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 by: Jay Johnson Be sure to check out The Aton Project Newsletters at: http://www.self-publishinghelp.com/TheAtonProjectNewsletters.html. This newsletter, by author Tony VanSluytman, has been receiving rave revues despite it not being directed to writers. In addition, we encourage you to visit The Book Doctor at: http://www.self-publishinghelp.com/TheBOOKDOCTOR.html. You'll find his articles to be a must read for writers at all levels of accomplishment. Starting this week we will run a three (3) week series of articles to introduce you to him (Stephen Byers) in his own words. We are quite proud of the contributions of these two dedicated authors and wish for you to learn more about them. Download: 10 Ways to Promote Your Book...  You will be pleased to know that we've had a very good response from contributers this month...all are Banyon Network members so far. • Tony VanSluytman provides a new dimension to his writings with the introduction of a new 'short story' character. He provides humor and a very contemporary setting...look forward to more from him. • Lillian Cauldwell submits her take on The Value of Publisher's Rejections with some well delivered observations and experiences. • Burt Richards provides a different take on the pros & cons of selling venues. Given his life experiences (see: INNER-VIEWS- WITH CELEBRITIES) one has to take note for sure. By: S.A. Tony VanSluytman, LCSW of The Aton Project (On a recent visit to Tampa, Florida I had the interesting occasion to run into my old friend, Winston F. Bagley, entrepreneur, bon vivant, and Republican Extraordinaire, he is never at a loss for opinions on just about everything under the sun. When I told him about my intention to contribute something to the Banyon Buzz he insisted that I enter this e-mail that he rushed to me, about an experience he had at the end of the last football season.) If you'd like to read it all just click and you will be linked to it at Banyon Publishing's ECLECTIC REVIEWS! You'll get a laugh and a lesson... ;void(0)) The Value of Publisher's Rejections
By: Lillian Cauldwell Receiving rejection slips isn’t life threatening; it’s part of life’s lessons. I have written for ten years. Compared to other professional writers, that’s not a long time. We all receive rejections whether we want them or not. Instead of allowing them to vanquish us, learn to see them as part of your ‘writer’s curriculum.’ You as well as I have heard horror lines: “I have enough rejection slips to paper my walls.” “Rejection slips and I go hand-in-hand together.” “It’s a measure of my failure level.” When receiving rejections writers feel they have lost inches to their stature. I know the feeling, it hurts. The lines in rejection notices range from the sublime to the ridiculous. I find when I receive my slips I initially tend to lose my head: tears, frustration, it’s as if I’ve lost my best friend. Whatever kind of rejection you receive, there are better ways of handling it than eating a quart of chocolate ice cream, drinking alcohol, or screaming at the first person who approaches you. There are two sets of methods that the writer should use when dealing with rejections. First Line of Defense: Emotional Help 1. Do Exercises. Walk it off, hit the treadmill or an exercise machine. Run around the yard or inside a school gym. Go into an interior room and punch your pillow. 2. Talk to the Mirror. Take a good look at yourself. What do you see? An author or a writer trying to compete with several trillion other authors or writers. You know what? It takes guts submitting your writing to publishers. 3. Don’t take it personally. Publishers are doing their jobs the same way the writer does. 4. Just because the publisher rejects your project doesn’t mean that you can’t write. Like most people, publishers have limited time capacity. Or the editor gets up on the wrong side of the bed, and that day he rejects projects on an emotional level. 5. Remember that publishers and their editors are under siege. Publishers receive thousands of submissions every day. They read agent submitted projects first. When they have time, they read through the projects that have no agent to represent them. It is impossible for the publisher’s editors to respond to so much mail. I’ve been told by publishing companies that having your project accepted by a publisher is a ‘crap shoot.’ In one way, I’ve been fortunate. The editors often comment on my project and tell me what’s wrong and how to improve my writing. Editors have written initialed notes to me asking that I make changes and resubmit. If you have received something like this, take heart; you’re making progress. Turn your writing around and submitting it better 1. When a writer receives a rejection, his/her ‘gut’ emotions kick in. The writer reacts in anger, frustration, and desperation. Their thinking isn’t rational and in consequence, they might submit their projects to on-line publishers that aren’t appropriate for your project. When submitting your project, do your homework first. (Click the graphic box to the left of the title and author's name to read the final portion) RADIO IS GREAT FOR YOUR AUTHOR EGO, TO HEAR THE PROGRAM ONCE YOU RECORDED IT FOR ON AIR. But as far as help selling your property, NO WAY unless it is someone known in the business, Politician, Broadcaster, President, Film Director, T.V. Stage or whoever Star. After my successful career of over 40 years in Show business and a successful Syndicated column plus my Advertising, Lecturing at Libraries, Book Signings at the biggest and best stores, NOT many SALES. Seems radio listeners like to hear a program and thats it especially if the have a call in to WIN FREE tickets to shows, dinner, movies etc. Patrons like to visit a book lecture because they have nothing more to do, and after they will tell you THANKS had a wonderful afternoon and no sale. So as Far as I am concerned from MY END...NO MORE RADIO TALK or BOOK SIGNINGS at STORES, LIBRARIES etc. They are a waste of good time. From: Burt Richards Author of Stars In My Eyes, Then & Now By: Francine Silverman Another excerpt from her book...David Lebovitz on speaking in public. Get Comfortable Speaking in Public, urges cookbook author David Lebovitz. “I'm a dork,” he admits. “At least I feel like one every time I have to speak to a group. But people seem to think I'm funny, so why not embrace your dorkiness? (Hey, it's working for David Sedaris...). Similarly if you are shy, that's ok. Begin your talk with, ‘You know, I'm really shy and you people scare the heck out of me.’ If you say it right, you'll get a chuckle and they'll be on your side instantly.” “You can take public speaking courses, but I found ‘The Speaking Circles' (www.speakingcircles.com) to be excellent without learning silly techniques (‘Imagine your audience naked!’). Speaking Circles are about honest communication, finding your own voice, and connecting with an audience. “You are going in with nothing to lose, and all to gain. My first time on the Today Show, instead of being nervous, I figured I'd just go out and have fun. The producers had me over-prepared for my first appearance, coaching me with comments like, ‘After you stir the chocolate, where on the table are you going to put the spoon?’ I was all wound up, and when Katie Couric came out, she was transfixed by my cherry pitter, so we had a grand time pitting cherries for 5 minutes. Using a paperclip I had in my pocket we had an impromptu contest...which she won! Afterwards, I was invited back by the producer.” David’s three cookbooks are Room for Dessert (HarperCollins 1999), Ripe for Dessert (HarperCollins 2003), and The Great Book of Chocolate (Ten Speed Press 2004). In addition to writing cookbooks, David leads chocolate tours of Europe, teaches classes, and writes for culinary magazines. www.davidlebovitz.com | Return Home | The BOOK DOCTOR | The BANYON NETWORK | The Banyon Buzz Newsletters | The Aton Project Newsletters | Contact Us | |
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