Tag: writer

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Creative Writers

Are you author or writer?

Author? Writer? Which would the pre-published person be? Is JK Rowling an author or a writer? Why is a ghost-writer not an author? People think that the words mean one and the same. After all, if you are writing, you can be both?

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Not so. Consider this. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series put her in the top 10 of greatest authors according to Topten dot com. She is also one of the top earning authors in the world according to Forbes magazine. So why did she go on to write The Casual Vacancy under a pseudonym? Before it leaked out that the book was written by Rowling, it sold a measly 1 500 copies. Why bother? The reason why she wrote under a pseudonym is because Rowling is an author. She writes because she loves the art, because she has characters to develop and because she has stories to tell the world. That is her priority. That she earned fame and fortune along the way is incidental.

Ghost-writers and copywriters are not authors. They are producing someone else’s stories and ideas. They write to earn money. The art of writing does not make you an author.

There are a number of reasons why people are writers. Writers are paid irrespective how well the book does. It is the responsibility of the person paying the writer to publish the book once the book has been completed. Being a writer is at times easier than being an author.

According to Difference Between dot net, a person is considered a writer until they are published. This means that even if the idea is your own and you have written the book, you still remain a writer. It does not matter how often you write and what you have written . The difference is that when you become published, your work will be copyrighted under the copyright laws. This ensures that nobody else can steal or use your idea. It is all yours.

To be an author, one must have the capability to think and express ideas. A writer must have the capability to understand and convey an idea correctly to the readers. Their skill is suited to the job required. Authors write because they have stories to tell, writers write because they want to earn money.

Now decide: which one are you?

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Book Releases

Debbie Calitz: 20 Months of Hostage Hell

By Debbie Calitz and Ulrike Hill.

When Debbie Calitz and her partner, Bruno Pelizzari, set sail from Dar es Salaam in October 2010, they could never have guessed that they would be making a voyage into the depths of hell.

Three days into their journey as crew on board the yacht Choizel, it was captured by Somali pirates who held Debbie and Bruno for ransom. For twenty months the pair was made to live in dark rooms while they were moved countless times between different locations and captors who subjected them – but especially Debbie – to untold  horrors. Yet Debbie’s spiritual awareness, her sense of humanity and, ironically, her past history of being the victim of abuse, helped her to stay alive as she remained positive in the belief that she and Bruno would be rescued.

In this compelling book right from the depths of depravity Debbie Calitz reveals the details of their ordeal and their eventual rescue. It is a story of overwhelming courage from a woman who overcame all odds when freedom and dignity were a distant memory.

 

ISBN: 9780143530589
Format: Paperback / softback
Recommended Price: R220.00
Published: October 31, 2012

Buy online at:
Exclus1ve Books
Categories
Business Writers

Find your Creative Voice

The world is changing. People realise that making money is not the key to happiness.

I receive many emails from people who want to write a book and looking at these emails has made me wonder if creativity is what people are searching for. People want more from life. It seems that life is a constant running around like hamsters on a wheel; running with no purpose other than to meet month-end commitments

So what happened to creativity?

Children learn using their senses and exploring their creativity during their formative years. Far too soon, the teacher starts to strangle creativity and demands that they colour in the lines and use blue for the sky and green for the grass.

Have you noticed the sky today? What colour is it? Grey? Blue?

Creativity is not about stereotyping. It is about life experiences and thinking out of the box. Freedom of expression is important in developing this skill.

Business is about meeting deadlines, reaching sales targets and keeping a wary eye on budgets. People are consumed by a world of balancing salaries and monthly expenses. No wonder creativity flies out of the window. Numbers have started to rule and dominated our creativity.

The search for creativity

Years ago, I trained as an English teacher. After three years in the classroom, the lure of earning a decent salary moved me into the corporate world. But, I still had that hole in my soul. Something was missing. The money was great but I was not happy. Years later, I changed careers once again. I went into adult training and found that I had a natural talent. I loved teaching people how to write. I found that people who wanted to learn how to plot their books and develop their characters inspired me. I found my creative side. I found that companies who attended my Story of a Business course went back to their workplace understanding the language of their company. They were able to identify with the character that the company had become. They found that they could still be creative in an environment that may not seem to be creative.

Finding your creativity

Attend a creative writing course, photography class or look back to your school days. What did you enjoy doing? What made you feel like the hours rolled by without you noticing? Perhaps it was sewing or building model aeroplanes. Find time to pursue your creativity.

All it requires is taking time out from your busy schedule. Create some ‘me’ time. Slow down and get back to basics: use your five senses to experience the beauty that surrounds you. Keep a journal. Who knows? Perhaps one day that journal will keep you.

Ulrike

Continue reading “Find your Creative Voice”
Categories
Creative Writers

The Publishing Game

Publishing is changing. Technology, recession and social issues like saving the trees, are affecting the publishing industry. People who earn their living from producing and selling books are facing many challenges.

What does this mean to the pre-published writer? A lot, according to Trish Gentry who recently published a post on her blog, Chicklit. Her blog, ‘An Unpublished Author’s Perspective on Paying to be Published’ highlights the challenges she has faced trying to get her first book published.

Gentry has paid her publishing dues in money, time and tears. She has spent large chunks of time writing her book. No an easy feat as any first-time writer will attest to.

The next step was paying someone to edit her book. Gentry knew this would enhance her chances of becoming published. She admits she is an unknown, has no credibility. With edited book in hand, Gentry spent hours researching publishers who have accepted authors in the genre she has written. She submits her manuscript. And waits. And waits. Hopefully she will receive a request or rejection. She admits that she has more chance of winning the sweepstakes. Not because she is a bad writer. It is because she is a new writer.

The safe game

Publishers are playing the safety game. The safety catch is firmly in place before they will commit to a pre-published writer. Why? Because publishing is expensive. There are no guarantees. Recession has taught people to be cautious with their money. Readers will more than likely purchase a book written by a known author. The established author will have prime spot in the retailer. Where will the unknown’s book be positioned? Probably in the dusty recesses of the shop, next to the forgotten gems of yesteryear.

So why do people still feel it is important to go the traditional published route? Gentry admits that publishers and agents do have clout. They know the book game. And it is a status thing for a writer to say ‘I was published by [insert your choice of publisher here]’.

Consider this: once the production costs have been deducted, the agent has taken their commission and the publisher has sliced their pound of flesh; you the writer may get R12 per copy sold. Is it worth the effort?

Why self-publishing works for the pre-published author

Amanda Hocking, self-published writer of a supernatural series, earned her money from selling her books online. Hocking decided to self-publish after being continuously rejected and being told that the supernatural market was oversubscribed. An international publisher is now interested in her books. Why? Because her self-published ebooks have earned her a cool million dollars. She has credibility and is now considered a low risk.

There are many options for the newbie author to follow. The traditional publishing route is not the only way to get people to read your book. Research the market. Understand genres and their story-lines. Ensure that your book is as close to perfect as possible. Spend the money on attending writing courses and editing. Publish it online. Spend some more money promoting. Get a social media presence. Test the waters. See what readers and reviewers say about your book. Once you understand this process, you may realise why publishers are nervous about the future of publishing. You may also earn more money this way.

 

Ulrike Hill
First published on www.writerswrite.posterous.com
23rd February 2012
Follow Scrumcaps and Sideline Snippets on my blog: www.ulrikehill.blogspot.com

Tackling the Brickwall (Overcoming adversity in schoolboy rugby) is available from

www.exclus1ves.co.za

www.feathercommunications.co.za

www.kalahari.com (eBook)