On a journalists' blog recently, a question arose about a Canadian newspaper - which shall remain nameless - that was giving out a free book for the prize-winning travel article. And that's it. A free book.
My own comments were:
1. re giving books instead of money: Any retail business that has very little money will try to give inventory instead of money - if they already own the inventory and cannot return it to anyone for money. Chances are, a public relations firm sent the book to the paper.
So there it is on a shelf. But that book could be spun into a free article. Hmmm, making it into a contest means there could be several free articles ... not bad for one little book.
2. No one should pay any attention to claims that a writer should be pleased just to be published because it helps one's reputation.
My local handyman doesn't think like that, you better believe. He has a good reputation and has served me well. But he lives on money, not reputation. So do we all.
It is true that I manage a "free book" contest for blog commenters, but the situation is quite different. Commenters do not make a living from commenting. It is equivalent to offering a free book for "Best Letter to the Editor of the Month."
Yes, newspapers are in bad shape, but this is getting a tad ridiculous.
Denyse O'Leary is co-author of The Spiritual Brain.
Looking for a place to feel inspired and challenged? Like to share a smile or a laugh? Interested in becoming more familiar with Canadian writers who have a Christian worldview? We are writers who live in different parts of Canada, see life from a variety of perspectives, and write in a number of genres. We share the goal of wanting to entertain and inspire you to be all you can be with God's help.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Write Canada is more than a professional networking conference. It’s a safe place where beginning and intermediate writers can learn ...
-
It's an old proverb: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Sometimes elephants come crashing through our front door - uninvite...
-
I have been feasting of late on Marilyn Chandler McEntyre's Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies . She exhorts all of us -- and mo...
-
Dreams are baffling things. Like high quality china they have a strength that defies logic. Yet after years of bumps and bangs that sugges...
-
Have you ever been to a film festival? Last year I had the privilege of attending Sundance where God put in on my heart: “What if we had a f...
-
Writers—especially those who aspire to write books—are currently being told that the publishing industry is undergoing a massive change. Th...
-
This may be a bit outside of what we normally post here, but the problem as I see it is that people frequently come to The Word Guild after ...
-
Five days from today the seasons will officially change as summer gives way to autumn. From heat to coolness. From green to red and yello...
-
When I was a young mother many people offered advice on how to raise my children. Some suggestions were more helpful than others. One helpfu...
-
To what would we have turned in our low times had David had not written about his experiences? When he was down, David created songs ...
2 comments:
As perky, practical, and poignant as ever, Denyse! You've certainly brought us an exposing insight into this scheme. Thank you.
This kind of information is very limited on internet. Nice to find the post related to my searching criteria. Your updated and informative post will be appreciated by blog loving people.
Dissertation Layout
Post a Comment