I'm less than $200 away from earning $100,000 (cumulatively) as a copywriter/editor at Elance. They asked me if I'd do an interview with them to celebrate the milestone. I said yes! So mid-week (this week) the interview I did will appear on the Elance blog. Go to https://www.elance.com/q/blog/meet-another-100000-freelancer-elance to see it.
Sometime soon (this month I believe) an article I wrote about being DeForest Kelley's caregiver will appear in Encore Life Magazine online. (You can get a free subscription. If you do, they'll ping you whenever a new edition comes out.)
In June. StarTrek.com will publish an interview with me about my long association with DeForest Kelley
STAY TUNED!!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Drunk on The Idea of Public Speaking (on the Side)...
All week long I've been basking in the afterglow of speaking at the Tacoma South Rotary Club luncheon on Monday. Public speaking is becoming as much a positive adrenaline rush for me as is writing for a living. I absolutely love inspiring people to step outside their comfort zones and pursue what they really want to do with their lives and talents.
I'm going to be posting a few 2-3 minutes snippets of public appearances I've made and see if they generate sufficient interest to make public speaking another viable way of making myself known, meeting and greeting new people, and boosting my income in a way that is totally me (as is my writing) and totally energizing to the people who come see me. If I can do that, I would be one happy camper!
What do you think of this idea?
Would you come out and see me (those of you who haven't already)?
Would those of you who have seen me speak endorse and encourage others to come see me?
I'd like your feedback. I'm all ears! Email me at kristine m smith AT msn DOT com (all one word) and let me know! Thanks
I'm going to be posting a few 2-3 minutes snippets of public appearances I've made and see if they generate sufficient interest to make public speaking another viable way of making myself known, meeting and greeting new people, and boosting my income in a way that is totally me (as is my writing) and totally energizing to the people who come see me. If I can do that, I would be one happy camper!
What do you think of this idea?
Would you come out and see me (those of you who haven't already)?
Would those of you who have seen me speak endorse and encourage others to come see me?
I'd like your feedback. I'm all ears! Email me at kristine m smith AT msn DOT com (all one word) and let me know! Thanks
Monday, March 11, 2013
Sharon Uhlig (Third Eye Imaging) videotaped the presentation, and will upload snippets of it to You Tube and let me know when it's done so I can point you to it...
Stay tuned!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
I've Exceeded the $100,000 Milestone as a Copywriter!! WOO HOO!!!
I'm happy to report that I've exceeded the $100K milestone as a copywriter. I remember (when I officially hung my shingle and "went for it" in November 2008) how impossibly distant $100,000 seemed. And now I've surpassed it.
Actually, if I include the year that I was employed as a fledgling copywriter for an on-hold company (all of 2007 and the first week in 2008) I exceeded the $100K mark well over eight months ago.
How cool is that?
It's official: I make my living as a copywriter and author. And I have never been happier in any job I've ever held. It consumes my life, but it's going by in the way I always dreamed of living my life, so what's not to love?
So tonight I'm congratulating myself on the beauty of my dreams and encouraging all of you to go for yours. If you'll work for yourself as hard as you work for other people, you can make it, too.
Read SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be. It's a blueprint to your future! It works. I'm living proof!
Actually, if I include the year that I was employed as a fledgling copywriter for an on-hold company (all of 2007 and the first week in 2008) I exceeded the $100K mark well over eight months ago.
How cool is that?
It's official: I make my living as a copywriter and author. And I have never been happier in any job I've ever held. It consumes my life, but it's going by in the way I always dreamed of living my life, so what's not to love?
So tonight I'm congratulating myself on the beauty of my dreams and encouraging all of you to go for yours. If you'll work for yourself as hard as you work for other people, you can make it, too.
Read SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be. It's a blueprint to your future! It works. I'm living proof!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
A Salute to Pat Derby and Other Animal Welfare Advocates I Have Known
This afternoon I've been thinking back--and feeling like Forrest Gump!
I have had the pleasure of meeting and/or working side by side (briefly or longer term) with so many renowned animal welfare advocates over the past forty years--Cleveland Amory, Roger Caras, Jerry Brown and Virgina Handley (of Fund For Animals), Tippi Hedren (of Shambala/the ROAR Foundation), Pat Derby and Ed Stewart (of PAWS--the Performing Animal Welfare Society), Virginia Knouse (of PAWS--The Progressive Animal Welfare Society), Eric Sakach of HSUS, Belton Mouras (Animal Protection Institute of America), Dian Fossey (gorilla savior), Vernon Weir (American Sanctuary Association), Penny Patterson (Koko's benefactor), Joyce Tischler (Animal Legal Defense Fund), exotic veterinarians and advocates Ned Buyukmihci and Chris Cauble, and on and on--and now I see we're losing them at warp speed. We lost Cleveland Amory years ago; we just lost Pat Derby on February 15th.
And there are the names of lesser-known animal welfare advocates whose names will not be shared on national television as they are shoveled off this mortal coil--stalwarts like Edward E. Smith, the late, great Rick Hendrickson (Yuba County Animal Control), Nancy Graf, Cathy Strote, the volunteer staff at Shambala ... so many others.
Animal lovers share a special bond. We're not confined to feeling concerned about each other--we share a common concern and affection for the rest of the beating hearts on this planet, animal and human. We know what's at stake if we continue to be callous and unconcerned about our fellow creatures.
It's sad to see animal advocates with big, big hearts passing on. The only good thing about it is that on the other side of Rainbow Bridge they will be welcomed with open paws, flippers, and other kinds of digits by the critters they've loved who have gone on before them, critters they served with every breath they took.
I salute you all. I'm honored to have met you and called so many of you "friend." Because my legacy (minuscule as it is) will include working shoulder-to-shoulder with so many of you, I have the small consolation of knowing that I actually did something of note beyond stringing words together, taking care of the Kelleys when they needed help, and being a sister, daughter, aunt, friend, nursery supervisor, employee, and "mom" to too many critters of my own to mention here.
Animal advocates are angels of God, send to remind us that because we're made in God's image, we have an obligation to care for the creatures He gave us dominion over. Animal welfare advocates are doing it right. Applause, applause!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Gee, maybe my next book should be about the animals and animal advocates I've known and loved...or maybe I can share the stories right here in this blog. Who wants to hear them? (Let me know! Silence is deadly when I ask a question.)
But...do I remember the stories well enough to tell them? ACK! I might need some help from the advocates who are still alive!
The Beaver Rescue (never before told--with Cleveland Amory)
The Beginning of Pat Derby's PAWS
Shambala Memories
API Memories (read Burro-ing In: Animal Advocacy 101 in "Let No Day Dawn that the Animals Cannot Share" for one of the API stories!) (Dr. Ned, Mt. St. Helens eruption and fawn care, etc.)
I have had the pleasure of meeting and/or working side by side (briefly or longer term) with so many renowned animal welfare advocates over the past forty years--Cleveland Amory, Roger Caras, Jerry Brown and Virgina Handley (of Fund For Animals), Tippi Hedren (of Shambala/the ROAR Foundation), Pat Derby and Ed Stewart (of PAWS--the Performing Animal Welfare Society), Virginia Knouse (of PAWS--The Progressive Animal Welfare Society), Eric Sakach of HSUS, Belton Mouras (Animal Protection Institute of America), Dian Fossey (gorilla savior), Vernon Weir (American Sanctuary Association), Penny Patterson (Koko's benefactor), Joyce Tischler (Animal Legal Defense Fund), exotic veterinarians and advocates Ned Buyukmihci and Chris Cauble, and on and on--and now I see we're losing them at warp speed. We lost Cleveland Amory years ago; we just lost Pat Derby on February 15th.
And there are the names of lesser-known animal welfare advocates whose names will not be shared on national television as they are shoveled off this mortal coil--stalwarts like Edward E. Smith, the late, great Rick Hendrickson (Yuba County Animal Control), Nancy Graf, Cathy Strote, the volunteer staff at Shambala ... so many others.
Animal lovers share a special bond. We're not confined to feeling concerned about each other--we share a common concern and affection for the rest of the beating hearts on this planet, animal and human. We know what's at stake if we continue to be callous and unconcerned about our fellow creatures.
It's sad to see animal advocates with big, big hearts passing on. The only good thing about it is that on the other side of Rainbow Bridge they will be welcomed with open paws, flippers, and other kinds of digits by the critters they've loved who have gone on before them, critters they served with every breath they took.
I salute you all. I'm honored to have met you and called so many of you "friend." Because my legacy (minuscule as it is) will include working shoulder-to-shoulder with so many of you, I have the small consolation of knowing that I actually did something of note beyond stringing words together, taking care of the Kelleys when they needed help, and being a sister, daughter, aunt, friend, nursery supervisor, employee, and "mom" to too many critters of my own to mention here.
Animal advocates are angels of God, send to remind us that because we're made in God's image, we have an obligation to care for the creatures He gave us dominion over. Animal welfare advocates are doing it right. Applause, applause!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Gee, maybe my next book should be about the animals and animal advocates I've known and loved...or maybe I can share the stories right here in this blog. Who wants to hear them? (Let me know! Silence is deadly when I ask a question.)
But...do I remember the stories well enough to tell them? ACK! I might need some help from the advocates who are still alive!
The Beaver Rescue (never before told--with Cleveland Amory)
The Beginning of Pat Derby's PAWS
Shambala Memories
API Memories (read Burro-ing In: Animal Advocacy 101 in "Let No Day Dawn that the Animals Cannot Share" for one of the API stories!) (Dr. Ned, Mt. St. Helens eruption and fawn care, etc.)
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I'm IN! '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading"
SEATTLE,WA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today Kristine M Smith was named as one of fifty winners in The Authors Show (TheAuthorsShow.com)contest.
To become eligible for the honor, hundreds of authors were interviewed by The Authors Show radio hosts during the past year. All interviewed authors were eligible to write an essay of up to 1,000 words about their writing endeavors; the submitted essays were then read by The Authors Show judges. 112 finalists were chosen to be finalists. Each finalist was notified of his or her status and was responsible to get the word out about it to friends, relatives, co-workers and other networks and ask them to vote for them to be included in the upcoming book; the fifty finalists who received the most votes won the honor.
Of her win, Smith says, "I've been stringing words together as a writer since early childhood. It's been an obsession. I've made my living the past five years as a profesional copywriter and have earned a lot of return clients and many, many friends during this time. I have my clients, family, friends, networkng partners, publisher, and DeForest Kelley's fans across the globe to thank for making this win possible. I simply would not be in this position were it not for each of you who turned out to vote for me and then LIKED and SHARED my candidacy virally with your many networks. You're the best!!!"
The Authors Show will announce the publication date very soon. Find out more at TheAuthorsShow.com.
#
Kristine M Smith is the author of seven books, six of them available here at Amazon. The seventh, "The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend" (an e-book), is available at Payloadz.com.
Futureword Publishing has been Smith's publisher for the two most recent titles, "Serval Son: Spots and Stripes Forever" and "Settle For Best: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be". Both titles reached the top two spots in their respective categories here at Amazon when they debuted. Smith's earlier titles will be updated and re-published by Futureword sometime in the future.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
I'm a FINALIST at The Authors Show!
"From November 2 through November 10, the public will have the chance to vote for their favorite authors from the finalists" at theauthorsshow.com.
VOTE FOR ME when the time comes, please!!!
Rest in Peace, George Stanley McGovern
I'm saddened today by the passing of the first candidate I was ever able (old enough) to vote for, Senator George McGovern.
A gracious, loving, dedicated man, he worked all his adult life following his heroic service in WW II to make life better and war obsolete. I have never cast a more honorable vote in my life. (I've always cast honorable votes, but never one more honorable than the one I cast for him.)
I was able to shake his hand once (I have the photo somewhere; must look it up and post it here) and I received Christmas cards from him and his wife Eleanor for several years after his defeat (by Richard Nixon) for the Presidency of the United States.
As we all know, Nixon and his VP resigned in disgrace two years later; McGovern carried on, blessing the country and the world he served every day of his life even after he left the Senate.
A true Christian, he was a priceless treasure. I will always love him.
A gracious, loving, dedicated man, he worked all his adult life following his heroic service in WW II to make life better and war obsolete. I have never cast a more honorable vote in my life. (I've always cast honorable votes, but never one more honorable than the one I cast for him.)
I was able to shake his hand once (I have the photo somewhere; must look it up and post it here) and I received Christmas cards from him and his wife Eleanor for several years after his defeat (by Richard Nixon) for the Presidency of the United States.
As we all know, Nixon and his VP resigned in disgrace two years later; McGovern carried on, blessing the country and the world he served every day of his life even after he left the Senate.
A true Christian, he was a priceless treasure. I will always love him.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
WOO HOO! Broke My Own Personal Best in Income This Month
Gotta shout it to the moon. This month I met my fondest financial goal for the first time ever: I made four times what I need to live for a month in just thirty days' time. This may not seem like a lot to a lot of small business owners, but it's HUGE to me! I'm so flippin' happy I could dance on the ceiling right now!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS: 'They're all the Same"???
I keep reading disgruntled Americans who profess to believe that there's no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. Some of them are going to stay home and grouse about the perceived "sameness" of the two parties while others are going rogue and voting for candidates in other parties who appear to better-reflect their sensibilities.
Although I honor and respect the dissenting voters who go with other parties, I simply cannot fathom why anyone who has been paying any kind of attention at all considers the choice that is before us this November--the choice that will elect one of the two major party candidates (Obama-Biden and Romney-Ryan)--considers them clones of each other! It's absolutely appalling to me that anyone can believe this! I must call it what it is: ignorance. Blind, resolute, unmitigated ignorance. As opposed to stupidity. Stupid people cannot discern differences; ignorant people can discern differences, but they're too lazy or otherwise-occupied to take the time to do so.
There has perhaps NEVER been as stark a difference between the two parties as there is this year. On the one hand you have two candidates (R-R) who want to roll back the family planning and reproductive rights of women--a party that refused to listen to a single, solitary woman when they debated a controversial reproductive rights agenda--a party that now pushes an agenda to overturn Roe v Wade and deny women the right to an abortion even in the case of rape, incest, and the threat to the life of the mother; on the other hand you have a party (O-B) who champions women's causes including violence against women (which the Republicans voted against), equal pay for equal work, and a plethora of other issues.
On the one hand you have a party (R-R) well-funded by gazillionaires that is so dedicated to gazillionaires that they're willing to gut this nation's safety net and social programs (not to mention education, jobs, and other necessities of life) to give themselves additional tax cuts; on the other (O-B) you have representatives who are dedicated to making sure we don't bankrupt ourselves or our moral responsibility to "the least of these".
I could go on and on, but those of you who have been following the political situation would be bored to tears.
I implore all of you fence-sitters and counterpoint-voters to truly look at what is at stake in November. Don't fiddle while Rome burns.
The GOP talks about being the party of Family Values. HAH! Read BLINDED BY THE RIGHT: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative to discover what goes on behind the scenes. It was written by a political operative who worked to create the image of the Democratic Party that you're hearing about from the GOP "viewpoint." It's a viewpoint filled with lies, slanders and libels that should be legislated against.
If a party can't win based on its own merits--if it has to win by lying about and slandering its opposition--it's not a party anyone should support.
Although DEMS have been known to exaggerate or misspeak, the GOP fabricates stuff and repeats it often enough that people begin to think it must be true. That was the plan of the Nazis--a propaganda campaign that almost brought the world to its knees.
You want to be careful. Fact check your party. (Dems, too, although Dems usually dance to truth because they have enough facts and integrity and lack the sociopath's twisted sense of "justice").
I have a lot of Republican friends. A lot of them. What I see them doing, almost to a person, is burying their heads in the sand. They think they're upholding America's highest ideals by doing so. God bless them, but they're wrong. The new GOP will crush them as easily as they will crush the rest of the 98%. The GOP doesn't care about them... or about God... or about what this nation was founded on, despite their protestations to the contrary. You're deceived if you think they do.
I'm praying that there are more people paying attention (of those who plan to vote) and that they will discern exactly what their choice will do to America moving forward. I pray that everyone will vote for one of the two major parties so that those who DO vote will have them counted and we get the people we want in there. And when we do, we should follow them because they will be duly-elected by us. This didn't happen when Obama was elected--to a man and woman, the opposition party filibustered, opposed and denigrated every policy the President put forth, defying the will of the people who elected him into office. In my opinion, this is sedition. These people should be tried as traitors. But voting them out of office this time around will suffice for me.
We need to get this nation moving forward again. Lock-step opposition to the leader of the free world is unacceptable. It is treason of the highest order.
Pay attention, voters. Pay attention!
Although I honor and respect the dissenting voters who go with other parties, I simply cannot fathom why anyone who has been paying any kind of attention at all considers the choice that is before us this November--the choice that will elect one of the two major party candidates (Obama-Biden and Romney-Ryan)--considers them clones of each other! It's absolutely appalling to me that anyone can believe this! I must call it what it is: ignorance. Blind, resolute, unmitigated ignorance. As opposed to stupidity. Stupid people cannot discern differences; ignorant people can discern differences, but they're too lazy or otherwise-occupied to take the time to do so.
There has perhaps NEVER been as stark a difference between the two parties as there is this year. On the one hand you have two candidates (R-R) who want to roll back the family planning and reproductive rights of women--a party that refused to listen to a single, solitary woman when they debated a controversial reproductive rights agenda--a party that now pushes an agenda to overturn Roe v Wade and deny women the right to an abortion even in the case of rape, incest, and the threat to the life of the mother; on the other hand you have a party (O-B) who champions women's causes including violence against women (which the Republicans voted against), equal pay for equal work, and a plethora of other issues.
On the one hand you have a party (R-R) well-funded by gazillionaires that is so dedicated to gazillionaires that they're willing to gut this nation's safety net and social programs (not to mention education, jobs, and other necessities of life) to give themselves additional tax cuts; on the other (O-B) you have representatives who are dedicated to making sure we don't bankrupt ourselves or our moral responsibility to "the least of these".
I could go on and on, but those of you who have been following the political situation would be bored to tears.
I implore all of you fence-sitters and counterpoint-voters to truly look at what is at stake in November. Don't fiddle while Rome burns.
The GOP talks about being the party of Family Values. HAH! Read BLINDED BY THE RIGHT: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative to discover what goes on behind the scenes. It was written by a political operative who worked to create the image of the Democratic Party that you're hearing about from the GOP "viewpoint." It's a viewpoint filled with lies, slanders and libels that should be legislated against.
If a party can't win based on its own merits--if it has to win by lying about and slandering its opposition--it's not a party anyone should support.
Although DEMS have been known to exaggerate or misspeak, the GOP fabricates stuff and repeats it often enough that people begin to think it must be true. That was the plan of the Nazis--a propaganda campaign that almost brought the world to its knees.
You want to be careful. Fact check your party. (Dems, too, although Dems usually dance to truth because they have enough facts and integrity and lack the sociopath's twisted sense of "justice").
I have a lot of Republican friends. A lot of them. What I see them doing, almost to a person, is burying their heads in the sand. They think they're upholding America's highest ideals by doing so. God bless them, but they're wrong. The new GOP will crush them as easily as they will crush the rest of the 98%. The GOP doesn't care about them... or about God... or about what this nation was founded on, despite their protestations to the contrary. You're deceived if you think they do.
I'm praying that there are more people paying attention (of those who plan to vote) and that they will discern exactly what their choice will do to America moving forward. I pray that everyone will vote for one of the two major parties so that those who DO vote will have them counted and we get the people we want in there. And when we do, we should follow them because they will be duly-elected by us. This didn't happen when Obama was elected--to a man and woman, the opposition party filibustered, opposed and denigrated every policy the President put forth, defying the will of the people who elected him into office. In my opinion, this is sedition. These people should be tried as traitors. But voting them out of office this time around will suffice for me.
We need to get this nation moving forward again. Lock-step opposition to the leader of the free world is unacceptable. It is treason of the highest order.
Pay attention, voters. Pay attention!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
YOU have been selected as a candidate to ... take part in the final selection for our Top 50 featured authors
- WOO HOO Look at the first line of an email I received just this morning!
"The third annual edition of THE AUTHORS SHOW’s “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” is soon to be published….
And YOU have been selected as a candidate to ...take part in the final selection for our Top 50 featured authors."
This is terrific news. When I learn more, I will be posting a link so you can visit it and vote for me. One of the stipulations of being able to claim this honor is that prospective authors have to win the most votes... So I'll be asking for your vote shortly. If you've read my book SERVAL SON: Spots and Stripes Forever (or even if you've read another of my titles and loved them), please be sure to vote! If you haven't read it yet and want to before voting for me, you can order it at Amazon. It's a cautionary true story about what it's like to own--and be owned by-- a wild cat for seventeen years. You can listen to the Authors Show interview about SERVAL SON on my blog at http://almostfamousbydesfault.blogspot.com/.
Thank you for voting for me when it's time to do that!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
THE NORTHERN KITTITAS COUNTY TRIBUNE PUBLISHED A NEWS STORY ABOUT "SETTLE FOR BEST" AND ME!
Thank you to Lyn Derrick for writing a FABULOUS news story about my newest book, SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be. It's so good I'm going to laminate it and put it on the same wall next to the article she wrote about SERVAL SON when it came out...
It's in today's edition. Order one today. LIKE the paper at FB and ask them how to get a copy!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Presented to 40+ People at Networking on Lakewood Today -- Fun Fun Fun!
In what is at least some kind of mini-miracle, I talked about copy writing for eight minutes at noon today in front of more than 40 people at Networking in Lakewood, James Fowler's group that takes place at the YMCA.
I must have been on auto-pilot (or semi-hysterical) because I only remember one or two things I said during the entire time... one of which got a big laugh (which I intended, thank God!). The real miracle is that I don't remember being scared--not even a little bit, although certainly I must have been! I'm usually miserable when the center of attention at large gatherings. I'm MUCH better one-to-one (but even then I'm not comfortable; I've just learned to cope! It wears me out to interact with people. Gregarious people love it; we shy types usually go along to get along and hope no one notices how out of place and "fish out of water" we feel!)
It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to get scared or even to organize my thoughts--but after it was all over, several people came over to say I did GREAT--and I could tell they meant it! Some of them even reiterated on the NIL Facebook page later in the day (by LIKING one gal's comment) that I did well, putting their own names and integrity on the line while doing so!
It blows me away. I usually stew over presentations for days or weeks before I feel "ready". Maybe it's because I know almost everyone there after all this time... and because I feel absolutely confident when it comes to copy writing tips and tricks after five years of writing copy as a full-time profession.
Whatever the reason(s), the presentation didn't feel threatening at all...even though, had I messed up royally, I would probably NEVER get a writing gig from any of the 40+ people there! (Had I thought about that beforehand, I might have become catatonic and been unable to speak at all!)
Anyway... eight minutes is waaaayyyy too short a time to share much about copy writing, so I'm going to offer a free 30 minute or 60 minute class in a month or so. A number of people told me they want to hear and learn more.
Today's handout was nine pages (five of which were "do later" homework for those who want to); my actual copy writing crash course is 32 pages long! It would be fun to try it out live before I offer it for sale to the public. It'll give me an opportunity to receive feedback and see if there's anything I left out that I should include...
Oh! But I'm sure you want to hear about the line that got the laugh!
I was talking about how writing great copy requires cadence and rhythm so that a sort of "hypnotic" effect sets in. I said, "Adding a lot of links or exit points to the home page confuses the issue and your visitor; knowing they're supposed to go somewhere else eventually keeps them rattled and from relaxing sufficiently to succumb to the mesmerizing effect that good copy should have on them. So... instead of capturing their attention entirely, it's like this... You know the Beatles song, 'Something in the way she moves attracts me like no other lover...' ? There's a story within the lyrics that seduces you and brings you along, almost against your will, isn't there? Good copy writing should do that. But when there are a lot of links or exit points staring your visitor in the face, the effect is like this... (I began to sing): 'Something in the way she moves.... attracts me... SQUIRREL!' (said the same way that cartoon dog did)!
The roars that reverberated across the room were so joyous and delirious that they embarrassed me! I expected a laugh, but not one like THAT! Twenty minutes later when Rebecca Joy stood up to speak, her first word was, "SQUIRREL!" and the roars reverberated again!
I got the point across, for sure! It was memorable! They won't forget what too many links and exit points do to a great piece of copy writing! That's for sure!
I have to come up with more analogies like that when I teach!
I must have been on auto-pilot (or semi-hysterical) because I only remember one or two things I said during the entire time... one of which got a big laugh (which I intended, thank God!). The real miracle is that I don't remember being scared--not even a little bit, although certainly I must have been! I'm usually miserable when the center of attention at large gatherings. I'm MUCH better one-to-one (but even then I'm not comfortable; I've just learned to cope! It wears me out to interact with people. Gregarious people love it; we shy types usually go along to get along and hope no one notices how out of place and "fish out of water" we feel!)
It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to get scared or even to organize my thoughts--but after it was all over, several people came over to say I did GREAT--and I could tell they meant it! Some of them even reiterated on the NIL Facebook page later in the day (by LIKING one gal's comment) that I did well, putting their own names and integrity on the line while doing so!
It blows me away. I usually stew over presentations for days or weeks before I feel "ready". Maybe it's because I know almost everyone there after all this time... and because I feel absolutely confident when it comes to copy writing tips and tricks after five years of writing copy as a full-time profession.
Whatever the reason(s), the presentation didn't feel threatening at all...even though, had I messed up royally, I would probably NEVER get a writing gig from any of the 40+ people there! (Had I thought about that beforehand, I might have become catatonic and been unable to speak at all!)
Anyway... eight minutes is waaaayyyy too short a time to share much about copy writing, so I'm going to offer a free 30 minute or 60 minute class in a month or so. A number of people told me they want to hear and learn more.
Today's handout was nine pages (five of which were "do later" homework for those who want to); my actual copy writing crash course is 32 pages long! It would be fun to try it out live before I offer it for sale to the public. It'll give me an opportunity to receive feedback and see if there's anything I left out that I should include...
Oh! But I'm sure you want to hear about the line that got the laugh!
I was talking about how writing great copy requires cadence and rhythm so that a sort of "hypnotic" effect sets in. I said, "Adding a lot of links or exit points to the home page confuses the issue and your visitor; knowing they're supposed to go somewhere else eventually keeps them rattled and from relaxing sufficiently to succumb to the mesmerizing effect that good copy should have on them. So... instead of capturing their attention entirely, it's like this... You know the Beatles song, 'Something in the way she moves attracts me like no other lover...' ? There's a story within the lyrics that seduces you and brings you along, almost against your will, isn't there? Good copy writing should do that. But when there are a lot of links or exit points staring your visitor in the face, the effect is like this... (I began to sing): 'Something in the way she moves.... attracts me... SQUIRREL!' (said the same way that cartoon dog did)!
The roars that reverberated across the room were so joyous and delirious that they embarrassed me! I expected a laugh, but not one like THAT! Twenty minutes later when Rebecca Joy stood up to speak, her first word was, "SQUIRREL!" and the roars reverberated again!
I got the point across, for sure! It was memorable! They won't forget what too many links and exit points do to a great piece of copy writing! That's for sure!
I have to come up with more analogies like that when I teach!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Thank You For Making SETTLE FOR BEST #1 for Three Days Running!
I've been over the moon, basking in the early success of SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be at Amazon. This simply would not have been possible without those of you who ordered, LIKED and SHARED the debut announcement on Facebook, encouraging others to check it out...
Thanks, too, to my publisher, Cheryl Haynes (Futureword.net), the most helpful, amazing, hard-working publisher on the planet. Cheryl has been instrumental in formatting and getting the world out about SETTLE FOR BEST.
Special thanks to C. S. (Shon) Trent at Din Faction (dinfaction.com), who found the cover photo and designed the cover layout. All too often, a cover makes or breaks a title; in this case, the cover was instrumental, I believe, in making the title as compelling as it is. I'm asking Shon to design my copy writing business logo, too. He's brilliant...
It is also time to thank my publisher for the cover and layout of SERVAL SON, my previous title at Futureword; I knew the second I saw it that it was the only possible cover for the book. The cover has sold the book all by itself: I carried it to a store one day to find mailing envelopes for it, and the lady at the cash register bought it from me on the strength of the cover alone! It blew me away--made me want to carry a copy everywhere I go (but I don't, of course)!
The creativity of the people I've surrounded myself with astonishes me. Without them, so few people would be picking up my books to give them a try that I'd still be considered a "hobbyist" writer. (I suppose, to J.K. Rowling and other mega-blockbuster writers, I still am considered a hobbyist writer!!! It isn't as though I can retire on book residuals--not that I'd ever retire from writing, anyway. I'd have to drop dead to retire from writing!)
My copy writing business is staying just above the waterline, praise be to God. I've been at it for five years this year and have managed to stay afloat despite the "feast or famine" nature of the business.
I'm raising my rates, though. It's getting more expensive to live and I've started attending networking meetings to interact with local businessmen and women to earn their trust (up 'til now I've been a "virtual"copywriter to businesses all over the planet--everywhere except locally!), so that pursuit steals time from stringing words together at my keyboard. The networking contacts are beginning to bear fruit (I'm getting local work), so it's worth the time I spend away but, at the moment, there is more outlay than income to the networking process (it takes months of one-on-ones and lunch meetings to develop the kind of relationships one needs to garner full-throated referrals) so I have to compensate.
Besides--let's face facts: To all intents and purposes, I've been under-pricing my services at the rate I've been charging when compared to other professional copywriters. Most pros charge between $1 and $3 per word (not a typo). I charge $75/hour and can write upwards of 500 words an hour... so to say I've been under-pricing my services is quite the understatement! It's goofy to try to stay afloat on such slim margins when the market will bear higher rates. I just have to get over the desire to be the savior of every last start-up small business that is trying to survive on a shoestring marketing budget. They get more than they pay for with me; they still will. It will be a cold day in hell before I'll charge $1 to $3 per word unless my client is Time Warner, GE, CNN, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco or any of the major players who can well afford $3 per word!
(I have ghosted for a couple of CNN talking heads already. Would like to do more of it... 'cause I happen to adore the talking heads I've written for!)
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Thanks, too, to my publisher, Cheryl Haynes (Futureword.net), the most helpful, amazing, hard-working publisher on the planet. Cheryl has been instrumental in formatting and getting the world out about SETTLE FOR BEST.
Special thanks to C. S. (Shon) Trent at Din Faction (dinfaction.com), who found the cover photo and designed the cover layout. All too often, a cover makes or breaks a title; in this case, the cover was instrumental, I believe, in making the title as compelling as it is. I'm asking Shon to design my copy writing business logo, too. He's brilliant...
It is also time to thank my publisher for the cover and layout of SERVAL SON, my previous title at Futureword; I knew the second I saw it that it was the only possible cover for the book. The cover has sold the book all by itself: I carried it to a store one day to find mailing envelopes for it, and the lady at the cash register bought it from me on the strength of the cover alone! It blew me away--made me want to carry a copy everywhere I go (but I don't, of course)!
The creativity of the people I've surrounded myself with astonishes me. Without them, so few people would be picking up my books to give them a try that I'd still be considered a "hobbyist" writer. (I suppose, to J.K. Rowling and other mega-blockbuster writers, I still am considered a hobbyist writer!!! It isn't as though I can retire on book residuals--not that I'd ever retire from writing, anyway. I'd have to drop dead to retire from writing!)
My copy writing business is staying just above the waterline, praise be to God. I've been at it for five years this year and have managed to stay afloat despite the "feast or famine" nature of the business.
I'm raising my rates, though. It's getting more expensive to live and I've started attending networking meetings to interact with local businessmen and women to earn their trust (up 'til now I've been a "virtual"copywriter to businesses all over the planet--everywhere except locally!), so that pursuit steals time from stringing words together at my keyboard. The networking contacts are beginning to bear fruit (I'm getting local work), so it's worth the time I spend away but, at the moment, there is more outlay than income to the networking process (it takes months of one-on-ones and lunch meetings to develop the kind of relationships one needs to garner full-throated referrals) so I have to compensate.
Besides--let's face facts: To all intents and purposes, I've been under-pricing my services at the rate I've been charging when compared to other professional copywriters. Most pros charge between $1 and $3 per word (not a typo). I charge $75/hour and can write upwards of 500 words an hour... so to say I've been under-pricing my services is quite the understatement! It's goofy to try to stay afloat on such slim margins when the market will bear higher rates. I just have to get over the desire to be the savior of every last start-up small business that is trying to survive on a shoestring marketing budget. They get more than they pay for with me; they still will. It will be a cold day in hell before I'll charge $1 to $3 per word unless my client is Time Warner, GE, CNN, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco or any of the major players who can well afford $3 per word!
(I have ghosted for a couple of CNN talking heads already. Would like to do more of it... 'cause I happen to adore the talking heads I've written for!)
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Mission: Impossible: Teach Copy Writing in Eight Minutes
I have been tasked with presenting an eight-minute mini-course on copy writing at the end of July during a networking meeting. Whatever possessed me to say yes? It's sheer lunacy!
I'm going over a manuscript I wrote several months ago to see what I can pull out of it to use as a quick "tips and tricks" kind of lesson. Naturally, the idea is to show expertise in eight minutes so that people will be interested in hiring me (or referring me to others they know who need a great copywriter). But I have another reason for agreeing to be a featured speaker, too.
Michael McCoy (NuSkin and Empower Network Associate)and I have already been talking about offering a paid writing session re: social media and the Empower Network, so this eight minute intro will segue nicely if we can come up with a date and time not long after the eight-minute session to announce on the 31st. At that time I can actually roll out the entire 24 page document and use it to teach the class... but for right now, I just need to choose some quick talking points. Eight minutes goes by very, very fast...
In Other News....
We're just eight days away from the debut of SETTLE FOR BEST: SATISFY THE WINNER YOU WERE BORN TO BE, my seventh book. My publisher, bless her heart, has been racing against the clock to get the manuscript numbered as a PDF file so we can upload it for the final time. Today she got it to happen but some of the chapters start on the left-hand side of the pages, which is a no-no... so she's back to the drawing board...
When I got the initial galley proofs I noticed that the back cover photo looked yellowed with age and blurry, something the original photo isn't. I asked for some tweaking to see if we could fix that and, if not, if we can swap out the photo for one that doesn't misbehave. But my publisher loves the photo that's on there now (see it below) so we're trying to do what we can to keep it... Pray for success!
I'm going over a manuscript I wrote several months ago to see what I can pull out of it to use as a quick "tips and tricks" kind of lesson. Naturally, the idea is to show expertise in eight minutes so that people will be interested in hiring me (or referring me to others they know who need a great copywriter). But I have another reason for agreeing to be a featured speaker, too.
Michael McCoy (NuSkin and Empower Network Associate)and I have already been talking about offering a paid writing session re: social media and the Empower Network, so this eight minute intro will segue nicely if we can come up with a date and time not long after the eight-minute session to announce on the 31st. At that time I can actually roll out the entire 24 page document and use it to teach the class... but for right now, I just need to choose some quick talking points. Eight minutes goes by very, very fast...
In Other News....
We're just eight days away from the debut of SETTLE FOR BEST: SATISFY THE WINNER YOU WERE BORN TO BE, my seventh book. My publisher, bless her heart, has been racing against the clock to get the manuscript numbered as a PDF file so we can upload it for the final time. Today she got it to happen but some of the chapters start on the left-hand side of the pages, which is a no-no... so she's back to the drawing board...
When I got the initial galley proofs I noticed that the back cover photo looked yellowed with age and blurry, something the original photo isn't. I asked for some tweaking to see if we could fix that and, if not, if we can swap out the photo for one that doesn't misbehave. But my publisher loves the photo that's on there now (see it below) so we're trying to do what we can to keep it... Pray for success!
On July 16 I'll be able to announce something else that's happening in my life right now, even as I write this, but I have to keep it under my hat until then. I'll be taking pictures of all that's happening right along so you can re-live it vicariously "after the fact" on the 16th ...so stay tuned!
My new "goaties" are doing fine. They used to live in a small pen, so they arrived extremely rotund. After just four weeks they've slimmed down noticeably ; Curly (who we estimate is about eleven) can run real fast now and no longer acts as arthritic (stiff-legged in the rear) as he did. The exercise he gets in the larger pasture seems to be doing him a world of good.
Laverne now has three goats to boss around, so Shirley has some leisure time that she hasn't enjoyed before. She's also pretty bossy with the smaller boys--but the boys don't seem to mind all that much--they follow along like puppies wherever Laverne and Shirley go and just make sure they MOVE OUT whenever either of the "boss ladies" give them the bum's rush.
Our hens are about two months away from laying their first eggs, we estimate. They're practically pets, too: we let them out of their hen pen and they follow us around like imprinted ducklings... It's pretty funny. We have three Rhode Island Reds and three Black Sex Links (a cross between a Rhode Island Red and something else...)
What else? I'm delighted that the Affordable Care Act was upheld by the Supreme Court. Hallelujah! I pray that this bodes well for President Obama's re-election in November... We're pulling out of the rut as a nation. We're aren't out yet, but we're getting there. Obama is headed in the right direction and is picking up speed.
I say let's actually follow the leader for once and see what he can do for us in the next four years without being hamstrung by naysayers. I hope the Tea Party-hamstrung GOP is soundly defeated in November so they wake up and smell the coffee and we can get on the same page in D.C. for the first time in decades to get something done for the American people. The present quagmire is totally unacceptable.
Friday, June 22, 2012
MEDIA RELEASE FOR SETTLE FOR BEST: SATISFY THE WINNER YOU WERE BORN TO BE
FUTUREWORD PUBLISHING ANNOUNCES SECOND NONFICTION TITLE
“SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be” Debuts July 7th 2012
Seattle FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the President of FutureWord Publishing, Cheryl Haynes, announced the upcoming July 7th release of SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be by author and copywriter Kristine M. Smith.
Smith’s seventh title, ‘SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be’ is loosely based on Napoleon Hill’s seminal bestseller “Think and Grow Rich.” The book details twenty commonalities that “up by the bootstraps” millionaire philanthropists shared during the first part of the last century before, during and after the Great Depression. Each chapter title reveals one of the commonalities; then, Smith takes it from there, inspiring and encouraging readers to think and act boldly while so many others are hunkered down, thinking and acting scared, diminished and defeated.
Publisher Haynes’ announcement reads in part, “Smith’s books is an eye-opening look into the ways successful entrepreneurs think and behave their way to success. ‘SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be’ debuts at a particularly apt time in our nation’s history, when so many people are out of work and finding it hard to land a job in the public and private sectors. Smith encourages these folks to use their time of unemployment to dig deep into their souls and re-establish the dreams they had about setting the world on fire when they were children, teens and young adults."
Author Smith says, “Now is the time to use your free time to consider whether your career ladder has been leaning up against the wrong wall. If so, there’s not a thing in the world to stop you from forging the career you want out of your freed up time and energy. You’re the only one standing in your way. Kick it up a notch! Move!”
Smith’s 2011 title, ‘SERVAL SON: Spots and Stripes Forever’ reached the #2 and #4 spots at Amazon in two niche categories when it debuted and landed among the top 1000 books sold at Amazon among the more than 5 million titles offered at the site that day.
Kristine’s earlier titles include ‘DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories,’ ‘The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend,’ ‘Let No Day Dawn that the Animals Cannot Share,’ ‘Purposeful Christianity’ and ‘Floating around Hollywood and Other Totally-True Tales of Triumph.’
SETTLE FOR BEST will be available at Amazon.com and at FutureWord.net on or before July 4th. Not long after, it will be available at all online bookstores and on Kindle™. It measures 6 x 9 and will be perfect bound.
#
Futureword Publishing publishes award-worthy fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. Find out more at FutureWord.net or Amazon.com. Author and copywriter Kristine M. Smith is an author and well-regarded copywriter who writes for businesses globally. Discover more about her at kristinemsmith.biz.
The cover photo is much better/sharper on the actual book. This is a low resolution version of it.
“SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be” Debuts July 7th 2012
Seattle FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the President of FutureWord Publishing, Cheryl Haynes, announced the upcoming July 7th release of SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be by author and copywriter Kristine M. Smith.
Smith’s seventh title, ‘SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be’ is loosely based on Napoleon Hill’s seminal bestseller “Think and Grow Rich.” The book details twenty commonalities that “up by the bootstraps” millionaire philanthropists shared during the first part of the last century before, during and after the Great Depression. Each chapter title reveals one of the commonalities; then, Smith takes it from there, inspiring and encouraging readers to think and act boldly while so many others are hunkered down, thinking and acting scared, diminished and defeated.
Publisher Haynes’ announcement reads in part, “Smith’s books is an eye-opening look into the ways successful entrepreneurs think and behave their way to success. ‘SETTLE FOR BEST: Satisfy the Winner You Were Born to Be’ debuts at a particularly apt time in our nation’s history, when so many people are out of work and finding it hard to land a job in the public and private sectors. Smith encourages these folks to use their time of unemployment to dig deep into their souls and re-establish the dreams they had about setting the world on fire when they were children, teens and young adults."
Author Smith says, “Now is the time to use your free time to consider whether your career ladder has been leaning up against the wrong wall. If so, there’s not a thing in the world to stop you from forging the career you want out of your freed up time and energy. You’re the only one standing in your way. Kick it up a notch! Move!”
Smith’s 2011 title, ‘SERVAL SON: Spots and Stripes Forever’ reached the #2 and #4 spots at Amazon in two niche categories when it debuted and landed among the top 1000 books sold at Amazon among the more than 5 million titles offered at the site that day.
Kristine’s earlier titles include ‘DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories,’ ‘The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend,’ ‘Let No Day Dawn that the Animals Cannot Share,’ ‘Purposeful Christianity’ and ‘Floating around Hollywood and Other Totally-True Tales of Triumph.’
SETTLE FOR BEST will be available at Amazon.com and at FutureWord.net on or before July 4th. Not long after, it will be available at all online bookstores and on Kindle™. It measures 6 x 9 and will be perfect bound.
#
Futureword Publishing publishes award-worthy fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. Find out more at FutureWord.net or Amazon.com. Author and copywriter Kristine M. Smith is an author and well-regarded copywriter who writes for businesses globally. Discover more about her at kristinemsmith.biz.
The cover photo is much better/sharper on the actual book. This is a low resolution version of it.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: STUDENTS JAZZED!
Today I spoke at Hunt Elementary to two classes about writing and the writing life. I spoke for about 50 minutes; the students and teachers were with me all the way--asking great questions.
Wendy videotaped the whole thing; Phil will send me a disk of the presentation so I can post it to YouTube or my blog or wherever else I think it'll do some good. I'll make several copies of it on DVD, too, so I have back-ups... If you'd like copies, let me know...
I want to thank the teachers for the opportunity and the kids for being so great! It was a lot of fun!
Wendy videotaped the whole thing; Phil will send me a disk of the presentation so I can post it to YouTube or my blog or wherever else I think it'll do some good. I'll make several copies of it on DVD, too, so I have back-ups... If you'd like copies, let me know...
I want to thank the teachers for the opportunity and the kids for being so great! It was a lot of fun!
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