The Writers Network News, January 17, 2005 http://ezezine.com
January 17, 2005
The Writers Network News
“No Rules; Just Write!”
Editor: Bobbie Christmas (Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com)
Next Roswell meeting date: Friday, February 4, 2005
12:00 noon at Wok & Chops Chinese Restaurant
If you happen to be in Atlanta on the first Friday of the month, bring questions and business cards and network with the best of us. See directions at the end of the e-zine.
In This Issue:
One: Kudos: Diana J. Baker, Roy Lantz, Joyce Bone
Two: From the editor’s desk: Plan ahead
Three: Q and A: Genres, Chicago Style vs. Business Style, Children’s Book Illustrations, Present Tense vs. Past Tense, What to do Next
Four: Subjects of interest to writers
Five: Jobs, contests, grants, agents and markets
Six: Writing Assignment: Good from Evil
Seven: Looking for Critique Circles
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Writer’s quote of the day:
"Even the best writer has to erase" --Spanish proverb
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One: Kudos
[Kudos: noun: praise or honor: praise, credit, or glory for an achievement]
Congratulations to Diana J. Baker, for being selected the new president of the Christian Author's Guild.
Roy Lantz, you go, guy! His newest book, “Never Beat the Boss at Horseshoes…102 Ways to Pitch Ringer After Ringer in the Game of Life” is filled with inspiring and motivational stories. To order, see www.magnoliapinespress.com.
Joyce Bone reports, “The book I contributed to, ‘What No One Ever Tells You About Real Estate Investing’ is now in bookstores nationwide. It was a thrill to see it at Barnes and Noble!”
Seeing your book in a store? That’s a great feeling, Joyce. Hey, members, look for the book in your local book store.
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Two: From the editor’s desk: Plan Ahead
Dear Fellow Writers:
One thing we writers probably have in common is the urge to procrastinate. For some reason when the story line for a new novel rumbles into our heads, we get the urge to paint the living room, first.
I bring up this point because April is National Poetry Month. What proactive thing can you do to celebrate National Poetry Month? How about these suggestions, some of which you can start today:
Support poets and poetry. Buy and read a good book of poetry.
Buy and read a good book about writing poetry. When you learn to write strong poetry, you can apply many of the same elements—alliteration, meter, pace, universal truth—to your fiction, and it grows in strength and appeals to more readers.
Write a new poem every morning and revise it that evening. Check it the next day and revise it again. Apply this method every day until April 30, and you will produce a full selection of poems to submit to magazines, contests, and other publishers.
Submit poems to legitimate competitions. For tips on sorting legitimate contests from scams, see http://www.winningwriters.com/warningsigns.htm.
I did it! I planned ahead by telling you in January about Poetry Month in April. You can do it, too.
Enjoy this newsletter and be sure to send your kudos, questions, comments, and leads to share with members of your network.
--Bobbie Christmas
Author of award-winning Write In Style (Union Square Publishing, an imprint of Cardoza Publishing) and director of The Writers Network
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Three: Questions and Answers
Q: When looking for places to submit my work, such as the Writers Digest, I am coming up empty. I write humorous stories about country children. Genres listed are for sci-fi, romance, literary, etc. Where do I find humor? Is it listed under another genre? Fiction seems to kind of fit, but not exactly.
A: Genre fiction refers to specific, almost formulaic fiction. If you write humor, that is its own category. See what Wikipedia, the free on-line encyclopedia has to say about genres: “Writings by multiple authors that are very similar in theme and style, especially where these similarities are intended and deliberately pursued by the authors, are often grouped together as genres. Well-known genres of fiction include romance, western, science-fiction, fantasy, Crime fiction and mystery stories and novels.
“Often as applied to written work the term ‘genre’ is used pejoratively, suggesting not just similar writings but artificial, derivative, and generally bad writing. Perhaps in connection with this, the term also suggests writing aimed at a particular audience of readers construed as having limited taste. It sometimes connotes a sort of literary ‘ghetto,’ to be contrasted with literature proper.”
Be proud that you write humorous fiction. That’s your category. Don’t worry about genres. Any venue that accepts fiction will also probably accept humorous fiction.
Q: What is the difference between Chicago style editing/grammar and the
regular business style editing/grammar?
A: The answer is not what you think. Chicago Style does not dictate grammar. Instead it standardizes variables such as when to capitalize and when to lowercase. It addresses when to write out words and when to abbreviate them. It dictates when to use a numeral and when to write it out. It even covers when and how to use commas and other punctuation. Style details vary according to whether you are writing a business letter, a magazine or newspaper article, a legal document, or a book.
Book publishers generally prefer Chicago Style, set out clearly in The Chicago Manual of Style published by The University of Chicago Press. The book is more than 900 pages long, though, and you don’t need to know everything in that book, which not only covers style but also production, printing, bookmaking, and more.
I’ll condense a little of the information to clearly show the differences in style and then I’ll make you a free offer you can’t refuse.
In business English we learn to use formations such as this one: “The compartment takes twelve (12) batteries.” In journalism we learn to spell out numbers under ten and to use numerals for anything above nine: “The compartment takes 12 batteries.” Chicago Style says to spell out numbers up to ninety-nine: “The compartment takes twelve batteries.”
In school we learned to capitalize the word president when it refers to our American leader, but in Chicago Style it is capitalized only when it appears with the person’s name: “The crowd watched President Carter walk up the stairs. The president waved to the crowd.”
In Chicago Style we put a comma before “and” in a series, although most of us were taught in school not to do so. Many writers are still confused by that variable, especially because AP Style, used by most periodicals, calls for no comma before “and” in a series.
The details are too numerous to list here, but I do have an e-report that helps. E-mail me and ask for free Report #105, Chicago Style Variances. It will give you an idea of some of the most major differences between business style and Chicago Style. For a comprehensive list of differences, buy The Chicago Manual of Style.
Q: How can I convince a friend of mine that he does not have to spend money for illustrations for his children’s books before he submits them?
A: This question arose at our meeting this month, and it’s a good one. Writers of children’s books do not have to provide illustrations. Publishers usually use their own illustrators, and if you send illustrations the publisher does not like, the manuscript could be rejected on that matter alone. Publishers buy good stories; they do not need writers to provide illustrations.
To help you educate your friend, one of our members, Jo Sanders, recommends that you lead him to some of the publications for children’s writers. She offers the following information: Children's Writing Update, an online e-zine from Children's Book Insider, the newsletter for children's writers. To subscribe, e-mail: MAIL@WRITE4KIDS.COM. For a catalog for children's writers, send message to cbi@sendfree.com
Q: Recently I posted one of my full-length novels with Authorlink, and its evaluation made favorable comments about my character, ideas, etc., but found my "present tense to be jolting."
Before I change this novel that I wrote in the present tense, I am contacting people whose judgment I know to be valid. I need to know if most editors and publishers consider the present tense to be less desirable in fiction than past tense.
A: Present tense may be desirable in poetry and acceptable in short stories, but publishers, and naturally the agents who represent novels to publishers, have told me past tense is preferable in novels. Readers are accustomed to past tense in books and won’t stick with a novel written in present tense.
Even though present tense is said to be okay in short forms, I had a personal experience I’d like to relate. I wrote what I thought was an adorable personal experience essay, and to make it sound immediate, I wrote it in present tense. It got critical acclaim—I won a first-place award for it in the Unpublished Nonfiction category at a large writer’s conference—but I had no luck getting it published. After several years of defending my use of present tense, I rewrote the story into past tense and sold it the next time I submitted it. It’s something to think about.
Q: I am from Romania. I sent material by post to an American agent in September last year. I have received no answer. What do I do next?
A: I don't know what may have become of your submission, but I can give you some general information on what becomes of most submissions to American agents.
If your submission followed all the guidelines of that particular agency, perhaps it is still under consideration.
If it did not--for example, if it arrived without a self-addressed, stamped envelope (or without an International Reply Coupon)--you may not get an answer. Agencies get hundreds of submissions each month. Agents cannot afford the time and money to mail things back at their expense or write e-mails to those who do not follow submission guidelines.
If you followed all the submission guidelines and have heard nothing, you can do two things. Not only can you resubmit following all the guidelines again, but you should also simultaneously submit it to other agents. You do not have to submit it exclusively to one agent at a time, until and unless one asks for an exclusive period of time to consider it.
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The Writers Network member and highly published author Cec Murphey adds this to my response regarding using trademarks of companies in our work (December 31, 2004 issue): “About registered trademarks: These days, most companies LOVE to have their products mentioned (in a good context). It's good advertising for them. That's a big shift from a decade ago. I mention products by name all the time in what I write. It's much stronger to write ‘a Honda Accord’ than it is to say ‘a gray car.’ Last night I finished reading a novel in which the author mentioned Chevy at least a dozen times.
Do you have a question? Send it today to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
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Four: Subjects of interest to writers
NEW!
Cruise in Style while you Write In Style!
April 10-17, 2005
Royal Caribbean International
Radiance of the Seas
Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Departure Port: Miami, Florida
Cruise the Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas to the Eastern Caribbean and enjoy several different one-hour seminars with Bobbie Christmas, all based on “Write In Style,” her latest book for fiction and nonfiction writers. Ports of call include Cococay, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Seminars are free to all on board. Once onboard, check daily newsletter for times, days, and locations of each seminar. For more information or to book the cruise, see http://tinyurl.com/4trol.
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Best Sellers in Consecutive Weeks
According to USATODAY.com, Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie" has been on the charts for 303 consecutive weeks, just short of six years.
"What Color Is Your Parachute" by Richard Nelson Bolles was on the list for 288 weeks, but those weeks were not consecutive.
John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" topped out at 216 weeks on the NYT list. It was on the list for 190 consecutive weeks.
Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code," by comparison, has been on the list for only 89 weeks.
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Readers over 18, go to http://www.winningwriters.com/wergleflomp/2004/kuehn.htm to read the winning (more than $800!) entry into the last Wergle Flomp poetry contest. Read the guidelines for entry, too. If you have ever entered a poem into any of the vanity poetry contests, your poem might be eligible for a Wergle Flomp prize.
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Jack Canfield - “The Success Principles” to speak in Atlanta January 20
Join "Chicken Soup For The Soul" bestselling author Jack Canfield (80 million copies sold!) as he discusses the principles in his new business book, “The Success Principles,” which tells what made the world’s greatest business successes.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
The Grand Hyatt In Buckhead
3300 Peachtree Road,
Atlanta, Georgia
$25 in advance - $35 at the door
Includes Free Autographed Book
Register at http://www.atlantaevent.com/dykJack.htm
Or call 678-508-5975
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Woodstock (GA) area Christian writers group welcomes writers (and the president needs a ride to The Writers Network meetings)
The Christian Authors Guild meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday nights of each month at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship at 6409 Bells Ferry Road in Woodstock. Our Web site is christianauthorsguild.org and tells all about the guild. Our membership is around 50, but normally between 18 and 25 people are at each meeting. Membership is not required for attendance. If someone wishes to join, the dues are $24 per year. New members also receive a copy of “Elements of Style” and receive the monthly e-mail newsletter, The Wave.
My husband and I are the pastors of Prayer and Praise. We have pastored here for 25 years this April. We have a home hidden in the woods adjacent to the church property. My phone number is 770-928-2588 for anyone who might be willing to let me ride to a meeting with them. I would be happy to pay for the gasoline.
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Overstock undercutting Amazon in online discount bookselling.
Think Amazon.com offers the deepest online discount for new hard covers? Think again. Leading the discount charge is Overstock.com, which advertises that its book prices are lower than Amazon's 99 percent of the time. Overstock is selling hardcover copies of Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" ($24.95 cover price) for $14.22, while Amazon has it discount-priced at $14.97. Michael Crichton's best-selling "State of Fear" is $15.93 at Overstock, well below the $27.95 retail cover price. Amazon is charging $16.77.
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New Line Cinema has acquired the rights to the bestselling nonfiction book "He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth To Understanding Guys" and has struck a deal with authors Greg Behrendt and Liz Tucillo to adapt the book into a feature screenplay.
The book was originally based on a conversation that occurred while Tuccillo and Behrendt were writing for the HBO hit series "Sex and the City" and eventually evolved into an episode on the show. It educates otherwise smart women on how to tell when a guy just doesn't like them enough so they can stop wasting time making excuses for a dead-end relationship. The plot line for the film will revolve around a woman who hosts a talk show and a man she becomes involved with after he guests on the show.
Published by Simon Spotlight Entertainment, "He's Just Not That into You" has been a huge hit since it was first published in September. It has gone to press 13 times since its initial run and 1.2 million copies of the book are now in print.
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Great Research Tool Helps You Ground Your Story in Time
Are you writing a novel that takes place in the 1970s and need to know some then-current events? Check out this great Web site: www.scopesys.com/anyday. Put in the month and day and scroll down to “On This Day” for a list of happenings on that day in various years. I found this entry, for example, for September 18, 1979: “Bolshoi Ballet dancers Leonid & Valentina Kozlov defect.” When you weave current events into a novel, your story is more grounded.
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Publishers Weekly names Jon Stewart satire best book of year.
Political satirist Jon Stewart's satirization of a political science college textbook "America (the Book), a Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction," was selected as the book of the year by Publishers Weekly. The magazine said in its Dec. 6 issue that, "in a year defined by political polemics, it seems fitting that PW's Book of the Year be one in which the authors survey the entire political system and laugh."
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Secrets from “Write In Style” Revealed
The Find and Refine Method™ assists writers in being objective about their work. To learn much more about Bobbie Christmas’s trademarked method, see http://tinyurl.com/5vabr
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How good is your grammar?
Take this quick ten-question test. Careful! A few are a bit tricky. See http://tinyurl.com/4volp Even if you don’t want to take the test, the answers may surprise you, so click something in each selection to get to go to the “answer” page.
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Is it Trendy, or is it Cliché?
Check out http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php for the Lake Superior State University 2005 list of banished words.
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How many books sold in U.S. in 2003? Total industry book sales for the year 2003 are estimated at "about 450 million" copies. That number includes remainders.
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Saturday, February 19, 2005
Write In Style – 9:00 – 12:00 $39.
Bobbie Christmas teaches her Find and Refine Method and many other tips to make your writing more powerful. Sponsored by The Knowledge Shop, Cobb Parkway, Marietta, Georgia. Call 678-766-6666 for information or to register.
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American publishers are free to engage in publishing activities with people in Cuba, Iran, and Sudan without fear of violating U.S. economic penalties against those countries, the Bush administration said Dec. 15.
The relaxation was a response to a September 2004 lawsuit filed by publishers' and authors' organizations in federal court to strike down regulations of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control that effectively barred U.S. publishers from publishing books and journal articles originating in countries such as Iran, Cuba and Sudan that are subject to U.S. trade embargoes.
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HOW TO BE PUBLISHED WORKSHOPS
2/4/05 - 2/27/05
Locations: Orangeburg, South Carolina; Jackson, Mississippi; and Chattanooga, Tennessee
Focus: Fiction, Horror, Marketing, Mystery, Publishing, Romance, Science fiction/fantasy, and Screenwriting
http://www.writing2sell.com/workshop.htm
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Member Kay duPont, a/k/a Mary Todd Lincoln, will present a 90-minute version of her play, A Visit with Mary Todd Lincoln, complete with special appearances by Abraham himself, twice in February. The play will be the opening feature of the Dahlonega Literary Festival on Saturday, February 19. The performance is at the historic Holly Theater in the square, beginning at 3 p.m. This is a grand two-day festival for writers of all kinds, and it's FREE! See http://www.literaryfestival.org/.
Kay will also present the full version of A Visit with Mary Todd Lincoln at the Marcus Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody on Tuesday, February 15, at 1 p.m. The cost is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Optional lunch at noon, $7 with reservation. Call 770-396-3250 x313 for info and reservations.
Kay based her play on her book, Loving Mr. Lincoln. For other appearances, see www.marytlincoln.com/.
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Rev Up Your Writing and Win! Seminar Available on Tape
Rev Up Your Writing and Win is a high-quality cassette recorded at the Harriette Austin Writers Conference in Athens, Georgia. The package includes all accompanying materials and handouts. Only $14.95 plus $4 shipping (total $18.95). To order, call Bobbie Christmas (770/924-0528) or write to bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
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Modern Drunkard: controversial magazine launches: "Modern Drunkard is an irreverent homage to the lifestyle of the chronically wasted, filtered through rose-colored shot glasses." Frank Kelly Rich is editor.
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Barbara Gray, author of seven books, has just released “Secrets of Energy, Unlock The Creative Power Of Your Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual Energies” (ISBN 0-9637784-6-3). The book is for anyone who wants more energy…to be more alive and active, healthier, inspired, and more transcendent mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Energy heals diseases, lifts depression, and ignites our creativity. “Secrets of Energy” was written to help people realize how we are connected to Universal Energy/Universal Mind Energy. Energy is the only force that pervades all living and non-living matter. It is the only force that enlivens us. It is the glue that holds everything together. For more information or other nonfiction writers who want to connect, email Barbara at Barbaragray399@Comcast.net , http://www.secretsofenergy.com/, or call 770-971-0179.
Barbara Gray is writing a TV show called The Intuitive about a medical intuitive and energy healer. If you have an interesting experience with energy healing or the paranormal you would like to share, contact Barbara at the above address.
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Developing the Premise in Your Novel
The Brush Creek Writers' Cooperative announces two full-day fiction workshops led by Linda Busby Parker, Ph.D., MFA, a longtime creative writing teacher and award-winning novelist.
“Developing the Premise in Your Novel” will be offered Thursday, March 10, and “Structure: The Foundation of Fiction” will be offered Friday, March 11. Students may submit up to twenty pages of a work in progress for the instructor to review in advance. Both workshops will be held in the Page Writers Loft in West Marietta, GA.
Single workshop, $100. Both workshops, $180 (cost includes all materials.) Additional $15 off total cost if $50 registration fee is received by February 1.
To learn more about Linda Busby Parker and her award-winning novel, “Seven Laurels,” go to www.lindabusbyparker.us. For additional information on the workshops, contact Workshop Coordinator Barbara Collins at 770-309-3611 or ginger4410@bellsouth.net.
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“Write In Style: Using Your Word Processor and Other Techniques to Improve Your Writing” teaches the Find and Refine Method ™ to locate specific letters, words and phrases you can delete, upgrade or rewrite to give power to your prose. Bobbie Christmas, professional book editor, reveals secrets only a book doctor could know. First Place winner of the Royal Palm Award for education! Union Square Publishing, publisher; Simon and Schuster, distributor. Available in bookstores as well as from most major Internet retailers, including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, SimonSays.com, Walmart.com and Forbes.com. Can also be ordered at http://zebraeditor.com/bookstore.shtml
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Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents and Markets
Paw Publishing, Inc.
Genevieve Frederick: President
2255 Waterford Place
Carson City, NV 89703
publisher@pawpublishing.com
Anthology on House Cats--Tentative Title: Cat Tails
Submissions are being taken for astonishing, amusing and irritating experiences with cats. Write a true short story, article or poem on the comfort, joy and meaning cats bring to our lives. Deadline is March 1, 2005
Anthology on Wildlife--Tentative Tile: Wildlife Adventures
Have a great fish story? Hunting story? Have a funny camping story that included wildlife? An astonishing survival experience that involved wildlife? Deadline is April 1, 2005.
All work must be unpublished. You may e-mail the piece as a Word document attachment or in the body of the e-mail. Please include your name, address, and phone number on the first page. Authors who wish to use snail mail can, but the material will not be returned.
If your piece is chosen to be published, you will receive author’s credit and a copy of the e-book or paperback book (your choice) as payment.
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Compelling Slice-of-Life Stories for Two New Volumes: for and about Grandparents and Nurses
A Cup of Comfort is a bestselling book series published by Adams Media featuring true stories about the experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich lives. The engaging personal essays--written by people from all walks of life--are carefully selected for inclusion in A Cup of Comfort based on originality, creativity, and substance.
Now, Colleen Sell, editor of 12 volumes in this bestselling series, is seeking submissions for two exciting new Cup of Comfort anthologies:
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR NURSES – Last Call!
Do you know of a nurse who went above and beyond the call of duty in easing a patient’s suffering, a family’s sorrow, or a co-worker’s overload? Have you been inspired by a nurse’s compassion, dedication, integrity, skill, and accomplishments? Have you heeded the call to or realized the dream of becoming a nurse? As a nurse, have you been inspired by a patient, a loved one, a mentor, or an extraordinary nursing experience? Has nursing brought you unexpected rewards, taught you important life lessons, or enriched your personal, professional, or spiritual life? If so, we’d love to include your story about that exceptional nurse or extraordinary nursing experience in this insightful and inspiring anthology in praise of nurses and exploring the challenges and rewards of this honorable profession.
Submission Deadline: February 1, 2005
A CUP OF COMFORT FOR GRANDPARENTS – New!
Much has been written about the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. For this extraordinary collection, we’re looking for exceptionally creative, distinctive, and emotionally powerful “cut-above” stories about truly remarkable relationships and experiences shared by grandmothers and/or grandfathers and their grandkids. Stories may be humorous or heartwarming, insightful or delightful, poignant or amazing, or all of the above—on any topic specific and/or significant to the grandparent-grandchild connection—about grandparents and grandchildren of all ages, ethnicities, circumstances, and backgrounds--and from the point of view of grandparent, parent, or grandchild.
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2005
Stories must be original, true, positive, in English, and 1,000-2,000 words.
Payment: One $500 grand prize per book; $100 each, all other published stories. Plus copy of book.
Guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/ (click on "Share Your Story") or email request to cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com.
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Carnifex Press
c/o Armand Rosamilia
P.O. Box 1686
Ormond Beach, FL 32175
Email: Armand@CarnifexPress.com
We are actively looking for epic fantasy and horror short stories for Clash of Steel: Book Two - Assassin from January 1 to March 1. We accept e-mail submissions as either an attachment in Word or in the body of the e-mail. Please make sure you have your e-mail address at the top of the manuscript, as well as snail mail contact information.
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PepTalk4U.com
287 South Robertson Blvd
P.O. Box 141
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
anon-54176929@craigslist.org
310/659-7984
PEPTALK4U.COM is a new online magazine featuring holistic & self-help content. We are seeking writing submissions in the following areas:
- Self-Help (Books, Movies, Theater, Personal Experiences, Encouragements, etc.)
- Spirituality (Yoga, Retreats, Meditations, Resources, etc.)
- Holistic approaches to Business, Investing, Companies, etc.)
- Reviews: spas, movies, theater, books, music, etc.)
- Inner happiness
- Politics
- Entertainment News
- Restaurant Reviews
- Etc.
If you have a photo that accompanies your article, that would be great. If we are interested we will call you to request an email copy of your submission.
Compensation to be determined. Will be competitive and contingent upon type of article/interview/review and word length.
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ASK
332 S Michigan Ave, Ste 1100
Chicago IL 60604
Louise Plecha, Editor
ask@caruspub.com
http://www.caruspub.com/
Bimonthly children’s magazine. "ASK encourages children between the ages of seven and ten to inquire about the world around them. Send SASE for theme list and guidelines. Query Only Nonfiction articles, poetry, activities, and reprints from trade books will be considered for publication." 400-600 words. Considers reprints.
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Desdmona.com accepting submissions for sixth erotic story contest
http://www.desdmona.com/contestsubmit.php?RoomID=31
Desdmona’s 2005 Shivering Short Story Contest is an erotic short story contest, 3,500 words or less (note that a flash story will not likely win this contest). There is no entry fee. Stories must be received by Tuesday, February 1, 2005. Prizes will be awarded to the judges’ three favorite stories:
First prize: $250
Second prize: $150
Third prize: $75
Honorable mention prizes of $25 will be awarded at the discretion of desdmona.com and the judges. Winners will be based on quality of writing, erotic appeal, originality, and imaginative use of the contest theme. The winning stories and honorable mentions will be displayed on desdmona.com Tuesday, February 15, 2005.
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Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul is scheduled to be released next January. We need all stories submitted by April and preferably far sooner. We are looking for stories by/about or related to African American women. The stories should be approximately 1,200 words (or less) and must be uplifting or inspiring. They must make the reader either laugh, cry happy tears or get goose bumps.
Topic ideas for African American Woman's Soul
Strong Black Women: Sister Soldier
My Sister, my friend: Girlfriends
Black mothers built to last
A Black woman's hair—like no other
Falling back in love with ourselves: My skin, my hair, my hips, my lips
My sister and her many hats...the diversity of the Black woman
God's Grace on the Black woman
Divine divas
Loving our men. husbands, sons, fathers, grandfathers
Send submissions to Stories@AfricanAmericanSoul.com (or AFAMSOUL@aol.com). Be sure to include name, address, phone, fax and e-mail with the story or poem. Send your submission either as an attached Word document or in the body of the email. If you need to snail mail it, the address is PO Box 943, Puunene, HI 96784 (but email submissions are preferred). We highly recommend that you read Chicken Soup for the African American Soul before you submit, so you get a sense of the "flavor" and quality we are looking for in our stories. We are also looking for appropriate cartoons, quotes, celebrity stories....and the perfect cover art. Feel free to send us recommendations on those as well.
Selected stories will receive $200 ($50 for poems), and you retain the rights to your work.
Lisa Nichols, Coauthor
Eve Hogan, Senior Editor
www.AfricanAmericanSoul.com
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Diet Stories Wanted
Looking for personal stories of both success and failure with any and all diets. Contact publisher@thewavegroup.com
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Winner Magazine
http://www.winnermagazine.org
Look over a sample copy of Winner magazine, which covers direct drug education and lifestyle-skills training for middle school kids.
The overall premise of Winner is that preventive drug education is the most effective. We not only communicate the facts and figures about the dangers of drugs, but we also include articles that stress social skills and real world, problem-solving situations.
Article length no more than 500-600 words. Along with the article include two or three thought questions and a pencil activity. You can get an idea of what we need by looking at a sample copy. For a sample copy of the magazine include a 9 x 12 SASE and $2.
Winner is a nonprofit publication and our budgets are tight; however, we currently are paying about $80 per an article. Please recognize that this is subject to review and may vary from time to time.
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Babybug
P.O. Box 300
Peru IL 61534
Paula Marrow, Editor
http://www.cricketmag.com/
A tiny-tot magazine by the publishers of Cricket. Wants material for children six months to two years. Calls itself a listening and looking magazine. They use stories of four to six short sentences, articles of up to ten words, poetry to eight lines. Pays $25.00 and two copies. Don’t query. Rights vary, but they always want at least first rights. Pays on publication.
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anon-54111261@craigslist.org
Newspaper/Magazine with national scope and distribution is seeking submissions in the categories below:
1. Home Improvement
2. Parenting
3. Health
4. Wellness
5. Entertainment
6. Food (not restaurant review)
7. Travel
8. Light Erotica
9. Music
10. TV/Film
Email at least one sample with the category above and your zip code listed in the subject line.
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Field & Feast Magazine
www.fieldandfeast.com
fieldandfeast@aol.com
Laurie Carlson, Ph.D.
Wants articles about health, organic agriculture, and food for new magazine.
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ReadyForRiches Magazine
http://www.readyforriches.com/freelance.html
freelance@readyforriches.com
“ReadyForRiches Magazine provides entrepreneurs with up-to-date, important information, products, and services that they need to make informed decisions. Familiarize yourself with our competition (Entrepreneur, Money, Home Business, etc.) -- not only the types of stories they run but the types of stories and titles they've run in the past. Formulate an article idea, and then send a detailed query, recent clips and contact information to freelance@readyforriches.com. Pays $.25/word on publication. Photographs are welcomed.”
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Lost Treasure
P.O. Box 451589
Grove Oak, OK 74345
http://www.losttreasure.com
Featuring pieces on what its title boasts. Lost Treasure addresses folks who spend their time seeking valuables others have lost. Topics include hunting for gold, silver, coins, caches and relics. Articles run 500-1500 words. Query via standard mail and include clips. Buys all rights. Pays 4 cents a word on publication.
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OnTheFarmPress.com wants stories from adults who survived an abusive relationship, whether it was your parent(s), spouse, friend or someone else you trusted who hurt you. Looking for stories of what happened (beaten, sexually abused, verbal abuse, tricked in a relationship, betrayed, etc), how you survived the situation, how you came to realize that you had survived and what you learned in the growing process of the event once you were healed, or if you never healed from it what you do now to forget about it. Stories will be compiled for a book about Surviving Abusive Relationships to help others. Don't be afraid to share your story; you'll get it off your chest plus you might help someone in the future to make painful decisions easier. I can make submissions anonymous if asked. Send to info@OnTheFarmPress.com
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Six: Writing Assignment: Good from Evil
What do you despise? What ticked you off last? What are your thoughts about politics, Social Security, employee benefits? Think of what raises your ire and write a scathing essay about it. Suggest good alternatives or just vent. Whatever, write until you run out of steam. You’ll feel better, and you just might have a great letter to the editor to send to your local paper.
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Seven: Looking for Critique Circles
Do you want to join or form a critique circle in your area or online? In the body of an e-mail send me your name, general location, contact information, and your preferences (fiction, nonfiction, short stories, books, poetry, etc.). I’ll list your information here, to help you find or form a group that allows you to get feedback.
Remember to ask me for Free Report #101 on forming and maintaining a successful critique circle. Send your request to me at Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
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Do YOU have news for The Writers Network News? Please send it in the body copy, not an attachment, to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
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Send a copy of this F-R-E-E newsletter to all your writing friends. Tell them to join The Writers Network F-R-E-E by visiting www.zebraeditor.com and clicking on “Free Writers Newsletter.” …………………………………………………………………………….
The Writers Network News--a free newsletter for writers everywhere.
"No Rules; Just Write!"
Newsletter Sponsor:
Zebra Communications: We help you write in style, so you write to win.
We write, edit, and evaluate manuscripts, book proposals, query letters, synopses, and articles. Call to ask about our services or visit www.zebraeditor.com.
Zebra Communications
230 Deerchase Drive, Suite B
Woodstock, GA 30188
770/924-0528
Bobbie Christmas Blog for Writers: http://journals.aol.com/bzebra/BobbieChristmasBlogforWriters/
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The Writers Network – No fees. No officers. “No Rules; Just Write!"
Directions to meetings:
Directions to monthly meetings held the first Friday of each month at Wok & Chops Chinese Restaurant, Roswell, Georgia.
The restaurant is in King’s Market on Holcomb Bridge, Roswell, Georgia, one block from Hwy. 400. If on 400, take Exit 7 toward Norcross (7A if going north, exit 7 and turn left, if going south). If on Holcomb Bridge already, turn into King’s Market by turning onto Market Boulevard beside SouthTrust Bank, turn left behind the bank, and you’ll see the restaurant in the hollow on the right. Restaurant phone: 770-552-8981.
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