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October 2004

Smart Surfing and Shameless Self-Promotion

By Lisa Collier Cool

Want feedback on your new Web site -- or tips on increasing hits? Looking for the scoop on a new magazine? Feel like bragging about your latest achievement? Frustrated by unresponsive editors? Every day, ASJA members log on to our confidential online forums to get advice, share news and insider secrets, debate politics, and connect with fellow freelancers around the world. And not only does our site offer a wealth of other benefits for writers, but it’s about to get even better, thanks to our new Web site committee, headed by George Sheldon.

The committee, composed of some of ASJA’s most technically savvy members, has two visions for the Web site, says George, a self-taught techie and author of eleven computer-related books. "The greatest thing is to build up the ASJA brand. I like the idea that if I’m talking to an agent or publisher, being an ASJA member puts me ahead of the pack. On the Phorum, there was recently a discussion about shameless self-promotion, so one question the committee will be exploring is how to help members raise their visibility both individually and collectively."

George’s other goal is to upgrade the resources on both the public and private sections of the Web site. "If someone is thinking about nonfiction writing, www.asja.org should be the first place to look for journalism information, helpful links, and toolkits. And we’ll be working on delivering better value to members, too, because the more we can do to keep each other working, the stronger ASJA will become."

Also to that end, ASJA’s board of directors recently approved $10,000 in funding to revamp our Writer Referral Service. The WRS committee, chaired by ASJA vice-president Jack El-Hai, has been directed to set up a new service -- tentatively called ASJA Writers Source -- that will have a single staff member, a marketing coordinator to promote the service to potential listers. Clients will post jobs directly on a new ASJA Web site for a small fee. Stay tuned for more specifics once Jack’s committee works out the logistics of the new service.

Meanwhile, ASJA’s Web editor Chris Larson, a former Glamour editor and Web developer, wants to alert members to some of the great features already available on the site:

A member events page: When the urge for shameless self-promotion strikes, go to www.asja.org/members/memevents and fill out the form to list your event on the Web site -- and in the newsletter. Also new, as Brett Harvey notes in her column this month, is a database for sharing publicity lists (www.asja.org/members/sharedlists).

Tech Tips [formerly Tech Talk, which is now a newsletter column]: Written by Webmaster Bruce Miller, this new online column, found at www.asja.org/members/techtips, helps writers stay on the cutting edge of technology with how-to’s and hints about current writing-relevant hardware and software -- from getting your e-mail via cellular wireless to using blogging software or printing labels.

Five Minutes With... For a fun, quick read, visit the members’ home page and check out these Q and A’s with publishing notables. Or better still, offer to write one, says Chris. "It’s an easy way to connect with someone interesting in publishing -- and possibly find a new market." Contact Chris through www.asja.org/contact.php to volunteer.

Successful Queries: Wondering what kind of pitch works best for a new market you want to crack? Find inspiration at www.asja.org/members/qp/qptitle.php. And remember, like Pay-Check, our query database is only as good as members make it. Next time you make a sale, why not send your winning query to Pamela Kramer at queries _at_ asja.org?

The ASJA Monthly index: If you want to take another look at any of the great articles from a past newsletter, just click on www.asja.org/members/idx/search.php. Or to read Market Reports on more than a dozen top magazines, including Smithsonian and Parade, go to www.asja.org/members/mr/mr.php.

Writing Resources Page: Go towww.asja.org/members/resource/resource.php for goodies ranging from the e-mail formulas of many magazines to essay markets, grievance self-help, sample collaboration agreements, useful links, PayCheck, and the Warning List, among others.

Is there something else you’d like to see on ASJA’s Web site? "The best ideas come from members," says George, who can be reached through www.asja.org/contact.php. "Ultimately, the Web site will never be finished." And that’s a good thing, because as writers, we’re always coming up with fresh inspirations about how to do our job better -- and use technology to take our careers to the next level. As our needs evolve, so will our online presence, under the creative direction of Bruce, Chris, George, and his team of smart, generous volunteers.