BEST TIME TO BE A WRITER

Seems that this is a great time to be a writer. At least that’s what I heard at the fifth annual Triangle Area Freelancers Nonfiction Writers Conference yesterday. I had attended the last three. Each year only gets better.

What I liked most was the conference was small enough to feel part of a friendly, local group and yet large enough to offer diversification of attendees and interests.

What I thought was important follows, in no special order:

Writing your creative nonfiction book:

• Write the best book you can (although we all know this, it was repeated over and over)
• Make sure facts are accurate
• Spend money on a copy editor
• Be able to concisely describe your book
• Be able to concisely describe what makes you the right person to write this book

Networking and self-promotion:

• Besides developing a platform by getting a blog and joining Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, use local media such as newspapers and magazines
• Get interviews on local television and radio programs
• “Blog rolls” now take the place of bookstore signings
• It’s not all about you, plug other writers

I’m not sure I can accurately explain all the details and advances made in the self-publishing arena so I’m not even going to try. However, Writers’ Digest magazine devotes the May/June issue to e-publishing and ways traditional publishing is changing.

I intend to buy my copy tomorrow.