Issue 47 - Carving Out Your Niche - Kelly James Enger, Christina Katz, Libbie Summers


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Issue 47 - Carving Out Your Niche - Kelly James Enger, Christina Katz, Libbie Summers

 

EDITOR'S DESK

  1. WELCOME: CARVING OUT YOUR WRITING NICHE

Should you specialize? Some writers argue that specializing limits your opportunities. These writers like the flexibility of moving from topic to topic. It may fit their writing styles and interests (or attention spans) better. There’s nothing wrong with that. How else are you supposed to figure out what you really love to do? Yet, others say specializing has benefited their careers and personal lives. After developing a specialty (or several) of their own, these writers found that assignments came easier, and their productivity increased, as well as their income. They didn’t have to spend as much time researching their topic, so they were able to pursue other interests—writing or otherwise. They also found that specializing provided them with other opportunities, including speaking engagements, teaching gigs, consulting, and publishing offers. But what if you’re not an experienced writer? No need to worry. Anyone can specialize. To start with, all you need to do is concentrate on a handful of subjects rather than trying to write about everything… MORE >>

     

ONLINE WORKSHOPS & WRITING CLASSES

    WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING CLASSROOM

Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer’s career. That’s why WOW! handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. All of the courses operate online and are taught one-on-one with the instructor. The flexibility of the platform allows students to complete assignments on their own time and work at their own pace in the comfort of their own home. Visit the classroom page and check out our current line up of workshops: fiction writing, writing for children, screenwriting, creativity, memoir, personal essay, grammar, food writing, freelance writing, novel writing, finding a literary agent, blogging, social networking for authors… MORE >>

     

FEATURES

  2. SUMMER 2011 FLASH FICTION CONTEST WINNERS

The results are in! After careful deliberation our honorable guest judge, literary agent Kim Lionetti of Bookends Literary Agency, has made her final decisions. Read the winning stories of the 750 words or less open prompt Summer ’11 Flash Fiction Contest… MORE >>

     
  3. CULINARY CREATIONS: WHIPPING UP THE NICHE COOKBOOK MARKET

For years, a classic red-and-white checkerboard cookbook adorned many kitchens across America, displaying a plethora of timeless recipes neatly arranged by soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. But cookbooks have come a long way, baby, since those first all-encompassing tomes. Now, cookbooks concentrate on a forte: cheesecakes, gluten-free cuisine, one-pot wonders, healthy fare for diabetics, Tuscany techniques. Like an accurately measured recipe, cookbooks and their authors measure potential audience appeal and dole out dishes that satisfy specific appetites when pitching a cookbook idea. To find out more about breaking into the niche cookbook market, LuAnn Schindler interviews experts: Libbie Summers, author of The Whole Hog Cookbook; Amy Reiley, Master of Gastronomy from Le Cordon Bleu and aphrodisiac cookbook author and publisher; Tasia Malakasis, owner of Belle Chevre creamery and author of Tasia’s Table; and Stephanie Bostic, author of One Bowl: Simple Healthy Recipes for One… MORE >>

     
  4. PERSONALIZE YOUR PARENTING (WRITING): THE PROS AND CONS OF BUILDING A NICHE ON YOUR FAMILY’S EXPERIENCES

From potty training to tantrums to packing the best school lunch, print and electronic media are bursting with articles and essays written by freelancers on parenting conundrums. The opportunities to write about parenting topics may seem endless; however, the competition for assignments and acceptance of submissions is also stiff. Wondering how you can stand out in the hundreds or thousands of queries editors receive from parenting writers just like you? In this article, Janine Boldrin shows you how to discover your parenting specialty, grow your expertise, connect with readers, watch out for TMI, protect your baby (and babies), and adapt to change. Janine also interviews parenting experts Christina Katz, author of Writer Mama; Teri Cettina, author of Cash In On Your Kids; and freelance writers Julia Garstecki who specializes in parenting a special needs child and Jenny Kales, creator of the popular food allergy blog, The Nut-Free Mom. Janine also shares her list of parenting markets that are receptive to new writers… MORE >>

     
  5. CHILDREN’S NONFICTION: A NICHE WORTH PURSUING

Do you love ferreting out facts to share with others? Researching until you find something new? Then children’s nonfiction may be the niche for you. True, school and library budgets aren’t what they once were, but neither is children’s nonfiction. Gone is the ho-hum dry material I read in school. Editors today want high impact, exciting nonfiction. You just need to learn how to give it to them, and the answer may surprise you. Sue Bradford Edwards shows you how… MORE >>

     
  6. FINDING THE MICRO-NICHE IN SCIENCE WRITING

Women scientists can be some of the best at explaining science in simple terms: it’s a niche market where women can thrive. But even within the broader category of science writing, you can—and probably should—find a micro-niche, something for which you can become known and can bank on. Darcy Pattison chats with three writers about how they found a micro-niche within science writing. April Pulley Sayre is known is known for her chants and poetic rhyming science books for the youngest readers. Ana Maria Rodriguez likes to keep an eye out for cutting-edge research and find a place to write about it. Linda D. Williams is known for her clear, easy-to-understand approaches to technical subjects, especially for teens… MORE >>

     
  7. PIONEERS OF CYBERSPACE: COLLABORATIVE NOVEL WRITING

Six months ago, Jenny Ryan started writing a story; but after 1,000 words, she got stuck. She wasn’t sure what her characters should do next, so she posted the story on her blog and asked readers to vote on the next plot point. Now, her story stands at thirty chapters—twenty-nine of which were written with readers. She also discovered three other authors and one publishing company working this way. Jenny chats with authors Luisa Plaja, Ceri Neil, and Sharon Gosling about the process of collaborative storytelling, as well as Laura Durman, an editor at Fiction Express, on how to write for this market… MORE >>

     
  8. THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF KRISTEN PAINTER

Who says writers need to focus on one genre? Kristen Painter began her career as a paranormal romance author with a steampunk romance among her publishing credits. She also published some poetry and the occasional magazine article before successfully carving out a niche as a gothic urban fantasy writer. She is currently at work on her House of Comarré pentalogy, with the third installment, Bad Blood, scheduled for release this month. Sara Hodon sat down with Painter to talk about her process and how she managed to stake her claim, so to speak, in the world of urban fantasy… MORE >>


COLUMNS

  9. 10 QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY 2 NICHE WRITING EXPERTS: KELLY JAMES-ENGER & NANCY HENDRICKSON

Author and Nobel Prize winner V.S. Naipaul asserted that people “are confined by the niche in the world that they carve out for themselves. They limit themselves to fewer possibilities by the narrowness of their vision.” Do writers limit their saleable appeal when they concentrate on a particular topic? Does being labeled a specialist hurt or help a writer’s career? Should writers follow what’s trendy and develop a niche based on the latest craze? Two niche writing experts—Kelly James-Enger and Nancy Hendrickson—share their strategies and observations about finding the right fit in the writing world… MORE >>

     
  10. HOW TO TURN YOUR HOBBY INTO A NICHE

Have you ever felt inspired to write about a certain topic, but felt too intimidated by your lack of knowledge or experience? Don’t let that stop you. Any working writer knows a thing or two about discipline, which is why it’s possible for writers to school themselves on how to turn any hobby into a special writing niche. In this article, Celena Cipriaso provides you with a step-by-step method for taking something you love to do and turning it into a special writing niche. She’ll help you figure out where to look for original ideas, and how to start building a portfolio… MORE >>

     
  11. THE MUSIC VS. THE MUSE

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what do you listen to? Does it help your writing? Are there certain types of beats that boost your brainpower? What about soundtracks? In this article, C. Hope Clark pits music against muse and surveys over three hundred writers to come up with the answers to these questions and more… MORE >>

CLASSIFIEDS

   

 

Issue 47 - Carving Out Your Niche - Kelly James Enger, Christina Katz, Libbie Summers
Culinary Creations: Whipping Up The Niche Cookbook Market
Personalize Your Parenting (Writing): The Pros and Cons of Building a Niche on Your Family's Experiences
How to Turn Your Hobby into a Niche
Children's Nonfiction: A Niche Worth Pursuing
10 Questions Answered by 2 Niche Writing Experts: Kelly James-Enger and Nancy Hendrickson
Pioneers of Cyberspace: Collaborative Novel Writing
Finding the Micro-Niche in Science Writing
The Music vs. The Muse
The Fantastic World of Kristen Painter
Summer 2011 Flash Fiction Contest Winners
The Smell of Success - From Pen and Paper to E-Books
Between Magazines and Books - E-Publishing Platforms for Long-Form Journalism
Self-Publishing: The Debate is Over
Selling E-Books: 5 Authors Share Their Success and Marketing Strategies
20 Questions: The Future of Digital Publishing
Getting the Skinny on E-Publishing: Top E-Publishers Tell Us What You Need to Know
 
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