Costs Involved In Ghostwriting

Ghostwriters are employed in nearly every industry but are best known as the writers behind business books, memoirs and many novels by celebrities and politicians.

Ghostwriters are available to everyone. If you're looking for a ghostwriter to tell your story, you're probably wondering what it costs to ghostwrite a book.

The answer is not simple because the price for ghostwriting is based on a number of factors. But, the bottom line is that when it comes down to writing a book, it's really all about time and reputation: Who is the ghostwriter and how much time will the effort take?

According to the publishing and ghostwriting experts at Arbor Books, there are six key areas that determine the price of a ghostwriter (or any writer):

1) The length of the job. As the saying goes, time is money. Obviously, the shorter the manuscript, the less time it will take to complete the ghostwriting. Book lengths today range from word counts as short as 15,000 words (64 pages) for some nonfiction to 150,000 words (upwards of 400 pages) for both fiction and nonfiction.

2) Interview time. Preparation before and during the actual ghostwriting is the heart of the project. The price for the writing job will hinge partly on the number of people to be interviewed, the availability of the client, and how prepared the client is for the process.

3) Research time. Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, how much time the ghostwriter spends going through source material will be crucial to determining costs. Fiction books demand authenticity and world building. Nonfiction books demand well-above-average expertise. In both cases, making believers out of the reader is paramount to a book's success.

4) The complexity and organization of the job. How the book is to be written is all-important to the ghostwriter when it comes to pricing a job. In nonfiction, it comes down to everything from footnotes to the technical level of the subject matter. In fiction, the issue may be how many points of view or plotlines will be used. The more complex the design of the manuscript, the more costly the ghostwriting job

5) The ghostwriter. All writers are not the same, just like doctors, lawyers and politicians. And that factor alone may determine the rate a ghostwriter charges. Ghostwriters come with different levels of personal and professional experience, project management skills, initiative, speed, communication skills, commitment, education and writing talent. Keep in mind, however, that having his or her own best-selling book is not necessarily a reflection of the ghostwriter's skills, nor is it a guarantee that lightning will strike twice—few writers ever repeat best-sellers. It is safe to say that a journeyman ghostwriter may be a better bet than a big name.

6) The ghostwriting firm. The quality of the ghostwriting firm can make all the difference in the success of a project, from selecting the right ghostwriter to staying on top of the project. Stay away from ghostwriting firms that are only referral agencies! Experience says it's important to choose a firm over an individual because if you run into a conflict with a lone ghostwriter, you stand a good chance of losing your entire investment. Be sure the firm has an on-staff editing and proofreading department and that it is able to handle book design and marketing.

But, the most important thing in pricing a ghostwriting job is an intangible.

"How you, as the client, get along with the writer is vital," says Joel Hochman of Arbor Books (www.arborbooks.com), "because no matter the price, if you are incompatible with your ghostwriter, your book will never see the light of day. Plus, you'll be out a ton of money. It's one more reason to choose a firm with a top reputation."

Another issue is writing quality. According to Mr. Hochman, many clients can't distinguish between professional-level work and that of a rank amateur, and "many people who pay a ghostwriter only find that out when a reviewer eviscerates them or they are brutally rejected by an agent."

Authors, Publishers 'Unprecedented... Control' Over Their Copyrights

In his first public interview, the expected executive director, Michael Healy, of the Book Rights Registry (BRR) said that, "the involvement of Google in [the publishing] marketplace, and others, is going to be part of the transformational character of [the industry over] the next few years."

A month ago, the publishing trade media reported that Michael Healy, who is currently executive director of the non-profit Book Industry Study Group (BISG), had begun working with the Authors Guild and Association of American Publishers -- plaintiffs in two separate copyright infringement lawsuits brought in 2005 against search engine giant Google for its unauthorized digitization and use of in-copyright books as part of the Google Library Project -- on preparations for the establishment of the BRR as called for in the proposed settlement of those landmark cases.

Healy spoke for the first time about his involvement with this work in an exclusive interview at the offices of Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) last week. That interview will be released online today at www.copyright.com.

A trained librarian, Healy pointed with enthusiasm to the terms of the settlement that, if approved, he said, will result in "turning every public library in this country into a world-class research facility. You have to see the revolutionary character of that."

The proposed settlement gives Google rights to scan and provide online access to millions of books, many of which are out-of-print or otherwise not commercially available. Non-U.S. publishers and authors whose works are subject to the settlement have expressed concerns, Healy said, about the methods used to decide "whether a book is commercially available, [which] affects how the book will be displayed." While the resources for that determination are fairly obvious for U.S. works, he said, the sources to be used vary from country to country. "I think there has been a really productive partnership with rightsholders overseas about those issues," Healy said.

Healy also cited the benefits of participating in the settlement for authors and publishers worldwide. "The Book Rights Registry introduces into the environment an unprecedented degree of control to authors, publishers and other rightsholders on how their copyrights are exploited and distributed in this new digital world," he explained.

In 2009, book readers have shifted their expectations about content delivery from the traditional print forms to cell phones and e-book readers, Healy said, "and they want [the content] priced in a different way too." He added, "The consumer, the reader, is changing, and I suspect the successful publishers tomorrow will be those who recognize the extent to which the landscape for the consumer is being transformed."

"The proposed Google Books Settlement is complex, and Michael Healy does a great service for the thousands of authors and publishers that CCC represents by explaining its benefits," said Tracey Armstrong, CCC president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to help Mr. Healy communicate this important information. CCC is committed to ensuring that rightsholders are compensated for their works and also that they are kept abreast of news that impacts their future."

Meet Those Writing Deadlines - 5 Proven Techniques by Krystalina Soash

Anytime you are given a writing assignment whether it's for school, work, business, or even a power point presentation, be assured that your writing assignment will come with a deadline. Your greatest writing success will come when you apply these five proven techniques to your writing project. So what happens if you don't have a plan? Here's what happens when you don't have some sort of realistic plan: you are guaranteed to get writer's stress which may include a horrendous headache!

Five Tried and True Ways to Successfully Meet Those Writing Deadlines:

1. Plan ahead: It's just like when you go on a trip. When you plan to go on a vacation, visit family, or even go on a business trip, you go with a destination in mind. You wouldn't just hop in your car and head out not knowing which way is north, south, east, or west would you? You head in the direction of your goal.

2. Gather all your materials before you start: Getting organized before starting any project is very helpful. It gets your thinking processes in motion for the big picture. Clear out a specific area for working on your writing project by eliminating clutter and other items that have nothing to do with your writing assignment.

3. Always save, save, save, or backup your writing assignment: You've invested a lot of time and energy into your project and the last thing you need is something to go wrong and you lose your work. This is very important, and sometimes for some inexplicable reason something may go wrong; just don't blame the bird, dog, cat, or even the kid.

4. Always multiply the amount of time you think it would take you by two point five: Strangely enough this is a proven formula that's pretty accurate. No, this is not a made up, top of the head formula. Test it out next time you work on any project, whether it's painting, cleaning, gardening, or even running errands. You think it will take how much time?

5. Reset your deadline: Always reset your deadline privately and don't share it with anybody. You will have better success if you reset your own deadline to finish early. The purpose is to have leeway at the end to review, review, and review your work before submitting it. If you find errors, which you will, you then have enough time to correct without stress.

Apply these five techniques and you can avoid that writer's stress and possibly that horrendous headache that comes as a bonus for not having a plan. And really, thank goodness for deadlines, or else we'd never get that writing assignment done!

Krystalina Soash is a freelance writer specializing in article writing. Her writing services include; proofreading, editing, and ghostwriting. You may visit her at http://writingforyounow.com

Search - The Top Internet Tool Used by Reporters

Arketi Group released findings of the 2009 Arketi Web Watch Survey: Inside BtoB Media Usage of Web 2.0. The survey reveals 68 percent of journalists consider the impact of social media on business-to-business (BtoB) reporting to be positive.

The 2009 Arketi Web Watch Survey seeks to understand the use of technology by BtoB journalists covering multiple industries. A free copy of the report findings can be downloaded on the website.

"The findings from this study show that BtoB journalists have clearly embraced new media tools as a way to help them better report on their respective industries," said Mike Neumeier, APR, principal of Arketi Group. "While high-profile social media tools like blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are of interest to journalists, our findings indicate that BtoB marketers should not discount tried-and-true Internet technology. Search engine optimization and building media-friendly websites site remain vital to reaching the business media."

Search - The Top Internet Tool Used by Reporters

Nearly all respondents agree with the statements "the Internet had made my job easier" and "the Internet has improved the quality of my job" (97% and 87%, respectively). In drilling down on Internet usage, 30% of journalists say blogs make their job easier, while 32% say instant messaging makes their job easier (up from 25% and 18%, respectively from our 2007 survey).

Eighty-eight percent of journalists say they spend 20 or more hours a week on the Internet, up from 60% in 2007. Nearly all (85%) say they have a LinkedIn account, 55% are on Facebook and 24% tweet on Twitter.

When asked how journalists use the Internet:

95% say search (Google, Yahoo!, etc.)
92% say reading news
92% say emailing
89% say finding story ideas
87% say finding news sources
75% say reading blogs
64% say watching webinars or webcasts
61% say watching YouTube
59% say social networks

Overall, most journalists surveyed were not convinced of the usefulness of the "social media press release." Almost half (43%) did not know what it is; of those that did, only a quarter of those surveyed found the social media press release very or somewhat useful, and 32% said it was not useful.

"This research shows business journalists, just like the average American consumer, are increasingly willing to use social media tools to be more productive," said Dr. Kaye Sweetser, APR, assistant professor of public relations at the University of Georgia's Grady College. "Equally important, it tells us the media is actively seeking to use these tools. While some tools, like Twitter and the social media press release, are just now taking off, others like blogs, webinars and social sharing sites are widely used by the business media."

Finding Story Ideas

Ninety-two percent of journalists say they get story ideas from news releases, 85% turn to industry sources for story ideas, and an equal number (85%) tap public relations contacts.

More than three out of four journalists (77%) report finding story ideas on newswires, 72% from other media outlets, 70% from online search, and 70% from websites. More than half (55%) say blogs spark story ideas. Twelve percent of those surveyed say they have used Twitter to find a source or story idea.

All journalists responding (100%) say they prefer to receive news releases via email from companies they know, and 95 percent of business journalists say they prefer to receive news releases via email from companies they don't know but are in industries they cover.

On the media pitching side, 85% of journalists find media pitches and story ideas they receive from public relations professionals very or somewhat useful.

Nearly all journalists responding (99%) say they view as credible information offered online by national news organizations such as national TV networks, wire services and newspapers, and 97% view information reported online by business news organizations like the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and Bloomberg as credible.

Others sources of credible online information according to those journalists surveyed include:

Corporate websites (92%)
International organizations (92%)
Government agencies (90%)
PR professionals (87%)
Blogs (53%)
Activist websites (37%)
Politicians (32%)
Chat, message boards (19%)

As the lines continue to blur between print and online media, an overwhelming majority of journalists (93%) say their online publication is allowed to "scoop" their print edition. When it comes to reporting, only 3% of the journalists surveyed write solely for a print publication and nearly a quarter (24%) indicate more than 75% of their news outlet's website is original content that does not appear in the print publication.

Media's Use of Corporate Websites

Corporate websites make a difference in how business journalists view an organization. Eighty percent of journalists say companies without a website are less credible.

Illustrating the need for companies to maintain up-to-date news and information on their websites, journalists say they turn to an organization's website when reporting on breaking news and are unable to reach a primary source at the organization for critical information (44%).

According to journalists, the most useful information on a corporate website is contact information (93%), followed by press room/press kits (90%), search capabilities (87%), company backgrounders (75%) and publication-quality graphics or photos (72%).

Journalists' Take on Citizen Journalism

The growth of "citizen journalism" has not gone unnoticed by most journalists. The concept involves members of the public playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information through user-generated-content tools like blogs, podcasts, and social networks.

More than half (56%) of the journalists surveyed rate the impact of citizen journalism as positive. In fact, 42% think it is reshaping journalism as we know it, while 40% say it adds a needed voice to the marketplace of ideas, and 37% say it is here to stay. On the flip side, 17% say it is harmful to the fourth estate (the press) and 10% call it a fad. One in ten business journalists say they really don't know much about citizen journalism.

Interestingly, when asked to rate the quality of citizen journalism, none of the survey participants called it "excellent," and only eight percent called it "very good." The vast majority (92%) rated the quality as "fair" or "poor."

Maybe not surprisingly, all journalists responded that ads on a news website don't enhance the site. In fact, 61% say ads interfere with the look-and-feel, making reading the news more difficult.

Writer, ex-WSJ reporter ponders newspapers' future

G. Bruce Knecht '80 recalls researching a story in 1994 for The Wall Street Journal about a soon-to-be launched company called Amazon.com

Knecht went to the Amazon website, which was the first Internet site he had ever visited, on the only computer in the Journal newsroom that allowed access to the web.

Times certainly have changed -- millions of Americans now regularly go online not only to buy goods, but also to get their news.

In the latest episode of the Colgate Conversations podcast series, Knecht discusses how this technological evolution and the recent economic downturn have combined to threaten the very existence of some newspapers, including such Fourth Estate stalwarts like The Boston Globe.

He said that a talk he gave last semester to Colgate students could have been titled "The end of journalism" or "New opportunities in the information age."

G. Bruce Knecht has written for magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler, The New York Times Magazine, and The Atlantic Monthly.

Both are true, he said, because there are studies showing that the average person spends more time reading news than ever before; they just aren't reading it in print newspapers.

A Wall Street Journal reporter for 15 years before recently leaving to write books full-time, Knecht says in the podcast that Rupert Murdoch's purchase of the Journal in 2007, which sent shock waves through the industry, has actually benefited the newspaper.

The media tycoon has expanded coverage and invested in the paper, which has protected it from the cutbacks felt at The New York Times and other newspapers.

Knecht does fear the Journal will completely forego the long-form feature stories it was so well known for and that he loved to write.

His primary writing outlet now is books.

An avid sailor, Knecht has written two nonfiction books: The Proving Ground ( 2002 ), a gripping account of the deadly 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, and Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish ( 2007 ), which Tom Brokaw called "a fish story, a global whodunit, a courtroom drama -- and a critically important ecological message all rolled into one."
Knecht is working on his third book, which describes the construction of a 200-foot powerboat through those involved in the process, from the wealthy owners to the welders making $16.25 a hour.

To hear Knecht talk about newspapering and writing, please click to listen now or right-click and "save target as" to download file. You also can go to the Colgate Conversations page or iTunes page for more download options.

Selected Authors Can Earn Up To $5k Per Title

Helium, the world's largest writing community, has partnered with RAND Publishing, publisher of The Skinny On(tm) series of illustrated non-fiction books. Under the partnership, RAND Publishing will leverage Helium's social publishing platform to identify the most appropriate authors for up to twenty-five new titles, such as The Skinny On Finance for Young Adults and The Skinny on Social Networking. Selected writers will be chosen by Helium and paid between $3,500 and $5,000 per title.

First launched in 2008 by acclaimed author, attorney and motivational speaker Jim Randel, The Skinny On series is designed to provide time-starved and information-overloaded readers with "the skinny on life's most important lessons."

"The Skinny On series offers a new breed of book, striving to disseminate information to an audience increasingly used to consuming content on the internet and cell phones," said Jim Randel, founder and Chairman of RAND Publishing. "Helium's unique community of talented, motivated writers presents a gold mine for us to source the best authors for our future titles."

Inspired by the Japanese literary form, Manga, a whimsical, illustrated modality for story-telling, and easily read in about an hour, each Skinny On subject is explored through the lives of ordinary people - normal in all respects but one: they happen to be stick people.

"The Skinny On(tm) books challenge the traditional publishing model for non-fiction works," says Peter Newton, vice president of business development for Helium. "We look forward to helping such an innovative publishing company quickly and cost-effectively source new authors so they can continue to grow and scale their business."

Helium's partnership with RAND marks the latest in a series of alliances formed with various media companies over the last year. In February, Hearst Newspapers partnered with Helium to access premium local and lifestyle editorial content for its newspapers.

Helium has also partnered with prestigious journalism organizations such as The National Press Club and The Society of Professional Journalists, which view the site as a resource for their members to build their digital writing credentials and showcase their work in front of thousands of publishers online.

Professors Reflect on Cronkite's Impact on Journalism

In the wake of veteran CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite's death, two American University journalism professors are available to provide commentary on on the journalist many called the most trusted man in America.

Cronkite was noted as one of the best in the business, but according to associate professor W. Joseph Campbell, Cronkite, surprisingly, was also at the center of one of American journalism's most widespread media myths.

The myth stems from Cronkite's 30-minute special report on Vietnam, televised in late February 1968. As the program neared its end, Cronkite declared that the U.S. war effort in Vietnam was “mired in stalemate.” Drawing on his recent visit to Vietnam in the aftermath of the communists' surprise Tet offensive, Cronkite said military victory seemed out of reach for U.S. forces.

Supposedly, President Lyndon Johnson was at the White House watching Cronkite's program and, upon hearing the call for negotiations, snapped off the television set and said, in effect, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."

According to Campbell, Johnson wasn't at the White House when Cronkite's report aired. The president was in Texas, at a birthday party in Austin for Gov. John Connally and did not see the program when it originally aired.

Over the years, the special report and Johnson's despairing response have become the stuff of legend -- ranking among the most unforgettable moments in American journalism. The Cronkite-Johnson anecdote is a chapter in Campbell's forthcoming book, Getting It Wrong, about media-driven myths.

Associate professor Jane Hall was a young budding journalist herself when she received the dream assignment to interview a recently retired Cronkite for a People magazine article in the early 1980s. Her task was to interview Cronkite about his new book on sailing, but the new journalist who had grown up in the era of the big three took her line of questioning beyond sailing and delved into his thoughts on the changing nature of the news business.

In an opinion piece for FoxNews.com, she writes, "Walter Cronkite stood for the best in journalism, in challenging times, before the media -- rightly or wrongly-- were questioned daily."

Bloomsbury Sued for Copyright Infringement in Harry Potter Book

The estate of the English children's writer Adrian Jacobs has ssued proceedings in the High Court of England against Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, the publishers of J.K Rowling's "Harry Potter" series for copyright infringement.

The Estate, acting through its trustee Paul Allen, claims that in writing the book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling copied substantial parts of the work of the late Adrian Jacobs, "The Adventures of Willy the Wizard-No 1 Livid Land," and that Bloomsbury in selling the books have infringed the Estate's copyright.

"The Estate is also seeking a Court order against JK Rowling herself for pre-action disclosure in order to determine whether to join her as a defendant to the...action"

In 1987 Adrian Jacobs wrote the book "The Adventures of Willy the Wizard-No 1 Livid Land", which describes the adventures of a wizard named Willy. The copyright allegation argues that the plot of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", published in 2000 and one of J.K.Rowling's best-selling books, is a copy of that to be found in Jacobs' book.

Both books describe the adventures of a main character, "Willy" in Jacobs' book and "Harry Potter" in Rowling's, who are wizards, who compete in a wizard contest which they ultimately win. Both Willy and Harry are required to work out the exact nature of the main task of the contest which they both achieve in a bathroom assisted by clues from helpers, in order to discover how to rescue human hostages imprisoned by a community of half-human, half-animal fantasy creatures, "the merpeople" in Harry Potter.

Many other similarities are described in the Claim filed by the Estate, which include the idea of wizards travelling on trains, famously referred to in Harry Potter as the Hogwarts Express. It is alleged that all of these are concepts first created by Adrian Jacobs in Willy the Wizard, some 10 years before JK Rowling first published any of the Harry Potter novels and 13 years before Goblet of Fire was published.

It is also alleged that, at the time in trying to get his work published, Mr Jacobs sought the services of a literary agent, Christopher Little, who also later became Ms Rowling's literary agent in the Harry Potter series.

Mr Jacobs' book was ultimately published by Bachman and Turner in 1987. However, following a stock market crash, Jacobs became bankrupt and died penniless in a London hospice in 1997. By contrast, today the Potter Brand is a multibillion dollar global entertainment phenomenon.

In the action, the Estate is seeking an injunction to prevent further sales of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and either damages or a share in the profits made by Bloomsbury Plc in selling books that are alleged to infringe Adrian Jacob's copyright.

Mr Paul Allen, the trustee of the estate, said ... "Because it is not right for the Estate to comment upon matters proceeding before the Court, all we would say is that Adrian Jacobs did not live long enough to see the massive success of the Harry Potter books and films. If he had he would have sought the proper recognition of his contribution to this success story. He cannot fight this battle personally so his estate is bringing this action to ensure that his voice is heard. The action, if proved, will ensure the rights of authors everywhere, even posthumously."

Commitment to Writing Brings $50,000 Gift of Freedom to New Orleans Woman

A Room of Her Own Foundation's fifth $50,000 Gift of Freedom is awarded to Barb Johnson, a carpenter-turned-writer from New Orleans, Louisiana.

First awarded in 2002, A Room of Her Own's $50,000 Gift of Freedom stands alone in the world of grants and awards as a monument to women's dedication to their art. While the award serves the practical purpose of funding one woman's creative project over two years, it also fuels each recipient's directed passion for a creative life, sustaining the momentum that focus has created. Barb Johnson, a New Orleans carpenter-turned-writer, is one of five women to have been given the award.

According to AROHO's founder, Darlene Chandler Bassett, it was Johnson's profound commitment to become a writer after twenty years as a carpenter, and "her astounding degree of readiness at this moment in her evolution" which made her the standout choice to receive the 2009 Gift of Freedom award. "When our objective and someone's willingness come together, it's powerful," Bassett says. While she agrees that the Gift of Freedom "must be about accomplishment, not effort," it is more importantly, "a celebration of the success that comes when an artist releases all doubt about her creative role in the world."

In 2004, at the age of forty-seven, Johnson made the decision to enter the MFA program at The University of New Orleans. "The very first practical step I took in the pursuit of my writing," she says, "was to put down the hammer and pick up a laptop. The only way to quit being a carpenter is to quit dressing like one and carrying woodworking tools."

Soon after entering the writing program, though, Hurricane Katrina hit, wiping out Johnson's carpentry business and livelihood. For a while after that, despite the catastrophic interruption, she lived on her apartment's balcony in the evacuated city and continued to write. While in school, Johnson's stories garnered a number of awards, and by the time she graduated in May 2008, she'd signed a book contract. Her collection of award-winning stories, More of This World or Maybe Another, is a group of closely-linked tales in which the lives of four very different characters intersect in a neighborhood Laundromat. The book will be released by Harper Collins in November 2009.

In her compelling Gift of Freedom application, a unique and intensive process that asks women to consider their relationship to their work, Johnson reflects on the "why" of writing: "We write to say, You are not alone. We write the thing that can't be said…the thing that will be a bright moment for a stranger, the way another's writing was a bright moment for us. …We pass what we have to those who are hungry for it because we, ourselves, have been hungry."

As the Gift of Freedom's fifth recipient, Barb Johnson continues her rise in the literary world. She will benefit from her two years working under the grant to complete a novel entitled St. Luis of Palmyra, which picks up where her short story collection leaves off. Previously, AROHO's $50,000 Gift of Freedom Award has funded the production of poet Jennifer Tseng's Dark Logic; sculptor Jeannine Harkleroad's kinetic installation art; Meredith Hall's New York Times bestselling memoir, Without a Map; and Summer Wood's newly completed novel, Wrecker.

A Room of Her Own (AROHO), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2000 to support and advance the work of women in the literary and artistic marketplace. It has expended more than $600,000 on behalf of creative women through its Gift of Freedom Awards, Orlando Prizes, To the Lighthouse Poetry Publication Prize, scholarships, retreats, public readings, Day Conferences, Book Club, and web-based resource center.

Website: http://www.aroomofherownfoundation.org/

Blogging Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth

When you blog or post videos on YouTube, your message can spread anywhere and you could land in a courtroom facing a major lawsuit. Will your insurance cover your costs? Maybe.
As the Internet explodes with bloggers and personal social media posts, court dockets are filling fast with lawsuits drawn from bruised egos rather than broken bones. According to The Media Law Resource Center in New York, courts have settled about $17.4 million in trial awards resulting from blogs and Web site postings with many more awaiting jury outcomes.

Claims of defamation of character, slander and copyright are usually not covered on the standard homeowner policy. However, some high-end policies may include coverage for these types of claims, and homeowners can purchase additional personal injury and liability coverage. Some umbrella policies, which extend standard homeowner liability coverage, may also include coverage for personal injury claims.

"The best defense is to read your policy and know what it covers," said Insurance Information Network of California Executive Director Candysse Miller. "Bloggers face many new challenges and insurers are designing policies to accommodate these new risks."

Regardless of the type of Internet risk, most policies will not cover damages from the posting of intentional or malicious misinformation or criminal acts. If the blogger receives any type of pay or has a contractual agreement with a third party, they will need a business liability policy.

Whether you blog as a hobby or blog as a business, you need to know that you're covered for any type of lawsuit that may arise from your posts. As the blogging universe continues to expand, lawsuits and major jury awards will continue to grow as well.

IINC is a non-profit, non-lobbying insurance communications association. For more information on this and other issues, please visit the IINC Web site at www.iinc.org or follow IINC on Twitter at www.twitter.com/iinc.

Publisher Gives Well-Received History Lesson on L. Ron Hubbard's Impact on Classic Westerns

The name and reputation of L. Ron Hubbard as a bona fide writer of westerns received widespread recognition from the writers and fans attending the 2009 Western Writers of America (WWA) annual conference held in Oklahoma City earlier this week.

Galaxy Press, publisher of Hubbard's fiction works and who is also a WWA member, attended the conference for the first time to promote the author's westerns as part of its mammoth 80-novel, 150-story Stories from the Golden Age series of Hubbard's original pulp fiction works from the 1930s and '40s in print and audiobook form.

The nearly week-long series of events culminated in the Spur Award ceremony hosted by WWA Executive Director and author Paul Hutton and WWA President and author Johnny Boggs, where the best that the western genre had to offer was honored in sixteen categories.

Hubbard produced more than 30 western stories based on his experiences as a young boy growing up on the frontier in early 1900's Montana.

"We were very warmly received by the many accomplished and aspiring western writers alike who conveyed their appreciation of trendsetters like Hubbard and his contemporaries who helped pave the way for better, more authentic stories of the west," said John Goodwin, Galaxy Press president.

Hubbard knew the Old West well because he studied the folklore of range riders and homesteaders, of Indian tribes and their turbulent pasts in his youth, according to Goodwin: "His fascination with the frontier and his immersion in its history really separates Hubbard's works from those western writers who actually never lived in the authentic West."

"His familiarity with the real locale lets any reader really experience the excitement of another time and place."

The Stories from the Golden Age series is being released over six years and contains more than 150 stories in 80 books with their original pulp art. "The Series represents one of the largest releases of short fiction ever published for a single author," Goodwin said. "We're hoping to make publishing history."

For more information about Hubbard's stories, go to http://www.goldenagestories.com/.

Free E-Book : The Marketing Plan Guide for Small-Business Owners

Krista Baker, founder and President of Morningstar Multimedia LLC, today announced the publication of a new complimentary 45-page e-book titled The Marketing Plan Guide for Small-Business Owners.

Krista provides practical marketing tools and strategies for businesses who offer professional services and who want to generate high quality leads without spending a fortune.

"I'm asked all the time, 'Where should I start?'" says Krista Baker. "Marketing can be overwhelming for many people. I wanted to create a free e-book that would help them see the big picture. In the e-book, I show readers exactly which factors matter in marketing and how they can determine which marketing tactics will be effective in winning new clients"

In The Marketing Plan Guide for Small-Business Owners, Krista highlights the six steps to creating an actionable marketing plan in just a few hours:

Step 1 - Set Goals

Step 2 - Identify Your Target Audience

Step 3 - Create a Marketing Message

Step 4 - Create Education-Based Marketing

Step 5 - Develop a Referral System

Step 6 - Create Your Monthly Marketing Plan

The Marketing Plan Guide is hands on, with ten pages of exercises and worksheets, including a two-page fill-in-the-blank worksheet that professional service providers can use to create their monthly marketing plan and keep track of their results.

To download a free copy of The Marketing Plan Guide for Small-Business Owners, please visit: http://www.morningstarmultimedia.com/

New Resource For Journalists In Search Of Case Studies

FindaTVexpert.com (http://www.findatvexpert.com/) is expanding its service to help journalists with their search for case studies - in addition to their search for experts.

"The experts on findaTVexpert are currently contacted by members of the media - TV, Radio and print journalists - to comment on a subject relating to their expertise. But they also have fascinating back stories which journalists might be interested in for features and case studies. And if that’s the case, I’d be happy to help journalists find them because I speak to experts every day of the week and can offer suggestions, angles and ideas," says Claire Richmond, ex TV producer and founder of findaTVexpert.com.

The back stories of the experts on findaTVexpert.com are as varied and interesting as their areas of expertise. There are stories of triumph over tragedy, stories which you couldn't make up and stories of unusual hobbies and fears.

Journalists looking for case studies can call Claire on 020 8742 2541 or email her on Claire@findaTVexpert.com. And if journalists are looking for experts to comment on a specific subject, they can register for free on findaTVexpert.com as a member of the media, do a search for the experts they’re looking for and contact them directly.

"This is a service which benefits everyone. It saves journalists time and it gives experts the opportunity to be featured in the press, which in turn increases their chances of being spotted by a TV researcher or development producer on the hunt for new ideas, studio guests, etc. It's a true win-win situation," added Richmond.

Steinbeck Heirs on Supreme Court Decision

The United States Supreme Court announced it will not hear a case filed earlier this year by Thomas Steinbeck and Blake Smyle, the son and granddaughter of the late Nobel Prize-winning author, John Steinbeck.

Mr. Steinbeck and Ms. Smyle had petitioned the court to review the judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Penguin Group (USA) Inc. v. Steinbeck, which held that Steinbeck's descendants could not recapture the copyrights to some of John Steinbeck's greatest works, including Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath.

There were insufficient votes at the Supreme Court to review the appellate court's decision, which ignored Congress's intent as reflected in the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. The denial of a hearing by the Supreme Court is not an endorsement of the lower court's decision.

In a statement, John Steinbeck's eldest son, author Thomas Steinbeck, expressed "profound disappointment" that the high court did not intervene.

Mr. Steinbeck noted: "At stake is far more than our own situation - the Supreme Court could have protected all the authors and artists in America from a future of intellectual bondage to big corporate publishers. The publishers, like slave-owners characterized by Abraham Lincoln, want to command writers, 'You grow the grain, you make the bread, and we'll eat it.'

"The pettifogging machinations of my late step-mother's lawyers do not mean that the Second Circuit was correct, it only means that the Supreme Court chose not to hear us at this time."

John Steinbeck's granddaughter, Blake Smyle said, "This is about family. My grandfather would be deeply saddened to know that his contributions are now in the hands of strangers."

Mr. Steinbeck vows to continue to seek proper delegation of his father's legacy and to press forward on behalf of the families of other authors similarly situated to his position.

"If artists and their families cannot protect their rights, then everyone will ultimately suffer."

Have You've Been Stranded? Airports and Your Best Travel Writing by Rebecca Ann

How many travel writers have been stranded at the airport? Did you get a good night's sleep? Maybe or maybe not. Being stuck at the airport may be a blessing in disguise. You could do some great travel writing from the airport. More importantly, you'll have an entertaining travel articles to post on your blog or submit to publishers.

Being stranded at the airport doesn't have to be a big deal. Airports are a great place to people watch. If you've been having writer's block, just observe people and have a great time. Relax and take it all in. You'll probably be able to come up with a couple of angles for your travel articles.

You may think that you can't produce decent travel writing from an airport, but you can. Just make sure that you don't fall asleep and have your laptop confiscated (because you weren't watching your bags). This happened once to someone at an airport. He had to pay $53 to get his laptop back.

Some potential angles for your travel articles:

* Worst (or Best) Airport bathrooms

* Most spacious seating areas

* Best Airports for business travelers

* Best Airport restaurants

* Most comfortable sleeping areas

* Most helpful airport personnel

Even though you may be stuck at an airport, this doesn't mean you must be lost in transition. Take advantage of the quiet (if you're lucky) and maintain your travel writing blog. There are websites devoted to rating airport experiences - maybe you could send them a guest post!

Many people get upset when they get stuck in the airport. There's nothing you can do about it so you may as well make the best of it. You never know, you could write an award winning travel piece! And for some additional advice if you do spend the night, check out the Guide To Sleeping In Airports website.

Our website is dedicated to aspiring and experienced travel writers. You'll find inspiration, encouragement, and education on everything travel writing.

Sign up for our weekly blog recap. If you're about to travel this is a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest in travel writing. Also, check out our forum. If you have a question, login, and with a click of a button you'll have the answer to your question.

URL: http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/

Copywriter from Maryland Lands 'The Apprentice' Job

When Donald Trump weeded through contestants on the hit TV show "The Apprentice," the dreaded words were: "You're fired." But when Michael A. Stelzner, one of the leading authorities on the topic of writing and marketing white papers went looking for an apprentice recently, freelance copywriter Apryl Parcher heard the words, "You're hired!"

Stelzner, who has written more than 130 white papers for many of the world's most recognized companies, including Microsoft, Dow Jones, FedEx, Motorola, Monster, Hewlett-Packard and SAP, went on a well-publicized hunt this spring for an apprentice while conducting a month-long Internet summit on writing white papers.

"I heard about the White Paper Summit from a colleague, and then started reading about it in some major industry newsletters," says Parcher, who has been freelancing for the last nine years from her company based in Maryland and currently specializes in writing copy for both local businesses and international health and wellness companies.

"I've written all kinds of business copy, but not too many white papers. Michael is well-known in the field as the top white paper writer in the country, so when I heard he was looking for an apprentice, I decided to go for it."

Author of the bestselling book, Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged, Stelzner's work is used as required reading at major universities such as MIT and Johns Hopkins. He also trains corporations and professional organizations, and organizes large summits on industry topics--all of which take up a lot of his time--hence the search for an apprentice to help with, well… writing white papers.

And Stelzner didn't make the process easy. It began with a multiple-choice exam and only those who tallied 95% or higher--a group of 15 applicants--survived to move on to the second round. For round two, the applicants were given a comprehensive written exam. Based on the results, five people proceeded to the final challenge, a one-on-one phone interview with Stelzner in which he tested their ability to communicate well with clients.

Stelzner calls Apryl the best of the best: "All of the candidates were exceptionally well-qualified. What made Apryl unique was that she invested heavily into her personal development outside of the White Paper Success Summit. She has done a lot to develop her skill set by attending events and being coached by the gurus of the industry. She's a good writer, but she also understands marketing and she's a very good communicator."

For her part, Parcher is both humbled by the experience of winning the coveted apprenticeship and excited about working with Stelzner.

"Over 300 people attended the Summit," said Parcher, "and about 100 of us tried out for the apprenticeship at the end. There were some pretty talented writers in that group, and it was a tough test--so I'm honored to have been chosen--and I'm looking forward to working with Michael on an upcoming project. This will be an exciting facet to my career, and I'm looking forward to learning this skill from the best in the business."

Stelzner is confident that Apryl will mesh well with his high-profile corporate clients: "I wanted an apprentice whom I'll be proud to say is working for my organization. I feel very confident introducing Apryl to my clients and I'm looking forward to helping her take her career to the next level."

To find out more about Michael Stelzner's new apprentice, visit Apryl's copywriting website at http://www.aparcher.com.

Free Direct Marketing Book to Help Businesses During Difficult Economic Times

Marketing is a key part of successfully building and establishing a business. Yet, during these difficult economic times, many businesses are finding themselves forced into cutting their direct marketing expenses in order to balance their budgets and keep their doors open. As a result, they are unable to market their businesses and draw in the business that is necessary. With the help of the free direct mail marketing ebook offered through Jarvis Direct Mail, Inc., businesses can successfully create a marketing campaign that stays within budget while also effectively reaching their target audience.

"Businesses are really facing a sort of catch 22 situation," comments Jeff Jarvis, who is the founder and CEO of Jarvis Direct Mail, Inc. "They can't afford to put together a marketing campaign, but they really can't afford not to market their businesses, either. After all, how can their businesses make money if no one knows about their products or services?"

When it comes to marketing, businesses must look for ways to effectively reach those people who might be interested in the product or service being offered. This group of people is referred to as the company's "target audience." Failure to effectively reach this target audience with a marketing campaign means that the funds used to finance the campaign are effectively wasted. With the help of the free direct mail marketing ebook offered through Jarvis Direct Mail, Inc., businesses can learn more about how to put together a marketing campaign that will effectively reach those people who are most likely to purchase the company's goods or services.

"If a business fails to effectively market to its target audience, the campaign will do very little in terms of getting the attention of those people who are most likely to make a purchase," continues Jarvis. "With our free marketing book, we offer all of the 'insider secrets' that can help a business develop a solid direct mail marketing campaign."

"The Direct Mail Marketing Little Black Book," which contains 63 pages of tips and strategies, covers topics including ways your business can use direct mail, measuring performance, mailing formats, copywriting tips and more. To learn more about Jarvis Direct Mail, Inc. and to download a copy of the free direct mail marketing book, visit http://www.jarvisdirectmail.com/

Essay Series "The Pig in a Garden" Explores Jared Diamond, The New Yorke

Heard about the controversy? Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond and the estimable New Yorker magazine are in hot water:

"New Guinea tribe sues the New Yorker for $10 million. They challenge a story depicting them as rapists, murderers and pig thieves." -- Forbes.com

"Author Jared Diamond sued for libel." -- Associated Press

"Research subjects sue Jared Diamond, the author and professor, for $10 million." -- Chronicle of Higher Education

StinkyJournalism.org, a media ethics project sponsored by the Art Science Research Laboratory, and SavageMinds.org, a group blog devoted to "notes and queries in Anthropology" announce the publishing debut of a new series of essays, simultaneously co-publishing on both web sites, titled, "The Pig in a Garden: Jared Diamond and The New Yorker." This series, edited by Rhonda Roland Shearer, Sam Eifling and Alan Bisbort, addresses the allegations made against Diamond and The New Yorker, and the issues that they have raised, from the perspective of several different disciplines. "The Pig in a Garden" will feature essays and commentaries by scientists, environmentalists, linguists, journalists and media ethics experts who have reviewed the charges and the evidence against Diamond and the New Yorker amassed by StinkyJournailsm.org.

In her contribution to the series, anthropologist Nancy Sullivan places some of the blame for the scandal on her own profession. As she notes, "It is our fault as anthropologists that no one has picked up the ball Margaret Mead dropped, and produced enough popular cultural anthropology in recent years. Jared Diamond is just filling the vacuum we left."

"The Pig in a Garden" is aimed at reclaiming some of that popular audience that has been lost since the days of Margaret Mead to unqualified "experts" like Diamond, author of bestselling books like Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, that offer an incomplete and sometimes erroneous view of indigenous cultures.

The scandal began when Diamond published an article in the April 21, 2008 issue of The New Yorker that purported to be from "The Annals of Anthropology." That article, headlined "Vengeance is Ours: What can tribal societies tell us about our need to get even?," has not only sent shockwaves through Papua New Guinea's "tribal societies, the allegations of its ethical violations, unverified and unsourced "facts," and fabricated quotations have also raised troubling issues about the professions of science and journalism. Diamond's article and The New Yorker's decision to publish it without properly fact checking has, claim indigenous peoples, also caused demonstrable harm to individuals in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The back story: On April 20, 2009, one year after the article's appearance in The New Yorker, two of the individuals named and accused of capital crimes in "Vengeance is Ours," Daniel Wemp and Henep Isum, filed a $10 million defamations lawsuit against Diamond and Advance Publications (which owns The New Yorker) in the Supreme Court of New York. Whether vengeance will be theirs is now in the hands of the legal system.

In the meantime, StinkyJournalism.org and SavageMinds.org aim to keep the issues raised by Diamond's New Yorker article alive on the Internet with the series "The Pig in the Garden." Contributors include Nancy Sullivan, anthropologist and consultant who has lived in PNG for more than two decades; Andrew Mack, biologist who has also lived and worked in PNG; Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, anthropology professor and editor of Ethics and the Profession of Anthropology; linguist Douglas Biber; anthropologists Deborah Gewertz; Glenn Petersen, and Alan Bisbort, journalist and author of Media Scandals (Greenwood Press).

Website: http://www.asrlab.org/

Free Ebook: The Recession Marketing Guide

Tony Darrick Baker, author of "The Recession Marketing Guide," says that the economy is going to get much worse before it gets better. (http://www.recessionmarketingguide.com/).

"It's unfortunate to emphasize, but if you read past the headlines, the news stories will show additional unemployment, rising gas prices, and rising fears in the future of this economy," said Baker. "Keep in mind that while economists now say that the recession started in December of 2007, most people did not feel the effects of that recession until well into 2008."

Baker speculates that we will likely not feel the effects of a recovery for six to 12 months after claims are made that the recession is over.

"There is a great deal of focus on corporate bailouts," Baker said. "However, the true key to ending the recession is in getting small businesses to start advertising and marketing again. If businesses can see that they are once again creating new customers, creating brand loyalty, and creating new purchasing opportunities, then they will start hiring again."

According to the ebook, "The Recession Marketing Guide" shows case studies and modern examples on how businesses and entrepreneurs create profit, even during economic turmoil.

The U.S. Small Business Administration website (sba.gov) states the following:

Small businesses:

* Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.

* Employ about half of all private sector employees.

* Pay nearly 45 percent of total U.S. private payroll.

* Have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade.

* Create more than half of non-farm private gross domestic product (GDP).

* Hire 40 percent of high-tech workers (such as scientists, engineers, and computer workers).

* Are 52 percent home-based and 2 percent franchises.

Baker is releasing "The Recession Marketing Guide" as a free ebook in Adobe PDF format in order to try to make the largest impact into the economy as possible.
"Obviously I hope that people will opt-in to my newsletter to get the free guide, but ultimately I don't care if they forward it to a thousand business leaders if it will help turn this economy around even one day sooner," said Baker. "People's families and their futures are at stake."

Download the Free Ebook: The Recession Marketing Guide
http://www.recessionmarketingguide.com/