Write Good or Die

there would be no actual income from this.”
    A few days later I get an e-mail back with an apology that things were “vague” and that if I wanted to, I could return the bowl and they would give me $100. As weird and uncomfortable as it is, I wrap the bowl back up, take it to the library, and a week later I receive the check in the mail. If I was J.K. Rowling, I could have let it slide. But I’m not and I didn’t.
    This is a long story to make the point: Get it in writing. When you write a story, a novel, an article, or a proposal and prepare to send it out, know the pay scale and basic terms if they decide to accept your work. Don’t send a story to a publisher, hoping they pay well, only to get a contract that says you’ll earn two contributor’s copies for your troubles. Know as much as possible before the contract stage so you don’t find yourself in an awkward situation. Ask; if these folks are professionals, they’ll be happy to let you know. Get it in writing, either via e-mail or snail mail. If you chat on the phone, ask for a follow-up letter. Mysteries make good stories but don’t make good business.
    A young, unpublished writer recently told me he’d submitted material to a publisher who has an online site. The site has guidelines of all the wonderful, creative things they want to see and want to publish. However, there is no mention of pay. I asked this young man if they told him their pay rates by e-mail or letter. He said no. He said he guessed that if they accepted his work, they’d tell him at that point what they would pay. A newbie mistake but a mistake nonetheless. Going in blindly is bad business. Even if you stand to make only $2 for your work, you should know that. You should have enough respect for yourself as a craftsperson to expect to be treated professionally. Even if a publisher/editor/FOL president tells you something, get it backed up in writing. Words on the air have a funny way of morphing; words on paper remain unchanged. Well, unless it gets erased or somebody burns it up, but you know what I mean.
    If you aren’t diligent, you may end up trying to buy a tank of gas with a lovely carved wooden bowl.

    Elizabeth Massie— http://www.elizabethmassie.com
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29. TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GETTING A BOOK REVIEWED
    By David J. Montgomery
    http://www.davidjmontgomery.com

    1. Thou must send the book to the reviewer. This is the most important point, and it's something you'll hear me say repeatedly. There simply is no way around it. If I don't get the book, I can't review it. And, unfortunately, that happens more often than you'd think.
    2. Thou must make sure the book arrives in time. Usually this means 6-8 weeks prior to publication date. If I don't get the book until it's available in stores, there's very little chance that I'll be able to review it.
    3. Thou must tell the reviewer when the book will be published. Sometimes it seems like it would be easier to get the formula for Coke than to find out when a book is actually going to be available. It's very time consuming to scramble around, trying to nail down the publication date of a book. So please, spare me the trouble and just tell me. That way, I know how to time my review.
    4. Thou must learn who the reviewers are. In any genre or area of publishing, there are certain reviewers who write most frequently about your kind of book. Learn who those people are and get them the book. Have I made it clear yet how crucial it is to get your book in the right hands? There are no reviews without achieving this. None.
    5. Thou must put your name in the mind of the reviewer. If a book arrives on my desk and I've never heard the author's name before and never heard of the book, all I have to go by is a press release and the jacket copy. It's very hard to make an impression from such a cold start.
    6. Thou must make the book stand out from the crowd. I can't tell you how to do this—that's why I'm not a publicist. But if the book arrives as just one of a pack of dozens, the chances of it getting noticed are rather slim. There are just too many books and too little review space.
    7. Thou must print and distribute your own ARCs if the publisher doesn't do it for you. This is especially true of PBOs (paperback originals). Some critics won't review PBOs, but some will. I do. But if I don't get the book until it's already in the store, it's probably too late.
    8. Thou must not alienate, infuriate or otherwise piss off the reviewers. I know,