BY KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK AND SAM BARRY

The Author Enablers are here to answer your questions about writing and publishing. Together, Kathi and Sam have more than 25 years of experience in book publishing. Kathi is an author, radio producer and former publicist; Sam is a marketing manager at a major publishing company and a freelance editor. They are also proud members of the Rock Bottom Remainders, the all-author rock band founded by Kathi in 1992.

A likely story

Dear Author Enablers,

I was very fortunate to have a short story, "Murder in the Mill," which is about the labor strikes of 1913, chosen for an anthology, Murder New York Style. I'd like to promote the story by itself—how do I go about it?

M.E. Kemp
Saratoga Springs, New York

Congratulations on becoming a published author! Enjoy the feel of that book in your hands, stock up on extra copies and tell everyone you know about your success (humbly, of course). We asked Eddie Muller, a writer known as the "Czar of Noir," to help us answer your question. His advice: "Write another story, immediately. And promote the first one to other writers and editors more than to readers at large. It increases the chances you'll get asked to contribute again, and things may gain momentum." Our best "shot" (get it?) is this: The editor of the anthology will get the most attention—there's no way around that—but you can make yourself available to participate in readings and discussions about the book. Communicate with other contributors to the collection and see if you can arrange group events at libraries and bookstores. Watch the news for related stories; contact anyone you know in the media; keep your story on file as a writing sample for other projects and always list it on your bio and résumé. As with any other group project, being a go-getter, a team player and a sweetheart will make people want to work with you again. Check out My California: Journeys by Great Writers edited by Donna Wares, for an example of an anthology that is still bubbling along, with participation from many of its contributors, years after publication: http://www.californiaauthors.com/myca_announcement.shtml.

Dear Author Enablers,

Do I need to copyright an article before submitting it to magazines? I can also envision my material being the basis for a possible children's book that I hope to develop.

Carol Perlut
Evergreen Park, Illinois

It depends on who you ask and how persnickety they are, but sure, copyright your article, or anything else you've written, before submitting—in fact, most publishers expect authors to handle their own copyrights on completed fiction and nonfiction manuscripts.

The tricky part of your question is the idea that the material might be the "basis" for a children's book. You cannot copyright a "basis" or a "concept"—only the work exactly as written. So, for example, you could copyright your story "Peter the Penguin Plays the Piccolo" but you can't copyright the idea for a children's series about a musical penguin. And hey—we thought of it first, so hands off.

Dear Author Enablers,

I'm seeking advice on how to start a column. I have a passion for helping people with daily stresses and old relationships that have left what seems to be a tattooed mark upon them.

My friends have always come to me for advice and have told me many times I'm wise beyond my years. I am now in college earning a degree in psychology. I'm hoping you can offer me any advice. Doing something that you love has to be the most satisfying feeling.

Melissa Nicholsen
Delmar, Delaware

Thank you so much for writing! We have this problem with our neighbors and their pet raccoon that you might be able to help us with. . . . But anyhow, while you're getting that college degree (which will help give you the "expert" credentials you'll need to be taken seriously as a columnist and perhaps an author) why not offer to contribute an advice column to your school paper? You'll need to come up with a catchy title and post ads online and around campus, soliciting questions. Once you have some good material, write your thoughtful, terrific answers and submit your column to the editors. You probably won't get paid, but if your work is up to snuff you're likely to get a byline, not to mention experience that will be useful once your credentials and experience have caught up to your wisdom.

Thanks for writing,
THE AUTHOR ENABLERS