K.C.'s Write For You

K.C.'s Write For You is a blog about the freelance = writing=20 life from the perspective of a stay at home "mom" of 3 dogs, 2 cats and = a=20 husband.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

WARNING, WARNING, DING! DING! DING!

Can you spot the warning signs in this ad?

Writers Wanted: to = cover=20 both games and practices, and general news stories surrounding your = local team.=20 We are looking for motivated individuals with a passion for the game and = an=20 interest in writing. This is a perfect opportunity for=20 Journalism/English students or recent graduates to build both = their=20 academic and professional resumes. Applicants must have strong = writing=20 skills, great personal skills, and a flexible schedule. We are looking = for you=20 to be our eyes and ears for any breaking news in your area. If offered = the=20 position you duties will include sending us match reports, team updates, = and=20 human interest stories relating to the team you=E2=80=99re assigned to. = Stories will be=20 considered for our website as well as our print = magazine.
Compensation:=20 writers will be paid per submission that makes it to print or=20 website

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 6:50=20 AM | 0=20 comments

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Some Chicken Soup for Your Soul

Last week I featured the Cup of Comfort series as a paying market. I = thought=20 it only fair to give the Chicken Soup people fair coverage. Be warned = though -=20 your essay might be initially considered for a book title and you could = even=20 receive a contract. After that, your essay might fall into the black = hole and=20 your calls and emails will go unreturned. When the book title comes out, = you=20 might be surprised to find it evidentally didn't make the final cut. = That was my=20 experience, as well as at least one other writer I know. I eventually = sold my=20 essay to Common Ties. However, I do know several people who did make the = final=20 cut with Chicken Soup and they were happy with the pay and the=20 byline.

The website has many titles they are cosidering. Here's = just a=20 sample:

Chocolate Lover's Soul: The deadline for story = submissions for=20 this title is March 31, 2007.
Christmas Collection: A timeless = collection of=20 stories that celebrate the magic of the season. The deadline date for = story=20 submissions is March 31, 2007.
Coffee Lover's Soul: The deadline for = story=20 submissions for this title is March 31, 2007

Go to the website at = http://www.chickensoup.com/ =

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 8:26=20 AM | 3=20 comments

Monday, March 19, 2007

I'm always excited to interview authors on Mondays, but I'm = particularly=20 excited this morning. Even before I met Andrea King Collier at the = Chicago=20 Magazine Writers and Editors conference in 2004, I was already reading = her=20 essays. It seems she was in every magazine I read and she became one of = my=20 favorite essayists.
Today, Andrea talks about her new book and = writing=20 essays:

Tell us about your latest book.
The = Black=20 Woman=E2=80=99s Guide to Black Men=E2=80=99s Health published by Warner = Wellness in=20 Feb.

How did you pick this title, as a woman, wasn't it = difficult=20 to write a book about men's health?
I do a lot of health = reporting.=20 One of the things that always struck me is the poor health numbers for = men of=20 color. As the mother, wife and friend of black men, I was so concerned = and=20 wanted to do something to help impact their health. Women have a lot of=20 influence in the health and lifestyle of their men. I thought it would = be a=20 wonderful experiment to get them focused on helping men become=20 healthier.

It wasn=E2=80=99t difficult because I never tried to = get into the=20 heads of men on my own. I asked them what they thought. I also focused = on how=20 women could help. It is very much a woman=E2=80=99s = book.

Tell us about=20 "Still with me: A Daughter's Journey of Love and Loss," so many baby = boomers are=20 dealing with the death of their parents now. From my own experience, I = know it=20 is very painful, how did you find the strength to write this book. Was = it=20 healing for you? And how long did it take? The book is about my = year as=20 a caregiver for my mother who died of ovarian cancer. But I like to = think that=20 it is really is a love story. It was a labor of love, definitely. But = time takes=20 care of a lot of stuff. It was 10 years before I even talked about it. I = think=20 if I had tried to write about my mother=E2=80=99s illness and death in = year one or two,=20 it would have been a different book. And I might add that it = wouldn=E2=80=99t have=20 helped anybody=E2=80=94not even me. I needed distance to process it. I = had to almost be=20 older to tell it.

And no it wasn=E2=80=99t healing. I know you = hear people say=20 that. But for me, a lot of the pain and wounds of that kind of loss had = healed=20 over and when I started to explore all of it, it was like taking a seam = ripper=20 to it and popping all that stuff open. Short of having a contract to = write it, I=20 didn=E2=80=99t know why I was subjecting myself to that. It was later, = as I met people=20 who read it and who had been through it that I knew why I had been put = in a spot=20 to tell our story.

In my opinion, you're one of the most = prolific contemporary essayists today. How did you become interested in=20 essay? I did essay before I did anything else. It was the only = way I=20 knew how to tell a story. It was meditation, introspective work. It was = calming=20 and processing. And it gave me a chance to develop my voice. I would do = nothing=20 else if I could make a living at it.

So many writers want = to=20 write good essays, if you were to give them one piece of advice, what = would it=20 be? Always ask yourself what the essay is really about. The = essay in=20 its early stages goes here and there and everywhere. At the end of the = day, the=20 most memorable are the ones that are about a lot of things and one = thing. You=20 have to whip all that stuff into one thing. And the other thing is to = figure out=20 what your voice is. A writer who mimics John McPhee, or Jamaica Kincaid = is just=20 mimicking those she admires. But to come into your own voice as an = essayist is=20 an awesome thing.

How do you find story ideas? = My ideas=20 come from everywhere. I never have writers block. I just go out. I watch = the=20 news. I talk to my friends. I try on my pants that don=E2=80=99t fit. I = burn a pot=20 roast. I have a husband and kids and a messy house. I have everything I = need to=20 work with. I think I am an observer.

When is your best = writing=20 time? All the time.
Why? I am lucky. I can = just=20 turn it on. I do think I probably do more writing after 12 because I am = better=20 at taking care of research, answering emails and phone calls in the am. = After 12=20 I don=E2=80=99t like to talk.

What is one writing quirk = most people don't=20 know about you? I love to do first drafts with a Sharpie. I = love=20 Sharpies and fountain pens. And I can=E2=80=99t stand for anybody to use = my=20 computer.

What is your next project? Working on = first=20 novel and another project that is being shopped.

Tell a = little=20 about your website and how it might help writers. There is a = spot on my=20 website (http://www.andreacollier.com/)= called=20 My Dear Writer Chicks. It is practical stuff. It is like checking in and = having=20 a cup of coffee and talking about all the things we like to talk about. = Finding=20 agents, dealing with editors, writer=E2=80=99s block, excuses, writer = envy, voice, etc.=20 It isn=E2=80=99t too serious. It is kind of fun=E2=80=94at least for me. =

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 7:28=20 AM | 1=20 comments

Friday, March 16, 2007

The Old Increase Traffic to my Site Switch-R-OO! =

I can't prove this is a scam, but if it's not, all of us are missing = out on=20 the best paying writing opportunity of the year!

"Seeking Writers = and=20 Photographers We are a new startup web site specializing in news = articles about=20 scandals in the US. We are looking for writers and photographers for = original=20 articles, opinion pieces and photographs.
Compensation: = $30K"

It then=20 gives you a website that leads you to a list of said "scandals," and a = bunch of=20 google ads, but no further explanation about who these people are or = their=20 writer's guidelines. I suspect this is an ad to get traffic to their = site.=20

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 5:45=20 AM | 0=20 comments

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Putting "I" into Responsibility our Personal = Communications=20

Although I did not feel so at the time, I really was lucky to have = gotten a=20 business degree and experience in that field before embarking on my = freelance=20 writing career.
That=E2=80=99s because I think my business background = not only helped=20 me develop my writing, but my overall communication skills.
Crammed = in=20 between all of the electives in English and History I could get into my=20 schedule, I had to take several classes during my college years in = business=20 communications. These classes required study and developing skill in = both verbal=20 and written communication.
It was in these classes that I learned = telephone=20 etiquette and basic business letter writing. But more importantly, our=20 instructors taught us how to deal with people, which is what you are = doing=20 whenever you send a letter or an email (I went to school long before = email, but=20 I feel basic etiquette still applies here).
Of course, all of us = =E2=80=9Close it=E2=80=9D at=20 one time or another. We say things we shouldn=E2=80=99t say and now more = than ever with=20 the ease of email, fire off written words before thinking.
It never = ceases to=20 amaze me though, upon browsing writer forums or receiving emails from = writers,=20 how many of these people who are supposed to be experts in = communication, lack=20 basic business communication etiquette.
Several months ago, a new = writer on a=20 forum emailed me asking for my rates for mentoring services. I = corresponded with=20 this person a few times and then noticed the writer was not being very=20 professional on a writer=E2=80=99s forum.
I wrote Writer A an email, = since they had=20 asked for my professional advice and tried to explain that on = professional=20 forums, it is not necessary to be right. It is necessary to learn from = others,=20 give professional advice when we have it and most importantly, network. = Writer A=20 thanked me, told me they didn=E2=80=99t realize what they were doing = =E2=80=93 and continues to=20 this day to antagonize people. The result? This writer has alienated = some of the=20 very people who could have helped with their career =E2=80=93 most = people just ignore=20 this person now, knowing it is unlikely their rants will contain any = take away=20 value.
Other similar situations have happened when people email me = about one=20 of my blog posts and work I=E2=80=99m doing through volunteer = organizations.
One of=20 the lessons I received in corporate communications training was = =E2=80=9Cfocus on the=20 issue, not the person.=E2=80=9D
You wouldn=E2=80=99t believe how many = emails I=E2=80=99ve received=20 with the phrases =E2=80=9CYou=E2=80=99ve done = this=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CPlease check your=20 own website,=E2=80=9D (when it is the organization=E2=80=99s = website and I don=E2=80=99t have=20 anything to do with it), and these are from people who are supposed to = be=20 professional communicators.
When writing a note to someone to give = criticism=20 or critique and suggestions while using the phase = =E2=80=9Cyou did=20 this,=E2=80=9D or =E2=80=9Cwhy can=E2=80=99t you do = better?=E2=80=9D only puts the receiver on=20 the defensive and even if you=E2=80=99re trying to suggest something = helpful, usually=20 makes your suggestions null and void in the receivers eyes.
So, = writers,=20 again remember, you are not only professional writers, you=E2=80=99re = professionals =E2=80=93=20 period.
Use your writing skills not only to wow your editors, but = also by=20 inserting some people skills into your written communications.
The = results=20 may amaze you.

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 9:49=20 AM | 1=20 comments

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Writers =3D Tour Guides =3D No Pay

"We want to fill our site with as many ready-to-go tours as possible = =E2=80=93 so we=20 are looking for writers/tour guides to write, record, and send in their = material=20 pronto. Creating and posting material is entirely FREE, and what you = earn for=20 each downloaded tour is up to you. So the creativity and earning = potential is=20 entirely in your hands. If you create a $10 tour, and 70 people download = it =E2=80=93=20 well that=E2=80=99s $700 in your pocket. You create something once = =E2=80=93 and it can continue=20 earning you money for years. No experience required."

Or, if you = create a=20 $10 tour and no one downloads it, that's -$0- in your pocket.

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 7:46=20 AM | 0=20 comments

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Comforting Work

Just received this in my email box this morning. This is a = legitimate, paying=20 outlet:

A Cup of Comfort Call for Submissions

The = bestselling Cup=20 of Comfort book series is actively seeking inspiring true stories for = six new=20 volumes (see below). We seek narrative nonfiction stories that read like = fiction. Stories must be uplifting, original, in English, typed, titled, = and=20 1000-2000 words.

$500 grand prize; $100 ea. all other stories; = copy of=20 book. No entry fee.

Email submissions to wordsinger@aol.com. No = attachments; one=20 submission per email. Include full name, mailing address, email address, = phone=20 number.

For detailed writer=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=E2=84=A2s guidelines: = http://www.cupofcomfort.com/.
Some=20 of the upcoming titles: A Cup of Comfort for
Single Mothers
Horse=20 Lovers
Cat Lovers
Breast Cancer Survivors
Spouses and Children = of=20 People with Alzheimer's
Divorced Women

Submission deadline: = 12/31/07=20

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 6:03 = AM | 0=20 comments

Monday, March 12, 2007

How to Write How To Books

Today I'm interviewing Brette Sember, an author of a wide variety of = How to=20 type books. She tells us how she comes up with her subjects and how she=20 specializes in such a wide range of areas.

1). Tell us = about=20 yourself: I majored in English in college and went to law = school. I=20 didn't enjoy the practice of law very much, so I left after my second = child was=20 born. Writing was what I was meant to do and I enjoy my work every = single day. I=20 write about a wide variety of topics - pregnancy, business, credit, = divorce,=20 senior rights, gay rights, and I even have a textbook coming out. I also = freelance and write for many magazines. I teach a book proposal class = and enjoy=20 presenting at conferences. I'm an expert for several web sites and also = do=20 copywriting.

2). Tell us about your book: My = most=20 recent release is The Essential Supervisor's Handbook: A Quick and Handy = Guide=20 for Any Manager or Business Owner (Career Press). I co-authored it with = my=20 husband who is a VP at a communications firm. It's this terrific, = accessible=20 book designed to help new and experienced managers communicate with = their=20 employees, create a productive work atmosphere, and move their own = careers=20 ahead. It's filled with tons of lists and checklists and I think it's a = very=20 useful guide.

The book I am writing right now is called Unmarried = with=20 Children (Adams Media) and I am really excited about this book. It's a=20 comprehensive guide for parents who have never married - whether they = are an=20 unmarried couple, single mom or dad with no other parent involved, an = unmarried=20 couple that broke up, gay couple, and so on. This book is SO important = because a=20 home with two married parents is now the exception, rather than the norm = (only=20 one in four households have this) and a recent study predicted the = numbers of=20 unmarried parents is going to continue to skyrocket. So, I'm writing a = guide to=20 help these parents navigate things like paternity, child support, = cohabitating,=20 living apart yet parenting together, and being creative about how they = solve=20 problems in their family.

3). You have such diverse = titles, from=20 pregnancy to seniors to divorce to gay medical rights. How do you come = up with=20 your topics? The key for me is to look for a need. Since I = write=20 self-help and how-to titles, I look for information people are looking = for, or a=20 need that hasn't been filled. Even though a topic like pregnancy might = be=20 something that has been covered a lot, there are specific groups who = need=20 specific information, such as plus-size moms - so that's why I wrote = Your=20 Plus-Size Pregnancy. It's the same situation with the Unmarried with = Children=20 book. There is a gigantic group of people out there having and raising = children=20 outside of marriage and until now, everyone has ignored them. I want to = help=20 them understand their rights and offer them some support.

4).=20 Your next three books are topics dealing with children, are you=20 narrowing your focus? No, that's just how it's turned out. = Parenting is=20 definitely one of my interests and areas of expertise, but I'm not = limiting=20 myself in anyway. I've got a lot of different proposals out there about = a lot of=20 different topics, so I continue to explore a lot of areas.

5). = Do=20 you have an agent, if so how did you find them? Yes, I have an = agent.=20 I'm actually on my third. With the first two, I looked for someone who = handled=20 things in my interest areas. With my current agent, I was more = selective. I=20 wanted someone who would help me focus on my career and decide where to = take it.=20 I don't recall how I got her name, but I did intensive Google searches = about her=20 and followed up on the references she gave me. I interviewed her over = the phone=20 and asked some very hard questions. I've been very pleased with my = choice. She's=20 become a great friend as well as my trusted agent.

6). = What is=20 the most challenging aspect of writing a book? Selling it! I = love=20 coming up with ideas, writing proposals, and writing the book. = Convincing a=20 publisher to buy it is the biggest hurdle - my agent is so important for = this.=20 Publicizing the book after it's out is also hard work. It's a bit of a = challenge=20 for me since I have books in a wide variety of subject matters, but it's = something I take seriously and work hard at.

7). When is = your=20 best writing time? Why? Mornings. I actually would love to = start=20 earlier than I do, but I like to take my kids to school and then I walk = every=20 morning, so I don't usually settle down to writing until about 9:30. I = get a lot=20 done between then and lunch.

8). What advice would you = give to=20 any other writer when writing a book proposal? This is = something I talk=20 a lot about in my class. A book proposal has to be much more than just = an=20 outline of your idea. A book proposal is a sales tool. Your job is to = convince a=20 publisher to buy it and the proposal is the material that will convince=20 them.

9). Tell us one writing quirk about you that no one = else=20 (yet) knows. I love purple pens! It drives my husband nuts = because I'm=20 always writing checks and signing important papers with them, but I = adore them.=20 I painted my office purple, since purple is a color that inspires = creativity and=20 the purple pens just seem to go with that.

Brette's books can be = found at=20 any bookstore or through the major online outlets.

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 7:44=20 AM | 1=20 comments

Friday, March 09, 2007

The Money is a Bonus

We are a baseball website covering all 30 MLB teams. The type of = writer we're=20 looking for is in the Bill Simmons/Deadspin/Chuck Klosterman vein, but = we aren't=20 looking for clones. We don't want traditional beat writers. We're = looking for=20 people with something original to say. Basically, we want someone who = can make=20 humorous and insightful observations that the average fan will find=20 entertaining. Candidates should be prepared to post at least 2-3 times a = week=20 during the season. We work on an ad revenue share, meaning you will = split ad=20 revenue with the other 29 writers on the site. It'll take a = while for=20 cash to come in, so we're really looking for someone who wants to write = because=20 they enjoy it, the money, however large or small it is, should be kind = of a=20 bonus.

Another ad revenue sharing = scheme that=20 will most likely never materialize into that bonus cash.
Could = someone=20 explain to me why these scammers don't think writers need to pay their = bills?=20

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 7:44=20 AM | 5=20 comments

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Uh, is he Really Looking for a Writer?

This was posted on a daily e-job letter I receive everyday. It's so = strange=20 and creepy I couldn't resist posting it here:

"Female Writer = Needed for a=20 Book (Comp: $750/week) Date: 2007-02-22, 1:09PM EST I am not a writer, = However I=20 have a great idea for a book. I am willing to fund the writing process = and share=20 in the profits. The book is based on real life sexual experiences of a = female.=20 You will be asked to share some of yours, as well as research and = interview=20 others. I will pay a salary of $750 weekly until it is written, and then = split=20 proceeds 50/50. Please send some info about yourself and a picture as = possible.=20 "

One of the women who responded to the ad evidentally sent him a = photo=20 and he responded that it was very nice. The emails evolved into him = admitting he=20 wasn't looking for just a writer.
Not sure why anyone would respond = to this=20 type of an ad and send this creep a photo, but to each her own... =

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 7:05=20 AM | 3=20 comments

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

And yes, we do pay

HotelsByCity is looking for travel writers who living in and around = the=20 Memphis area. We are excited to launch our new blog section and need the = best=20 and most current travel information about the city you live in. And yes, = we do=20 pay. Sign up today to gain exposure to over 18 million travel visitors = annually.=20 For more information please visit: We are currently accepting bloggers = in=20 Memphis.
Compensation: Advertising Based, 75% of all advertising = dollars are=20 paid out to the Writer.

My first clue to this one was the "sign = up today=20 to gain exposure." Writer's aren't used car salesmen, HotelsByCity, = we're=20 professionals and should be paid based on our work, not what you = generate in=20 ads.

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 8:3= 3=20 AM | 2=20 comments

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

A Good One To Ease Back Into

Ah, one can take a break and hope the world has changed and scammers = looking=20 for something for nothing have left the planet, but alas they have=20 not.....

"For Two Million Dollar Loan/SBA and for other Grants = Getting=20 Loan depends heavily on Business Plan.
Compensation: One Dollar plus=20 percentage of Loan when approved"

I haven't been working for = three weeks=20 and I'm still not hard up enough for $1.

posted by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell at 7:47=20 AM | 0=20 comments

WARNING,=20 WARNING, DING! DING! DING!=20
Some=20 Chicken Soup for Your Soul=20
I'm=20 always excited to interview authors on Mondays...=20
The=20 Old Increase Traffic to my Site Switch-R-OO!=20
Putting=20 "I" into Responsibility our Personal Commu...=20
Writers=20 =3D Tour Guides =3D No Pay=20
Comfo= rting=20 Work=20
How=20 to Write How To Books=20
The=20 Money is a Bonus=20
Uh,=20 is he Really Looking for a Writer?

About Me

Name: Kerri = Fivecoat-Campbell=20

Location: Kansas City, = Kansas, US=20

I've written for The Associated Press, = Entrepreneur,=20 Audubon, Fido Friendly, Kansas! The Kansas City Star, Fate, Today's = Collector,=20 The Teacher Librarian, Industry Magazine and many more. For more samples = of my=20 work, visit my website at www.writeforyou.biz

View my = complete=20 profile