An Interview with Ruth Thaler-Carter, NAIWE’s Networking Expert

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Webinar: The Value of Networking: How It Can Build Your Business

We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some things she shared.

What is one thing that you learned about your craft the hard way, and what benefits have you received from it?

The importance of having a clearcut contract/agreement that’s as complete as possible, because that’s the only way to protect oneself against problems with a project or a difficult client. It would be nice if all business interactions could be conducted on a handshake, virtual or in person, but that sadly isn’t always possible. The benefits of using even an informal agreement via email include peace of mind, control over scope creep, and reasonable assurance of receiving payment as expected.

Can these benefits be broadened to include marketing?

Providing and working to contracts could be considered a facet of positioning an independent editorial business as a professional venture, which would contribute to marketing the business as one worth working with.

What has been your most rewarding marketing avenue, and how was it rewarding? Self? Monetary? Clients?

Doing good work that leads to being referred/recommended by current clients to new ones, even though that isn’t technically or formally marketing; at least, it isn’t a conscious marketing process. More in the way of actual marketing has been active participation and visibility in professional associations and online groups such as on Facebook, which has led to inquiries from prospective clients and recommendations/referrals from colleagues. The rewards have been new projects/clients/income for myself, as well as deep gratitude toward colleagues and clients who value my efforts, whether in terms of work or networking. Clients have benefited from receiving high-quality services; colleagues have benefited from advice and resources I aim to provide through various channels.

What do you associate with marketing?

Association membership and active participation, sharing resources, providing advice, announcing services and news, supporting colleagues and causes, doing public speaking/presenting webinars/teaching classes, hosting events, sending newsletters.

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You can join in this conversation on March 18, at 7 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a one-hour discussion of growing your business through networking.

We hear about networking all the time, but what is it and why is it valuable to independent writers and editors? Networking is simply interacting with colleagues to exchange information, resources, and support. Done right, it can create credibility, provide leads to new projects and clients, and bolster an independent business in many ways. Networking is a two-way process; it goes beyond joining a professional organization.

The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! To register, send an email with your name and telephone number.

Writing Challenge Recap

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NAIWE is a professional association for writers, editors, and you! We exist to help members succeed, and our unique focus on creating multiple streams of income can make it happen.

NAIWE provides you with an online presence, assistance in using your website, and marketing support through our social media channels and our monthly newsletters.

NAIWE seeks to provide the place where you can come and receive a warm, personal touch as you develop your career.

All throughout your career, your membership in an association demonstrates commitment, credibility, and professionalism.

So no matter what kind of writing or editing you do, NAIWE is the professional association with you in the forefront!

View a list of our member benefits!

In honor of Words Matter Week, NAIWE is offering a discount for new and renewing members! New members who sign up for auto-renewal can use the code WordsMatter30 to receive $30 off their first year’s membership. Any member, new or renewing, can use code WordsMatter20 to receive $20 off a year’s membership.

Writing Challenge: Day 5

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Writing Prompt: What word, said or unsaid, has or could change your life? How?

At NAIWE, the word that has had the most effect on us is “freelance.” We focus on benefitting our freelance members, offering them avenues to remain knowledgeable in the field and to increase their number of clients. The NAIWE goal is helping our members develop multiple streams of income, and we do this by promoting their products and services to people they might not have otherwise reached through our social media outlets and our newsletter, which reaches 6,000 publishing professionals every month.

Interested in participating in the NAIWE writing challenge? Each day we will post a question. Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WordsMatterWeek in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog). At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Post in the comments below with a link to your response to today’s question.

Writing Challenge: Day 4

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Writing Prompt: Writers craft words into memorable phrases, stories, poems, and plays. What writers make your heart sing? Why?

We at NAIWE have an eclectic taste, with every member receiving at least one vote for their writing style making our hearts sing, and we enjoy reading the posts members put on their NAIWE blog. It helps us to get to know our members better and to look for more ways to help them develop their writing careers. Thus, the writers who stand out the most are the members who regularly post on their NAIWE blog and inspire us so much that we want to learn more from them.

Interested in participating in the NAIWE writing challenge? Each day we will post a question. Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WordsMatterWeek in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog). At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Post in the comments below with a link to your response to today’s question.

Writing Challenge: Day 3

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Writing Prompt: What person in your life helped you understand the importance of choosing words carefully? What would you say to them if you met them today?

Our members make NAIWE choose its words carefully and responsibility and stand behind its words as the integrity and credibility of the association, as well as its integrity and credibility of its members. NAIWE would like to meet all its members face-to-face and presents this opportunity at the 2019 conference in St. Louis to that we can discuss the importance of choosing words. We also want o thank our members for their support and loyalty, and we would love to do this in person at the conference.

Interested in participating in the NAIWE writing challenge? Each day we will post a question. Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WordsMatterWeek in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog). At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Post in the comments below with a link to your response to today’s question.

Writing Challenge: Day 2

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Writing Prompt: Writers are artists with words as their medium. What author is your favorite word stylist?

NAIWE is proud to represent authors of all word styles. Because of this, NAIWE is always looking for new and more avenues to add revenue to our members’ bottom lines. We enjoy hearing about your own personal writing style as well because it helps us brainstorm new and better ways to help our members.

Interested in participating in the NAIWE writing challenge? Each day we will post a question. Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WordsMatterWeek in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog). At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Post in the comments below with a link to your response to today’s question.

Writing Challenge: Day 1

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Writing Prompt: If you had to eliminate one word or phrase from the English language, what would it be? Why?

At NAIWE, we try to be positive and think about ways we can accomplish tasks. Therefore, the word we would like to eliminate from the English language is “can’t.” Instead of someone saying he can’t do something, we want him to be positive about the situation and say that he is working toward his goal but needs additional assistance or professional development. And that’s what we are here for! NAIWE is an association with a goal of helping you build multiple streams of income. We are here to help you develop your web presence and build your social media following. You can do it, and we are here to help!

Interested in participating in the NAIWE writing challenge? Each day we will post a question. Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WordsMatterWeek in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog). At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Post in the comments below with a link to your response to today’s question.

National Grammar Day

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National Grammar Day is an annual celebration to emphasize the importance of grammar. Some people suggest that grammar is a set of rules for language, but it is a system for understanding language. Understanding the system and the structure helps us to understand each other.

Established by Martha Brockenbrough, author of Things That Make Us [Sic] and founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, National Grammar Day is celebrated on March 4.

As writers and editors, we know the importance of grammar. It is something many of us are paid to use correctly.

What is your grammar pet peeve?

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Words Matter Week begins is happening this week, so check back here to participate in the writing campaign. Also, feel free to print this year’s poster and schedule local panel discussions and game night in honor of the importance of words. Let us know how you chose to participate!

National Read Across America Day

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National Read Across America Day is an annual program to motivate people to read and celebrate their love of books. This event is held on March 2 of each year in honor of Theodor Seuss Geisel, a noted children’s book author known as Dr. Seuss.

Sponsored by the National Education Association, Read Across America was first celebrated in 1998 with a goal to celebrate reading to develop lifelong readers and affect student achievement.

As writers and editors, we know the importance of reading. It is something we do on a daily basis in the publishing profession.

How did your reading skills as a child affect your growing up to pursue a career in the publishing field?

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Words Matter Week begins tomorrow, so check back here to participate in the writing campaign. Also, feel free to print this year’s poster and schedule local panel discussions and game night in honor of the importance of words. Let us know how you chose to participate!

An Interview with Greg Smith, NAIWE’s Agile Writing Expert

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We wanted to get to know Greg Smith better, so last month we sat down with him. Here are some things he shared about novel writing.

What is one thing that you learned about your craft the hard way, and what benefits have you received from it?

More than anything, EDITING MATTERS. My first book Agile Writer: Method was compiled from my seminar notes. I passed it out to friends and family and got a lot of good edits from them. But it wasn’t as good as a professional editor. I begged my readers to put reviews on Amazon.com and they were all really positive. But there were two or three reviews that said, “although the content is excellent, the book could use a good editor.” Considering that my goal was to have a bound book to hand out or sell at my seminars, and I was broke at the time, choosing not to hire an editor was the right choice. However, once someone puts your bad spelling and grammar in a review, there’s little you can do to take it back. I am currently working with an editor to revise my book, which is scheduled for next month.

When you consider that getting reviews that are of high quality is part of your marketing, you want to make sure they’re quality reviews. While editing is not directly a part of marketing, having a product that is clean means you’re more likely to get a good review. Certainly, you won’t have to back peddle and fix your book if you start with a clean copy.

What has been your most rewarding marketing avenue, and how was it rewarding? Self? Monetary? Clients?

So far Facebook has proven to be the best resource. While it takes a while to understand their systems, the benefits are worth every penny. I am currently waging a marketing campaign to acquire a quality email list. The ideal measure of a campaign is customer acquisition cost (CAC). You want to keep the CAC as low as possible. I’ve been able to keep my CAC down to $1-$2 and sometimes even under a dollar.

What do you associate with marketing?

Marketing is the whole enchilada. Many confuse marketing with advertising. But advertising is just a portion of marketing. You have to create a brand and a following (or platform). So, the parts of marketing include brand (color scheme, logos, photos, headshots), presence (website, blog, Meetup.com, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn), platforms (email, Amazon, B&N, iTunes, iBook, Audible), organic advertising (SEO, Google search, Bing search, Yahoo search, Facebook groups/pages, Twitter), paid advertising (Google AdWords, Google AdSense, Facebook ads, LinkedIn ads, display ads, YouTube ads, Amazon ads), podcasts (both yours and guest appearances), personal appearances (talk shows, seminar presentations, conference panels, workshops, conference sales tables), and networking (collaborating, socials, workshops).

You can join in this conversation on February 25, at 7 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a one-hour discussion of novel writing and the agile writing method.

The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members pay just $30; or you can become a member and get the member price for this webinar! To register, send an email with your name and telephone number.