Posts filed under ‘In the News’
Wordclay Author, Jane Schulte, Does It Again!
Jane Schulte does it again. Author of Work Smart, Not Hard!, a 2009 National Best Books Awards Finalist, has extended her know-how on effective time management and healthy living to the youth of our job market — the college student.
Schulte decided her time-organization and efficiency tips laid out in Work Smart, Not Hard!, geared towards the office worker, could just as easily be applied to the studies and management of college life. An idea inspired by her own college freshman, her son, who would relay the difficulties of all night study groups and missed deadlines.
The two teamed up, her son reading the original Work Smart, Not Hard! through the lens of a college student and suggesting how to make it more accessible to fellow students.
Work Smart, Not Hard!: For College Students equips the reader with tips for effective time management in this new environment as well as the tools needed to ensure work organization and success in the classroom. Such tips include Schulte’s PEND (or “pending”) system — a cabinet or drawer with file folders marked by date — which syllabi, assignments and other needed classroom materials can be stored. Schulte explains, “Just check it everyday. You are trying to figure out what are your priority items, what do I have to do today?”
Additional tips for students include the importance of a clean work space, the use of professional and proper grammar and etiquette when communicating with professors, and the ability to track and resolve problems on their own before reaching out to parents.
Work Smart, Not Hard!: For College Students is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Visit Jane Schulte on the web at www.stop-struggling.com. And pick up your copy of Work Smart, Not Hard! or Work Smart, Not Hard!: For College Students. Get your work on track towards being well-balanced and time-effective and give life a piece of the pie.
–Melissa
Attention Wordclay Authors: Making the News? Email in at blog@wordclay.com and let us celebrate with you.
AP Stylebook Updates for Social Media
BIG news for you social media fanatics and online technical writers: The online writing world has changed in 42 new ways. According to the holy book of all things grammar/spelling related — the AP Stylebook — amendments to your social media writing do’s and don’ts now offer an easement towards the current trend of online lingo.
Perhaps the most exciting, the commonly used “Web site” has been conveniently converted to “website.” Remember to keep the capital W if “Web” is solely used as a proper noun. And the words “fan” and “friend” have blossomed out of their noun shells and become verbs. Now that’s evolution.
In case you’re wondering, the capital I in “Internet” isn’t going anywhere and the hyphen in “e-mail” is here to stay. In fact, go ahead and add that hyphen to “e-reader” for current and correct usage.
Among the more interesting additions to the AP writing style includes acronyms commonly used in text, e-mail and instant messaging. Those christened to the AP Stylebook include BRB, G2G, ROFL, POS (though it is up to you to look up each meaning and appropriate use — as I prefer to say “Be right back”, “Good to go”, am I really “rolling on the floor laughing”, and “I’m too old to detail the teen parental code”). All humor aside, the AP style guide has approved certain acronyms for your writing convenience.
Others making the Stylebook include app, blog, trending, widget, wiki, retweet, click-through and RSS. You can now “unfriend” or “defriend” in proper grammar.
The full 2010 AP Stylebook, including the new social media guidelines and basic rules of thumb, is now available for your writing pleasure. If you have usage questions, you may post them on AP’s Ask the Editor, and get answers straight from the source.
Happy searching. Happy reading. And enjoy your new writing leniency. TTYS.
–Melissa
How Publishing a Book Could Help You Land Your Next Job
The economy has been stinking up our sweet American dreams for quite a while now. But people find ways to overcome adversity, and this time is no different.
One way that people can overcome the challenges of a tough job market is establishing themselves as experts by publishing books. Mark Tutton explores this topic in an article he posted March 16, 2010, on CNN.com titled, Why just being good at your job is not enough.
In the article, Tutton interviews various experts on the rising competiveness of the job market and growing trends in publishing. Here are a few excerpts:
Keith Ogorek, of self-publishing firm Author Solutions, told CNN that more people are using self-publishing as a way of promoting their personal brand. “We’ve found that a number of people have begun to use books as a way to establish their credibility,” he said.
“As the economy is turning and more and more people are having to get creative in ways to distinguish themselves in the job market, many of them are using books as a way to distinguish themselves among the other people who might be out there.”
Dan Schawbel, author of personal-branding book “Me 2.0,” provided his insight as well:
“In my opinion the economy has forced everyone to be an expert in their field, so if you’re not an expert, you’re in trouble,” he said. “The easiest and fastest way to be positioned as an expert in your field is to publish a book.”
Schawbel said writing a book on your area of professional interest instantly establishes your credibility to potential customers and employers.
“You can self proclaim you’re an expert in your field all day long but the book is almost your calling card. …”
So, could you be an expert? You may not even realize all the fields in which you hold expert knowledge, because the things you do well are second nature. Maybe you’re an expert in grammar. Or perhaps you’ve raised eight children and you’re an expert mom. Or maybe, you could be an expert on the rise of reality television … you never know until you try.
Keep writing.
Angie Kelly Pheifer
Read the full article by Mark Tutton: Why just being good at your job is not enough
Friedman Offers a Balanced Perspective on Author Solutions and Self-Publishing
Jane Friedman published a post on her Writer’s Digest blog , There Are No Rules, about her visit to Author Solutions Inc. headquarters in Bloomington, Ind.
I must admit that with the recent debate surrounding Author Solutions and the self-publishing industry, the title of Friedman’s post alone was enough to bring a tear to my eye: “Author Solutions Is Not Evil: 3 Things I Learned.” As I read through the post, I could hardly believe it: the post is actually a fair and honest outlook on ASI and self-publishing.
You see, as an employee of Author Solutions, I know there is kinder, gentler side to ASI that what has been portrayed online in recent months . Now, I’m not trying to say that ASI is perfect. It’s a company made up of people … so imperfection is inevitable. But, I’m extremely pleased that a respected member of the writing and publishing community has shared a balanced view of ASI and self-publishing by taking the time to talk with our representatives —by giving us a chance.
Here are just a few points that that Jane described well in her post I’d like to call out, because they ring true to me:
On “True” Self-Publishing vs. Self-Publishing Companies:
…The industry is now experiencing a “true self-publishing” movement that argues a “real” self-published author is one who eschews the use of services like Author Solutions.
I find the distinction to be nonsensical and elitist. It’s like saying you should never hire an expert or contractor to do your taxes, fix your car, or repair your plumbing.
On the Self-Publishing Business Model:
In my mind, the people who are angry and indignant about publishing services should be working to provide free or inexpensive consultations to the hundreds of thousands of writers who wonder how to get their work in print—that is, if those people feel that writers can’t readily determine, after researching all options, what their best path forward is.
On ASI:
… That’s all AuthorSolutions talks about: what their authors want. It drives their business, their growth, what they hang on the walls—which makes sense, because it’s the authors who are writing their checks.
… If more people could see AuthorSolutions’ ideas about publishing’s future, I think there’d be a lot less criticism and a lot more idea sharing. If the authentic personalities inside the company could be seen by the public, we’d all have to finally admit: these people are not evil.
At the end of the day, ASI is still a business; you cannot avoid that. But, one of the top things Friedman noticed about our company, is what it’s truly about: authors. I encourage you to read Jane Friedman’s post, Author Solutions Is Not Evil: 3 Things I Learned on her Writer’s Digest blog , There Are No Rules.
—Angie Kelly Pheifer
Oprah’s Book Club: Say You’re One of Them by Uwen Akpan
Many of us in the book world have learned that Oprah Winfrey has supreme power to influence the direction of the popular book buying community. Several titles that she selected in the past have created huge waves of sales, controversy and interest.
People have been excited recently, having heard rumors that there was a new pick on the way.
Well we have a winner.
Say You’re One of Them by Uwen Akpan is unlike Oprah’s other 60-plus recommendations. The Nigerian born author has been recognized with awards, nominations and accolades* for this collection of stories. Notably, Akpan, who teaches in Zimbabwe, has a strong talent for selecting the voice and narrator to best convey the piece.
The terrible settings and situations and the gentle nature of the characters are a hypnotic combination. The situations in Rwanda and Kenya and other African hot-spots are fully and unapologetically drawn out with brutal honesty and a powerful sense of the humanity of the individuals involved. The writing can help us to more fully understand what humanity means and what it is that makes life so precious.
Admittedly, I have not agreed with every selection for the Oprah Book Club, but this one is worth considering.
Uwen Akpan is a perfect example of what all writers might be capable of. Having come from a world in which resources were very limited, he has moved mountains with raw talent.
*Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction
Nominated for the Guardian First Book Award
Nominated for the Caine Prize for African Writing
Nominated for the Story Prize
Winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book, African Region
Nominated for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award
-1000 Chimps
Richard Russo’s New Novel: That Old Cape Magic
Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Empire Falls, Straight Man and a number of other very well-received novels, has written a new book. That Old Cape Magic, like his other works, manages to convey several generations of a family and their conflicts and triumphs. Russo has a strong ability to show parallels between father and son, young and old, past, present and future.
That Old Cape Magic focuses on a married couple, most specifically the husband. Jack Griffin is successful against his own best wishes with regrets regarding the path he chose in life and the other options which he feels may have been more fulfilling. He drives around with his father’s ashes in the trunk of his car. His mother calls his cell phone obsessively and continually from her nursing home. Psychologically, he has spent much of his adult life running away from the dramatic upheaval of his parents’ earlier lives-unfulfilled and unfaithful.
Jack and his wife are heading to a wedding in Cape Cod where he spent his summers as a child. This brings memories of who he believed he would become-a successful screenwriter-and doubt about the validity of his life and relationships as they now stand. He chose to become a Professor and has achieved academic success but Jack Griffin is not reluctant to admit to himself that he would still like to give it all up and pursue his creative dreams, even though he is in his later 50’s and well-established.
Russo sets a good example for any writer who is trying to maintain the delicate balance of enough information and overall satisfaction with a story. It can be difficult to write and edit a story that fully engages a reader and still covers new literary ground in otherwise familiar settings and constructs. Each of us would be lucky to possess half of his ability.
I recommend reading That Old Cape Magic and Russo’s earlier works as a study of story development, character development, passage of time and style.
-1000 Chimps
Yann Martel: Stylistic Identity
The New York Times had an exchange with Yann Martel, the author of Life of Pi regarding his upcoming novel, which is an allegorical take on the Holocaust featuring animals as characters. This will likely become a successful yet controversial piece.
The author admitted that this coming work, which is not yet titled, would likely fail to replicate the colossal success of his breakout novel. He hopes that it might become a perennial success in the Holocaust category.
Controversy aside, it is certainly an inventive way of retelling a story that has been on the minds of people around the world for so long.
As authors go about creating new works for public consumption, they should remember the examples of those who have been successful telling a story in their own unique style. Successful writers are those who can embrace controversy and convey the familiar in a brand new way, developing a strong author identity in the process.
-1,000 Chimps
Barnes & Noble Launches e-Book Store: Rumors Circulate of Plastic Logic Partnership
This week, Barnes & Noble opened their e-Book Store online. They have hit the ground running with plans to grow aggressively. The word on the Web is that they are going to be partnering with Plastic Logic to distribute content via a device scheduled for release early next year. The device is said to be a big step in the right direction, hopefully minimizing the annoying parts of the Kindle2, Kindle DX and Sony Reader.
It would be logical to assume that Barnes & Noble will be able to establish themselves in a market that they have dominated for so long. They understand books and consumers, which is quite clear when you visit their site. The eBook Store interface is extremely user-friendly. People can download the apps they need in order to interact with the new eBook Store, including options for your computer, iPhone and Blackberry.
Overall, I think that this is a healthy development. While I don’t see any indication yet that there will be an interface such as the Digital Text Platform available to upload content to the Kindle Store, I would be surprised if this is not in the works. The strength that Amazon has brought to the e-book market is a good starting ground and I believe that strong players getting into the game will drive Amazon and any other serious participants to adapt and improve.
Barnes & Noble’s new eBook Store has a clear impact on your ability to sell your book. Familiarize yourself with this new development, so that you can be one step ahead of where your target audience is going.
-1,000 Chimps
Stop Leaving Self-Publishing Out of the Conversation
On Thursday evening, I watched in horror as my seemingly trustworthy news source, News Hour, completely failed to include self-publishing in its “review” of changes in the publishing industry.
Funny. Isn’t self-publishing part of “the publishing industry”? I vaguely recall that self-publishing’s growth more than doubled last year and now makes up more than half of all books published in the United States … Shame on you, News Hour.
I have the utmost respect for the News Hour. I adore Jim Lehrer, amongst others (Shields and Brooks, anyone?). But the news piece was disappointing.
Sure, they covered e-readers and e-books, the changes this brings to the industry and the challenges that this new form of distribution brings to publishing houses. They discussed how the recession was affecting the industry, and allowed libraries to chime in on the discussion. They had a publisher and literary agent on the show to offer their input.
But that is not the whole story. There is more that is happening in the publishing industry.
Why leave self-publishing completely out of the conversation? Not even one mention in passing. The media surely is aware of this form of publishing – it’s (more…)
Self Starter: J.K. Rowling’s Empire and You
Years ago in a small apartment in Leith, U.K., J.K. Rowling finished the first book in the Harry Potter series. She was anything but well off, and the odds were against her. She, like many writers, had come to know the taste of rejection long before her book was finally picked up. She probably tried (not too hard) to hold back the “I told you so’s” as her book spiraled straight upward to the lofty level where it is today, and the release of yet another guaranteed blockbuster film based on her work.
This should be of interest to you. As a writer, you hopefully believe in your idea and in the quality of your work. Although there is neither demand nor room in the market for many (if any) books to become quite as successful as Rowling’s works, there are people out there who have been turned on to reading at any early age as a result of her work. This new generation of readers might be immersed in the digital world, but they are certainly not going to refuse the opportunity to read a good book if you present it to them.
In the wake of any major success, writers often try to latch on to this juggernaut as a template to create a similar story. I don’t feel that this is the best path to the top. If anything, it can be a path to a copyright infringement suit.
Fan fiction and tribute stories are never going to be treated with the excitement that a good original inspiring story might be. It would be better to create something new and unique and fail than to ride on the coattails of someone else’s creativity against their wishes. The public is discerning and can smell a rat from a mile away. They also tend to be able to notice something special and are hungry to spread the word about it once it is on their radar.
J.K. Rowling herself has said that she’d like to be remembered for being “the best she could.” I think we all would be fortunate if we could have the same fate.
A final piece of wisdom to note from this example (your advantage), is that almost none of the resources available to writers today for grassroots marketing and audience development were available to Rowling or many of the well-known writers we love at the time that they started their careers.
-1,000 Chimps
