| BusinessTalk | < |
<
>
<
>
<
>
<
>
<
>
<
>
Literary Agent or Scam Artist
Sharpening the Saw
Anatomy of a Press Release
Nothing Personal
Just Say No to RTO
by Emanuel R. Carpenter
| Literary Agent or Scam Artist |
Literary Agent or Scam Artist?
Who can argue that one of the great American
dreams is to write the great American novel? It seem like everyone
has some kind of story they’d like to share with the world, be
it fiction or non-fiction. Unfortunately, there are also tons
of scam artists just waiting to pounce on your dreams. This includes
shady publishing companies, overpriced manuscript editors, and unsavory
literary agents. If you’ve written the great American novel
and think that is good enough to present to a literary agent, here are
the top 10 points to consider when searching for one:
1. Literary agents should know tons of editors at publishing companies.
Before you sign a contract with an agent, ask her who she knows at publishing
companies. Being new to the industry is no excuse because agents
usually establish these contact before they become agents.
2. Literary agents should travel to meet with editors on a regular basis.
Ask your agent if and when he meets with editors and which conferences
he attends, like the Book Expo of America (BEA).
3. Literary agents should work in exchange for a percentage of the royalties
you will earn on selling your manuscript. They should not charge
fees for sending your manuscript to publishers, making phone calls,
or anything else associated with running their business. In other
works, they don’t get paid unless you get paid.
4. Literary agents should have a history of selling manuscripts with
publishers. Ask your agent which manuscripts she’s sold
in the past. If an agent tells you she’s new to the industry,
don’t be her guinea pig. Tell her you’ll look him
up after she’s established herself.
5. Beware of agents who promise too much. An agent’s main
concern should be selling your manuscript to a publisher. Watch
out for agencies who have added on services. It’s a warning
sign.
6. If you’re offered representation, consult a lawyer before signing
the contract. Make sure there is an out clause that gives you
the right to leave the agreement at anytime. Ask your agent if
the contract has been approved by any writer’s organizations.
7. Stay away from agents who also run publishing companies. These
agents usually have a hidden agenda, which is to get you to sign a subsidy
publishing contract with them. They may send out a few query letters
to publishers or at least pretend to, but they stand to make a greater
profit if they print the books themselves and require that you purchase
a minimum amount of books. Plus, you’ll walk away with more
money in your pocket if you just publish the book yourself.
8. Ask for copies of everything. If your manuscript needs editing
and your agent handles it for you, ask for a hardcopy of the edit.
If your agent tells you you’ve received rejection letters from
publishers, ask for copies of the letters with the publisher’s
letterhead. If you’re being charged for any service, ask
for copies.
9. Do your research. There are several websites that list literary
agents who’ve been complained about, like Preditors and Editors
(www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/)
and Writer Beware (www.sfwa.org/beware).
Checking with the Better Business Bureau online (www.bbb.org)
can’t hurt either.
10. Remember who’s boss. Beware of agents who try to bully
or threaten you. Literary agents work for you, not the other way
around.
| Sharpening the Saw |
In Stephen Covey’s bestseller,
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” he devotes an
entire chapter to sharpening the saw. In other words, a person
should spend considerable time keeping the mind fresh with the ideas
and latest trends of the workplace. In my experience, I’ve
learned that this is excellent advice though not always easy.
But in today’s workplace where jobs are scarce and the economy
is in turmoil, it could be the difference between a promotion and a
layoff. Here are a few ways you can sharpen the saw:
TAKE A CLASS
Today’s work environment is becoming increasingly dependent on
multi-taskers. The customer service rep needs to learn Spanish.
The marketing director doubles as a salesperson. The CEO serves
as the CFO. Therefore, even the beneficiary of the highest learning
can take advantage of more education. It doesn’t necessarily
have to cost you an arm and a leg to take a class either. Many
local institutions offer continuing learning classes at affordable prices
and convenient times. For example, since I plan on making the
transition from sales to marketing, I know that I need to take a class
in graphic design. The local community class offers a Saturday
class that won’t be as costly as it was to obtain a bachelor’s
degree.
GO ONLINE
There are so many free, online seminars that it’s mind boggling.
Usually the only requirement for taking these seminars is filling out
an online registration form and an hour of free time. One of my
favorite sites is Placeware.com. There you can find free seminars
on PR, Email Marketing, Sales Management, and much, much more.
The seminars are usually conducted by industry experts. Most of
the classes are conducted during the lunch hour. But if doesn’t
fit your schedule, you can always view the archives at a time more convenient
for you.
READ A BOOK
If you’re like me, you like to be known as the expert in your
field. What better way to become an expert than to read a book
on the subject? There are literally thousands of books published
a month on all kinds of topics, from cooking to sports to website programming.
Even if you don’t have the big bucks to spend at Barnes and Noble
every week, you can still take advantage of books by dusting off that
library card and visiting your local library.
GET A MAGAZINE
When time is of the essence or your attention span is shorter than average,
reading magazines can be a great substitution for book reading.
There are all kinds of magazines on specific topics of the workplace,
some of them free. The topics are as diverse as our chosen professions
are, from computer programming, sales, and medicine. Many workplace
professionals depend on magazines to keep up with the latest trends
and products of the industry. Just imagine if your doctor didn’t
read about the latest medicines or surgery procedures. We should
have that same mentality.
FREE YOUR MIND
When ten minutes of breathing in and out doesn’t do the trick,
consider more long-term ways of freeing your mind from the stresses
of the day. Taking a relaxing vacation at the beach, participating
in yoga and meditation, and finding your spiritual life are great ways
to leave the cares and stresses of the workplace behind. In our
money hungry society, many people substitute their vacations (and sanity)
for a few extra dollars in their paychecks. But when we keep things
in perspective, we realize that work is just work, jobs will come and
go, and money only goes so far. Taking time to enjoy the fruits of your
labor could be the difference between a nervous breakdown and true happiness.
Sharpening the saw is a wonderful way to keep your mind fresh, intelligent,
and stress free.
| Anatomy of a Press Release |
I love PR! After spending several years assembling and distributing press releases to Fortune 500 companies from a software company, graduating with a degree in marketing management, and writing my own press releases to promote my first book, I’ve picked up a few tips on how to write an effective one. Writing press releases is a cost-effective way to bring attention to a product, service, or company without having to break the bank like traditional marketing does. If you’re ready to write and distribute press releases but don’t where to begin, read on.
It’s standard practice to begin most press releases with the heading "For Immediate Release." It’s a good idea to use the phrase because it allows the reader to know the information he or she is about to read is up to date and fit for print immediately.
The next section should contain the date and location of the release. You can use an exact date or simply the month and the year. The location tells the reader what city and state the information is from. Does it matter? Sure, because it allows the media to decide if the news is relevant to its audience. If it is, they may decide to do a story on your product or schedule an interview with you.
When writing the body of your press release, you should consider writing a dynamic, attention-grabbing headline like "Cleveland Writer Makes the New York Times Bestseller List." The purpose of the headline is to entice the reader into reading more. If the line is the same, old, everyday news, it may not do the trick.
Keep in mind when writing your press release that you are not writing an essay. Instead, you’re alerting the media that you’ve done something newsworthy. With that in mind, you simply need to remember a four-letter word that will help you write incredible press releases-HYPE! Now I’m not saying go out and tell outright lies to get attention. Instead, I’m suggesting you accentuate the positive, like you would on a resume. Bad news has no place in your press release unless you’re refuting bad information or announcing product recalls. Even then, you should be put ting a positive spin on the news.
The first paragraph is the most important of all. It should contain the meat of your release. The reader should be able to get the gist of your news in this paragraph alone. It should also make the reader want to continue reading.
The subsequent paragraphs are important as well. They should give the reader information on who you are or what your company does. They should also give a few details of your past accomplishments.
The end of your press release must include contact information that is relative to your news. Be sure to include a contact name, phone number, address, e-mail address, and website information if applicable. If you’re writing a joint press release, don’t forget to include the other party’s information as well.
When your press release has been completed, be sure to take the next step that others tend to forget. Send your release to the media! It’s wise to keep a file that contains your media contacts’ addresses, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Then fax, e-mail, and mail your releases to them. Otherwise, your press release may just sit on your hard drive, mahogany desk, or even your website without anyone seeing it.
Be sure to take advantage of the websites that offer free press release services like PR Web (www.prweb.com). Their services allow you to write a release section by section. The beauty of this service is that the releases are submitted to well-known search engines like Google and Yahoo. So if someone were to search the information in your headline, for example, the release could be one of the first search results found. For a few dollars extra, you can add to the level of search optimization you require.
The best thing to keep in mind when
writing press releases is that you control the message, which is meant
to alert the media that you’ve done something newsworthy. A well-crafted
press release could result in interviews, articles about your product,
and ultimately more sales, without having to spend all of those marketing
dollars.
Like I said, I love PR. Now, I hope you love it too.
| Nothing Personal |
Anyone who knows me professionally knows
that I rarely mix business with pleasure. If you were to step into my
workspace, you might find a manila file folder on an account I’m
working, a dictionary, or even legal pad for taking notes. What you
won’t find are posters of my favorite movies, copies of my favorite
books, or even the obligatory family photos. Why is that? Because I’m
a staunch believer in keeping my personal business personal. When this
rule is not followed, it allows co-workers to slide down the slippery
slope of invading your personal space. Oh sure, the questions may start
off innocently enough. What’s your wife do? How old are your kids?
But the next thing you know, you’re fending off questions about
your financial status, choice of residency, or even your sex life. In
other words, things that are none of their business.
A few of my co-workers put this rule to the test. One woman asked to
see photos of my family since I don’t keep them on my desk. I
sent her a few electronic files via e-mail. One of the photos just happened
to be from some publicity photos my wife had taken for a book she had
written. The young lady asked me the name of the book. Once she found
out the book is religious-based, she sent me an e-mail that I felt was
inappropriate for the workplace asking, "Are you a Christian?"
Enter the slippery slope.
Instead of answering her question, I thought about it long and hard
before I typed in an e-mail, "Religion and Politics. Two things
I never discuss in the workplace." I thought it was a fair response
that should have squashed the whole topic. Instead I get a reply stating,
"Well, I’m a Christian." And even though I did not confirm
or deny if we share the same religion, I could sense her attitude changing
for the worse towards me. All that from a family photo.
Weeks later, after the presidential debates, the political question
came up from another co-worker. "Who are you voting for?"
Before I could answer my proud, Christian co-worker answers for me.
"Oh, he doesn’t talk politics or religion." After a
good thirty minutes of attempting to coerce me into stating my political
preference.-"There’s a reason for the secret ballot,"-he
finally gives up in frustration.
There is a method to my madness. Staying focused on business tells my
co-workers that I’m all about business, while granting me privacy
at the same time. Even if we happen to share the same religious beliefs
or political affiliations, I just don’t want to go there. Plus,
there are already enough obstacles in Black people’s path in the
business environment without the discussion of hotbed topics adding
fuel to the fire. For instance, when I had been successful selling a
service where others had failed, I was accused by the same person dying
to know who I’m voting for of being "slick." Slick in
a sales office. Go figure. Luckily, our boss had my back and thought
my approach was just what was required to close the account.
So the next time your co-workers ask you a question that you feel is
inappropriate for the workplace, say what I always say. No comment.
It’s nothing personal. This is business.
Just
Say No to RTO |
When I signed on to work for a well-known rent to own company, I knew I was in for a difficult ride. I was aware of the long hours (8AM to 8PM, including Saturdays) that left little time for family, let alone time for a college course or even a second job if I wanted one. The company expected the job to become my life and could really care less about my private life or need for self-improvement.
I was also in the know about the heavy collections work and even heavier lifting aspects of the job, when it came to delivering and recovering products. Although, I was surprised about the telephone collections work that had me calling customers nearly every hour until they walked in with a payment. Oftentimes, the physical work would involve carrying refrigerators or solid oak bedroom sets to shabby 5th floor apartments whose buildings did not contain elevators. The company also expected its employees to service the merchandise that was rented (like stereos, computers, and ranges), with no training on experience whatsoever.
There were a few procedures and policies for which I was not prepared, like door to door collections in the form of banging on doors until the hinges nearly fell off, and knocking on windows until someone answered or at least peeked through the curtains. Having worked at a rent to own company has given me the inside track on the down and dirty policies and procedures that are in place in these types of corporations. These policies affect a disproportionate amount of poor, urban people (especially us Black folks). The company made the bulk of its profits on the 1st and 15th of the month.
Here are a few things I discovered while
slaving for a rent to own:
* The companies expect to earn at least 3 times the purchasing price
on the merchandise they sell to you. This is especially true when renting
to own on a long-term basis. Sure $9.99 a week may sound enticing, but
when you do the math, you’ll discover that you’ve been had.
If a customer pays the cash price for merchandise within 90 days of
the rental agreement, they can still expect to pay double the purchasing
price. In other words, the company is going to make a significant profit,
regardless of how and when you pay. If you can get the product at a
company like Best Buy instead, by all means do so.
* The company purposely rents to customers who can’t afford to purchase the goods. This way, when the merchandise is returned as expected, it will be priced at "like new" prices for the next customer to purchase. This cycle is perpetuated on a continuous basis. By the time a customer actually pays off the merchandise, it has already been paid for several times over.
* Merchandise is rarely given a poor condition status. I’ve seen furniture returned from homes that had been chewed up by dogs and soiled by dog feces, cat urine, semen, and even vomit. The company insisted the employees clean the furniture, or they would hire a third-party cleaning company to do the work. After the merchandise was cleaned, they still rented the merchandise at the normal price.
* When customers are late with payments, employees are to call them relentlessly, bang on their doors, or even call every single reference they’ve written on the order form in order to contact them. This is why these types of companies try to at least obtain one parent’s name as a personal reference. They figure, if anyone knows where a customer is living or working, it’s the parents. The whole point is to anger and embarrass the customer into returning phone calls, making payments, or returning merchandise. Employees are evaluated on their ability to collect more than anything else.
* At the company I worked with, only half of the customers’ rental payments went towards the owning the merchandise. So if the customer’s total payoff was $1000.00 and she paid $100.00 this week, she would still owe $950.00 towards owning it. The other half of the payment was supposedly going towards renting the merchandise.
My advice is to avoid these types of parasitic companies at all costs. If you absolutely must rent to own, try to at least request new merchandise because you really don’t know where it has been, and always pay on your account at least one day before it is due. Otherwise, the collectors will start getting nervous and begin calling your house, job, or references on the due date to make sure you’re making an on-time payment.
Instead of frequenting these establishments, it’s best to use a credit card, pay cash, borrow money from friends and family, or buy merchandise from a discount warehouse whenever possible. Otherwise, grab the classifieds or check out E-bay to find merchandise, since you’re probably purchasing used merchandise anyway. The best plan of action is to concentrate on re-establishing your credit so that you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg for their merchandise. If you’re considering purchasing from or working for one of these companies, please reconsider. It’s time we put these vultures out of business.