5 WAYS TO "FIT A PITCH"

AT A WRITERS CONFERENCE

You've planned for this day . . . waited for this day; a day when you can pitch your book to a New York agent and/or a California producer. You've got ten minutes. TEN MINUTES! Are you truly prepared?

The questions you need answered depend on where you are in your writing journey. Are you pitching an idea? Is your manuscript complete? Is the book published? Do you have a marketing plan? Do you know who your audience is? This is not the time to shuffle your feet . . . know who you are! Know what you need. Know how to research to optimize your ten minutes.

You've spent a lot of time preparing your packet: synopsis, bio, platform, press release, etc., but what do you know about the person you're about to meet? I'm talking about getting to know the person, not just their client list. A little research will provide a wealth of information and help to make the most of their time and yours.

• )     VISIT THEIR WEB SITE - If their penchant is sci-fi and yours 1890 cookbooks, keep looking for a better connection. This should be a positive experience for both of you. 

• )     CHECK WHAT THEY POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Do you have other interests in common? Mutual acquaintences?

• )     READ THEIR BLOG - This may help you gain insight as to what they expect from the people they counsel. It may help you prepare a packet of information for them in the format they want and need. You may also find some of the questions you'd planned on asking are answered in their blog posts. What a plus to raise your level of questioning a notch. Let them know that what they wrote was a help.

• )     STUDY INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES FROM OTHER SOURCES - This is a fly on the wall moment. You may find connections you never knew you had. Maybe attended the same school? Lived in a neighboring town. Have a passion for yoga. Your potential mentor may have also shared pet peeves with the interviewer. What a plus to know not to chew gum or wear the color purple.

• )     THE BIG TEN MOMENT - Have your packet prepared to offer (at the end of your meeting). In your mind, have the list of questions you'd like answered (in order of importance). No more than five -- but only present three. Begin with a smile and a sentence that begins something like this . . . "Say, I read in your blog that you . . ." And end with, "Me, too!" Isn't it nice to connect as kindred spirits and let the conversation flow from there?

Enjoy this experience and best wishes for a positive outcome!

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love."  

To learn more:
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

SEMINARS / CONFERENCES -- PLAN AHEAD

Whether you're a seasoned pro or newbie when it comes to attending conferences, there's an element of excitement and trepidation. Surroundings are unfamiliar and living out of a suitcase is not easy but the prospect of meeting new people and learning new techniques or just plain brain storming is a heady elixir.

Eric Sheridan Wyatt host of the podcast "More Stories" www.WordsMatteresw.com/podcast offers sound advice in the nearly thirty minute show, Conquering the Conference with Confidence. If you'd like to listen to the program, click the link above and under "search" type in episode 6.

Listening to this episode made me evaluate the importance of planning ahead . . . especially for a writers conference. How often do you have an opportunity to meet people who can help you promote your career? The podcast covers the conference itself but I'd like to add 5 points for preparation before you leave home:

#5 - Prepare your elevator speech. If you're new to pitching your idea or manuscript or book, consider how you would describe your story in 15 seconds. Give those listening some meat, give them some flavor, and leave them hungry for more. If you've used your spiel for a while, tape record it, practice it in front of a mirror and make sure it doesn't sound tired and trite. Enthusiasm begins with the storyteller.

#4 - If you've not already printed business cards, this is the time to do it. Make sure it has all your contact information including your social media and web site addresses. Choose fonts that are easy to read and don't place information too close to the bottom edge. People who use a Rolodex will lose part of your information when they file it away.

#3 - If you'll be displaying your book, ask if a skirt will accompany the table. Bring your own, just in case. Ask how many other writers will be sharing the same table. Space is limited so make your presentation count. Prepare a table top poster to attract readers to take a closer look. Think through what else will make your book "Pop." Do you have a marketing budget? Consider giveaways for those stopping to visit you. Sales begin with merchandising.

#2 - Consciously think about what you're going to wear. You want to be comfortable. You want to be warm (bring a sweater or jacket). You want to look professional. If you plan to dress in costume, make sure it represents your story. This is your chance to shine.

#1 - As Eric says in his podcast, plan ahead. Choose two courses of action for the breakout sessions. Leave plenty of time to network. Enjoy the meals and entertainment. I would add to it: Take a minute before going to bed to review what you did during the day and organize for the following day. Also, take plenty of pictures. Be sure to document who is in them. If they are new friends, be sure to get the proper spelling of their names. I always consider it a nice thank you when someone sends a picture through facebook and mentions where we were and what we were doing.

Speaking of doing . . . I'll be at the Florida Writers Association Conference in Orlando October 23rd to the 26th at the Lake Mary Marriott. I have a book signing on Saturday, October 25th at 10:30am (Table 2). You still have time to sign up and attend! I hope to see you there.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love."  

To learn more:

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on You

FACING SELF DOUBT

For the past couple of weeks, I feel like I've been standing in the eye of a hurricane; calm and clear-eyed while the world swirls around me. I have no reason for a sense of malaise. No illness. No drama. No lurking doom. With the exception of never-ending rain in Florida, it's actually been (metaphorically speaking) nothing but clear skies and beautiful sunsets.

Wonderful things are happening in regards to the book, such as being a featured author in both www.bookreadermagazine.com and www.bookworks.com (if you'd like to read the items, just type in my name and it should call up the articles).

A couple more weeks and we'll be at the Florida Writers Conference in Orlando and we'll find out if Begotten With Love moved further up in the standings. Even if it doesn't advance any further than it is right now, being a FINALIST in the Royal Palm Literary Awards is exciting and something to crow about.

I'm looking forward to the conference: excellent topics Thursday through Sunday, individual book signing Saturday morning, and awards dinner Saturday night. But I can't seem to allow myself to enjoy the possibility that I may have won . . . !

Which makes me wonder aloud: As writers, do we become so used to rejection slips that we do not know how to enjoy the dream of being a winner? Are we so used to hawking our wares at 99 cent sales or trumpeting free days that we forget all the years of work and dollars spent to offer a quality product for the reader? Do we begin to equate these pennies with our self worth? It's not only possible but probable . . . and fortunately, for most of us, a fleeting moment of self doubt.

Am I excited to be a FINALIST? You betcha! Do I think I will win? As with all the finalists, I have a chance. Will I win? I don't know. But until the day it's announced, I can dream.

I hope all of you will dream big as you finish your novel or shop it around. Work hard and reach for your goals. Set them high. Celebrate when you accomplish even a portion of what you've planned and as our GPS tells us when we take a wrong turn (if need be) -- recalculate.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love."  To learn more:

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

STALKING DEAD PEOPLE

GENEALOGY - PART X
Finding Deceased Relatives is Not Easy . . . 

. . . BUT don't let that deter you. 

Are you perplexed in your search for the final resting place of a dearly departed relative? It's as though they vanished into mist. Not even a shadow remains. You have the last known residence, the name of next of kin, and yet there's no record of burial.

Fifty or a hundred years after the fact makes the search even more difficult.  As time passes, history evolves. People move. Memories fade. All that lingers are a few mementos, a whispered story or two, and the nagging question . . . where is he, she or they buried?

Sometimes, it's important to reconstruct the history (both world and personal) at the time of death. If there was a pivotal event, such as a war or medical epidemic: the person may be buried near the field of battle, in an unmarked grave, or in a foreign land. Sometimes, checking military records or reading local papers from that time period will help you find them and bring you closer to the answers you seek.

Immigrants from the turn of the twentieth century who were destitute may have found themselves at the time of their demise dependent upon the state for burial. Most cities had designated space for pauper's graves. These were unmarked communal graves where bodies (from babies to the elderly) were transferred from the coroner's office to the cemetery once a month and buried unceremoniously; sometimes a priest, pastor or rabbi was present. There were no records kept to my knowledge. In smaller towns with churches that maintain a graveyard, the pastor may have made accommodations for an individual who was destitute.  Even though there may be no stone to identify the grave, church records should offer more details.

Some immigrants as they aged, chose to spend eternity buried next to kin on the old sod. Check church and state records in European and Scandinavian countries of origin. They may be able to provide an avalanche of information. Ancestry.com has an extensive library of documents for foriegn records. Find-A-Grave.com (North America) is another excellent site for information.

One thing that's a challenge is this: burial grounds are confined and scarce in some foreign communities, therefore, they are reusing burial plots (after a respectable period of time) and adding new tenants. If you've seen a cemetery with weathered headstones piled against a wall or fence, this may be the reason why.

There are many unknown graves dotting the pioneer trails from the east to the west as settlers made their way across our beautiful country. If you have any idea where your loved one may have been headed, the local historical society may be able to help you find more information. If your relative owned a tract of land, it's possible there's a family plot nearby. If the burial took place on private property, the local library, newspaper office, historical society, county records building may offer you some clues or names of townspeople whose descendants live in the area.

Looking for a missing grave is truly a mystery worth pursuing. We all deserve our place in the family tree. Our life, our talents, even our foibles add richness and color. After all, every family has its story. 

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love."  To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

FORMATTING A BOOK

The best piece of advice? Hire a professional. With that being said, let's take a look at the process. Whether you hire someone, or do it yourself (which is fun), formatting demands attention to detail. These decisions affect profit.

If you're printing a book for distribution to family and friends, then it probably doesn't matter how many pages, size of type, number of pictures, or anything else because this body of work is a gift and labor of love. However, if you are looking to publish for the mass audience, then your choices will mean everything to the bottom line.

If you are a newbie, or indie author expecting to play in the over-crowded sandbox of seasoned writers, be prepared to offer your best work for publication. That means, answering a number of questions before the book is formatted, such as: manuscript length, pricing, paper choice, cover choice (hardback? paperback?), type of paper, size of book (5x7? 6x9? other?), type of spine, and who will be responsible for printing? There are many printers in every community and most will do an excellent job but there are only a handful recognized by the book industry and if you need assistance with distribution, you'll need to take that fact into consideration. Do your homework. Find out what type of services they offer and what they charge for the printing. Hypothetically ( based on per book expenses), if the printer charges $5 for printing, a book seller is expecting 55% from the retail price to offer your book in their store, and you have another $4 for "media" mail and tracking, plus a 2% publisher fee . . . you better price your book for a profit or find a part time job to pay for your passion.

The other component is, style. If what you've spent sleepless nights composing does not attract an audience when it's on the bookshelf, then it's time to evaluate why.  I believe one way to minimize heartache is by walking the aisles of your local bookstore. Find your genre and begin pulling books that catch your attention. What drew you to that one? Type style? Artwork? Colors? You'll begin to see a pattern form and from that you'll begin to witness the birth of your own body of work.

I'll pay particular attention to books in my chosen price range, estimate the number of words on the page (to determine the size of their manuscript), and then calculate if it's possible to use a similar formula and still make a profit. Sometimes the answer is, no. Why? They may have the backing of a large publishing house and are selling by volume. It doesn't mean you're not going to make it, it just means you need to be more creative and willing to forego a greater profit until you become more established.

Keep in mind, a professional format designer is an artist and will approach your project with that mindset. Once they understand the story concept and your vision, they will work miracles. But it's also important they understand there are parameters based on what I've already shared.

For those of you who have already published, would you like to share a picture of the cover of your latest book? How was your overall formatting experience? Any words of wisdom for those entering the field of writing?

Following is a limited glossary to introduce you to some of a printer's jargon. I hope this makes you more comfortable with the process and excited to complete your project.

Glossary of terms:
AIR:                              Breathing room between the lines of script
FONT:                           Print style
GUTTER:                      Margin facing the inside portion of the book
HALF-TONE:               Reproducing a picture into dots so printed photo quality is optimal
OUTSIDE MARGIN:   Typically 1/2" in from the trimline
PICA:                            Size of the print (in printer's terms) or (in computer terms)
POINTS:                       14-16 points is considered "Large Print" for the visually impaired
                                      10-12 points normal, comfortable text size
                                      9 points for photo descriptions and other notes
TRIM LINE:                Markings on outer edge of book pages used to guide the printer in                                                           cutting so books have a uniformly finished edge
SPINE:                         Portion of book facing outward (contains names of book and author)

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love."  To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube

TRY SOMETHING NEW

I LOVE all the new technology and I hate it! I can't wait for the next generation of gadgets to come on the market so I can learn something new. But then I realize . . . I'm still learning how to use last year's latest and greatest. It's all so confusing! That dreaded learning curve! The curve that more resembles a straight line. The shadow that follows me every where I go. None of us would be complete without it. It's just some days, I wish it didn't stretch to the horizon.

But then I realize how much I really do know. How much technology has become second nature and improved the quality of the work I've produced and the enthusiasm that waned begins to return.

So, here I sit at 4:30 in the morning . . . awakened by genius (more like stumbling about from sleep deprivation) hoping this series of prompts will work and you'll be able to see the latest video.

As I test the image, all that appears is a field of blue where there should be an image of a rose. I hope it works . . . this time. If not, I know it's up and running on Amazon.com/author/JoAnnGlim, you can see it on www.Goodreads.com/JoAnnGlim, it's even on YouTube youtu.be/o4PD8Tas9os and Facebook (if you're a fan of "Begotten With Love") www.facebook.com/JVGlim.author and I realize publishing this project in 4 out of 5 avenues is p-r-e-t-t-y good but we'll give it one more try on this post. Ta-dah!

I would love the insight of others who have been in this type of situation. Where have you turned for help?

DON'T FORGET to enter the Goodreads Giveaway (ends this Friday) for a chance to win one of three autographed copies of "Begotten With Love." GOOD LUCK!
 http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/104692-begotten-with-love-every-family-has-its-story

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love." For more info visit: www.BegottenTheBook.com

GOODREADS.com is a READER'S DREAM WEBSITE

SCHOOL'S IN SESSION - ADULTS RETURN TO N-O-R-M-A-L

Time to reclaim our lives; Enjoy a quiet morning . . .

Goodreads is an excellent site for both readers and writers. If you are not a member and you love to read, I would highly recommend signing up. This free site (with several million members) offers all the scoops on books and authors. Rate and review your favorite reads; peruse the newest books in your favorite genres in the comfort of your home; and meet new friends who share your interests in books.

If you're a writer, there are many programs established for writers (by writers) to help us advance and refine our works. Networking is key when we devote ourselves to such a solitary career as writing. Even though we spend a lot of time with characters running through our heads, we need to remember that they do not count as friends or staff! We still need to mingle with the real thing!

One of the opportunities Goodreads offers from authors to readers are giveaways of their latest work. Often times, the winners the of books will leave a rating/review for the author but it is not an obligation. Beginning Wednesday, August 20th (at midnight) through Friday, August 29th (at midnight) you'll have a chance to enter a Goodreads.com giveaway for a chance to win one of three autographed copies of "Begotten With Love: Every Family Has Its Story."

I hope you and your friends will take a minute to enter http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/104692-begotten-with-love-every-family-has-its-story

GOOD LUCK!

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube