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December 2013
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February 2014

How to land a television or radio interview

A great 363581629_d62fdc00d5way to promote your book is through a radio or television interview. Most likely the program you land on boasts a loyal audience that’s highly interested in your book’s topic. This can quickly translate not just to additional book sales but requests to appear on other, similar programs.

The first step in arranging such interviews is to find those programs that would be most interested in your book. Look for shows that cover the kinds of topics that your book addresses. For example, if your nonfiction book addresses mental illness, seek out radio programs that regularly have guests who speak on the topic. If your novel is set in a specific city, such as Cleveland, Ohio, then Cleveland is the perfect place to seek a television or radio interview. Typing “radio program” AND “mental illness” into a search engine or “Cleveland radio, television stations” will quickly give you a list of potential shows.

The next step is to actually pitch yourself to these shows. Begin by emailing to them a media kit and a pdf of your book with a cover letter introducing yourself and asking if they would be interested in interviewing you. In your cover letter, describe why your appearance would benefit their program, such as explaining how your book will:
Resonate with the show’s target audience
Bring additional listeners as you will promote the interview in your social media platforms, giving free advertising to the show
Increase the likelihood that your fans likely will tune into the program, increasing the station’s audience share
In addition, include a list of articles and positive reviews about the book, showing the book is of high interest.

As part of the pitch, give potential dates that you could do this presentation. Give plenty of lead time so you can promote your interview via your social media.

While most programs will be interested, do expect rejection. Don’t fret about it; all it means is the radio and television show simply wasn’t convinced by your pitch. Go back and refine your media kit and cover letter and keep at it.

One additional note: With the Internet, also think about podcasts in addition to radio and television shows. Podcasts have very small audiences, but if you find one that covers the topics of your book, the audience will be extremely interested in you. Remember: Your book will sell better among a hundred interested people than a thousand who are disinterested.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Hartford, Connecticut, or a small town like Hebron, New Hampshire, I can provide that second eye.


Editing client publishes alcohol addiction book

A recent Sobriety Rocks Wyatt Holesediting client of mine, Wyatt Holes, has published his first book, “Sobriety Rocks.” The book describes how Wyatt became addicted to alcohol, the downward spiral of addiction, and ultimately his successful recovery. If you’re suffering from alcohol addiction or know of someone who is, “Sobriety Rocks” is the book for you: Without being preachy, you’ll receive the encouragement to overcome this ailment. It’s available online in paperback, hardcover or ebook.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like New Orleans, or a small town like Searchlight, Nevada, I can provide that second eye.


Sort it all out: Councilor vs. counselor

Looks like 6013 a lot of people could some use some advice on these two words.

A councilor is a member of a group, usually in the government: The townspeople re-elected Councilor Brady to the village board just last year.

A counselor provides advice to others, and typically is a psychologist or an attorney (Attorneys often are referred to as “counsel.”): To deal with her depression, Amy sought the help of a counselor.

With that settled, there’s no reason to be guilty of mixing up these two words again!

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Richmond, Virginia, or a small town like Red Cloud, Nebraska, I can provide that second eye.


Editing client releases first near-future novel

A recent 3 Auditions editing client of mine, Colin Juvonen, has published his first novella, “3 Auditions.” The book tells the tale of screenwriter Emory Mann, whose brilliant hacktivist daughter disappears in a coup that initiates the New Republic of America, and is placed on the 10 Most Wanted List. Emory tries to help her but becomes entangled in the web of those who control the New Republic and begins a journey of discovery through a disturbing, near-future United States. The novella is available online as an ebook.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Louisville, Kentucky, or a small town like Lodge Pole, Montana, I can provide that second eye.


Avoid writing concealed identity story

One kind Concealed identityof plot you should avoid is the concealed identity story. This involves keeping the main character’s identity or true nature secret until the end of the story, often the last line. Sometimes called “shaggy dog stories,” this plot is popular among science fiction writers, though it’s turned into a cliché. Probably any reader who has watched old “Twilight Zone” episodes, for example, can recall an episode in which the two people marooned on a planet are named Adam and Eve.

Because we’ve seen such stories in our childhood and because they had a big impact in those formative years, we think they’re cool. They are. The revelation is a surprise, and there’s a certain joy in suddenly recognizing – or rewatching/rereading to identify – all the details and hints given so that the revelatory last line makes sense. But such stories have been written ad nauseum in which the main character turns out to be God or Satan… a dog…a cat…a computer game icon, etc. Except to the first-time reader of such a story, they really aren’t surprising anymore.

A subtype of this kind of plot that you also should avoid writing is the amnesiac story. In this plot, the main character does not know who or what he is, but that surprise is revealed at the story’s end as well.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Oklahoma City, or a small town like Peculiar, Missouri, I can provide that second eye.


Editing client releases novel based on true story

A recent The Incident Lost in the Woods E. Robb Martin editing of my client, E. Robb Martin, has published his first novel, “The Incident: Lost in the Woods.” Based on a true story, “The Incident” tells the tale of three brothers who chose very different roads in life, only to find over the years that their paths crisscross – with many of those junctions centered on the eldest of them, hot-tempered Jim, who after killing a man in Louisiana spends his days on the run. The novel is available online in paperback or ebook.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Memphis, Tennessee, or a small town like Eastabutchie, Mississippi, I can provide that second eye.


How to stay focused on writing one book

Sometimes 240_F_96575713_9wW6ztIHHierGpT7Q88vl8bZN4lJZzCYinspiration strikes for an entirely different book than the one you're working on. Unfortunately, this can create the problem of stopping one book and starting a new one so that your original work never gets finished.

The odds are that the new project you started won’t get completed either, though. You'll come up with another great idea for a book and start working on that one.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stay focused on writing one book:
Limit new project ideas to note taking – If an idea comes to you for a new book, quickly jot it down and forget about it. Keep those notes in a separate folder or file. That means no research on the new book, no outlines of it, no writing character sketches, etc.
Set a deadline – If you can write 2,000 words a day, you'll need 35 days to write a 70,000 word novel. Being realistic – you may be ill, holidays occur, emergencies with the kids happen – give yourself a few extra days. So, that means in 50 days you will complete your novel. That means no other writing can interfere with your goal of 2,000 words a day for about two months.
Dedicate time slots – If you need two hours to write those 2,000 words, then set aside two specific hours each day in which you only work on your book. Nothing else can be written during that time.
Bet on yourself – One wild trick I've heard some writers successfully use is to give a hundred dollars cash to a close, trustworthy, relative or friend. When you complete the novel and show it your relative/friend, then you get the money back. You need not use money; perhaps you instead agree with your spouse that if you don't complete the novel by a specific date, you will do the one chore you absolutely hate to do for the next two months.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Jacksonvile, Florida, or a small town like Dinkytown, Minnesota, I can provide that second eye.


Editing client’s latest novel hits top 25

The second Seven Lucky Starsnovel by my editing client, Jana Meador, was among the top 25 bestselling ebooks Wednesday for Children’s ebooks>Action & Adventure. Based on a true story, “Seven Lucky Stars” tells the story of a dog left to defend for himself only to find his second chance in life. Sveinn’s incredible story began in the middle of the forested mountains, where he was eventually found. His journey takes him on an unexpected adventure, where he meets his seven lucky stars. The book is available on Kindle or Barnes & Noble.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or a small town like Dry Prong, Louisiana, I can provide that second eye.


Editing client releases self-help book

A recent Finishing on Topediting client of mine, Pittsburgh attorney Sherman Toppin, has released his first book, “Finishing on Top: How to Achieve Personal Goals, Become Successful, and Experience Happiness through the Power of Finishing”. The book shows how to use the power of finishing to accomplish the things we dream about. It’s available online in paperback, ebook, or audio book.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Providence, Rhode Island, or a small town like Gay Head, Massachusetts, I can provide that second eye.


Heart of the matter: Core vs. corps

A whole Red-304530_1280group of writers seem to misunderstand the significant difference between these two similar-sounding words.

A core is the central or most important part of something: The puppet government was corrupt to its core.

A corps, however, is a division of military personnel, usually those who have a specialized function: The Marine Corps landed on the beaches shortly before dawn.

A good way to remember this is that corps, because of its s, look like it’s plural, hence a group, while core has no s and so looks like it’s singular, hence a lone, single axis at the center of a larger thing.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Norfolk, Virginia, or a small town like Crappo, Maryland, I can provide that second eye.