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WPNews, October 2023
The Good News Fall Issue
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From Kathleen Kaiser, President
We are off and running this fall with two new WPN Webinars, one on how to use AI to enhance your Amazon book descriptions to attract its algorithms in October and the second on the craft of writing with Story Structure: The Key to Success Fiction with NY Times bestselling author William Bernhardt in November. More details below.
We are finalizing webinars starting next year. The topics will alternate between craft and business topics. Keep an eye out for those announcements.
If you haven't already, please check out the TalkingBookPublishing podcast. Twice a month, we have authors, publishers, marketers, and others to discuss the latest in the business. Some of the conversations have been amazing with the vast knowledge shared by our group. You can do it on your computer if you don't listen to podcasts.
And in November, we will be opening up for space reservations for the LA Times Festival of Books. One of my favorite parts of being involved with WPN is meeting authors and the tens of thousands of readers who flock annually to the event.
Kathleen
Kathleen@kathleenkaiser.com
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From Sandra Murphy, Editor
The past couple of years have been tough so we deserve some good news. I hope this issue inspires you, gives you a sense of community, and thanksgiving that we’ve made it this far and are still standing.
Good News on the WGA Strike Front (but it ain’t over until it’s signed, sealed, and delivered)
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And good news for WPN.
We have a new secretary! Please welcome Tyler Wittkofsky. Here’s his bio:
Step into the captivating world of Tyler Wittkofsky, an extraordinary talent hailing from North Carolina's enchanting southern coast. As a multi-genre maestro, Tyler weaves tales that sweep you into unforgettable adventures. Beyond his writing prowess, he's a fervent podcaster, mental health advocate, and travel blogger. With his wife Grace and furry companions Dutch and Belle, Tyler embarks on awe-inspiring journeys across the US, chronicled on the enthralling blog Adventure With Coffee.
Tyler's literary repertoire includes the touching novella (Not) Alone, inspired by true events on mental health struggles, and the debut romance The Seeds of Love: Sunflower Kisses Book One, navigating love's complexities through a mentally ill protagonist. His emotionally charged poetry collection Coffee, Alcohol, and Heartbreak draws from four transformative years. Collaborating with Kelsey Anne Lovelady, Enamored Echoes Book 1: Potent marked his fantasy co-authorship debut.
As a beacon of hope, Tyler shares his mental health journey on www.TylerWittkofsky.com. He co-hosts the Cook the Books podcast, delving into writing and publishing. He also leads Tea With Coffee Media, spotlighting untold stories via his indie publishing company. Not just a creative, Tyler excels as an award-winning marketing pro, recognized with accolades like Wilmington Biz Journal's Top 100 award. In 2020, he launched The Wittkofsky Company, a non-profit digital marketing and PR firm for positive global impact.
Join Tyler's journey on social media @TylerWittkofsky, and explore his work at and explore his work at https://linktr.ee/tylerwittkofsky
for an inspiring rollercoaster of emotion and unforgettable stories.
Sandy, Editor, editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com
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What’s New(est) in AI
The Authors Guild, John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, David Baldacci, George R.R. Martin, and 13 Other Authors File Class-Action Suit Against OpenAI
For copyright infringement of their works of fiction on behalf of a class of fiction writers whose works have been used to train GPT, the named plaintiffs include: David Baldacci, Mary Bly, Michael Connelly, Sylvia Day, Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham, Elin Hilderbrand, Christina Baker Kline, Maya Shanbhag Lang, Victor LaValle, George R.R. Martin, Jodi Picoult, Douglas Preston, Roxana Robinson, George Saunders, Scott Turow, and Rachel Vail.
Well worth the reading time, the suit claims the books were downloaded from a pirated site and used as ‘training data’ as professionally authored, edited, and published books with, of course, no money for the author and without permission.
https://authorsguild.org/news/ag-and-authors-file-class-action-suit-against-openai/
“I also wish to clarify that the Authors Guild is not against AI. We recognize that it can be a valuable resource. But it should be a tool human beings wield, not one that is weaponized against us. This suit is really about stopping wholesale theft of our work,” says Maya Shanbhag Lang President, The Authors Guild.
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Here are some of the benefits of membership in The Authors Guild:
Contract Reviews • Copyright Advice • Dispute Intervention • Author Websites • Domain Registration • Custom Email Addresses • Discounts & Offers • Health & Supplemental Insurance • Press Cards
Locations of regional chapters:
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What’s New in Book Bans
Missouri Republicans Use Flamethrowers On Empty Boxes Meant To Represent “Naughty” LGBTQ Books - September 18, 2023
To be very clear, they are not boxes of books. The boxes are empty and are a ‘symbol’ of burning banned or should-be-banned books.
https://tinyurl.com/4zabt2nt
Texas made the most attempts to ban or restrict books in 2022,
according to a new report from the American Library Association.
Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, and Utah weren’t far behind. Many of
the titles were not books people had read. They took the titles from a
newspaper, social media, or from other similar groups.
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Ask the Book Doctor: About Making Money Writing by Bobbie Christmas
Three great questions for the Book Doctor
Q: How do we support ourselves while we’re writing our books?
Q: Tell me about breaking into magazine writing.
Q: How can I go from free to fee writing?
Click here to read the answers
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Send your questions to Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/bl...;
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The Publishers Perspective by Jay Hartman
Q: I’m pretty unhappy with my current publisher. I’m thinking I’d rather take the books the self-publishing route, or maybe find a different publisher instead. How hard is it going to be to get out of my existing contract?
A: There’s no one right answer here.
First, how hard it is to get out of the contract depends a lot on what you signed on for when you went into it. Before signing any contract with a publisher, you should always have an attorney or knowledgeable person go through it with a fine-toothed comb. In fact, if you don’t have access to such a person, The Author’s Guild will review the contract free of charge for members, to warn of any potential pitfalls. Other organizations offer the same benefit.
Here are a few things that should be immediate red flags for any author signing a contract with a publisher:
LEARN MORE...
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Looking to get The Publisher Perspective? Send your questions to jhartman@thejayhartmanagency.com
with TPP in your subject line.
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What’s New with Jay? A charity anthology of humorous crimes to benefit Second Harvest food pantries, available mid-October at the usual outlets in ebook and print form. Authors are: Sandra Murphy, Barry Ergang, Debra H. Goldstein, Shari Held, Lesley A. Diehl, Heidi Hunter, Daniel Sohn, Jim Fusilli, Kathleen Kalb, and Linda Kay Hardie. Proofreading donated by Josh Pachter. Cover design donated by Ginny Glass.
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Have you ever co-written? It’s an adventure! by Sandra Murphy |
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Adventures in Co-Writing appeared on the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine blog, Trace Evidence on September 12th, 2023. It tells the trials (and some tribulations) of co-writing between short mystery writers Michael Bracken and Sandra Murphy.
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What to know about AI in 2023 by Eric Hauch
This was the year that artificial intelligence went tete-a-tete with human writers. While AI has been around for years, the introduction of ChatGPT introduced an automated process for synthesizing information expediently and spitting it back out in a human readable format.
Its rapid growth in popularity brought up questions like–what’s the role of the writer and robot, or even, what’s the role of human versus machine–the front of cultural conversation.
As the CEO and cofounder of Authory, an automatic backup and portfolio builder for journalists and content creators, I’m particularly interested in the conversation.
LEARN MORE... _____
Eric Hauch is the founder of Authory. He is a serial entrepreneur who has been active in the content industry for more than a decade, having worked for the Financial Times and Axel Springer among others.
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The Logistics of Touring (Part III – Promotion & Product) by Mark Parsons
“If you build it, they will come” doesn’t apply to in-store events.
It’s more like “If you build it—and tell them all about it—some of them might come.”
Yes, there is the rare store that has such a strong, loyal customer base that you can just show up and there’ll either be a decent sized crowd waiting or they’ll flock to you from around the store once they see an author presenting, but depending on either of those is a very bad bet.
And unless you’re hovering near the very tippy-top of the NYT bestseller list, it’s also a mistake to think that your name alone will bring in a crowd.
LEARN MORE...
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Mark Parsons is a frequent presenter at conferences, festivals, and
schools, speaking on the craft and business of writing. He is a
critically acclaimed YA author and his newest novel is The 9:09 Project.
He has also written extensively in the nonfiction arena, authoring over
two-hundred articles for national publications as well as a pair of
nonfiction books. markhparsons.com
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More News About Michael Bracken
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September 25, 2023
Level Best Books co-owners Shawn Reilly Simmons and Verena Rose announce the recent addition of Michael Bracken as a consulting editor for the Level Short imprint. He will edit or co-edit two anthologies for the imprint in 2024 and four anthologies each year beginning in 2025.
Founded in 2003, Level Best Books publishes award-winning anthologies, novels, middle-grade and YA fiction, cookbooks, and true crime through a variety of imprints. Short stories published by Level Best Books have won the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Derringer, and Robert L. Fish Award for Best First Short Story and have been selected for inclusion in The Best American Mystery Stories.
READ MORE…
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Learn more about Level Best Books at https://www.levelbestbooks.us/ Learn more about Michael Bracken at https://www.crimefictionwriter.com/
Learn more about Stacy Woodson at https://stacywoodson.com/
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Bits and Pieces – News You Might Have Missed |
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Ten Things Nobody Tells You About the Publishing Industry September 30, 2021 by Kilby Blades reprinted with permission
An author offers some hard-earned tips.
There’s more to authoring than conquering the blank page. Dozens of unique quirks of industry factor into the experience of a creative. If you’re an aspiring writer with traditional publishing in mind, pay attention. Here’s what to expect from author life:
The industry moves slowly. Very slowly. The publishing machine is overloaded. More manuscripts are submitted than agents and editors can comfortably review. Even established authors can wait weeks or months to hear back on submissions. And even once you receive an offer, the contract process takes time. That’s just on the acquisition side—on the publishing side, editorial cycles can lag, with digital-first projects taking up to a year from contract to publication and print projects taking up to two.
Advice: Unless you’re writing timely nonfiction, settle in for a leisurely ride.
READ MORE…
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Kilby Blades is a bestselling author of romance and women’s fiction and a digital marketing veteran.
https://tinyurl.com/mr262tr7
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Amazon has dramatically changed their category system. While it seems simplified, there are some pitfalls that authors can run into if they don’t know what to look for.
Because of this, here’s a full, step-by-step video on selecting categories the right way, with this new system.
How the new category system works
Steps authors can take to choose the best categories for their books
3 pitfalls to avoid
https://ckarchive.com/b/p9ueh9h3x4rxqcqhmrl6033
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Book news, reviews, and author interviews and great radio talk shows and podcasts
A huge amount of information on topics such as these:
Blogs, links to author interviews, resources for critics and book
reviewers. With some periodicals, you may have to register to view the
publication online (sometimes for free). They want the demographic
information so they know where (and how old) their readers are and thus
to whom their (dreamed-of) online advertisers will be able to market
their wares.
READ MORE…
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Planet Word is the only museum in the country
dedicated to renewing and inspiring a love of words and language.
Located on the corner of 13th and K Streets in downtown D.C., Planet
Word opened in 2020 as an interactive and self-guided museum. Using the
museum’s state-of-the-art technology, visitors determine their
experience through their own words and choices. Planet Word is a bold
and imaginative response to the life-long importance of literacy and to
the challenge of growing a love of language.Planet Word is a private,
non-government museum, supported primarily by the generosity of donors.
Find out more here:
https://planetwordmuseum.org/
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Libby is making it easier to access magazines for free with a supported library card
The app lets you read 'The New Yorker,' 'Wired' and much more for absolutely zilch.
Kris Holt, August 28, 2023
https://tinyurl.com/5n6rt63u
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