We’re always seeking to add value to your NAIWE membership, and I know that we’ve done so with the addition of the online journal, The Vocabula Review. If you’re not acquainted with TVR, take a moment to scan the table of contents of the February 2010 issue (at the end of this post). I’m sure you’ll find several items you can’t wait to read!

NAIWE members will be able to register at the TVR website, and they’ll receive a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the journal, plus access to the 120+ issues in the archives. This online resource contains an entertaining and informative mix of articles, essays, columns and tidbits from respected writers, all related to the art and mechanics of words. The regular one-year subscription price is $40, so you can see that this is a truly valuable benefit.

Extra: New members who join NAIWE during Words Matter Week will receive a special bonus: a copy of Silence, Language, & Society: A guide to style and meaning, grace and compassion by Robert Hartwell Fiske and a copy of NAIWE’s “How to Create Credibility as a Freelancer” booklet! It’s the perfect time to join the “professional association with career-building difference.”

Visit the Words Matter Week site to listen to an interview with Robert Hartwell Fiske, the editor and publisher of The Vocabula Review. Enjoy!

The Vocabula Review, February 2010

“It’s My Centennial!” said Tom Swiftly by Richard Lederer

Lost Qualifiers by David Galef

“May I Quote You?” On Compiling a Book of Quotations by Clark Elder Morrow

Singin’ the “We” Blues by Heidi Huse

Specialty Dictionary
Glossary of Detective-Story Slang by William Denton

The Blind Review: A Literary Breakthrough by Mark Halpern

Life Tales
Bumbling into Bliss: My Life as a Teacher by Jeff Minick

Vocabula Revisited
The Last Words by Christopher Orlet

Two Poems
On Winter Afternoons by Kathleen Goldbach

Shibboleths
Welcome to Country Music by John Kilgore

Bethumped with Words
Schiaparelli: A Renowned Coutourière’s Italian Surname Traced to Its Origins by Bill Casselman

Harrison’s Corner
Nation Out to Lunch by Carey Harrison

The Common Reader
Letters to Rudi by Kevin Mims

Letter of the Law
Boilerplate Special by Adam Freedman

Language Module 29: The Essence of S

Disagreeable English

On Dimwitticisms

Clues to Concise Writing

On the Bookshelf

Gotcha Grammar (TM)

Vocabula Poll

Wednesday’s Teleclass with Janice Campbell

Carefully honed craft, top-of-the-line skills, plus sound business practices still form the foundation of a successful writing or editing career, but in the 21st century, seven things have emerged as increasingly essential to lasting success. At the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE), we believe it’s possible for any writer or editor to cultivate these 7 Essentials, and we’ve created an association that encourages best practices in each area. Here is a birds-eye view of the 7 Essentials to help you implement the pieces you may be missing.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

12:30 noon PT / 1:30pm MT / 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET

If you’re on the e-zine mailing list (you can sign up on the NAIWE home page), you’ll receive an e-mail with a call reminder and the call-in number on the morning of the call. We may host this teleclass on The Freelance Life podcast site, so be sure to watch for details!

You’ll learn:

• The 7 Essentials for creating a successful writing or editing career
• Tips for tweaking what you do now so that it reflects 21st-century reality
• How to add social media to your life without wasting time
• And more!

*Don’t miss our Annual Thanksgiving Membership Drive! Use Coupon Code 9A4DEC0 to get $27 off dues when you join before November 30, 2009.

It’s time once again for our annual Thanksgiving season membership drive, and we’ve been thinking about what sets NAIWE apart from other professional associations. It’s not just the fact that we welcome and respect both literary and commercial members, or that we provide more marketing and promotion opportunities for your books and services than other groups. NAIWE is different, and I believe better, in many ways.

We exist to help members succeed. We serve as a friendly mentor and marketing partner, and it’s our goal to help you achieve the freelance life you want to live.

We believe in writers who cross borders, blur boundaries, and do what it takes to earn a living as a writer. We’ll cheer you on when your first novel hits the shelves, or the third printing of your business book sells out. We’ll support you as you add new skills to your repertoire and learn to make a great living doing what you do best.

We believe in editors who love the rhythm and cadence of the language, and are committed to polishing even the humblest prose to its highest luster. We’ll be there with advice and concrete help to get your marketing message to your ideal clients.

At NAIWE, we know that a writing or editing career isn’t all about the art. It’s not all about the money, either. Writing and editing is about the joy of creativity, the freedom of working independently, and the fulfillment that comes from creating an authentic, abundant life, earning a great living doing what you love to do.

We believe that every writer or editor should belong to two professional organizations. The first is a large, career- and credibility-building association such as NAIWE, and the second is a smaller craft- or genre-focused association that will help you develop additional skills in the minutiae of your craft.

“Whatever your specific field, if there’s a National Association for…, join it.”

From Zen and the Art of Making a Living by Laurence G. Boldt (2010)

Frankly, there are many things we do. The About page tells you more about us, and you’re welcome to browse the website and read even more. Study our benefits, browse our member’s blogs, check out Words Matter Week, and really get acquainted.

The bottom line is this: If you are serious about your writing or editing career, we want you to join us, because we’re serious about helping you succeed. Countless experts advise joining a professional association as one of the first things you need to do when you commit to a career, and we want NAIWE to be your career-building association. We look forward to welcoming you as a fellow member. It’s your move!

P.S. As always, we are offering you a special Thanksgiving Coupon Code, good for $27 off dues through November 30, 2009. Just copy and paste the coupon code 9A4DEC0 into the coupon box when you join.

If you could complete only one task today, what should it be? Choose the activity with the highest ROI, do it firsthttp://ping.fm/xLs9P #

• Feeling blessed at close of day: finished priority projects plus extra bits. Added 2 new goodies for e-zine signups at http://www.NAIWE.com. #

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If you missed Claudia Suzanne’s Ghostwriting Teleclass today, you missed nearly 90 minutes of amazing information! I took copious notes, and came away with a much greater understanding of what ghosts actually do (besides have a very cool job title). Claudia shared the five rules of ghostwriting, the ghostwriter’s guarantee, what the job of ghosting includes (and doesn’t), what makes it all worthwhile, and much, much more.

One of my favorite points was her third rule of ghostwriting: “It’s not my book!” As she explained, this rule helps the ghostwriter keep the objectivity necessary to do a great job, and helps ensure that the writer’s own unique voice remains intact. Claudia spoke of having “a sense of the color of words,” which was a lovely way to express the necessity for sensitivity to nuance.

If you were on the call (or are listening afterward), Claudia has offered to answer questions about ghostwriting on her NAIWE blog at http://claudiasuzanne.naiwe.com. She loves sharing about her favorite subject, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of her offer!

Special Discounts

Claudia offers the only Ghostwriter Training Course available, and a new 14-week session will begin in September. The last day to register is Aug 15, unless the classes fill up before then. There are a couple of big discounts you should know about:

$100 discount for being a member of a writers group; good through Aug 8.
$75 discount (in addition to the $100) for NAIWE members who register by Aug 1.

Or, if you’re not yet a NAIWE member but would like to be, and you want to jump on this opportunity, Claudia will pay $75 toward a new NAIWE membership for anyone who joins NAIWE and signs up for the class by Aug 1!

Contact Claudia directly to claim your discounts, purchase her book, and register for Ghostwriter Training. 

Call Recording

The recording will be up for a couple of weeks before it moves to the NAIWE member area. To access it:

Dial – (712) 432-0899
Enter Access Code – 604213#

Or you may subscribe to the RSS feed in iTunes or another player and download it to your computer. Here’s the link:

iTunes feed for NAIWE teleclasses

Enjoy!

Ghostwriting: What’s In It For You?

Ghosting can be a fascinating way to earn a living, as well as a great introductory line at networking events. Writing well in another’s voice is challenging, but ghostwriter and coach Claudia Suzanne is a recognized authority in the field. She has found that “writing books for people who have wonderful ideas is a great career!”

She has ghosted over 100 titles, and is author of Secrets of a Ghostwriter, the only known text to address the full-range of theory, skills and politics for editorial service providers. As a trainer of Certified Ghostwriters, Clauda can answer any questions you may have about the career of a ghostwriter.

Register today for the Ghostwriting Teleclass with Claudia Suzanne, NAIWE’s Ghostwriting Expert.

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 3:30 Eastern / 12:30 Pacific

You’ll learn:

* What ghostwriting is — and isn’t
* The differences between ghosting and collaborating
* The advantages of being a ghostwriter
* The advantages of using a ghostwriter
* Common traits most ghostwriters share
* Common problems many first-time ghostwriters run into
* The ghostwriting market

Don’t miss it! If you can’t be there on the live call, you’ll be able to hear the recording for a short time afterward, and then it will disappear forever into the Member Area of the NAIWE site (where you’ll always be able to access it if you’re a member).

Register for this interesting, informative teleclass today– it could change your career! When you sign up for the teleclass, you’ll receive an e-mail with a reminder and the telephone number before the call.

Claudia Suzanne sold her first book, For Musicians Only in 1988, and has been ghostwriting, editing, and writing nonfiction and fiction ever since. After 70 titles, she received a Bachelor’s in English for her cumulative work; after 90 titles, she received a Masters. She has been a recurring guest lecturer at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), and is actively involved in other boards and associations.

Now, with over 100 titles to her credit, including best-selling nonfiction and award-winning novels, she has written the first and seminal textbook on ghostwriting and provides the only current means for becoming a Certified Ghostwriter. Her teaching and mentoring programs have launched dozens of careers and helped hundreds of writers.

Don’t miss this informative teleclass– what you learn could change your career!

 If you’ve spent any time browsing through the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) website, you know that our Code of Ethics is central to our mission and goals. Each member of NAIWE agrees to abide by this Code when joining the Association, and we have had many positive comments about our members’ commitment.

Now, we have taken advantage of the opportunity to sign the Business Ethics Pledge on behalf of the Association. This Pledge, which has been signed by businesses worldwide, makes our commitment to integrity and sound business practices even more clear. We are honored to be part of the Business Ethics movement, and we encourage our members to visit the Business Ethics Pledge and sign for their individual businesses as well.

To read more about the pledge and see its complete text, visit our July 5, 2009 media release.

International Children’s Book Day 2009 poster, illustrated by Hani D. El-Masri.

Join us in a celebration of International Children’s Book Day, Thursday 2 April 2009! Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, 2 April, International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated all over the
world to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books.

The celebratory day is coordinated by the International Board on
Books for Young People (IBBY), a non-profit organisation dedicated to
bringing children and books together.  IBBY has members from over
70 countries, who work individually and together to promote and
support children’s literature and reading. Each year, a different
section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY),
has the opportunity to sponsor the worldwide event.  This year,
EBBY, the Egyptian section of IBBY, has chosen the theme for the
celebration – “I am the World” – and the International Children’s
Book Day poster for 2009 was illustrated by Egyptian artist and
former Disney animator, Hani D. El-Masri.

Ann Lazim, the President of IBBY UK, said: “International Children’s
Book Day symbolises the wonderful work achieved by IBBY all over
the world, in promoting international understanding through the
medium of children’s books and striving to give children everywhere,
access to books so they can develop a love of reading. We encourage
everyone, especially teachers and parents, to celebrate the joy and
value of children’s books this year on 2 April and make the day a
truly international celebration. All those interested can visit IBBY UK’s
website – www.ibby.org.uk – for reading ideas and resources.”

IBBY UK, the British section of IBBY, supports the organization’s
mission through a number of events and activities and is currently
working towards the international congress, “Crossing Boundaries:
Translations and Migrations”, which is to be held in London in 2012.

International Children’s Book Day 2009 Message

I am the World
by Egypt Section of IBBY

I am the world and the world is me
For through my book
I can be whatever I want to be.
Words and pictures, verse and prose
Take me to places both far and close.

In the land of Sultans and gold
A thousand stories unfold
Flying carpets, magic lamps
Genies and ghouls and Sindibads
Tell their secrets to Shehrezad.

With every word on every page
I travel through time and space.
And on the wings of fantasy
My spirit crosses land and sea.

The more I read, the more I know
That with my book
I’ll always be
In the best company.

For further information on International Children’s Book Day, visit http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=269

Robert Lee Brewer, a Writer’s Digest blogger, has posted the rules for the Poetic Asides April PAD Challenge.

Here’s how the Challenge works: Every day from April 1, 2009, through midnight (EST) on April 30, 2009, Brewer will post a poetry prompt on his blog. If you’d like respond with a submission, post it in the comments section for that particular prompt. Submitted poems will be eligible for inclusion an e-book, and writers who submit a poem each day will receive a completion certificate and badge.

It sounds like an excellent opportunity to flex your creative writing muscles. If you do it, feel free to share a link to your contribution in the comment section of this post.

Join us March 2-6, 2009 for the second annual for Words Matter Week 2009 and learn from successful writers, editors, and publishers how you can make your business thrive! You’ll hear:

• Peter Bowerman: The Well-Fed Writer on Freelance Commercial Writing
• John Kremer: 1001 Ways to Market Your Books
• Linda Leigh Hargrove: The Road to Publication and the Importance of Words in Communication
• Ruth Thaler-Carter: How to Get Started in Editorial Freelancing
• Tim McMullen: Technology and the Freelance Worker
• Martha Brockenbrough: Things that Make Us [Sic] and Other Grammar Matters

Our goal for this week is to introduce you to NAIWE, to highlight the importance of words in communication, and to raise funds for First Book.

Guests who visit www.NAIWE.com and sign up for the e-zine, “The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work With Words,” will receive a free e-book and the ‘Words Matter 2009 Yearbook” with articles, essays, and handouts from our speakers and other experts in writing, editing, and publishing.

All registered guests will also be entered for prize drawings of books donated by our speakers (you need not be present to win). If you can’t attend, just register, and you will receive a link to download the teleseminars for later listening.

Please address inquiries to Janice Campbell, Director of NAIWE, at director at naiwe .com. Additional information is at http://naiwe.com/words-matter/week.php and at http://www.tinyurl.com/words-matter.