Newsletters
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Set up a successful blog to promote your writing career. With either your own website, or using a free blogging platform, you can attract readers from around the world.
 There is no doubt that the internet has changed the writing world. Not only does it provide a new means for writers to get published, but it also opens a new avenue for writers to promote and market themselves. The creation of a successful website can enhance a writer’s reputation, resulting in an increase in sales. It could also attract attention to the writing of an otherwise unpublished author, giving that author the exposure that he or she needs in order to secure an agent or publishing contract.
Blogging can be an excellent way to keep readers coming back to your website, and thus, to build a growing readership. When choosing a host for your blog, there are many free blogging platforms, such as Blogger or WordPress. These are ideal if you’re looking for a quick, cheap, and easy way to start your blog. Alternatively, if you’re interested in having more control over your website, buying your own web address could be the right choice. Either way, when choosing your web address, remember to keep it simple and logical, so that it’s easy for your readers to remember; simply using your pen name can be a good idea.
When it comes time to start uploading those all-important posts, remember to keep the content relevant. If you created the writing blog to help promote your writing career, then stick to that subject. This is what readers will come to your blog expecting and wanting to read more about: you as a writer. It’s best to keep any unrelated venting about your personal life on a separate blog. Additionally, it’s always good to offer your readers something useful to take away with them, such as information about your latest published work and where to find it, advice on the writing process, any writer’s workshops that you’ve enjoyed, or editors and editorial services that you’ve found helpful (such as, First Editing).
Of course, as with any piece of writing, make sure your blog posts read smoothly and cleanly, free from any distracting spelling and grammatical errors that may undermine your credibility as a writer. Remember to always proofread before you publish! If in doubt, submit it to a professional editing service, such as FirstEditing.com. We’ll be happy to polish your blog posts for you.
Tags: blog, blogging, blogging for writers, editing, Editing Skills & Services, editors, First, firstediting.com, How to, how to blog, Professional Editing, successful blogging, writers
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Newsletters, Novel Editing, Proofreading, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
 Yesterday we explained, How to Write a Press Release. Now that you’ve written your release, knowing how to send your release will ensure that it’s sent to the right hands for distribution. You’ve got the perfect event/product and you’ve managed to draft the perfect press release to highlight it. Now all you need is the right audience. Below is a list of tips on how to effectively get your press release into the hands of the media.
Query first
Compile your list of potential recipients by selecting the editors and journalists who may be most interested in what you have to say. Now comes the hard part – the best way to get your press release seen is to query each media outlet via phone or snail mail to ensure that they accept emailed press releases, and to obtain the most up-to-date contact information on where to send them to avoid the dreaded spam folders.
Know your audience
Get the full name, position, and email for the appropriate contact for your release. Sending a press release without specific contact information is the equivalent to folding your press release into a paper airplane and throwing it out your window. Only send your press release to one person per news outlet. The biggest complaint from editors? Receiving press releases that have nothing to do with what they publish.
Fax is dead
Send your press release via email; a stressed editor is more likely to grab a story from a format that lends itself to cut-and-paste. If you can make it easy for them to print your story, why not do it?
Don’t get attached
Format your email carefully. Don’t send your full press release as an attachment; due to the prevalence of computer viruses it is becoming standard practice to delete unsolicited emails with attachments unopened. Instead, include a ‘teaser’ of your press release in the body of the email, with a link to the full press release as it appears on your website.
Timing is everything
Mid-week is usually the best time to send out your press release, as editors aren’t swamped after the weekend but still have time to follow up with you prior to the next weekend. Avoid sending out press releases in and around known holidays.
Think big, but don’t be afraid to start small
Begin by reading the news; the content of your press release may unexpectedly become a hot topic. Trade publications, regional or local newspapers, free weekly newspapers or magazines, e-zines, newsletters, or other niche-market publications are all good places to send your press releases, in addition to national papers and high-circulation magazines. Remember, any exposure is good exposure!
Your editor at FirstEditing.com can review your release to make sure it’s consistent, error-free, properly formatted, and ready for distribution.
Tags: distribution, editing, Editing Skills & Services, editors, First, firstediting.com, How to, media, Press, Press Release, professional, Professional Editing, release
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Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
 A press, or news, release is a statement issued to the media to announce a range of news items, including events, awards, or new products or services, in order to generate feature news stories. In light of their aim, press releases need to be two things: accurate and interesting.
Journalists receive truckloads of press releases every day and therefore have standards as to what they expect to be included in each release.
The best way to tackle the fearsome press release is by answering the most basic questions every journalist asks when covering a story:
Who – What – Where – When – Why
Once you’ve got all of that information nailed down, you’re ready to begin drafting your press release.
The Headline
The headline is your chance to grab the attention of the journalist – remember, with press releases, you only get one shot. Encapsulate the content of your press release in one sharp, concise, and catchy sentence. Bold and center your headline on the page.
The Body
Begin with the date and city in which the news item originated; this can be done in point form.
Now, pull together your “who – what – where – when – why” into short, concise sentences that explains in brief detail what your press release is about.
Use the third paragraph to give your press release a personal touch here – expose the ‘human interest’ side of your news item. Why will people care? Who will be affected? Explain in further detail why your item is newsworthy. Make it engaging and make it catchy. If it’s appealing, a journalist will bite.
Finally, don’t forget to include your contact information. The contact info you include should be specific to each press release, and should include the following:
Company name
Media department’s name and contact person (if applicable)
Business address
Telephone & fax numbers with proper country/city codes and extension numbers
Mobile phone number
Email addresses
Website address
Time of availability for contact
Final Tips
Use the Times New Roman font in size 12 to keep your press release clean and simple. Flashy fonts and layouts aren’t going to win you any points – they just mean more work for editors.
Keep it to one page. Once you’ve got a feel for writing press releases your goal should be to have your press releases published as-is. Papers today have shrinking page counts and are often short-staffed; if you can provide copy that’s publishable with little-to-no editing, you’re more likely to see your press release in print.
While creating a press release may need some practice, remember that you are not alone. Having another pair of eyes reviewing your press release is a very good idea. A professional editor, such as the editors at FirstEditing.com will review your press release for editing and formatting to ensure your press release is perfected and ready for media submission.
Come back tomorrow when we explain “How to send your press release”
Tags: editing, editors, First, firstediting.com, formatting, How to, How to write a press release, journalists, media, news, news release, Press, Press Release, Professional Editing, professional editor
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Editing, whether it is for an academic journal, a short story submission, or a non-fiction manuscript for publishing, always follows basic rules of grammar and punctuation. This blog will help you learn the basic rules of em dashes and ellipses, and how to use them accurately in your work. While this blog will assist fiction writers most often, this is a useful skill to have in your writing arsenal.
The em dash
 Em Dash The em dash is a longer dash that is similar to a hyphen. It is used to show a pause in a quote that is all one sentence, and it is also used to show when one sentence trails off and another begins.
For example,
“I hope that you have told me the truth – you don’t always.” This quote is all one sentence, but there was a pause in between the words truth and you that are represented by the em dash.
OR
“He just walked right in through the – He didn’t even think to announce his presence!” This shows that one sentence trailed off and another began – NOTE the capital letter to begin the second sentence.
When typing in Microsoft Word, you can prompt one of these dashes by placing a space after the last letter of the word, hitting the hyphen key (next to the zero) and then pressing your spacebar again before typing the next word. Most Microsoft Word applications use an auto format that will insert the em dash for you.
Ellipses
 Ellipsis
In contrast, the ellipsis is used to show when a thought trails off and the sentence is incomplete. It is a series of three dots.
For example,
“I just couldn’t believe what he was…” she muttered, as if to herself.
These quotation marks most often trip up fiction writers, as they’re used often in dialogue. However, whether you are writing a fiction piece, or working on an academic submission, please remember that the professional editors at Firstediting.com are always here to assist you with your work. Happy Writing!
Tags: editing, editors, ellipses, firstediting, Professional Editing, Proofreading, The em dash, writing tips
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Christian Writing, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Newsletters, Novel Editing, Proofreading, Technical Editing, Thesis/Research Writing, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
A well-designed, easy to read and interesting and helpful electronic newsletter can build a customer or organizational member base and keep families in touch around the world now that our earth is becoming a global society.
There are many sources of inexpensive or free software that can be used to develop a newsletter. In addition, it is now very easy to take, download and edit personal pictures or find free graphics, fonts and artwork to enhance the newsletter on the Internet.
Why Should You Have a Newsletter?
It is an inexpensive way to communicate with members, friends and families. And, you can include address information, sales and product information or announce new products and even new babies? If your newsletter is interesting, includes fun facts or useful information for people to find a missing piece of china, or a long-lost relative, or a new product that will enhance efficiency for the small business owner, your “customers” will look forward to hearing from you weekly, or monthly. You may want to start out one or twice a year until your clients help you build your base, your stories or information and provide other services such as proof reading, or adding artistic interest to the newsletter.
What Software Can I Use?
You can start out with a very easy newsletter using a word-processing software or a specialized newsletter software or template (e.g. Word, Publisher) and limit your pictures and graphics to begin with. Here are some sites and templates to look at for ideas. In Word, go to Help on the Index bar and look for templates. If you have Microsoft Office, look at Publisher, which provides templates for newsletters. You can also go on the Internet and Google “Free Newsletter Templates.”
Think About Marketing and Internal Communications
I know that this is business jargon, but it applies to developing new businesses, friends, members, clients, or relatives through genealogy. If you are building a client base, it is important to include an electronic newsletter as part of your marketing strategy. Do you have a new product? Include some customer testimonials about how helpful the product has been. Put a 10% coupon in your newsletter for a first time purchase. Are you building an Alumni Association or a membership group (e.g. Siamese Cat Lovers)? Include helpful articles about Alumni who have a good story to tell or who have accomplished a major fundraising effort. Or, include advice on how you trained your Siamese cat how to stay off of the dining room table. Interesting and helpful articles attract readers.
They will begin to look forward to getting the newsletter on a timely basis. At the same time, you build an email client mail list. Mail the newsletter for free! Include a section that allows new people to sign up for the newsletter to broaden you mailing list and client base.
But, your client base can also be all the relatives in the Curtis R. Smith family. Use a newsletter to help you uncover family genealogy and new relatives by starting with your first ring of relatives, who pass on the newsletter to even more family. It will be surprising to find out how many new “distant” relatives you have.
Be Professional
This is important and where editing and good writing comes in as an important aspect of newsletter production. Your newsletters needs to be written well, interesting, and the punctuation, spelling and grammar must be error free, especially if this is a business product. Use a second or third set of eyes, and professional editors to read the materials and improve the writing so that it is clear, interesting, succinct, and fun! Make it a point to ensure that each of your readers will learn at least one new, exotic fact or find a new product to try after reading each of your newsletters.
Grab the Reader’s Attention Immediately
Your electronic newsletter has to have a subject heading that stands out so that the reader knows to open it when it comes. Our electronic “noise” has increased significantly and it is hard for individuals to sort through emails and other information. So, in the subject, write a clear title and keep it the same each time you send out your newsletter. Example: February 2009 Newsletter – Siamese Cat Lovers, or Fabulous Fonts – February 2008 Newsletter or the George Elliot Literature Group – Newsletter, Spring 2009. As you build your electronic newsletter, add color and graphics to grab the attention of the reader. Have a comment column, a writer’s circle or ask members to write columns or articles for the newsletter.
Build a Volunteer or Paid Support Base
If you have devoted members, many will work for low cost rates or volunteer depending on the type of newsletter you have. Create a base of editors, writers, proofreaders, artists and photographers. But, remember to use a professional editor for every newsletter, especially those that are in the business of marketing products. Nothing turns off a client more than poor vocabulary, spelling or errors in prices or product descriptions.
Move from Email to a Web Page
You may start with a newsletter sent through email as an attachment as you build your newsletter. But it can become a Web site with product descriptions and a “grocery or shopping cart” for purchasing. Or, you may need to charge a subscription fee or newsletter fee to build your organization.
The bottom line in marketing your organization through a newsletter is to start slowly, provide interesting information in every newsletter, involve many individuals in developing your newsletter to build capacity and ensure that it is professionally (well) written. Of course, it is always best to consider using an outside professional editor who has the training to check for clarity, compelling use of the English language and to ensure that the writing is error free. They can also provide advice on how the newsletter appears to the reader and if it is interesting and attractive.
Associations and membership groups should involve a team in putting together a product that your reader looks forward to receiving and reading every month or quarter. Your best evidence of success will be a growing email address base.
Tags: Newsletters, Professional Editing, Professional Editor
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