Monday, June 20, 2022

Contacting Airlines, Hotels Through Twitter?


Air Canada never answered my letters and emails... Only when I wrote an open letter in one of my travel blogs, voicing three really serious complaints, and posting the link on Twitter, did they react to my DM (direct message).  I was surprised when the communication suddenly came into full swing, and soon I received my money for canceled flights back, as well as a voucher for another issue - but never an apology.

My experience was second by an article at The Points Guy where they wrote:

The 2009 viral YouTube video “United Breaks Guitars,” based on a musician’s bad customer service experience, became a case study on the power a single customer’s post can have. These days customers experience 

"Staffing shortages, overbookings, and high prices are causing frustration for both travelers and travel industry workers.  Customers calling traditional phone help lines are facing sometimes hours-long wait times before being able to interact with a live human — and even then may not get the results they want."

It’s not unusual for those with unresolved frustrations with travel companies to air those grievances on social media.  However, what has sometimes been an outlet for rage has also evolved into a platform for productive interaction, where travelers and customer service representatives use Twitter and Facebook as the venue to actually make rebookings, request cancellations, and more.



Read the article with strategies for customer service over social media, with some background information and a list of airlines and hotels you can reach via social media here  https://thepointsguy.com/guide/social-media-tips-travel-customer-service/

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Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Successful Publishing: Newsletter June 2022

 


Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter June 2022

by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters


Content:

  • GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
  • FREELANCE OFFERS
  • REVIEWER
  • WRITING CONTESTS


Hope you had a lovely long weekend all the way through Memorial Day - the unofficial beginning of summer. June, the brightest month of the year, with long hours of daylight and sunshine, giving all of us lots of energy. Check out these publishing and bookselling tips:


GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES

RI State Council on the Arts

For artists that live in Rhode Island, and are over the age of 18. The RISCA General Operating Support for Artists (GoSA) program provides grants of $6,000 for each of the three consecutive years (total of $18,000) for artists to work towards large, specific, self-identified goals in their art practice. This funding is unrestricted, meaning artists can use the funds to support their goals however they need.  Deadline July 1

https://risca.online/grants/general-operating-support-for-artists/

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Vermont Studio Center

It is the largest international artists’ and writers’ residency program in the US. Each month the Center hosts over 50 writers and artists from across the country and around the world. Deadline 15 June

https://vermontstudiocenter.org/fellowships

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Siena Summer Residency Program 2023

The Siena Art Institute’s Summer Residency Program awards accomplished professional artists & writers the opportunity to stay for a month in the beautiful historic city of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. $30 Entry Fee. Deadline Sept 30, 2020

https://resartis.org/listings/siena-art-institute-residency-programs/

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London, England, Residency

The writer chosen for the Baltic Writing Residency in London receives $1,000 and a free stay in a furnished cottage, based on a completed application. The London Residency has the writer reside, for two to three weeks at a time most convenient for them in a furnished flat.   $25 Entry Fee.  Deadline is July 31

https://balticwritingresidency.submittable.com/submit

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Jentel Artist Residency Program WY
is located on a 1000-acre working cattle ranch 20 miles southeast of Sheridan, Wyoming. It offers individuals a supportive environment in which to further their creative development. Applications for Winter/Spring Residencies close on  September 15

http://jentelarts.org/apply/

 

REVIEWER

Jess Peters reviews YA, dystopian, fantasy, sci-fi books

https://jessreviews877169955.wordpress.com/review-guidelines/

You can also find reviewers on Amazon’s top reviewer site

http://www.amazon.com/review/top-reviewers - however, to reach those who review your genre, chances are better at bestseller reviews that are recommended in your book category.

Clicking on an author's name will bring you to their author page, which will include a listing of their books and the customer reviews page. When you click on the name of a reviewer you can find the reviewer’s Amazon profile. Look for their contact info, such as an email address social media link, or a link to their website (not always provided). Follow them on social media and study their submission guidelines - as you should do with every book reviewer, before sending a pitch.

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FREELANCE WRITING OFFERS

Daily Coffee News

A leading news site covering the specialty coffee industry in partnership with Roast magazine is seeking skilled and enthusiastic freelance business news reporters. Seeking skilled writers who are passionate about coffee but even more passionate about high-quality ethical journalism and storytelling with an eye toward sustainability, social justice, and corporate accountability. As a news reporter, you will work directly with the editor on assignments covering a broad range of timely business topics within the specialty coffee industry in the US and beyond. Business news reporters have the freedom to work remotely and on their own schedules, although a weekly commitment of one to two stories is preferred. This is a freelance/contractor position with competitive pay on a per-story basis.

https://coffeeindustryjobs.com/job/191/business-news-reporters/

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Writer's Digest

They consider completed manuscripts on spec, as well as original pitches. A query should include a thorough outline that introduces your article proposal and highlights each of the points you intend to make. Your query should discuss how the article will benefit our readers, why the topic is timely and why you’re the appropriate writer to discuss the topic. Pays up to 50 cents/word.

https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/submission-guidelines

https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/editorialcalendar

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WRITING CONTESTS

Wyoming Creative Writing Fellowship

Open to Wyoming writers who are U.S. citizens or have legal resident status. Genre: Fiction, Poetry, CNF. Prize: $3,000 and an honorarium/travel stipend. One fellowship will be awarded in each category of Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, and Fiction, for a total of three fellowships.  Deadline: June 9

https://wyomingartscouncil.submittable.com/submit

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Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Must be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: Books published between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, must be received on or before June 17

https://scotiabankgillerprize.ca/about/submissions/

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The Writer Magazine's Spring Short Story Contest

Enter your best work in 2,000 words or less for your chance to win $1,000 and publication in our magazine. The second-place winner will receive $500 and publication on our website; our third-place winner will receive $250 and publication on our website as well. Whether it's a thrilling mystery, a feel-good coming of age story, or a haunting tale filled with terror, your piece could land you the grand prize.  $25 Entry Fee.  Deadline June 20

https://www.writermag.com/contests/

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Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Restrictions: Books must be English-language, first-edition trade books published by a Canadian press, written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Titles must be published between May 3, 2022 and Sept 30, 2022 . Genres: Literary nonfiction including, among other forms, works of personal or journalistic essays, memoirs, commentary, criticism both social and political, history, and biography. Prize: Winner: $60,000; Finalists: $5,000. Deadline: June 28.  

https://www.writerstrust.com/awards/hilary-weston-writers-trust-prize-for-nonfiction/guidelines/

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Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Genre: Novel or short story collection. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to the novel or short story collection published between May 3, 2022 and September 30, 2022. Deadline: June 28

https://www.writerstrust.com/awards/atwood-gibson-writers-trust-fiction-prize/guidelines/

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Red Hen Press Award

The award is open to all Black writers. Award $3,000, publication by Red Hen Press, The opening chapter or story of the awarded manuscript will be published in the Peauzxdunque Review. Four-week residency at The Community Library's Ernest and Mary Hemingway House in Ketchum, Idaho.  No Entry Fee.  Deadline July 31

https://redhen.org/ann-petry-award/

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If you want to get these useful tips in the future, please sign up at our blog: 

https://www.savvybookwriters.com/category/blog/

or follow me on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doris-maria-heilmann-65345595/

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Enjoy a busy month of writing and reading, the sun and the outlook to fascinating travel experiences - or just to relax and charge your batteries. 

See you there!

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