Ruth Kaufman - Award-Winning Author and Romance Writer

Ruth Kaufman is the author of My Life as a Star, My Life as an Extra, My Once & Future Love, The Bride Tournament, Follow Your Heart, At His Command and other books.

Impressed vs. Jaded

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These days it takes a lot to impress us. Manufacturers present thousands of new products every year to eat, make our lives easier/more productive, or just enjoy. We’re bombarded with a plethora of advertising messages telling us why this is better than that or why we need the other thing. Some products, such as the iPhone and iPad, wowed users, but how will Apple top them…and by enough margin and at a price enticing to customers beyond early adopters? The newest thing isn’t always the best (Windows Vista, anyone?). Some products are targeted to a narrow market, while others are intended to appeal to the masses.

Judges on the TV shows So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent say the competition is better than ever and make comments such as, “Last season, you would’ve gone through to the next round.” With the bar constantly being raised higher and higher, how do we continue to measure up? We often say so and so’s new book/movie wasn’t as good as the last. This or that restaurant is better than the other. It’s difficult to isolate each experience and not compare it to all we’ve seen and done before.

And given the lackluster economy, motivating us to part with our hard-earned dollars is harder than ever, though instant gratification is often at our fingertips. For .99, we may download a book or iTune. But if the price is $4.99, will we be so quick to order? Will we shell out more than $20 for a hardcover novel?

What makes something worth your time and money, makes it special enough and different enough that you need or want it? Reviews and what friends and family say may influence us. Perceived value, product features, utility, and what that product can do for us or how it can make us feel are some other factors.

Soon I’ll be self-publishing a non-fiction book. How will my co-author and I make readers want to buy? Make it stand out amidst the thousands of self-help books available from publishers large and small? Will we get good reviews and word of mouth to spur sales, or will we be hand selling each copy…putting in too many hours promoting vs. our return on investment?

Waiting…

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Freelancers can do a lot of waiting in general and for a given project in particular: while they’re being considered and/or bidding, for content to arrive, getting answers to questions, for revisions and final approval.

I allocate time (leaving wiggle room in case it takes longer than I thought or other opportunities crop up) for expected assignments. While of course I don’t want to pass up more work, I’m reluctant to overbook. I sometimes get a bit unsettled when I look at my calendar and see a lot of pencil instead of ink (yes, I still use a Day-Timer. It takes too long IMO to use a calendar on a phone.). I do my best to take updates and changes in stride, but at times too much fluctuation can be frustrating.

The script for a voiceover job was supposed to be ready mid-August. I penciled in two days. The date kept getting pushed back. I was offered another short project, so I accepted that. Then I learned the second project was 10 times longer than originally stated, and, though also delayed, was expected to arrive around the same time as the first. I said I couldn’t do it. The first project was now scheduled to arrive on Friday the 26th…could I do it over the weekend? I want to accommodate clients when possible, and said I could…so I didn’t make many other plans. But the script actually arrived Sunday night at 9:30PM. Monday was already booked from 9AM-8PM. I recorded late Sunday and early Monday. Then I was informed that there were problems with the script, and to wait for an updated one. Of course by then, I had other items on my agenda and had to fit in the re-recording.

While I don’t, of course, literally stare at the phone or my inbox until I get information I need, it can be a challenge not to expend time and mental energy thinking about when I might hear or what the response will be… from auditions to book submissions to jobs in progress. I like to plan. Knowing when I’ll need to do something or be somewhere makes it easier to schedule other activities and not stress about having too much on my plate.

Waiting can also involve looking forward to something. Two weeks ago, I was told I booked an ongoing job involving on camera, voiceover and print…a triple threat. But I still don’t know what I’ll be doing, when, or how long or how many days “ongoing” means. I’m eager to find out and get started.

I can’t usually control when people will get back to me or when information I need or want will arrive. Solutions to letting waiting impact my day aremoving on, keeping busy and focusing on things I can control. Fortunately, I always have more projects to work on. What’s next on my to do list?

Requested Revisions

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Requested revisions is a phrase that sends strong emotions through authors. Some may think a revision request is a rejection…I’ve heard stories that some simply set the email or letter aside, not realizing exactly what the agent or editor was asking. Others may be offended that anyone would want them to change a word of their precious creation. And others may sigh, knowing a lot more hours of work lie ahead. I see it as an opportunity to make my project stronger, and appreciate having an industry professional willing to take the time and effort to work with me. So when an agent asked me to revise the first 50 pages of one of my manuscripts, I was excited yet slightly unnerved.

She offered a few, very helpful suggestions and guidelines of what she was looking for. Before diving in, I sent the original pages to and discussed her comments with three friends: a two-time New York Times bestseller, a multi-published author, and one who’s as yet unpublished but in the process of writing a book.

Great writing, a great story and characters are in the eyes of the beholder, as is great decorating or fashion. If you tell me an event we’re going to is black tie and I show up in a silver gown, you may find it tacky or tasteful. How much jewelry is too much? Do the pieces go together? We’ve all heard stories of how many times now famous authors were rejected, including Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help …until their project landed on the right desk at the right time.

I pondered for a couple of days. While I understood what she was asking me to do, at first I couldn’t quite see how to apply it to my story while keeping as much as possible of what was already there, which we’d agreed was the goal. I didn’t want to stray down what she thought was the wrong path, so I emailed my plan and quickly got the go ahead. Whew. We were on the same page, so far.

As I reviewed my pages, I wanted to stay in the writing zone and in my character’s head. But it was a challenge not to keep getting pulled out by thinking, “Is this what she meant?” “Is this too much or not enough change?” “Can this scene stay, go, or should it be moved to a different chapter?”

After a final read through, I’ll send the revisions. I’m happy with what remained, what’s new, and what had to go. Time will tell if she agrees….

Putting out fires or growing the forest

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Some days I’m fortunate to be so busy I can barely get everything done. Today, for example, included three voiceover auditions, preparation for and a call with an agent that led me to ask two friends for suggestions, some revisions for 2 VO jobs, a call with a client and an improv show. I’m putting out fires and meeting short deadlines.

Other days I have more time to grow the forest…makde headway on longer term projects such as revisions, putting final touches on the non-fiction book, researching and deciding on next steps. But those days seem to be fewer and farther between. Sometimes I feel I get less done, because I’m creating my own agenda and prioritzing tasks that may lead to income, but progress and results may not be as obvious.

Not to mention staying on top of email and social media and keeping up with those in my network, which takes more and more time, especially if I want to follow through on frequent recommendations to build my platform and grow my online community.

I’m getting better at going with the flow…setting aside one thing I was focusing on to deal with another that pops up. I try not to spend too much time on fun distractions, like talking to friends, but there are times when it’s easier to catch up and/or make social arrangements during business hours.

Years ago, when I had a 9 to 5 corporate job, though there was always more work to do, when I left for the day I felt done. Fires were out, some forest growing had been acheived. I was free.

Now, though I don’t have a boss expecting me to show up on time, not only do I tend to work more hours (I’m often at my desk by 7AM), I spend more of my “free” time thinking about what to do next or analyzing a sticking point. Also, emails from clients or agents can come at any time…evenings and even weekends…and many request (and expect) a response ASAP. There are always new fires to tend and an almost unlimited amount and types of new trees to grow.

The key is to be sure to find enough time and energy to nourish the trees in your forest. If you spend all of your days putting out fires, are always catching up, when can you move forward? When can you grow and expand your business, and thus your income?

Self-publishing?

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More and more authors in general and those I know (such as Debra Holland,NYT and USA Today bestselling Courtney Milan, Trish Milburn) are doing it every day, whether their books are backlist or new releases.

Why? A variety of reasons. The stigma has decreased. More self-publishing venues are available and e-book sales are on the rise as print stores close. Some literary agents now offer self-publishing assistance.

Now some authors are making a lot of money and others are getting New York publisher or movie deals (like Amanda Hocking). I’ve heard that if you can sell 5,000 copies in a year, agents and publishers are more willing to take a look. Many others languish in the flood of content hitting the market, and struggle to find ways to get the word out.

Can the content of all of these books–many of which aren’t vetted by agents or book editors (though many sources recommend hiring a freelance editor)–be high quality?

At the same time, it seems traditional publishers are buying fewer manuscripts, and fewer from new authors. So do I join the s-p band wagon, or keep trying for NY?

Upsides include: higher percentage of royalties, more control over things like the cover. Downsides include: spending money on the s-p packages and a lot of time to do all the things a traditional publisher would do. There’s quite a lot of prep work before you can upload a manuscript. Some authors might be able to lower costs by doing things like cover design themselves.

While traditional publishers expect authors to do more promotion these days, they offer the credibility of their name, distribution, and perhaps marketing assistance. Those who s-p have to do everything on their own, including deciding on the price point. Does 99 cents cheapen your product and all the work you’ve done, or make readers more willing to give you a try?

The decision is easier for my non-fiction project. Apparently in today’s competitive market, you already have to be famous before a publisher will want your non-fiction book. Almost every publisher our agent (at the time) submitted to heaped praises on the proposal and concept…but said we didn’t have a big enough platform.

We’re using Amazon’s CreateSpace. But the process is going more slowly than we’d hoped as we keep realizing there are more things to do. What fonts do we want? Do we want to pay extra for graphics…do we really need all of them? Yes, we need to think about what goes on the back cover, too.

I’m still deciding what to do about my fiction projects. Stay tuned…

Laptop, Netbook, or Tablet?

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Like many freelancers, I sometimes work at a coffee shop or with a friend for a change of scene and/or to stay motivated. So I need a reliable, easy to use, portable laptop. The one I’ve had for years (Windows Vista, anyone?) is much heavier and has a much shorter battery life than those on the market today. It’s too heavy for me to comfortably carry long distances, and a wheeled bag can be cumbersome on public transportation or if I need to go several places.

The time has come for a new laptop. Nowadays there are also more options than when I bought the last one…from regular laptops of all screen sizes to netbooks to tablets with keyboards. With the complicated model names, it’s hard to tell an ST3N01 from a VPCF22FGX/B. I like the lightness of the Macs and tried using one, but I’m a PC.

After some due diligence, I decided on the Toshiba Portege R835-P56X. The combination of features and fabulous reviews from sites such as CNET, plus its light weight convinced me. I was surprised to find the best price at the time was at OfficeMax (even after Chicago’s high sales tax), not, say, Amazon.

When I went to buy it, I was told not only was it backordered (which was disappointing, because when one decided to purchase something it’s nice to have the immediate gratification), but that I might not even get it. I could pay now, then get a full refund if after 21 business days. Lo and behold, I received it 3 business days later.

Now it sits on my desk, calling to me to check it out, but I need to finish a big voicover job first….

Satisfaction

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When something works well, has great features, is comfortable and fits your lifestyle, you might not notice or appreciate how many elements go into making a product.

I bought my new PC online, so I didn’t get to assess whether I’d like the keyboard/mouse it came with. I have small hands, so I need to be able to easily reach keys I use often. Sometimes I get forearm pain after many hours of typing, recording and editing days in a row, even if I take breaks.

I didn’t like my new peripherals that much. The keys seemed hard to press, made a lot of noise, and the mouse was harder to click and slide than my old one.

Buying another k/m online didn’t seem like a good idea, despite many choices, because I couldn’t test them and repackaging and shipping returns can be a pain and/or costly. I went to Office Depot, which allows a two week in store credit exchange. They had a good selection of wireless keyboards, which I tried in the store. But standing and typing for a couple of minutes isn’t the same as really working.

I bought a Logitech (the brand I had before, and liked but I don’t think they make that model anymore) ergonomic wave style keyboard and mouse, which was easy to install with a USB. Loved the way the deep curves on the mouse fit my hand. But looking the curving keys made me seasick, and the keys were spaced too far apart, so sometimes my fingers landed on cracks.

I went to a Best Buy, but they didn’t have as big a selection, and I’d already seen a couple of the options they offered.

Back the new keyboard went. I bought a Microsoft. This one had a “new” mouse design, but it was much too large for my hand, and it was heavier than other mice. The bottom of the keyboard curved down, so the CTRL keys were hard to reach. The F keys were high up and really tiny. My arms hurt after hours of use. Back that one went.

So after all the time and effort spent shopping, buying and retuning, I’m finding that the original keyboard is better than I’d first thought, except for the loud noise of the keys.

No product (or person) is perfect…compromise is the key. Pun intended.

Going Beyond the Call

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A rule of thumb is that talent should be seen and not heard. We’re usually hired to read whatever copy we’re given, whether we think it’s good or not, and usually don’t voice our opinions. That’s because many clients have worked long and hard to come up with the exact verbiage and because most talent probably don’t have extensive advertising or corporate writing/editing experience.

Sometimes keeping quiet is easier to do than others. I’ve bitten my tongue a couple of times. Occasionally I come across copy that is convoluted, confusing, poorly written or rife with enough errors I can’t in good conscience record it. As gently as possible, I’ll tell the client that while of course I will record as written, here’s a suggestion about how I’d change this paragraph.

I can’t think of a situation when such clients haven’t agreed, and then hired me to edit, and/or rewrite or write their scripts. At times I just make the writing a little easier to understand and/or snazzier. But there are times when I also need to do research to verify content and, to create a new term of art, de-engineerize copy. Now I’m helping a client write a multi-hundred PowerPoint slide e-learning course full of technical jargon and equipment models.

Why aren’t scripts 100% ready to record? My theories include:

-too many chefs in some corporate kitchens…perhaps a lot of hands adding content contributions to the pot so it doesn’t blend well.

-work overload and time crunches. Some chefs have too many dishes to prepare at once. Or maybe a sous chef didn’t thoroughly complete his/her portion of the recipe.

The point of the story: in today’s marketplace, offering a variety of skill sets can make Gainfully Unemployed freelancers more marketable and enable us to a) do more for our clients so they view us as resources and b) grow our businesses.

In addition to your primary service, what experience do you have that can benefit your clients? How do you make them aware of additional offerings?

Show them how you can go above and beyond the call.

The Working Actor

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I keep meeting people who say they’ve been meaning to get into voiceover. But when they realize it’s not all glamour and is actual work, much more than just reading into a mic, many change their minds.

Building any acting career—especially one that pays (there’s quite a lot of free or very low paying work in Chicago)–takes time and effort. Some actors may think that as soon as they have an agent (or agents), they can sit back and wait for auditions to roll in. Not every client wants to go through a talent agency, probably to avoid fees.

In addition to learning as much as you can about craft and industry, believe self-marketing is essential. (This includes keeping your agent(s) and casting directors up to date on work you’ve been doing. I do need to do more of that.) I’ve booked some great gigs through agents this year, but so far my steadiest, biggest jobs are from clients I found myself. Right now they’re keeping me very busy. But if I have a dry spell, I’ll seek additional clients.

Having a client return and offer you more work without auditioning is rewarding and time saving. If you do a great job, and if you’re reliable and professional (this is big—several clients have told me they’ve worked with unreliable or difficult talent), word can spread within that company, leading to still more work. Various project managers from one client keep hiring me; I just completed an e-learning course and have two more on the horizon. A project manager called yesterday to say I’m so brilliant he won’t let others “poach” me, though apparently they want to.

And if you can offer an additional skill they need, even better. Because I’m also an aspiring author and critique for a couple of published authors (NYT bestseller Simone Elkeles www.simoneelkeles.net and author Terri Reed http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html?authorid=1115, and write freelance articles, I’m a good and very picky editor. One client has me edit all of his fairly technical scripts. Also, you can be a good writer for the eye, but not understand how to write for the ear.

A good thing about recording from home is that, as long as I meet deadlines, I can do the work at any time of day or night. So if I have a big audition or need to report to a studio by day, I can continue with independent projects at night.

Becoming a consistently working actor takes time, patience, persistence and belief mixed with talent, professionalism and opportunity (if you’re not in it, you can’t win it). If you’re interested in being a working actor, keep learn. Take classes. Network. Listen to talent on agency websites. Can you do what they (we) do? Are you willing to put in the effort to build your business?

Winning the Golden Heart®!

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     Romance Writers of America®, The Voice of Romance Fiction, has over 10,000 members worldwide. It offers two contests, the RITA® for published authors, and the Golden Heart® (GH) for the as yet unpublished. The awards ceremony is held at the end of the National Conference, which was in New York last week and emceed by Meg Cabot. Approximately 2,000 writers and industry professionals attended.
     Each year the GH receives a maximum of 1,200 entries in 10 categories. I’d entered the Inspirational category with my manuscript AT HIS COMMAND, set in medieval England. Five first round judges score each entry. The top 10% up to eight making the final round, which is judged by editors. Entries consist of 6 copies of 55 pages of the beginning of a manuscript and a synopsis.
     I was thrilled to get the call from an RWA board member that AHC had finaled. It’s like a shot in the arm…of joy, hope and validation. Other benefits include a golden heart pin and ribbon for our name badges (which leads to many congratulations), a certificate handed out at a reception, having our pictures and manuscript titles in the conference program, membership in a special chapter called the Golden Network (which offers networking and programs), befriending and sharing knowledge with other GH finalists, and opening agent and editor doors.
     Competition in my category included an author who’d already sold her manuscript and another who had won the GH twice (in other categories) and finaled multiple times (fairly rare).
     I sat at my assigned table, holding the hands of friend and NYT bestseller Simone Elkeles  and my escort. When the presenter called my name, I was so surprised I didn’t even look at the huge screen to see my picture and manuscript title. Thanks to my extensive background in improv and public speaking, I came up with a speech that many said was not only humorous but one of the best of the evening.
     The outpouring of congratulations in person and via phone, email and Facebook has been amazing.  I’m honored and grateful to have so many people who support my writing.
     Many GH winners quickly find an agent (if they didn’t already have one) and sell.  Some take longer.  But not all get an agent and/or sell their manuscripts.  Only time will tell what will happen to mine….