==> Don't send a naked bio!

I can't emphasize this enough: keep focus on client's needs! Don't send a naked bio - that is, a bio on its own, which you've simply decided to send a business, hoping that business will have work for you.

This message in a bottle stuff doesn't work. Freelancers get into habit of whizzing their resumes, CVs and bios to anyone they think might be remotely interested in hiring them. Then of course they wonder why there's no response. THERE'S NO RESPONSE BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THEM, A BIO OR CV ON ITS OWN IS NOT ENOUGH.

Yes, I know I'm shouting, but this is important. Never, ever, send a bio on its own.

=> Your bios' style

Every book you own has a bio of author, so take a few books off your shelves and study author bios. Most are short. Novelists' bios mention writer's interests, partner, children and pets. The bios of non-fiction writers emphasize writer's academic credentials if it's important to writer's credibility, or writer's experience in field book covers.

So what do you emphasize? This is where your bio's slant comes in. If you're sending a mini-proposal, emphasize your experience/qualifications/ interest in business's industry. See why you need many different bios, and confidence to crank them out quickly?

==> HELP! I haven't got any experience!

Freelance consultants in areas like graphic design, financial services, and management have employment experience to draw on, so this plaintive yodel usually comes from freelance writers.

A lack of experience in a specific area worries new freelance writers, and it shouldn't. You're a writer. You can create SAMPLES of your writing capabilities anytime, to order. Write a sample, and hey presto, just like magic, you've got experience.

I write for several editorial agencies, and often they'll send out messages to their stable of writers asking for a 200 word bio, and a work sample for a particular job. It takes me about an hour, research included, to crank out a fresh sample.

This is where a Web site or blog (Web log) is important. It gives you instant credibility, because you can refer people to it to check out your work samples. And as explained, those work samples don't need to be work that you were paid to do.

=> Where to use your bios

Your longest bio, of no more than 200 words, can be posted on your Web site. You can also use it in a presentation folder, with a photo, that you give or send to clients. It's also appropriate to use this long bio in a media kit.

You can send your 100 word bio to editorial and other agencies, so that they have some information about you on file.

The 50 word bio is one you'll use most. Tack it onto direct mail letters, and mini-proposals that you send to companies.

Your short 20 word bio is ideal as a signature file --- a few lines that you tack on to end of your email messages. You email program will take on your sig automatically; read Help file to see how to set one up.

If you haven't created a bio yet, do it today. Your bios are a vital freelancing tool.

***Resource box: if using, please include*** Veteran multi-published author and copywriter Angela Booth crafts words for your business --- words to sell, educate or persuade. E-books and e-courses on Web site. FREE ezines for writers and small biz: http://www.digital-e.biz/

However, if it's a contest run by an organization you've never heard of, and they want you to pay $25, $50 or $100 dollars, and assure you that your poem or short story will appear in a book of "Best" entries at some date in future, and this is your great opportunity to see your work in print, ignore them. It's a scam.

=> The "Book Editor or Book Doctor" Scam

Never pay for editing. Never pay for a book doctor.

Remember: *writers get paid to write*.

When you sell a book to a publisher, they pay editor. That's why you approach major publishers, because they hire good editors. A good editor is a writer's dream, because a good editor can make your work much better, and can thereby teach you to become a better writer. Being edited is painful, but it's a huge opportunity to learn.

If you've sold a book to a publisher, and your editor feels that book needs major structural help, your editor may hire a book doctor, after consultation with you. A book doctor can help turn an already good book into a great book.

However, again, remember: *writers get paid to write*. You don't pay for book doctor. The publishing house pays, up front. They may want to deduct book doctor's fees from your royalties, and you can negotiate that with them. But you pay nothing up front. You're doing writing, remember, and after book doctor has recommended revisions, YOU are one who'll need to write those revisions.

If you're an unpublished writer, have no agent and no publisher, and someone calls themselves a book doctor or editor and wants money from you, tell them to take a hike. You get edited for free, once you sell your book.

=> The "Vanity Publishing" Scam

Vanity publishing is when you pay a publisher to publish your book. Generally thousands of dollars. The vanity publisher assures you your book will be reviewed, and will be in all book stores. He's lying.

Self-publishing on other hand, is legitimate. If you're self- publishing, you pay a printer a few thousand dollars to print a thousand books, which you intend to sell yourself, either on your Web site, or by traveling around book stores with books in trunk of your car, or by selling at fairs, or when you give talks, or when you give a seminar. If you self-publish, more power to you. Self-publishing is a time-honored tradition, and many writers have taken self-publishing route to fame and fortune.

Vanity publishing is different. In vanity publishing, publisher assures you that as well as arranging to have your book printed, company will distribute it. If you hear this, you're about to get scammed. Run. Remember *writers get paid to write*.

How do you know you're being ripped off? Remember: *writers get paid to write*. If you don't get paid real money, you may be getting scammed.

How do you foil rip-off merchants? Some ways:

* Write a lot, every day. You learn to write by writing;

* Trust your instincts, but use Internet, especially Google.com, to check out people (agents, publishers, editors) you intend going into business with --- remember, publishing is a business, not a charity;

* Learn something new every day;

* Love writing. If you love writing enough, all rip-offs in world can't hurt you.

Good luck with your writing.

***Resource box: if using, please include*** Veteran multi-published author and copywriter Angela Booth crafts words for your business --- words to sell, educate or persuade. E-books and e-courses on Web site. FREE ezines for writers and small biz: http://www.digital-e.biz/