This was found in an article on cocktails in a recent issue of our local city magazine:

"The Heavenly Cosmo, for example, is a mix of Kettle One Citron, Grand Marnier, lime juice and cranberry juice, topped with the milky white foam."

Obviously, the writer didn’t read the bottle while testing this recipe (or perhaps tested a little too much of it).  Even the non-drinking writer, or at least his editor, should verify the spelling of brand names! It's Ketel One, just in case you didn't catch it.

If you find an amusing editorial or grammar gaffe in published material, send it to me. If you're the first to submit it and I use it in the newsletter, I'll send you a book (pictured below)!

Another reason I wanted to start this newsletter had to do with a personal tragedy. A dear friend of mine, who I'd known for almost twenty years, died of liver failure in May. While I'd been expecting this for some time, it still made me gasp to see his name listed in the obituaries. What bothered me most was that we'd drifted apart in recent years, and I hadn't kept in touch with him, even via e-mail. It had been almost six months since the last time I'd stopped by his house to say hello, and none of his friends had even known how to contact me about his death.

How many people do we lose touch with, and later regret it? It happens not only in our personal lives, but also in our professional ones. How many of those people with whom we've lost touch are our valued clients? A lot of us go out of town for a while in summer, and sometimes our business slacks off because of it. Are you keeping in touch with those treasured clients while you're out this summer? Don't let them forget about you! If your prospect list is getting a little stale, or your clients have grown rather dormant, wake them up with a brief marketing piece to remind them you're still around. Need help writing the copy for it? If I can be of assistance; just give me a call or drop me an e-mail.

Marketing Misc.

Now that Apple's much-hyped iPhone is out, how do you think it will affect sales of existing models like the Blackberry, Blackjack or UpStage?  Or, for that matter, the pricing of service plans? Several companies are already at work on competitive touch-screen phones. This fall, look for the Sony Walkman W96oi, Nokia N95 and Samsung Ultra Smart F700 to debut. Apple's high cost of manufacturing will likely keep the iPhone's price high, while the competitive models may offer the same or more features for less money. Many will debut in the Asian market first, where consumers are accustomed to paying high prices for phones. Will American consumers follow suit? Time will tell.

Speaking of phones, what song does yours play when it rings? Revenues for downloaded music and ringtones in the first quarter of 2007 were $239 million! And the number of subscribers jumped from 19 million last year to 27 million this year. Mobile phone advertising is really taking a jump, as well...are you there yet?  Should you be?

Can lack of sexiness kill a product segment?  Ford and GM have stopped making minivans in favor of the more popular “crossover” vehicles that mix the utility of an SUV with the comfort and handling of a car.  They’re growing in popularity…that is, until people figure out that they look just like the old family-friendly station wagons of the 1960s and ‘70s that fell out of favor because of their own anti-sexy image!

Global marketing’s 500-pound gorilla, China, seems to be developing a middle class.  The emerging bourgeoisie now represents 1% of total population and accounts for almost 10% of disposable income in Chinese cities.  Much like their American counterparts, they have a taste for luxury brands.  This segment of the population is projected to grow exponentially within the next 20 years as those formerly living in poverty raise their standard of living by moving to higher-paying jobs in cities.  This new, semi-affluent class will be young, likely aged 25-44, and more highly educated than their parents.  If your global marketing plans include China, this is a trend you can’t ignore.  What to know more?  Here’s the link to McKinsey & Company’s full article on this subject.

You know how we women love our shoes, right? But did you know that only 1/3 of women report spending more on shoes than on handbags? It's true! And the newest darling in luxury accessories is the category of high-end sunglasses from brands such as Coach, Cole-Haan and even Tiffany. Ah, the fickle female heart! Me? Alas, I'm still a shoe junkie.

L.

I'm producing a new series of e-books and audio lessons, just for writers! A Professional Writer's Ladder to Success is a series of 38 "rungs" (so far) that walk you in detail through every aspect of running a writing business. You won't find this level of detail in any other training package on the market!

Rungs will be released twice a month, starting in early July, 2007. Information will include my personal experiences and the opinions of experts in each field. You can subscribe to the whole series, or buy only those rungs that address specific areas where you need help. July's rungs include:

Preparing for Self-Employment:
Building a writing business from the ground up

In this rung, you'll learn:

• How to define "Success"
• Fourteen characteristics of the self-employed
• Resources to test yourself
• Preparing for startup costs and business-building time
• Aspects of running a one-person business
• Pros and cons of working from home

You'll even get worksheets to help you pin down your dreams for success and estimate your first year's business and personal expenses!

Learning the Writing Industry:
Is it one you really want to join?

In Rung 2, you'll learn about:

• How the writing industry works
• Types of writing you can do as a pro
• The value of writers' conferences
• Book fairs & expos
• Using trade shows to find clients
• Printed & online resources
• Factors impacting pricing
• Flow of income as a full-time professional writer
• Industry changes in recent years...and what's coming

You'll also get a list of book fairs and expos worldwide, with website information on each so you can explore them further, and an Action Plan worksheet to get you started.

Many, many more exciting titles are coming throughout this year and next, guiding you up that ladder to success as a professional writer. I'm also seeking input from writers: on what aspects of your business do you need the most help? Do you have any success stories you'd like to share with other writers?  Click here to e-mail me your thoughts. Then subscribe to the series to see your questions and stories, along with full credit for them, in the rung that applies to your area of interest. How much does all this magnificence cost?  Rates are listed below.

Climb aboard
A Professional Writer's
Ladder to Success
today!

Subscribe to the whole series of 38 rungs, paid in full,
only $ 378  Best Value!
Subscribe to the series and pay as each rung is released:  $11.95 each (billed automatically to your card approximately twice per month)
Buy individual titles: $19.95 each
Rung 1 Now Available!

Read other past issues of
Writing Success

We'll talk again next month...if not before!
 

Lynn Maria Thompson
Thompson Writing & Editing, Inc.

Click here to return to the Thompson Writing & Editing website.