Henrietta: The Dish

How to find a market for your writing

Whether you're a new writer or a writer of repute that is looking to break into new markets here is a quick top seven list for you to make the change from becoming published to becoming even more published. Regardless of whether you're a new or established writer there are no shortcuts to success and publication. Writing is hard work and requires perseverance and dedication. 

Here are our top bits of advice on getting your foot in the door of a new market:

1. Uncover new solutions to ongoing problems. Is there an easier, quicker way to get your dog to take his pill? Have you found a foolproof way to keep pet hair off your furniture? Write about it.
2. Money-saving tips. Regardless of the current economic times, who doesn't want to save money? No one that I know of. If you have money-saving solutions to everyday problems, pitch it to an editor. 
3. Being proactive. Why not offer the readers ways to prevent problems from ever happening? If you have tips on preventative measures to age-old issues such as keeping your carpets flea-free or keeping Fluffy from jumping on the guests, write about it. 
4. Make a list. Readers love lists. With the limited time that people have to devote to reading and leisure, offer a quick Top 10 list. 
5. Take it from me... Readers enjoy learning vicariously through the writer, with whom they are identifying as the expert in this situation. 
6. Technology solutions. With the proliferation of Smartphones and netbooks, there are myriad apps that can offer quick and easy solutions to everyday problems. If you've found an app for that, write about it. 
7. Pssst, I've got a secret. How many times have you picked up a magazine and seen titles such as, "Secrets to rapid weight loss," or "Secrets to puppy housebreaking success"? Everyone wants in on a secret. Tell yours. 

What's your secret to success in breaking into a new market?

 

Are people flocking to your blog? Draw them in

Regardless of whether you’re a business owner or an individual with a dream, you want people to know about you and buy your “stuff,” right? If you have a blog you can become known as an expert, a thought leader, and can use your blog to engage your readers.

Are there bloggers out there that you simply love to read – so much so that you can’t get through a day without checking them out? What do they have that you don’t? They’ve found a way to make their blog a place where things are happening and they want to be part of it. What do the other pet bloggers have that you don’t? Probably a niche. What’s yours? If you can find it you can corner the market on it and soon readers will be flocking to your blog like kittens to a milk dish!

Here are five tips to draw them in:

1.  Be interesting. This may sound like a no-brainer but sometimes blog writers forget about that. Here are a few ways to help make you interesting: a) use “how to” titles; b) use lists, top 10s, etc.; c) offer money saving tips; d) write about what’s topical today; e) be unique
2. Is your content easy to read? Do your sentences flow smoothly into one another? Do you stay on topic? If your title says, “How to save money on pet food” but you write about, “What’s the best organic food for your pet,” you are in the same topic area but not on topic. As with newspaper articles, get to the point quickly because readers will stop reading if you haven’t engaged them within the first paragraph or two. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, numbers.
3. Are you using SEO (search engine optimized key words)? While you don’t want to write for the search engines you do want to be found. If you’re writing about dogs, use that key word, if you are writing about poodles and want to be found on that topic, be specific.
4. Talk to me. Does your blog allow for comments? Do you ask questions in your blog that writers would be interested in engaging in with you?
5. Be shameless… in your self-promotion. If you’re writing a blog, don’t just hope that readers will find you; take their virtual hand and lead them toward your blog. Promote yourself on Facebook, Twitter, add sharing buttons to your posts, tell your friends and ask them to share your information.

How will you set yourself apart and draw readers to your blog – not only draw them there, but keep them reading. 

 

 

Want to be a published pet writer? Make a plan

You’ve written a book on, oh let’s say, “How To Write A Romance” and now you’re looking to snag a publisher. Which one will you choose? The book publisher that only publishes scholarly tomes on ancient Egyptian history or one that publishes sci-fi cozy mysteries? No, you will want to find a publisher that specializes in romance publishing, right? It would seem obvious but there are many people I found in my career as an editor who will simply see the work “publisher” in a search and drop their manuscript in the mail.

When I published my magazine – which was for writers and discussed the craft of writing – I would receive manuscripts on how to grow a garden, the number one brake pad on the market or the best grooming tips for your poodle. What the heck? Did they not read our guidelines? Apparently not, right? But, the worst part was when the writer would argue with me about the greatness of their manuscript and that I should publish it. Word to the wise… don’t argue with the editor.

Okay, back to the topic at hand, how to put together a killer book proposal:

• Keep your proposal to one page. Draft it up, summarize the book, who you are, why you wrote the book, and your skill
• Include a two sentence biography
• Include market research about your book, write a marketing plan
• A brief description of the book, with a hook to drag the publisher in
• Details about your manuscript, how long is the book, is it a good candidate for an ebook format
• What makes your book stand out from the crowd
• Include your chapter titles
• A sales pitch for the book – your tagline, as it were
• Who is the audience for you book? The “general public” is too general, you need to let the publisher know that “my book’s target audience is aspiring romance writers and that there are 1.2 million (I just made that up!) aspiring romance writers and they’re my potential audience”
• Are you involved in the industry in which your book is targeted? For example, if your book is about the manufacturing of widgets and you’re a stay-at-home-mom who’s never seen a widget in her life, what makes you an authority on the subject?

All this information and more will be covered in my BlogPaws 2011 seminar session on Saturday morning! Have any questions you’d like me to answer? Send them along. 

 

Don't forget your post-Blogpaws follow ups

You had a great time at BlogPaws, right? You handed out business cards, collected business cards, shook hands, petted pets and vowed to keep in touch. How's that working out? Have you connected? Here are some tips for post-conference follow up:

1. Strike while the iron's hot. Sure, you're busy and trying to catch up from the conference but you need to contact those with whom you've connected -- even if it's a brief email reminder with a promise of a longer communication at a later time. 
2. Remind the contact of who you are and how you met. If you've connected with people from PetSmart, for example, imagine how many people they talked with. Did you have a particular conversation that you can spark their memory with? If so, do that so they remember who you were and the reason for your connection. 
3. Even if you're a social media guru who is looking to pick up new clients, don't let that be your first communication with a contact -- unless they specifically said, "Contact me about some work I might have for you."
4. If you're Friending people on Facebook, make certain you send a personal message with it -- again so they remember who you are and why you connected. 
5. Plan for meet ups for next year in Salt Lake City. BlogPaws 2012 will be here before you know it! 

How far are you into your follow ups?