writing Mysteries at a Zoo: With Caution. She is a member of Sisters in Crime National and New Mexico (Croak & Dagger), Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Women Writing the West, Public Safety Writer’s Association, Women’s National Book Association, and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.
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 Karin Beery.
Karin Beery is a published author and editor with experience in traditional and self-publishing, freelance editing, and editing for publishers. She is an active member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, and the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network, as well as a PEN Institute instructor. Her specialty is substantive fiction editing with an emphasis in romance and women’s fiction.
Here is a sneak peak of what we discussed.
Q: When did you first have the idea for this book? And what inspired you to actually write this book?
I started this book several years ago after watching many seasons of Dancing with the Stars with my special needs aunt, who lived with us at the time. I’d finished writing a novel and was ready to start a new one. After seeing how much my aunt loved that show and living with her for several years, I wanted to include a dance competition in my book as well as a tribute to my aunt.
Q: Please describe one of your favorite characters from your book.
I love the women of Pathways, a fictional home for special needs women. Many special needs adults (like my aunt) are capable of so much more than people expect. I let my aunt and the women she used to live with inspire the women in this book.
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 learned quite a bit about ballroom dancing and football, but many aspects of this book (from working with special needs people to having two sisters) mirror my own life, so I tapped into a lot of personal experiences. My biggest challenge is always me: making time to write (and letting it be a priority).
To learn more about Karin Beery and her new book Finally Forever, listen to the podcast episode.
April: English Language Month. A month-long celebration of the uniqueness of the English language and all the learners working hard to master it.
April: National Poetry Month. Spend time this month writing, reading, and studying poetry.
April: National Volunteer Month. In the United States, volunteerism is instilled at a young age. Most organizations in small towns, rural counties, and the largest cities would not function without volunteers.
April: Records and Information Management Month. This event celebrates good record keeping and information management and emphasizes the importance of having organized records.
April: Stress Awareness Month. This month, we are all challenged to keep our stress levels low, and our peace levels high.
April 1-7: National Public Health Week. The week focuses on prevention and reducing unhealthy activities.
April 4: National Hug a Newsperson Day. Say thank you and send a hug to your local newsperson.
April 4: National School Librarian Day. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized, helping our children find the resources they need to encourage learning, and are dedicated to creating an environment children can learn in every day of the year. Set aside some time to honor school librarians.
April 7: National No Housework Day. Freelancers working from home sometimes choose to be distracted by housework rather than work on a challenging project. On this day, it is not allowed, so find something else to distract you–or rather, sit down and work on that challenging project.
April 7-13: National Library Week. Visit your local library in person or online, and give your library card a workout.
April 8: National All Is Ours Day. This is a day to appreciate everything we have, rather than dwelling on what we don’t have.
April 9: National Library Workers Day. Library workers do so much more than keep track of the books we can borrow nearly any time of the day or night. Today, library workers are masters of research.
April 10: National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Do you know a young person who has a vivid imagination, maybe someone who likes to tell stories and reads a lot of books? Encourage them to pursue their goals and develop their writing skills.
April 10: National Bookmobile Day. Honor the access to information and resources our nation’s bookmobiles make available to our communities and the professionals who work diligently to provide these services.
April 14: National Reach as High as You Can Day. Review and plan your goals for the upcoming quarter or the rest of the year as you reach for your dreams or goals.
April 14: Look Up at the Sky Day. Look for inspirations and beauty by looking up at the sky.
April 15: National Rubber Eraser Day. Celebrate the invention of erasers by acknowledging that we all make mistakes.
April 16: National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. Let go of the stress of deciding what to wear for a day by wearing your pajamas to work.
April 17: National Haiku Poetry Day. Try your hand at this creative form by writing about what you see outside.
April 18: National High Five Day. Spend a moment on social media, and give a virtual high five to someone who has recently helped you out.
April 18: Get to Know Your Customers Day. Select a customer and get to know them a little better.
April 21-27: Administrative Professionals Week. Celebrate the administrative professionals and secretaries who keep businesses going.
April 21-27: National Volunteer Week. Provide support by offering your services to a local organization you feel passionate about.
April 24: National Administrative Professionals Day. Some freelancers have virtual assistants, and we didn’t want you to miss this day! Celebrate your VA and show how much you appreciate this person.
April 25: National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Take some time to mentor your sons and daughters and aspire their writing to new heights!
April 27: National Tell a Story Day. Share a story with fellow word lovers.
April 28: National Great Poetry Reading Day. Celebrate distinguished poetry and the notable poets who wrote them.
April 29: National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Memorize a poem or two to share with the people you meet throughout the day.
2023 NAIWE Literary Book WinnerThe Islander
Author: David W. Berner
The author, David W. Berner, has an excellent handle on the English language. He quickly captures the moment with life on an island off the coast of Ireland, connecting the reader with the characters and leaving the reader not wanting to depart from the characters’ lives as the book ends.
The main character Seamus is a man who lives alone on an island, although people do visit the island to have picnics or to take hikes. While Seamus would not describe himself as a recluse, he does like to spend time alone. In the early morning, he rises before the sun to enjoy the beauty of first light “over the bay and the mainland, and the evening sun fall across the sea.” He spends his time writing, mostly poetry.
As a young man, Seamus was married and he fathered a child, Aiden. Due to Seamus’s indiscretions and his word-focused life, his relationship with his son is strained. Aiden is now married with two daughters, and he believes that his father has forgotten important family events such as their birthdays.
Aiden, who lives on the mainland across from the island, finds himself forced to speak with, and even care for, his father when his father’s untreated diabetes causes his father to fall into a state of unconsciousness.
In the entire novel, there are only a handful of characters in the entire novel. However, every single character is dynamic, exploring new ideas and gaining realizations by the end of the novel.
This book is an excellent read, one that helps the reader grow in their own relationships with others.
Congratulations, David W. Berner’s The Islander for being a NAIWE 2023 Book Award winner!
NAIWE is a professional association that was founded in 2007 as the National Association of Independent Writing Evaluators. As the association grew, we discovered that our original name simply wasn’t big enough for our members or our mission, so our name was changed with the dawn of 2009. Although our name contains the word “National,” we are international in scope and reach, and our membership is not restricted by geographic borders. In fact, NAIWE is known internationally, and we welcome professional freelancers from all locations.
Members include novelists, copywriters and copyeditors, proofreaders, writing teachers and coaches, business writers and editors, academic writing evaluators, indexers, book cover designers, project managers, public speakers, and other specialists.
NAIWE provides an online presence, guidance for freelance best practices, and general support that allows readers, editors, publishers, and potential clients to find you.
To help members with their marketing, NAIWE allows content from member blogs to be easily found and shared on our social media platforms and newsletters. Today, NAIWE has expanded its focus to include helping its members develop multiple streams of income.
Our goal is to help you earn a living with words and have the career of your dreams.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #13
Your Book Chat interview will be highlighted on the NAIWE blog and podcast and in The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work with Words, one of NAIWE’s newsletters. This benefit has great PR potential, as you can post the recording of your Book Chat interview on your own site, and it will be archived on the NAIWE site for as long as you remain a member in good standing. Doing a Book Chat will provide an opportunity for you to share your story with readers or potential clients and network with other members. This is the kind of positive press that helps to build your career!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Writing Challenge Day 5
Write a definition encompassing the meanings of the words “achievement” and “success,” and name this new definition.
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2024 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
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
Member Benefit #7
NAIWE members receive alerts from people looking to hire freelancers, along with specifics about the job postings. Members can then apply for the jobs by contacting the person directly.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
September: Self-Improvement Month. Take some time to improve yourself. What class will you take or conference will you attend to improve your business self? Think ahead and sign up for an on-demand training! September 4: Labor Day. This day recognizes the men and women who labor to build this country. As self-employed professionals, many tend to work on this day, but what will you do to celebrate? September 6: National Read
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
The Little Lion Author: Nancy Wright Beasley Laibale Gillman was naturally brave. At the age of four, he rescued his older brother from a large, ferocious dog by distracting the snarling animal with a rake while Moshe — who was terrified of dogs — ran into the house. Because of this bravery, Laibale’s mother nicknamed him “the little lion.” Laibale also had an innate mechanical ability. He used this ability
Member Benefit #6 NAIWE members are all listed in NAIWE’s free searchable database! The database can be accessed by members and non-members so instead of just hoping for traffic, you can have the confidence that anyone can easily find your NAIWE website. You’ll be able to communicate with readers and potential clients through the information on your NAIWE site. Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
August: National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines. August 5: National Work Like a Dog Day. This is a day to pay attention to how hard you are working. August 7-13: 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
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
Izzy’s Fire Author: Nancy Wright Beasley Bravery was rare during the Holocaust in Lithuania, as many people tried to keep their head down and simply survive. However, the bravery of one small Catholic family saved thirteen Jews. Chapter 1 opens in the year 1943 in the Kovno Ghetto with Edna Ipson, her son, and her husband escaping in the middle of the night. The tension is strong, and the details
Learning a new style manual takes time, and part of being a copyeditor is thoroughly knowing at least one style manual. As you edit, you ask questions, often about the same types of changes, so knowing some items to look up when learning a new style manual can give you a head start in the familiarization process. You may even want to create a style sheet for the new style
Member Benefit #5 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 8,000, as of October 2022. 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. Visit the NAIWE website
To the Moon and Back to Me Author: Christine Hassing The physical loss of a loved one is always hard, and it takes time to accept and then process the end of a relationship and then the beginning of a life without the loved one. And even then, when loss comes again in life, feelings from a previous loss can resurface, and one is then forced to try to
We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us. How do you know if you have info worth sharing? When people ask for your advice or “Like” the comments you make in social media groups, compliment your work, or ask you to speak. Maybe also when you have something that feels
Even Climate Change Can’t Stop Love and Murder Author: A.E.S. O’Neill As Ginger and Alby cross the United States to relocate to their new witness protection home in Arizona, their search for love is marred by violent interludes with insurrectionists, white supremacists, and jihadists. But those are not enough antagonists for this author! The setting is an antagonist as well with the fury of climate chaos — storms beyond
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
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 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
The house style guide is a house’s preferred style and is unique to each publishing house. In other words, it is where a house shows its deviation from the style manual of choice, i.e., though a house may follow CMS, the house may not use some particular suggestions within it. They are important because the guidelines in the house style guide overrule the style manual. Therefore, to properly edit a
To Kingdom Come Author: Claudia Riess Amateur sleuths, Erika Shawn-Wheatley and Harrison Wheatley, are at it again! Erika, an art magazine editor, and Harrison, an art history professor, are in a Zoom meeting of individuals whose goal is to return African art looted during the colonial era. Olivia Chatham, a math instructor at London University, is speaking about a journal penned by her great-granduncle, Andrew Barrett, an active member of
Member Benefit #4 The Member’s Edge is a monthly newsletter for NAIWE members that equips them to take advantage of their member benefits. It features NAIWE experts and grammar articles. From the Expert is a monthly newsletter for NAIWE members that educates them on a specific Board of Expert member’s expertise. Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
June 1: National Say Something Nice Day. Make the day pleasant for someone today by saying something nice.
June 2: National Leave the Office Early Day. This day is an incentive to many who often work more than 40 hours each week.
June 3. National Repeat Day. Take this opportunity to repeat something you needed or wanted to do again.
June 6: National Higher Education Day. Spend a moment educating or inspiring others who are interested in pursuing a similar career.
June 10: National Ballpoint Pen Day. Write a client a note today with a ballpoint pen to commemorate the patent filing on June 10, 1943.
June 11: National Making Life Beautiful Day. Celebrate those who make life beautiful through their words.
June 13: National Random Acts of Light Day. Bring light to a colleague by sharing some encouraging words.
June 21: National Selfie Day. Take some selfies that show you are balancing work-life activities.
June 30: Social Media Day. Post on all of your social media accounts today, letting potential clients know you are available for hire.
In the cool air of autumn, the big, small town of Albuquerque is heating up! Bodies are piling up at the zoo — both inside and outside of the lion enclosure. Murder mystery lover in her spare time, and full-time zoo veterinarian, Miranda Scott finds herself in the middle of this deepening mystery. With a mobster for a godfather, and a father who has lots of secrets and gangster friends, Miranda begins to wonder if she might be the next victim. Can the voices in her head — Agatha, Raymond, and Sherlock — the handsome detective who’s smitten by her, or her mobster uncles help her solve the mystery before the animals she loves devour her?
If you love murder mysteries and animals, you’ll be captivated by Marcia Rosen’s latest book, Murder at the Zoo. Get ready to stay up late — brew a pot of coffee or open a bottle of wine — because you won’t be able to put this one down!
Elizabeth Belasco, PhD
Murder Mystery Lover, Animal Lover, aka the DogEaredGhostwriter!
NAIWE is always coming out with new on-demand training!
We are doing this to help you learn about new services you can offer to further expand your multiple streams of income. Whether it be fiction writing, nonfiction writing, journalism, proofreading, editing, designing, or more, we are working to expand your toolbox.
A new webinar that just became available earlier this year is Publishing Demystified, presented by NAIWE’s Fiction Expert Karin Beery.
NAIWE benefit partners have even led webinars to assist publishing professionals with new software and resources to increase member productivity and improve member skills. (And these webinars are FREE to NAIWE members!)
What on-demand training have you benefited from recently? What topic would you like to see covered in an upcoming training?
April Michelle Davis
NAIWE Executive Director
Member Benefit #3
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! You can also look at the NAIWE Member Activity Feed to see how other members are using their member blogs.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Leslie Truex (NAIWE’s Author Representation Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
What is a literary agent?
A literary agent helps authors sell their books to publishers — that’s the short answer. Literary agents usually help authors get the manuscript ready for submission (many will edit and work with the author on the manuscript before it’s sent off to publishers), review the contract to try and get the best terms, mediate between author and editor when needed, help keep the authors on track so they don’t miss deadlines or necessary work publishers need, etc. Agents stay up-to-date on what’s going on such as what editor isn’t answering email as quickly, where editors have moved to, what editors are now looking for (they change their minds a lot), and more.
Do most authors work with literary agents?
Today, most, but not all, traditionally published authors in the big 5 will have a literary agent. Smaller presses often take nonagented work, but the author needs to understand contracts. Some contracts are bad and an author can commit all their future work to a press if they don’t know what they’re signing (I’ve seen some bad contracts!).
Of course, indie authors don’t have agents for their manuscripts, but some use agents to sell other rights, such as audio or foreign rights to their indie works.
What role does a literary agent play in the submission process?
Literary agents prepare the submission based on what editors want (e.g., query, synopsis or proposal, manuscript). Before submission, agents work with the author to make sure the manuscript is its best based on what agents know editors are looking for. Agents usually submit in batches, which allow for edits if the feedback suggests it. I submit to the big five publishers first, but agents can only submit to one imprint in a big 5 at a time (so if a publisher has two imprints that would work for my book, I can only submit to one). After big 5 imprints are exhausted, if there isn’t a sale, agents send to mid-size and smaller presses. Agents submit the package to the editors and correspond with them. If they ask for the full manuscript, agents send it. If they make an offer, agents get in touch with the author and contact all other publishers that have the manuscript to let them know an offer is in and give them a deadline for responding.
If the author likes the deal, agents review the contract and talk to the author about it. Once the negotiation is done and the contract is signed, the author works with the editor directly, but agents like to stay in the loop to help the author through the process.
Advances (if any) and royalties go to the agent and are then distributed to the author.
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Learn how to set your book submission apart from the hundreds . . . even thousands . . . agents receive a year. In this workshop you’ll learn:
- How to get your manuscript ready for submission
- Additional materials you need to prepare for submission
- Where to find and choose agents to submit to
- Pet peeves of agents and how to avoid them
- What to expect when working with an agent
You can join in this conversation on May 17, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on the role of the literary agent. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Leslie Truex is a literary agent with Blue Ridge Literary Agency and an author coach. She began her writing career by accident after starting a career website in 1998 that resulted in a freelance writing career and two traditionally published nonfiction books. However, Leslie’s passion lies in writing fiction. She is the author of a dozen romance and mystery novels using a pen name. Leslie enjoys sharing her insights and experiences to help emerging authors get their books published. She also supports authors through her online community for romance writers and coaching to both fiction and nonfiction authors. Leslie has spoken and provided workshops as an author and agent at a host of events, including The Virginia Festival of the Book, Malice Domestic, Maryland Writers Association, The Virginia Writers Club, as an adjunct at Piedmont Virginia Community College, and more, and she is the former president of The Virginia Writers Club.
May: National Get Caught Reading Month. Wherever you go, the campaign challenges you to get caught reading.
May 1: National Mother Goose Day. This day honors Mother Goose, the imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes we loved as children and also as adults.
May 7-13: Small Business Week. Small businesses account for half of America’s workforce, and more new jobs come from small business than any other source.
May 12: National Limerick Day. Celebrate the birthday of English artist, illustrator, author, and poet Edward Lear who wrote A Book of Nonsense.
May 16: National Biographer’s Day. Commemorate the anniversary of the first meeting of Samuel Johnson and his biographer James Boswell in 1763 by honoring biographers.
May 30: National Creativity Day. Celebrate you and your creative pursuit!
May 31: National Speak in Complete Sentences Day. This day is dedicated to using proper sentence structure while speaking.
Mystery writer Marcia Rosen knows that the most powerful lines of William Shakespeare’s Tempest:
O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in’t
tell only half our human story[1].
Indeed, the opening lines of Murder offer readers into a man-made dystopia: From the lion’s den at the Albuquerque Zoo, a human arm, chewed off from its shoulder, beckons to the public.
Rosen’s sleuth, Dr. Miranda Scott, is tasked with solving this murder—but she faces five challenges. First, she hears voices in her head, each in its own trademark manner:
“Agatha, even for a dame, you talk too damn much.”
“Raymond, my dear, you’ve used that line too many times. I fear it is a bit uncouth.”
Sherlock snapped, “Will you both be quiet so I can consider the evidence?”
The snark and wisdom of Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes persist as the pile of bodies at the zoo increases. And Miranda finds time to serve her day shift as its senior veterinarian.
Second, Miranda copes with an unusual set of divorced parents. Her mother Lillian, who lives on a ranch near Taos, is a grifter forever pushing Miranda around. Miranda’s father Jacob, whom she lived with following the divorce, holds close to the vest his relationship with a certain criminal syndicate. Miranda’s appetite for detection was nourished by a steady supply of mystery and gangster novels and their cinematic adaptations, thanks to her godfather Joseph.
Third, Miranda faces corruption on the part of the local government. Readers will recognize the shameless egoism of Senator Matthew Graham and company.
Fourth, there is corruption on the part of the zoo staff, though Miranda may be too busy and too close to see.
Finally, Miranda entertains distraction from her duties, exchanging thrusts in an extended romantic exchange with a certain Bryan.
“Mystery lovers will enjoy Rosen’s nods to films and novels both old and new, making use of important tropes popularized by Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, and even Edgar Allan Poe. Rosen’s dialogue and narration—“I have to go. Have to see a lion about a man”—offer a gentler version of Chandler’s nonstop talking wise.
Murder at the Zoo is heartily recommended for vacation reading.
[1] The Tempest, V.1.182–5. These lines are spoken as a royal marriage comes together. The exile of Miranda, with her father Prospero, Duke of Milan, is coming to an end thanks to Miranda’s alliance to Ferdinand, the King of Naples’ son.
Since 1986, Jon Hartmann has reviewed books, films, and performances for academic, professional, and general audiences. Jon teaches Technical and Business Communication at The University of Texas at Dallas, and he copyedits government reports on food security in places like Haiti and East Africa. Hartmann wrote The Marketing of Edgar Allan Poe (Routledge, 2008) and has published pieces on filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles. Jon recommends his latest paper, published in Who Makes the Franchise (McFarland, 2022, edited by Rhonda Knight and Donald Quist), titled “You Always Spoof the One You Love: Thirty Years of Professional Take-Offs on The Muppet Show.”
Member Benefit #2
You may have read about how a strong presence on the web can build your writing or service 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. You can also look at the NAIWE Member Activity Feed to see what other members are doing with their member sites.
Your NAIWE website, with the memorable web address of www.YourName.naiwe.com, includes
- Homepage where you can introduce your books or services
- Portfolio pages, for reviews, testimonials, references, and samples (whatever you’d like to include)
- Professional profile page, including education, experience, publication history, and more
- The ability to add more pages
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 it about crime that brings it to the forefront when readers are making their selections of reading material?
People like mysteries of life and who dunnits. I think for cozies, like my recent book, they like to read about the lives of the characters and help them solved the puzzles.
Have you written crime stories based on real-life events?
No. There are people who do write what is known as “True Crime” stories.
Please give an example of past famous detectives that have influenced your mystery writing.
Sherlock. The Thin Man series, Nick and Nora Charles, MidSomer Murders Detective Baraby, Agatha Christie.
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Crime is the number one genre people read. Dozens of published authors have created stories hearing the voices of past famous detectives. Many of us mystery writers have the ambition and desire to create thrilling crime fiction with clever detectives. I certainly have been impacted and influenced by these past crime-solvers. Have You?
You can join in this conversation on April 25, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on the mystery writer mindset. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Even a Pandemic Can’t Stop Love and Murder
Author: A.E.S. O’Neill
After having been set up in Iraq, Alby O’Brien is on the Iraqi hit list. Therefore, Alby is now hiding in southern New Jersey to avoid the wrath of terrorists who are after him. Believing he is safely hidden in his cave-like garage apartment, he supports himself on under-the-table fix-it work while wrestling with nightmares of what happened in Iraq. Being that he was only a government contractor, he is not privy to all of the employee benefits provided by the government, and this letdown continues throughout his new life.
The author, A.E.S. O’Neill, wrote this book during a pandemic and used the pandemic as the setting. O’Neill does a great job working the pandemic into scenes and showing various reactions to it and the new way of life. Some characters detest wearing the mask; others double mask. Some wear the cheap mask, while others wear a Plastimask. Even the psychotically polite killer is sure to wear a mask. The author also mentions vaccines, variants, and GPS trackers—all items readers can surely relate to.
Alby was in Iraq when the pandemic hit, so the United States he returns to is different than the one he left—something Alby regularly struggles with.
Though Alby is trying to avoid the terrorists, he cannot seem to avoid trouble.
Something very valuable has been taken from a mob-run bank. The mob believes the thief was Alby, and now everyone is after him, who appears to have drawn the short straw in life. Despite his life being on the line, all he can think about is the mysterious Ginger. As it all comes to a head, Alby knows his choices are few and his fate could go either way.
This novel is filled with action at a speedy pace and takes place in just one week. How many lives can be changed in just one week! Once the action begins, it just keeps coming, breaking up the action scenes with small episodes of normalcy.
A reader may desire the prologue to occur later in the story with Alby remembering his life in Iraq, once the reader has been able to connect with Alby. However, the reader is able to empathize with Alby in chapter 1, and then the action begins in chapter 2.
O’Neill is a gifted writer, developing a great story with suspense, and he was at the right place at the right time. This novel is based on a true story O’Neill’s father told his son about a mob bank being ripped off and the ensuing consequences. The author does an excellent job of taking this true story and placing it in a pandemic crisis and entangling the two challenges.
Even a Pandemic Can’t Stop Love and Murder, vol. 1 Break the Bank is the highly entertaining and almost implausible story of what can happen by being at the wrong place at the right time.
April: English Language Month. A month-long celebration of the uniqueness of the English language and all the learners working hard to master it.
April: National Poetry Month. Spend time this month writing, reading, and studying poetry.
April: National Volunteer Month. In the United States, volunteerism is instilled at a young age. Most organizations in small towns, rural counties, and the largest cities would not function without volunteers.
April: Records and Information Management Month. This event celebrates good record keeping and information management and emphasizes the importance of having organized records.
April: Stress Awareness Month. This month, we are all challenged to keep our stress levels low, and our peace levels high.
April 4: National Hug a Newsperson Day. Say thank you and send a hug to your local newsperson.
April 4: National School Librarian Day. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized, helping our children find the resources they need to keep learning, and are dedicated to creating an environment they can learn in every day of the year. Set aside some time to honor school librarians.
April 3-9: National Public Health Week. The week focuses on prevention and reducing unhealthy activities.
April 7: National No Housework Day. Freelancers working from home sometimes choose to be distracted by housework rather than work on a challenging project. On this day, it is not allowed, so find something else to distract you–or rather, sit down and work on that challenging project.
April 8: National All Is Ours Day. This is a day to appreciate everything we have, rather than dwelling on what we don’t have.
April 10: National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Do you know a young person who has a vivid imagination, maybe someone who likes to tell stories and reads a lot of books? Encourage them to pursue their goals and develop their writing skills.
April 14: National Library Workers Day. Libraries do so much more than house the books we can borrow nearly any time of the day or night. Today, library workers are masters of research.
April 14: National Reach as High as You Can Day. Review and plan your goals for the upcoming quarter or the rest of the year as you reach for your dreams or goals.
April 14: Look Up at the Sky Day. Look for inspirations and beauty by looking up at the sky.
April 15: National Rubber Eraser Day. Celebrate the invention of erasers by acknowledging that we all make mistakes.
April 16: National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. Let go of the stress by wearing your pajamas to work.
April 17: National Haiku Poetry Day. Try your hand at this creative form today by writing about what you see outside.
April 23-29: Administrative Professionals Week. Celebrate the administrative professionals and secretaries who keep businesses going.
April 16-22: National Volunteer Week. Provide support by offering your services to a local organization you feel passionate about.
April 20: National High Five Day. Spend a moment on social media today, and give a virtual high five to someone who has recently helped you out.
April 20: Get to Know Your Customers Day. Select a customer and get to know them a little better today.
April 23-29: National Library Week. Visit your local library in person or online, and give your library card a workout.
April 26: National Bookmobile Day. Honor the access to information and resources our nation’s bookmobiles make available to our communities and the professionals who work diligently to provide these services.
April 26: National Administrative Professionals Day. Even some freelancers have virtual assistants, so we didn’t want you to miss this day! Celebrate your VA and show how much you appreciate this person.
April 27: National Tell a Story Day. Share a story with fellow word lovers.
April 27: National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Take some time to mentor your sons and daughters and aspire their writing to new heights!
April 28: National Great Poetry Reading Day. Celebrate distinguished poetry and the notable poets who wrote them.
April 29: National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Memorize a poem or two to share with the people you meet throughout the day.
The copyedit is the last stage in the process of bringing a manuscript to publication, and it is the last time the manuscript will be reviewed before being typeset and laid out in book format. All substantive changes should already have been made by this point. Copyeditors may tighten up the text to eliminate wordiness and increase readability, move text around to improve logic, and smooth awkward transitions, but substantive changes should be few.
Copyeditors look for errors in
- sentence organization
- structure
- consistency
- tone
- writing style
- transitions
- grammar and usage
- spelling and punctuation
- house style.
Copyeditors perform a similar function to proofreaders; the difference between these two professionals is their place in the publishing process and the type of errors corrected. Copyeditors perform their job when the manuscript is still in Microsoft Word files, before the manuscript has been laid out by the designer. Sometimes a proofreader may work on a manuscript before layout, but proofreaders usually work in PDF files or on hard copy (paper) after the typesetter or desktop publisher has laid out the manuscript to look like the final product. Copyeditors correct all types of grammatical and punctuation errors, whereas proofreaders correct only egregious errors and mistakes in layout. Therefore, copyeditors are the last line of defense against bad writing.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen) is the author of 10 books, including the Senior Sleuth Mystery Series and the Dying to be Beautiful Mystery Series. Once again, she delights her readers with Murder at the Zoo, the first in her new Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock, and Me Mystery Series, debuting in 2023.
Murder at the Zoo starts off with the thud of a dead body landing in the lion enclosure of the Albuquerque Zoo. Our main characters are called to the scene: the lovely Miranda Scott, Senior Veterinarian at the Zoo, and the tall and handsome Detective Bryan Anderson, who is assigned to the crime scene. Within hours, another body is found near the lion enclosure with a bullet in its chest. The pace of the action quickly accelerates and keeps on going throughout the novel.
The romantic attraction between our two main characters is evident from the start but new murders and other serious crimes multiply quickly, putting our couple both at odds with one another and in danger of becoming victims themselves. A colorful cast of other characters who are not what they seem keep getting in the way, including a potentially corrupt politician and a possible crooked cop.
We also learn that Miranda’s family is more than dysfunctional. Raised by her gangster father and his friends and often used by her mother for her own personal gain, Miranda soon learns that her family is somehow involved in the chaos surrounding the zoo and the terrible events that have been unfolding are, in fact, personal. She becomes the target for revenge.
So where does the title of this new series come from? It turns out that, as a child, Miranda read dozens of mysteries by authors like Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler and loved characters like Sherlock Holmes. Over the years, she heard their voices in her head telling her what she should and should not do. As she eventually explains to Detective Anderson, “Somehow some of my favorite authors and characters seem to talk to me. . . The voices, of course, are really my own thoughts or feelings about something but they often play around in my head as if they are these other voices.” What these voices do for the reader, however, is to lighten the load as the murders pile up. Their distinct personalities provide humor in the midst of tragedy when they bicker amongst themselves, and guidance for Miranda as she tries to sort her way through her relationships with her family and the mysteries of her feelings for Bryan and the case which they are trying to solve together.
All in all, Murder at the Zoo is a great read and it’s sure to satisfy Ms. Rosen’s mystery fans. They’ll be wanting more before this first book in the series ends!
Rosen’s descriptions drew me into the story and made it an immersive experience. The narrative often pulled my focus to little details that hint to Miranda’s past and made me want to know more about her. This was an exciting read, and I highly recommend this story, which begins with a murder at the zoo.
Leah Rubin is a copyeditor and proofreader who works under the business name of Your Second Pen. A native of Chicago, she and her family threw away the shovels and the snowblower and moved to Arizona in 1999. With a degree in English and Speech Arts from Hofstra University, and a background in teaching (both in the U.S. and South Korea as a Peace Corps Volunteer), Leah worked in various administrative capacities while raising her family. Always the English expert, whether working in the office or managing a pottery gallery in Sedona, Leah followed her dream to start her own business when she and her husband relocated to Tucson in 2017. Armed with multiple classes in professional development and a new computer, the idea of Your Second Pen was born and has been blossoming ever since. While she doesn’t believe in having a “niche”, Leah has worked for several authors in the categories of memoir, biography, mystery, science fiction, spirituality, self-help, adventure, and business, as well. She enjoys working with first-time authors or seasoned writers. She prides herself on her professionalism, patience, perseverance, and the desire to work with an author to produce the best possible version of their written material. Whether a lengthy novel or a simple business letter, each project is equally important to her. Leah is a member of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, the Professional Editors Network, and an active member of the Tucson Chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Member Benefit #1
We recommend that you start with Make the Most of Your Membership: A Quick-Start Guide to NAIWE. This handy guide provides a brief overview of the benefits you receive, along with step-by-step instructions for accessing them. By referencing this guide, you’ll be off and running in no time!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Books by well-known authors who have died are still read. Why do their words still matter to generations of today?
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2023 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
Have you heard insincere words that caused you to rethink the character of the speaker? Was it the tone of voice, the actual words? What made you doubt the sincerity of the words?
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2023 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
What is your favorite quote? What words in it make it your favorite quote?
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2023 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
Word Choice. Inner Thoughts. Open Book. What do these three have in common?
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2023 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
Walk like you talk. How do your words reflect in your actions?
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2023 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
Words Matter Week, which is in its 15th year, is a holiday that is celebrated annually the first full week in March by the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.
Words are the basis for communication, no matter the language spoken. Babies make sounds, which eventually are formed into words. Here at NAIWE, we know the importance of words, and we want to celebrate it!
We may only celebrate it for a week, but we believe in the importance of words all year long!
Spread the Word
Join us in promoting Words Matter Week! You have NAIWE’s permission to reproduce the poster on your website, with a link back to this page, and you may also print and display it. Please invite your friends to participate in this year’s event and show your support for Words Matter Week by placing the poster in your newsletter, on your blog, or in your social media. Words really do matter, so let’s spread the reminders!
Prepare for the Writing Challenge
During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.
Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2023, #WMW, or #NAIWE in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).
At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.
We wanted to get to know Karin Beery (NAIWE’s Fiction Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
What role do editors play in the publishing process?
Editors are the diamond cutters of the publishing world–they see the potential in a manuscript and help their authors cut and polish their books until they shine.
What role do agents play in the publishing process?
Agents are often called the gatekeepers–authors need to go through an agent before they can reach many publishing houses–but they’re more than that. They’re almost like an older sibling. They’ll fight with you and support you to see your project succeed, but they also need to be brutally honest (regarding your manuscript and the publishing process) to help you do it.
Can the same manuscript be published in the different publishing methods? (self, traditional, hybrid)
That depends on the contracts you’ve signed. Who owns the rights and for how long? It’s possible to self-publish a book, then have it picked up by a traditional publisher. It’s also possible that a traditional publisher will release the rights of a book back to the author, allowing him/her to self-publish. Hybrid publishers also have contracts, so make sure you know what you’re agreeing to before you sign anything.
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What’s the difference between a freelance editor and an acquisitions editor? Do you need an agent? If you do, how do you find one? How do you decide between traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing? With so many options available to authors, it can be confusing (and frustrating!) to figure out the best route for your book. In this webinar, we’ll take the confusion out of editors, agents, and publishers and help you figure out which options will work best for your publishing goals.
You can join in this conversation on March 21, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on the publishing process. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
March: Small Press Month. Shine the light on many of the great authors, and publishing houses, around the world.
March 2: National Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss Day). This day is a motivational and awareness day, calling all children and youth in every community across the United States to celebrate reading.
March 4: National Grammar Day. Some people might suggest that grammar is a set of rules for language, but it is a system for understanding language.
March 5-11: Words Matter Week. Words are the basis for communication, no matter the language spoken. Even babies make sounds, which eventually are formed into words. Here at NAIWE, we know the importance of words, and we want to celebrate it!
March 5-11: Read an E-book Week. This is an opportunity for book lovers and writers alike to share their passion in digital form.
March 8: National Proofreading Day. This day was created to bring awareness to the importance of proofreading.
March 14: National Write Down Your Story Day. This day challenges you to tell your story in written form.
March 30: National Pencil Day. Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil on this day in 1858.
Writers are a fun group of people! In many communities, writers periodically get together for food, fun, and entertainment!
In my local area, writers get together for a variety of events, so all writers can find something to enjoy:
- marathon writing sessions, where they write throughout the night
- speakers from the publishing industry, so they can learn more about an aspect of writing or publishing
- conferences, where writers of all types can find something of benefit
- classes, so they can spend a few hours learning about a particular aspect of writing
- socializing and networking events, times to just have some fun and intelligent talks
- contests, to test your writing skills and compare them with one another
- book fairs, so writers can make a little money off their passion
- … and so much more!
As a writer, what is your favorite type of event to attend?
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorApril 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.
Member Benefit #42
Professional audiobook narrator Maya James works with the ACX platform, connected to Amazon and Audible, and can also meet the quality standards for other platforms such as iTunes. Maya is able to meet deadlines and ensure high-quality audio with the help of a very strong production team.
NAIWE members receive 20% off audiobook narration!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Jennia D’Lima (NAIWE’s Creative Nonfiction Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
How do historical details add depth and context to nonfiction manuscripts?
Just like in a work of fiction, details contribute to immersing the reader in the story. They can also be used to heighten the emotions at a given time. For example, a manuscript may be primarily focused on examining the life of a frontier family in depth. A surviving diary entry from one of the members of this family may state a child came down with a disease that would not seem worrisome to contemporary readers. Including statistics for the mortality rate by age, prevalent issues for those who survived the disease, and typical length and severity of the illness would give the reader a better understanding of how the parents may have reacted to this diagnosis. Without this information, an included diary entry along the lines of “Mary was stricken with a fever; we believe she has scarlet fever” may not be given its due significance.
In some cases, these details may also add credibility to the author and any stances taken in the manuscript. This is especially true when making a claim or speculation based on little-known facts. Essential historical background to back up these positions will help decrease the reader’s skepticism while also creating a richer narrative.
What type of historical details should be added to nonfiction manuscripts?
Only those details that are relevant or will add the reader’s understanding should be included. It is vital to remember that, unless the manuscript is being marketed as a history textbook, there is no need to provide more than the basics. As will be discussed in the webinar, the key is learning how to identify those areas that will most benefit from these inclusions.
Are authors also adding historical details to nonfiction manuscripts to educate readers?
Some are, yes, but this depends upon the author’s original intentions and the larger scope of the work. With a memoir, the focus may not be on education so much as sharing and providing a unique viewpoint. It could be argued this alone is a form of education though it may not be from a historical perspective. However, there will often be ways history naturally and logically incorporates itself even when that isn’t the main goal. For instance, when explaining a medical procedure performed even a decade in the past, providing details may be necessary to give the reader the required information for understanding how it was performed, why it was considered risky or not, and so on. The reader’s knowledge base has now grown despite the author only including this information for clarity-related purposes.
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Want to find out how historical details can add depth and context to your creative nonfiction manuscript? Apart from bringing credibility to your topic, these details have the benefit of helping your reader better understand the context surrounding your subject. This session shows how to sift through research and facts to find what will have the most impact and meaning as well as how to identify which areas of your manuscript would most benefit from these additions.
You can join in this conversation on February 27, at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on adding some history to your manuscript. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
February: National Self-Check Month. Take charge of your health, and increase your odds of avoiding chronic diseases or other preventable diseases.
February: Free and Open Source Software Month. Recognize the cooperative approach to computer programming, open licensing, and free distribution of software.
February: National Library Lover’s Month. Enjoy your library, but also consider volunteering your time this month in a library.
February 1: National Get Up Day. This is a day to persevere, to pick ourselves up when we’ve fallen. We never know when our efforts to seek a goal or overcome an obstacle will encourage another person.
February 4: National Thank a Mail Carrier Day. As a small business, you likely work your mail carrier a little harder. Let’s take time out of our day to thank the mail person who is responsible for getting your mail in your mailbox six days a week.
February 7: National Send a Card to a Friend Day. Send a note to a colleague or client to let them know you are thinking about them.
February 9: National Giving Hearts Day. Make a donation from your business to a charity that you love.
February 11: National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. Think positive. Don’t worry and don’t stress over the little things. Life is too short.
February 11: National Make a Friend Day. Get to know one of your clients a little better. Meeting new people can help sharpen our social skills and keep us from becoming lonely.
February 13: National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Over time, files and programs that are unused clog the memory of your computer. This is a day to take some time to do the needed care on your computers. Organize your files and folders. Delete junk files. Delete duplicate files. Delete old files and programs that are not being used.
February 6-12: National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week. Celebrate these hardworking writers by showing some gratitude, highlighting a fun behind-the-scenes moment.
February 17: National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Write a note or do something nice for one of your clients today.
February 26: National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Share a favorite fairy tale with friends or family.
Murder, mystery, and auditory hallucinations. Murder at the Zoo by M. Glenda Rosen grabs your attention right away and pulls you into the puzzle of Miranda’s life. The perspectives of famous murder mystery authors along with Miranda’s insights make for a fun read.
Something I always enjoy in a book is good banter, and this novel has a lot of it. I found myself laughing aloud while reading Miranda’s interactions with other characters as well as her internal dialogue with her favorite mystery authors.
While it wasn’t always clear which voice Miranda was hearing when Agatha, Raymond, and Sherlock were all conversing, I still enjoyed the interjections of the different perspectives.
Rosen’s descriptions drew me into the story and made it an immersive experience. The narrative often pulled my focus to little details that hint to Miranda’s past and made me want to know more about her. This was an exciting read, and I highly recommend this story, which begins with a murder at the zoo.
Aretta Ariel-Boggs is a freelance editor.
Member Benefit #41
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. With millions of copies sold worldwide in multiple languages, it is the style manual of choice for writers, researchers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, nursing, communications, education, business, engineering, and other fields. Known for its authoritative, easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, language, and tone that will result in powerful, concise, and elegant scholarly communication. It guides users through the scholarly writing process — from the ethics of authorship to reporting research through publication. The seventh edition is an indispensable resource for students and professionals to achieve excellence in writing and make an impact with their work.
NAIWE members receive 15% off the print version of the APA style guide!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Reflecting on 2022 and the members that make up the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) makes me so proud to be in the publishing industry!
Honored to be your representative and as the executive director of NAIWE, I discussed the ABC test with NAIWE members and industry experts, and NAIWE ultimately chose to support and co-sign the amicus brief against the ABC test. The brief gave us a voice and let us express how we work and helped to influence decision-makers to come to the realization that we make up a sizable portion of the U.S. workforce and our voice is one to be heard!
Late 2021, at the Be a Better Freelancer Conference, which NAIWE co-sponsored with Communication Central to make the conference more accessible to you, I presented “Business Planning Basics.” All of the sessions at the conference were recorded and are now available as on-demand trainings at a discounted cost for you. And as NAIWE’s executive director, I presented my workshop “Using Your Book to Develop Multiple Streams of Income” in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the Virginia Writers Club Symposium, a cornerstone resource for writers.
NAIWE 2022 Happenings: NAIWE increased the number of on-demand trainings! NAIWE’s Board of Experts led 12 new expert webinars, which were recorded, edited, and then added to the on-demand training library, and shared 12 new expert articles (available only to active members in the Member’s Library) to present opportunities in a new light where learning and growing took place. New NAIWE member benefits include a 15% discount on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, priority access to Covered Press, and 20% off audiobook narration.
NAIWE encourages publishing professionals to unite through membership in a large professional publishing association. As a gift to you, please use code FRIENDS to receive 10% off a new automatic renewal membership at NAIWE.com.
–April Michelle Davis; NAIWE’s Executive Director; Editorial Inspirations Founder; Freelance Editor, Indexer, and Proofreader; Author
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, 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 10: 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 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 19: 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 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?
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 Charlene Dietz.
Charlene’s professional career started as a teacher in elementary schools. Years later, she transferred to high school where she taught students with special needs and science. Dietz left public education to teach graduate students at a private college and later became an educational consultant for Houghton Mifflin Publishing. Charlene began writing, and since then her writings have received numerous awards, including those from Kirkus Reviews, Writer’s Digest, International Book Awards, SouthWest Writers, and New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards.
Q: Please share a little of your professional history with our readers.
I have master’s and bachelor’s degrees obtained from University of New Mexico after I transferred from the University of Wyoming. I taught elementary and high school grades in the public school system before teaching college graduate-level courses at the Albuquerque Branch of the College of Santa Fe. I worked as an educational specialist for Houghton Mifflin Publishing (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) traveling the United States and New Mexico providing educational in-services to administrators and teachers. During this time, I started writing award-winning short stories because one of my main assignments happened to be showing teachers how to teach writing in every classroom at every grade level.
Q: How and when did you make this business a reality?
After retiring as an educator, I decided I needed to up my game and start writing novels. My head filled with stories, but I really had no idea how to plot. By off chance, I had a New York editor agree to mentor me. Several years later, in 2016, my first novel, The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur, earned the coveted Kirkus Reviews starred review. Then my second book, The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker, also garnered a starred review. Now I’ve written four books and decided I needed help with promotion, so I hired a publicist, Marcia Rosen.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?
Respect everyone. No matter who they are or what they do or how accomplished, everyone has a story and something worthwhile to share. We cheat ourselves of valuable life information if we’re not open to know what happens with others.
Q: Are you working on any personal writing projects at this time?
I’ve completed my fourth book, a historical biography novel with a touch of mystery and suspense. This book became my greatest writing challenge to date. The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor, Margaret Brent: Pre-Colonial Maryland 1638–1648 required deep study of English history, geography, social mores, and common law of the times. I also had to have a deep-level of understanding about everything pre-colonial concerning Maryland, her land, people, hardships, customs, and her neighboring colonies. My publisher plans to have this book out early fall 2022. In the meantime, I’ve begun another biography about a most unusual woman here in the United States.
Q: Are you working on any special projects you’d like to tell us about?
My grandfather always said not to talk about future endeavors because the conversation would steal the energy from the project. Hmmm, maybe, maybe not. Imagine a strong-willed young woman in the 1920s who studied art at the Chicago Art Institute, then continued her education by painting murals in China, and constructing mosaics in the subways of Moscow. When she returns to the United States the New York Museum of Modern Art shows some of her work and sculptures. Fast forward to her midlife; she’s now working with artist in Taos and Santa Fe. Next she’s getting her doctorate in archeology in California and along with teaching, and flying, she becomes the curator for the Museum of Man in San Diego. I had to know more about this unique woman. This story is too good not to be told.
Q: What are some of the teachers, books, or authors who have influenced your professional life in a positive way?
People say they’re voracious readers. I’m not. I’m a compulsive reader. Reading (books and audiobooks) has always been part of my life. As most authors, I grew up with a flashlight under the covers. I read everything from comic books to Hardy Boys, horse stories, O. Henry short stories, anything Viking, Shakespeare, Stevenson, Walter Scott, and devoured science fiction-fantasy tales. These all gave me a love of story. As a writer, Patricia Highsmith’s writing fascinated me with her duplicity; Alice Hoffman’s writings encouraged me to infuse something untouchable—magically questionable—within my stories; Naturally, O. Henry’s writings insisted I must twist and turn throughout my stories when most unexpected. Michael Connelly’s characters and plots, William Kent Kruger’s scene settings, Frank Herbert’s wild imagination . . . so many—too many to name. Yet, I must give the loudest shout of thanks to Peter Gelfan, the NY editor/author, who actually taught me how to write my stories in an engaging way for others to read.
Q: As a seasoned professional, what advice would you offer an independent writer or editor who is just beginning a career?
- You have no better friend than revision. When you believe you’ve finished, go back and revise, again.
- Only compete with yourself. Be the best you can be, and forget the others.
- Cheer every success obtained by your friends and acquaintances. This takes nothing away from your own abilities, and someday you may need a cheer or two.
Q: What inspires you?
The unique, the unknown, the complicated, and something from the heart.
Q: How has your membership in NAIWE benefited you professionally?
Because of NAIWE, I’ve found a wonderful publicist, Marcia Rosen, and an intelligent editor, Leah Rubin. As a fairly new member, I look forward to uncovering even more benefits for authors.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I appreciate NAIWE “having my back” in this whole process.
It is with great sadness that NAIWE shares with its members that Kajli Prince, our Tax Expert, died on October 22, 2022.
Prince had a passion for the NAIWE mission as an author of a bestselling book Knowledge for the Next Time. His desire to be more than a paying member of the association led him to take on the role of NAIWE’s Tax Expert in 2020. In this role, Prince wrote informative articles and held interactive webinars. To any of you who participated in his webinars, you can attest that Prince was engaging and very knowledgeable as he possessed expertise in many areas. Even in the midst of a pandemic, his devotion to the publishing industry remained steadfast as he served our community well with his talents and skills.
Prince was a delight to be around. His love for people and God showed in the generous smile that lit up his face. Prince will be missed.
NAIWE extends its sincere condolences to his wife, Ronla Prince, and their children.
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KAJLI PRINCETHE TAX EXPERTKajli Prince (“Prince”) has over 20 years of experience in small business tax preparation; he is a senior tax analyst and small business certified tax professional in the Centreville, Virginia, Block Advisors office. As a self-published author, Prince holds a special appreciation for NAIWE and its members. One of his passions is sharing relevant information with people and showing them how best to use it for their benefit. Prince is a small business owner of 25 years, and his specialties include emerging currencies (e.g., virtual/crypto currencies), information technology, intellectual property, and investment real estate.
Member Benefit #37
Spoken Word Transcription Services allows authors the freedom to escape from sitting behind their keyboards. Spend your energies on the creative process and let Spoken Word handle the typing. Whether still in the notes-taking and brainstorming phase or ready to get your entire book typed out, record your content in audio or video format and let Spoken Word transcribe it to text.
NAIWE members receive 20% off transcription services!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive DirectorWe wanted to get to know April Michelle Davis (NAIWE’s Executive Director) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
What does NAIWE offer its members to aid in developing multiple streams of income from their books?
To assist NAIWE members with increasing their sales and developing multiple streams of income, NAIWE offers eight benefits targeted to help market its members’ products and services. These benefits include a website connected with the NAIWE website to give visitors access to our members and their products and services, a blog where members may regularly post, and social media marketing where each blog post completed by a member will be marketed on NAIWE’s social media accounts. In addition to these benefits, NAIWE members have writing opportunities to showcase their writing and share their expertise on a given topic.
NAIWE’s focus includes a podcast, where NAIWE members are interviewed about their books or skills, and a discussion list, so that those who often work alone have access to join in the conversations of their peers to bounce ideas off and to add to topics of interest, both of which highlight members skills in the publishing industry.
Also, NAIWE’s authors may submit their published books for book reviews and book promotions, expanding their reach to new readers who will then learn about their writings. And all members strengthen and learn new skills through the articles in the Member’s Library or the classes in the On-Demand Training, furthering new income producing avenues.
To view a complete list of the NAIWE member benefits, please visit the NAIWE website.
Please share your own experiences with developing multiple streams of income from your books?
I began my freelance career as an editor while working a full-time job as a magazine editor. In addition to working two jobs, I took classes to add proofreading to my service offerings, and later took classes and added indexing, when a client expressed a need for this service. I also periodically taught classes. A few years later, I quit the full-time job, and I continued teaching classes at a community college. With the teaching experience, I began speaking at conferences and using my speaking material to write my own courses. I offered my courses in-person and online. In turn, I expanded on the course content to write several books. In addition and after being a NAIWE member for over a decade and on NAIWE’s Board of Experts for several years, I then moved into my current position as NAIWE’s executive director.
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Writing is no longer a lucrative career. The most recent study by the Authors Guild, a professional organization for book writers, shows that it may not even be a livable career. The people who write books usually have other sources of income, presenting it as a hobby as opposed to a valuable vocation.
In this webinar, we will discuss the theme of NAIWE membership: developing multiple streams of income. And we will discuss how to leverage your book to succeed in a career in writing!
You can join in this conversation on December 9, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on developing multiple streams of income. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Knight Light Author: Claudia Riess A world chess champion is found dead. The cause of death remains mired in controversy when, three-quarters of a century later, a letter of his that could rock the art world is unearthed in a routine home renovation. The letter is addressed to a person of international repute and offers information about art works looted during the German occupation of Paris. When the young
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 workspace without
We encourage everyone in the publishing industry to belong to two professional organizations. The first is a large, general, career-building association such as NAIWE, and the second is a smaller craft- or genre-focused association that will help develop additional skills in the minutiae of your craft. Here at NAIWE, we are serious about helping you succeed. Countless experts list joining a professional association as one of the first things you
Member Benefit #36 ProWritingAid is the only platform that offers world-class grammar and style checking combined with more in-depth reports to help you strengthen your writing. The unique combination of suggestions, articles, videos, and quizzes makes writing fun and interactive. There’s a free trial available. NAIWE members receive 25% off subscriptions! Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Yateendra Joshi (NAIWE’s Research Paper Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here are some thoughts he shared with us. Everyone wants to communicate a message; how can design clarify and reinforce the message? A well-chosen typeface can complement the message; an effective layout can clarify it; and the overall design can entice readers to begin reading a document — before
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 experienced it thus far. November: National Novel Writing Month. Use this month to write the first draft of your novel. November 1: National Author’s Day. Celebrate your favorite authors and the books they have
The holidays are almost here! Have you thought about how you can package your books in gift sets? For those who have written a series, that is already a gift set, but how can an author create a gift set if they have published only one book? A gift set can be created with fellow authors from the same genre. I have seen these done among three or four authors,
Wild Heart Author: Carolyn Haley Love and romance aren’t for everyone. Linny Eagan thought she had found the love of her life, until she lost him, along with her job and her dream—all in one day. With a dream of becoming an equestrian champion, but living in an unsupportive household, Linny is finally able to show off her equestrian skills to her parents. However, the day her parents come
Member Benefit #35 PerfectIt helps deliver error-free documents. It improves consistency, ensures quality, saves time, and helps to enforce style guides. PerfectIt is used by thousands of editors around the world because it lets editors control every change, giving you the assurance that documents are the best they can be. NAIWE members receive 30% off the software, and there’s a free 14-day trial available! Visit the NAIWE website to see all of
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 Claudia Riess. Claudia Riess, a Vassar graduate, has worked in the editorial departments of The New Yorker and Holt, Rinehart and Winston and has edited several art monographs. Her earliest recollections of word-spinning are of her father, an English professor, telling stories at bedtime—funny stories
We wanted to get to know Nicole Evelina (NAIWE’s Novel Writing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us. What does it mean to you that “everyone has a book in them”? It’s a common saying and I truly believe most people do have a story they’d like to tell. They just don’t know how to go about it or
NAIWE is always looking for those who excel and who may want to be an asset as a member of the Board of Experts. The Board of Experts offers great insights for NAIWE members. Each member of the Board of Experts leads one webinar and writes one article for the Member’s Library — creating a vast wealth of knowledge for NAIWE members to learn from! Who do you know who
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 recordings include suggestions to help with this. October: Self-Promotion Month. Promote your skills to gain some new clients. Some of
In the 1950s, my interest was captured by Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew series. Each holiday, I would request the latest Nancy Drew title, and on receiving it, I would curl up in an oversized chair and begin reading the fast-paced adventure. Whereby, I dabbled at creating my own mystery stories at an early age. My first effort detailed a long, frightening chase by a sinister man. A dark tunnel appeared,
Member Benefit #34 JSTOR provides access to more than 10 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines, and its JPASS is an easy way to access the world’s leading academic research. You’ll have superior reference materials from a wide range of subjects available to you to help ensure the accuracy and quality of your work. NAIWE members receive 25% off annual memberships! Visit the NAIWE website
We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us. What benefit of online networking can we count on in our businesses? Online networking can create visibility that leads to new clients and projects that we can count on to sustain and grow our businesses, along with connections with colleagues who can
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 Alfred O’Neill. A.E.S. O’Neill grew up going to private school paid for by a mobster father, rocks out to the Grateful Dead and Beethoven for inspiration, reads comics to never lose his inner-child, and disregards most of society’s rules—except for the importance of decency, empathy
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
September: Self-Improvement Month. Take some time to improve yourself. What class will you take or conference will you attend to improve your business self? Think ahead and sign up for an on-demand training! September 5: Labor Day. This day recognizes the men and women who labor to build this country. As self-employed professionals, many tend to work on this day, but what will you do to celebrate? September 6: National Read
As summer comes to a close, you may be looking for a new book to read. Many of our fellow NAIWE members have published books. New members (or members renewing their membership) can request to receive a copy of a NAIWE member’s book. As a NAIWE member, we are also part of the NAIWE community. NAIWE members are known to support one another. As such, we can help our fellow
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
Member Benefit #33 Many publishers will do some of the book marketing, but to truly succeed today’s authors must take the marketing piece into their own hands. Using video marketing allows authors to reach a larger audience, and it brings the book to life. Video marketing can show the plot, what the characters look like, the locations, and so much more. NAIWE members receive 20% off digital marketing services! Visit
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. Is shared copyright new to authors? No. Copyright sits with the creator (or creators) at the time that a work is placed in a fixed format (written down on paper, typed on a computer, painted on a surface, and so