The second video in our series of free online tutorials for writers is now available for your viewing pleasure!

Watch this video to learn how to send your writing to literary agents and editors using both pasted-in text and email attachments!

In just six minutes, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to make online submissions via email! And if you haven’t watched our first video tutorial for writers yet, please do: How To Submit Creative Writing Online Using A Submission Manager.

Click here to watch the email submission video tutorial!

Peter K. Hixson was a much-beloved client here at Writer’s Relief, and we were all saddened when he passed away.

But Peter left an inspirational legacy and a generous bequest to Writer’s Relief for the support of promising writers in need of assistance with the submission process.

We encourage you to learn more about Peter’s inspiring story and The First Annual Peter K. Hixson Memorial Scholarship For Creative Writers.

The deadline is April 23, 2010.

Our Writer’s Relief Review Board is honored to assist Peter’s estate in carrying out his wishes to contribute positively to the writing community.

Dear Friends,

We need your help.

Every month we write, edit, and compile our free Newsflash For Writers—and we LOVE doing it, even though it takes countless hours of time and attention.

If you like and appreciate this free Newsflash, please nominate our blog for Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers” (another excellent source for free online information).

Here’s how to nominate us:

Send your comments and nominations to writersdig@fwpubs.com with “101 Best Websites” as the subject.

Thank you so, so much for your support as we continue to offer the writing community this free resource. As always, we welcome your comments and questions.

Best wishes,

Ronnie L. Smith, President
Writer’s Relief

P.S. Please tell your fellow writers about the nomination process as well and help spread the word!

[UPDATE: Thanks so much to all of you wonderful writers who have nominated us so far! We appreciate YOU too!]

If you’d like our expert targeting help but you’re not ready for the commitment of our Full Service program, our easy A La Carte services might be a good choice for you. By combining our research and targeting with your legwork, you can save money AND time.

$100: A La Carte Service — Get started right away! This service combines our expertise with your do-it-yourself perseverance. Writer's Relief will target the best-suited markets for your work and guide you through the process. You'll get one round of 25 to 30 submissions out into the world within three days. It's quick and easy. We provide the best market research available to creative writers. You do not need to apply to our Review Board for the A La Carte Service. Visit http://www.WritersRelief.com/alacarte-submission-help-for-writers.aspx for details.

$200 - $250: A La Carte PLUS Service — Everything that's quick and affordable about our A La Carte Service, with the time-saving benefit of Full Service cover or query letter preparation. We will target the best markets for your work, prepare mailing labels, and create 25 to 30 personalized, professional cover or query letters. You do not need to apply to our Review Board for the A La Carte Service. Click here for more: http://www.WritersRelief.com/alacarteplus-help-with-query-letter-writing.aspx.

Please feel free to contact us with your questions (info@wrelief.com). And when you’re ready to sign up, just give us a call so that we can process your payment and begin gathering information about your writing so we can target your work to the literary agents or editors who are most likely to appreciate it!

We’re hosting a lively community of creative writers and sharing lots of great information about publishing and submitting. We’ll be playing some fun games, sharing hints and tips to help you get your writing published, and answering your questions. We’re looking forward to hanging out with you!

Remember to pass this helpful invitation along to your writer friends!

Best wishes,

The Staff Of Writer’s Relief

Whether or not you decide to partner with Writer’s Relief to help with your submissions (via our exceptional Full Service or our budget-friendly A La Carte Service), NOW is a very important time for serious writers. Here’s why you should get those submissions in the mail ASAP.

1. Many markets are open in the fall. Almost all literary journals that are affiliated with colleges and universities open their doors to new writers for the academic year. Editors are actively searching for exciting new writers; send your work now to take advantage of their enthusiasm.

2. Remember the excitement and importance of those first few days of school? The chatter, the competition, the feeling of beginning again? It’s the same in publishing. When summer hours end, there’s a communal sense of starting fresh.

3. Because fall is so busy for publishing—and there are so many submissions making the rounds—the sooner you send your work out, the better. Although response times vary from market to market and submission to submission, it’s been our experience that replies tend to arrive more quickly in the fall. When student readers and interns arrive at literary magazines in the fall, the response time tends to improve.

4. Since so many writers are submitting in the fall, you’ll be among the publishing movers and shakers. There’s a party going on, and you’re on the guest list. BUT if you want to roll with the in-crowd, you’ve got to show up!

5. Winter is coming, and with it comes the holiday season. Although many writers go into November and December with good intentions of writing and submitting, it’s extremely easy to drop the ball when the days get shorter. Send out a round (or two) of submissions sooner rather than later, and you’ll see better results.

If you want to simplify the submission process but you’re not ready for our long-term Full Service, check out our A La Carte Service. Starting at just $100, we can help you get a round of submissions in the mail in just a few days!

We’re excited to present this information to you! Click on this link http://www.writersrelief.com/how-to-publish-a-childrens-book.aspx to order a copy of Insider's Secrets: What You MUST Know To Submit Your Children's Book.

Here’s some of what’s included: 

Sample format pages which illustrate what is considered “industry standard” for children’s book manuscript pages. Do you know how to set up the header on each page of your manuscript? Do you know where the word count belongs? Should you or should you not include your e-mail address? Should you left, right, or full justify your manuscript?

Sample cover letters to help you avoid ruining your chances of a good read by agents and editors. Do you want to know the secrets of preparing a good cover letter? Which type of cover letter gets the best results? Do you know how you should address your letter and to whom? 

A glossary of children’s book terminology. Do you know what differentiates an easy-to-read book from a picture story book and a picture book? What about hi-lo books? Is there a difference between a simultaneous submission and a multiple submission?

A time-saving checklist which outlines the DOs and DON’Ts of children’s book submissions.

And much more! 

BONUS: You'll also receive a FREE REPORT that contains contact information for 100 agents and publishers who specialize in children's books.

Click on this link

http://www.writersrelief.com/how-to-publish-a-childrens-book.aspx

for more!

1. Get the look. If you want people to take you seriously, you’ve got to present yourself in a serious way. When making your submissions to agents and editors, skip the bright-colored paper, the “clever” query letter intros (editors get sick of them fast), the thumbnail image of your face on the manuscript. Just be brief, straightforward, and businesslike. Also, follow industry standard formatting and have your work proofread. Interestingly enough, it’s often the veteran writers who are more inclined to appreciate proofreading than the newbies—but that’s probably why they earn veteran status to begin with.

2. Write to the right people. The first mistake of making submissions is taking the “blanket” approach: wallpapering the whole country with your query and cover letters. A few well-placed and specific queries truly mean much more than 50 that are almost well-placed. Queries that are almost well-targeted will almost get you published. Do the research (or hire someone who will) to make your submissions matter. (NOTE: We’ve found that writers who take this seriously tend to be more successful. Submitting selectively is a sign of a writer who knows what she or he is about. Selective writers put so much love into their manuscripts that they won’t submit to just anyone. Selectiveness is a very good sign because it demonstrates the right attitude for success.)

3. Be the tortoise, not the hare. Make submissions part of your writing habit. Submitting your work in dribbles and drabs is NOT a strategy; it’s a crapshoot. Sustainable and steady wins the race. To a certain extent, submissions are a numbers game. When you submit more regularly, it’s likely you’ll get published more often and more regularly. And the more you build up your bio, the more likely you’ll be well-received. Don’t give up on a story just because twenty places rejected it. Plan to submit to at least 100 markets. AND create a schedule to lock yourself into making submissions. When you create a calendar for your submissions (and deadlines for your writing so that you can make submissions) you will see your publication rate increase.

4. Organization is your friend. Some people are naturally well-organized but others are not. To truly make the most of your submissions, you need to keep track of who read what, who liked what (and why), who rejected what (and why), who wants to see more work from you, and who acquired what rights. It is a TON of work (that’s why Writer’s Relief takes on this burden for our clients). When the acceptance letters start coming in, you’ll thank yourself for the extra effort.

5. Chin up! Last but not least, work to maintain a good attitude. Negative thinking, getting glum about rejections, and believing yourself less than worthy... It’s easy to fall into those traps. Positive thinking takes real work when you’re getting bombarded by rejections (and you WILL get bombarded—it’s part of the process). Start looking at your rejection letters as proof of your dedication, devotion, and all-around awesomeness. Attitude is often the only difference between a nobody and a rising star. Every rejection brings you closer to acceptance, so submit regularly and chip away at those numbers. If you’d like to stay positive and motivated, we’re willing to give you a free E-book, Rejoice in Rejection (details here). We know it will help!

If you’re not able to develop a submission strategy on your own, or you just don’t have the time and patience for it, do yourself a real favor and check out Writer’s Relief. We can take on as much or as little of the submission process as you like so that you can focus on what you love: writing.

At Writer’s Relief it’s our business to work with our clients to develop a submission strategy that 1) keeps them focused on writing, 2) eases the stress and frustration of the submission process, 3) circulates manuscripts regularly (with no spamming) to generate interest, and 4) targets the BEST literary agents and editors (those most likely to enjoy the writing in question).

For more tips on making strong submissions, visit:

How To Write Cover and Query Letters That Get Attention 

Why Length Matters When Submitting Your Stories And Poems For Publication

How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast

Seven Techniques You Must Know To Make Editors Notice Your Poetry

We’re so excited to tell you about our newest E-book, Insider’s Secrets: A Step-by-Step Guide To Proper Proofreading in the Creative Writing Industry! Our E-book will tell you everything you need to know to start or expand a professional proofreading business. If you’ve thought about starting your own freelance proofreading business, or if you want to hone your own proofreading skills, this E-book is for you.

If you’ve asked yourself:

• How do I start my own freelance proofreading business?
• Where do I find proofreading jobs?
• How do I expand my freelance proofreading or editing business to include creative writers, such as poets, novelists, and short story writers?
• What do I need to know to proofread my own writing?
• How do I become a better proofreader?
• Where can I learn to proofread specifically for creative writers?
• What are proofreaders’ marks (proofreading symbols)?

We have the solution for you. We know you don’t have a lot of time, so our E-book cuts through the “filler” and gets right to the point. Improve your proofreading skills and your freelance business.

Click here to learn more: http://www.WritersRelief.com/proofreading-manual-for-creative-writing-and-publishing-industry.aspx.