The Writers Network News, May 22, 2006 http://ezezine.com
May 22, 2006
The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Note new meeting location below!
Newsletter Sponsor
Zebra Communications: We help you write in style, so you increase your
chances of success. We write, edit, and evaluate fiction and nonfiction
manuscripts, book proposals, query letters, synopses, and articles.
Zebra Communications
230 Deerchase Drive, Suite B
Woodstock, GA 30188
770/924-0528
http://zebraeditor.com/
----------------------------------------------
Next Roswell meeting date: Friday, June 2, 2006
See you at 12:00 noon at King Buffet.
King Buffet, 11060 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, GA 30076, offers a
buffet with a wide variety of food, although it primarily offers Asian
dishes. See more detailed directions at the end of the e-zine. You are
under no obligation to eat.
If you happen to be in Atlanta on the first Friday of the month, bring
questions and business cards and network with us for an hour or so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to this issue of The Writers Network News. I hope you love it,
forward it to your friends, and tell them to sign up, too. If you do
not love it, follow the simple instructions at the bottom to remove
your address from the mailing list.
In This Issue:
One: Kudos to Betty Cosley, Michael Levy, Dell Dorenbosch
Two: From the editor’s desk--Conflict
Three: Ask the Book Doctor-- Finding antonyms in Microsoft Word,
punctuating nonessential and essential clauses, and finding a job with
an agent or book publisher
Four: Subjects of interest to writers
Five: Jobs, contests, grants, agents and markets
Six: Writing Assignment--For the sake of argument--building characters
Seven: Looking for Critique Circles
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To view past issues of The Writers Network News, go to:
http://home.ezezine.com/886_2/
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Writer’s quote of the day:
"I fell in love--that is the only expression I can think of--at once,
and am still at the mercy of words, though sometimes now, knowing a
little of their behavior very well, I think I can influence them
slightly and have even learned to beat them now and then, which they
appear to enjoy."
--Dylan Thomas, Welsh poet, short-story writer, and playwright, "Poetic
Manifesto" in the "Texas Quarterly," winter 1961
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: Kudos to Betty Cosley, Michael Levy, Dell Dorenbosch
I was published in both the January and February issue of Family Motor
Coach, a travel magazine. --Betty Cosley
Michael Levy's newest book, Ultra - Violet Haiku is being called "The
most profound, meaningful and humorous haiku publication in many
years." It's due for publication June 2006. http://www.pointoflife.com/
Dell Dorenbosch now writes a column on astrology for Sharing Ideas
magazine, which is geared toward speakers, meeting planners, agents,
bureaus, trainers, and seminar leaders. Her column tells readers the
best time to undertake certain parts of their business.
Congratulations to these folks. Your successes encourage others, so
please send in your accomplishments for our kudos section.
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Two: From the editor’s desk--Conflict
Dear Fellow Writers:
Rarely do I have conflict with friends, yet my innocuous comment to a
"friend" caused so much conflict that we are no longer speaking. I put
quotation marks around the word "friend" because, as you know,
quotation marks imply irony, and someone so easily and radically
offended by something harmless that I said can hardly be called a true
friend.
"What did Bobbie do?" I hear you asking. What happened? What led up to
the argument, and what transpired? Aren't you intrigued? Well, my
writer friends, I'm not going to reveal the details, because I've made
my point: Conflict creates an almost morbid interest in everyone. The
reaction is natural. People predictably crowd around a fist fight, lean
closer to overhear the details of an argument, even go so far as to put
a glass to the wall to eavesdrop on people in the next room. Good
writers play into readers' innate tendencies and use conflict in every
scene to build tension and keep readers flipping pages until the very
end.
Conflict feels bad in real life, but conflict makes great literature.
Prose without conflict is merely a pot of cold water. We have to apply
heat to make it boil and add meat, vegetables, and spices to make it
alluring. If we cook it right, we create a stew no one can resist. Go
forth this month and create a tempting stew, a cloud of irresistible
conflict in your writing. I hope your life, however, is without
conflict.
Thank you for subscribing. Enjoy this newsletter, and let me hear from
you when you have questions, kudos, markets or any other information to
share with your writers network.
If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, please sign up to get your
own copy. Simply go to my Website, www.zebraeditor.com, and click on
“Free Newsletter.” As other subscribers will tell you, I never share
your address or send out spam.
--Bobbie Christmas (Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com)
Author of triple-award-winning Write In Style (Union Square Publishing,
an imprint of Cardoza Publishing), owner of Zebra Communications, and
director of The Writers Network
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Three: Ask the Book Doctor--Finding antonyms in Microsoft Word,
punctuating nonessential and essential clauses, and finding a job with
an agent or book publisher
Q: Where in Microsoft Word can I find an antonym for "anticipate?"
A: You're right that Microsoft Word will give you synonyms (similar
words) and antonyms (opposite words) by highlighting a word and
right-clicking on it and scrolling down to "thesaurus." At the end of
the synonym list, if there is one, will be an antonym, if there is one.
As you probably realize, though, not every word has a synonym or an
antonym. I could not find a single-word antonym for "anticipate,"
although I found "lag behind" as a possible antonym when I
right-clicked on the word, scrolled down to "thesaurus," clicked on it
to go into "research" mode, and searched the thesaurus in research
mode.
Q: Is the following punctuated correctly? Please note that, prior to
contacting the debtor in this matter, we shall need the following
item(s) as soon as possible:
A: Nonessential clauses are set aside with commas because they can be
deleted without changing the meaning of the sentence. In this case,
"prior to contacting the debtor in this matter" is an essential clause.
Deleting it changes the intent of the sentence, because the revision
simply states what you need but does not say you need it before you can
do what you have to do. I would delete "shall," which is superfluous
and dampening, and punctuate it this way: "Please note that prior to
contacting the debtor in this matter we need the following item(s) as
soon as possible:"
Even stronger might be a rewrite that is more direct, such as this one:
"Before we contact the debtor, we need the following item(s) from you
as soon as possible:"
Q: What is the best way to land a job with a literary agency or book
publisher?
A: I'll address the publisher side; Susan Graham of About Words Agency
can address the agency side. Contact the publishers that interest you
and ask if they have intern positions. Many allow you to work for free
or for a very small salary to gain experience. After you gain
experience, you may be offered a job by the same publisher. If not,
your internship experience will show other publishing houses that you
are serious about wanting to work in the publishing industry.
Meanwhile, learn all you can about writing, editing, and publishing, so
you will be ready to be of assistance to a publisher.
Susan responds, "The best way to land a job with a large literary
agency is to intern for one to five years as an assistant to an
established literary agent. Usually you will get paid during that time,
although the pay is low. If you show promise, trustworthiness, and
reliability, you can graduate to a higher position in the company.
"The best way to find a job with a small agency is to find a job as an
assistant, as with the larger one. After you learn the basics, you may
then have to start your own agency or move to a larger one, because the
smaller agency may not be able to employ you at a higher rate or may
not need or want another agent in its office.
"A less traditional method, but still a viable one, is to first get a
job as an acquisitions editor with a publisher, then move over to the
agent side. The most famous of those transitions was John Grisham's
editor who became his agent."
Where do these questions come from? Writers like you sent them in. Your
questions and my answers not only help you; they also help other
writers. Send your questions today to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
Bonus! Ask the Book Doctor: About Capitalization, Plurals, Consistency
and Trademarks
To read more about these and other topics go to:
http://www.spawn.org/editing/askthebookdoctor13.htm
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Four: Subjects of interest to writers
Write in Style and Snag an Agent
Benefit from a one-two punch!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Knowledge Shop
$149.00
A literary agent tells you the secrets of how to get published, and an
independent editor shows you how to add power to your prose. Working
together, Susan Graham, literary agent, and Bobbie Christmas,
independent editor, reveal the inside secrets you need to know to get
your book published. You’ll get a two-hour seminar with Q & A, one hour
of casual conversation at lunch, and two hours to workshop your
manuscript with the help of the dynamic duo of a literary agent and an
editor.
Bring your fiction manuscript and a full synopsis that includes the
ending, or bring your book proposal for nonfiction.
Register early to ensure your seat! Class size is limited, so you’ll
get personal attention.
Event Number 2405
The Knowledge Shop
Marietta, Georgia
678-766-6666
For more information see:
http://www.knowledgeshopatlanta.com/class.cfm?classID=713
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ask an Agent!
Sign up for the newest Google Group and get your questions answered by
an agent and an editor. Susan Graham and Bobbie Christmas host Write In
Style and Snag and Agent. To sign up or to read the Q&A, go to:
http://groups.google.com/group/Write-In-Style-Snag-An-Agent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interesting Excerpts from Southern Review
http://www.anvilpub.com/Southern_Review.htm
Independent publisher Jefferson Press on April 1 announced the launch
of its first annual Jefferson Press "Prize for Best New Voice in
Fiction." The national contest runs through December 31, with the grand
prize winner receiving a $5,000 cash award and book publishing contract
with Jefferson Press.
Author Wayne Greenhaw has been named the 2006 recipient of the Harper
Lee Award, given in recognition of a writer's significant body of work.
Greenhaw has published 16 books of fiction and nonfiction, including
The Thunder of Angels, a recently released history of the Montgomery
bus boycott that he co-wrote with Donnie Williams. The award winner is
selected by the executive committee of The Alabama Writers' Forum, a
statewide literary arts service organization, from nominations
submitted from the field.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fun--and answers--from the Chicago Manual of Style Website
Q. Is there a standard for replacing an expletive with special $%!#
characters?
A. Although there isn’t a steady demand for masked expletives in
scholarly prose, this is weirdly one of our frequently asked questions.
(I have to wonder who is reading the Q&A—and what they are writing.)
The symbols are fine for cartoons and e-mail messages, where you may
arrange them in whatever order pleases you. In formal prose, however,
we find that a 2-em dash makes a d----d fine replacement device.
For more Q & A from CMOS, go to
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/cmosfaq.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Used" books for sale online: Do they rip off authors and publishers?
Here's what Clint Greenleaf, CEO of Greenleaf Book Group, LP
www.greenleafbookgroup.com says in the April 15 issue of Publishing
Poynters Newsletter (for archive issues see:
http://parapublishing.com/sites/para/resources/newsletter.cfm):
"New publishers are frequently surprised and confused by the listings
for 'new and used' copies of their brand-new book on Amazon.com, eBay,
and other sites. They are not stolen books or unreported sales. These
online 'virtual booksellers' are pulling title and inventory
information from Ingram’s electronic database feed, and they rarely
have the books in their possession. They will order from Ingram when
one of their customers orders the books from them, so the publisher
still earns its royalties."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blueprint: Martha's new magazine launches. Martha Stewart Living
Omnimedia formally launched Blueprint, a home, design, and fashion
magazine aimed at women 25 to 45 years old.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eat: new food magazine launches: Meredith Corporation has launched Eat,
a magazine that targets busy families-- providing meal ideas for family
road trips; kid-friendly, elegant food; and shopping lists for making
healthy meals on a limited budget.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Christian Writer’s Den announces its fourth annual fall writing
retreat for Christian women September 14-17, 2006, to be held at The
Cabin Cove in the North Carolina mountains. This is a
writing/instruction retreat for new and emerging writers who feel the
call to write. Space is limited to 12 women, and then names will be
placed on a waiting list. E-mail Vonda Skinner Skelton at
vondaskelton@charter.net for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Book Release: Secrets of the Zona Rosa: How Writing (and
Sisterhood) Can Change Women's Lives by Rosemary Danielle
Whether you want to enhance your life, resolve important issues, or
become a published author, the tools in Secrets of the Zona Rosa,
including Pilates on Paper, can help you fulfill your dreams. Henry
Holt and Company.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ask the Book Doctor: How to Beat the Competition and Sell Your Writing
e-book answers hundreds of writers’ questions
Ask the Book Doctor: How to Beat the Competition and Sell Your Writing
is a 122-page e-book that answers all the questions you wish you could
ask an editing expert. Electronic bookmarks allow you to go directly to
your preferred subject, and clickable links take you to Internet
resources for additional information. Whether you write books, short
stories, articles, reports, or anything else, learn more about how to
write, edit, and sell your work, To order go to
http://www.booklocker.com/books/1906.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free Tools for Writers from Bobbie Christmas and Zebra Communications
Order e-mailed reports on correct manuscript format, how to form and
run a critique circle, how to identify weak writing and repair it,
self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, and much more. Fifteen
reports are available, and the list keeps growing. Go to
www.zebraeditor.com and click on “Tools for Writers.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wanted: Dog Tales
I'm looking for uplifting, inspiring stories of our canine companions
-- powerful, true stories demonstrating the love and loyalty they give
us so unconditionally. Submission guidelines:
http://www.greatwesternpublishing.org/dogs/doguides1.html --John Cali,
john@greatwesternpublishing.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Catch Phrases in POD Publishing Contracts
by Brent Sampson, author of "Self-Publishing Simplified" (with a free
e-book edition at www.outskirtspress.com/publishing), and president and
CEO of Outskirts Press, Inc, located globally at
http://www.outskirtspress.com/ (reprinted with permission)
Print-on-demand publisher's contracts contain phrases that could catch
you off guard if you do not understand what they mean. Here are some we
have collected:
Catch-Phrase Number 1
What it says: "Publisher will pay author 20 percent of the payments the
publisher actually receives from the sales of printed paperback
copies."
What it means: This sounds like a 20 percent retail royalty, but it is
not. "The amount the publisher actually receives" is far less than the
retail price of your book. This publisher uses a printing and
distributing partner, so to calculate the actual dollars and cents you
earn on a $14.95 paperback book, you have to know their printing fees
and distribution charges. This particular publisher distributes at a
35% discount, which comes out of the $14.95 price before anything else.
That brings the amount down to $9.72. For the sake of this article, let
us assume the $14.95 paperback is 200 pages long. There is a printing
fee (actual production cost of your book) of around $4.50. $9.72 -
$4.50 = $5.22. That is how much this publisher actually receives for
the sale of each of your books. 20% of $5.22 is $1.10.
Cost to you: You think you are earning $3.00 on every book you sell,
when in reality you are earning $1.
Catch-Phrase Number 2
What it says: "Your paperback and hardcover royalties are 10 percent of
the retail price if sold through a bookseller or 25 percent if sold
directly to the reader."
What it means: This sounds like a 25 percent royalty, but it is not.
The royalty depends upon where the book sales occur. The author
receives 10 percent of the retail price for books sold through
bookstores or wholesalers like Ingram, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.com
and more if the reader buys directly from the publisher's website. Many
PODs do this; it is a ruse to say they pay a higher royalty, when in
fact, the vast majority of book sales take place from sites like
Amazon, not a publisher's website. You want to encourage a sale on
Amazon because Amazon's personalized mechanizing technology will
inevitably turn one book sale into another one. Not so, on a
publisher's Website, where book sales suffer as a result. You therefore
find yourself in a lose-lose proposition: selling high volume on
Amazon's site where you make very little money and/or selling low
volume on the publisher's website, where your royalty is competitive.
Cost to you: You are losing 15 percent on every book sold on Amazon.
Where do you think most book sales occur? The answer is easy. Amazon.
Catch-Phrase Number 3
What it says: "Author will submit to Publisher a copy of Work in a
format that is ready to publish."
What it means: You have to format your own book, and if you don't, they
are contractually free to publish whatever you have sent to them,
regardless of what it looks like.
Cost to you: The contract indicates that additional work provided by
publisher will incur extra fees, but it's not clear what those fees
are.
Reading a contract is not enough. You should understand what you are
signing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purge Your Prose of Problems: A Book Doctor’s Desk Reference, Third
Edition, is available as an e-book! Save thousands of dollars by
editing your own book. This one reference book covers all you need to
know to plow through the maze of the editing phase. Find information on
grammar, punctuation, word choices, creative writing, plot, pace,
characterization, dialogue, Chicago Style, formatting a manuscript, and
much more. Available in printed form for $29.95 plus $4.99 shipping at
www.zebraeditor.com (click on Tools for Writers and scroll down) or
save almost $5.00 in shipping PLUS get the book instantly as an
e-book—a downloadable PDF File with clickable links and bookmarks that
zip you directly to any subject you choose. To order the e-book, go to
http://www.booklocker.com/books/2225.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boston Globe reports largest and swiftest recall in publishing history
Plagiarism is a dirty word, and publisher Little, Brown & Co. quickly
responded and withdrew from bookstores all unsold copies of a Harvard
sophomore's first novel, days after 19-year-old Kaavya Viswanathan
admitted she had borrowed portions of text from another writer's books.
The publisher had signed Viswanathan when she was 17 to a reported
$500,000 contract for ''How Opal Mehta got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a
Life" and a second book, unnamed.
The Globe said the withdrawal of a book in stores is not unprecedented,
but what makes this case so remarkable is the size of the novel's first
printing--believed to be 100,000 copies--and it hit stores on April 4,
making the recall one of the largest and swiftest in publishing
history.
The author, a Harvard sophomore, claims she unconsciously reproduced
many sentences from Megan McCafferty's novels ''Sloppy Firsts" and
''Second Helpings." Viswanathan says, ''All I can say is that, while
reading Megan McCafferty's books, I just internalized her words. I
never intended to take any of her words."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Write In Style: Using Your Word Processor and Other Techniques to
Improve Your Writing by Bobbie Christmas teaches the Find and Refine
Method ™ to locate words and phrases you can delete, upgrade or rewrite
to power up your prose. Bobbie Christmas reveals secrets only a book
doctor could know. First Place winner of the Royal Palm Award for
education, Best in Division (Georgia Author of the Year Awards), and
Finalist in USABookNews Best Books 2005. Union Square Publishing,
publisher; Simon and Schuster, distributor. Available in bookstores and
Internet retailers. To order at Amazon.com DISCOUNT prices, see
http://zebraeditor.com/bookstore.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents and Markets
Starting Soon: Orato
http://www.orato.com/index.php?q=node/16
As an Orato correspondent/contributor, you will help people to tell
their own stories by doing "as told to" pieces and crafting them into
tight narratives, using only the subject's words. You will keep the
highest standards of truth and accuracy. See Website for all details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senior Technical Writer (Huntsville, AL) Job # AL 600
Junior Technical Writer (Huntsville, AL) Job # HT 405
If you are interested in these positions, see more and apply on the
ProEdit Website at http://www.proedit.com/employment.asp. A recruiter
will contact you if your skills match the job qualifications. To speak
with someone about the two technical editing positions, call a ProEdit
recruiter at (770)886-6255 or toll-free at 1(888)-PROEDIT.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's an interesting concept: Let your readers pay you directly for
your writing. See http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Redir/?201 for more
details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your Poems About Animals Could win You £1,000
Calling all pet lovers! Send us an animal poem accompanied with a
photograph to be considered for a forthcoming animal poetry collection
See
http://www.forwardpress.co.uk/05_poetry_invited/animal_antics/animal_antics.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boston Review
E53–407 MIT
Cambridge, MA 02139
http://bostonreview.net/writerguidelines.html
Boston Review, a political and literary forum, acquires the
first-serial rights to accepted fiction, nonfiction, book reviews and
poetry; copyright reverts to the author after publication. We do not
consider previously published material. Simultaneous submissions are
fine as long as we are notified of the fact. Payment varies. Response
time is generally 2-4 months. A self-addressed stamped envelope must
accompany all submissions. The best way to get a sense of the kind of
material Boston Review is looking for is to read the magazine. (Sample
copies are available for $5.00.) See full guidelines online.
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Andwerve, a new literary journal, seeks fiction, nonfiction, poetry,
painting, photography. See guidelines at
http://www.simpletangent.net/andwerve_submission.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Submit a Commentary to National Public Radio
We are looking for commentaries or essays that tell a tale, reveal a
personal reflection, or add an informed perspective to events in the
news. We want pieces that express an original idea with clear, creative
writing. While many essays are from regularly scheduled commentators,
we also want to hear from people who can comment on a once-only basis.
General guidelines:
• Send one or two written commentaries in the body of the e-mail.
Because of security and virus concerns, we are unable to open e-mails
with attachments.
• Each commentary should take about two-and-a-half minutes to read
aloud (about 450 words in length).
• Please include your name, address, daytime telephone number, and
e-mail address.
Send your commentary (with the words "Commentary Submission" in the
subject line) to Morning Edition: mecommentary@npr.org or All Things
Considered: atccommentary@npr.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am seeking poetry, stories, and general musings on Death, Loss, Love,
and Hope to be included in an upcoming book. The book is tentatively
titled Reflections on Love and Loss, and is similar to the Chicken Soup
for the Soul series. Contact me (email: pchanstockton@yahoo.com) with
any questions, and I will happy to view your submission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
America's AIDS Magazine
Art & Understanding, Inc.
25 Monroe St.
Suite 205
Albany NY 12210-2729
Phone: (888)245-4333
Fax: (888)790-1790
E-Mail: chaelneedle@mac.com
Website: www.aumag.org
Chael Needle, managing editor
This magazine buys 50 percent of its articles from freelancers and
accepts prose, poetry, and drama, as well. Sample copy for $5. Writer's
guidelines available at Website.
Columns open to freelancers: The Culture of AIDS (reviews of books,
music, film), 800 words; Viewpoint (personal opinion), 900-1,500 words.
Buys 100 columns/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Pays: $100–250 for columns.
Accepts unpublished prose, poetry, and drama.
Send complete manuscript
Length: less than 3,500 words.
Pays: $50–200 for fiction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annual Fiction/Nonfiction Writing Contest offers more than $1,000
The Hobson Foundation
18 Circle Dr.
Gettysburg PA 17325
E-Mail: writers@hobsonfoundation.com
Website: www.hobsonfoundation.com
Contact: Cyndy Phillips, director
More than $1,000 of cash prizes for first- through third-place
entries, in addition to a full critique of the work and the stories
displayed with judges' comments on our Website. Open to any writer
Entry Fee: $20/first entry; $10/additional entry.
The deadline for this original fiction and nonfiction contest is July
1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AIM (America's Intercultural Magazine) Short Story Contest
P.O. Box 390
Milton WA 98354
apiladoone@aol.com
www.aimmagazine.org
Ruth Apilado, editor
Deadline: August 15
Open to any writer
No entry fee
$100 prize offered to contest winner for best unpublished short story
(4,000 words maximum) “promoting brotherhood among people and
cultures."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attention Fathers: I want to put your message in a bottle
I am putting together a book called "A Father's Message in a Bottle."
One of the components will be to compile letters from fathers from
around the world. The aim is to share with children a father’s most
profound understanding, thoughts, stories, or nuggets of wisdom. I
would love the opportunity to publish your letter.
To submit a letter click on
http://www.tylerhayden.com/default.asp?mn=1.17.112 and fill in the
online form.
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Toastmaster magazine
PO Box 9052
Mission Viejo, CA 92690
Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization,
publishes the Toastmaster monthly for approximately 211,000 members in
10,500 clubs worldwide. For complete guidelines, see:
http://tinyurl.com/l36ee
We prefer queries to completed manuscripts. Send samples of your
published work with your first query. Include a SASE envelope if
samples must be returned. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for replies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
American Baby Magazine
For Expectant and New Parents
125 Park Ave.
25th Floor
New York NY 10017
Website: www.americanbaby.com
Magazine coves health, medical, and childcare concerns for expectant
and new parents, particularly those having their first child or those
whose child is between the ages of birth and two years old. Mothers are
the primary readers, but fathers' issues are equally important.
Seventy percent freelance written. Prefers to work with
published/established writers, but works with a small number of
new/unpublished writers each year. Submit seasonal material six months
in advance.
Sample copy for 9 x 12 SAE with 6 first-class stamps.
Writer's guidelines for #10 SASE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Black Collegian
The Career & Self Development Magazine for African-American Students
IMDiversity, Inc.
140 Carondelet St.
New Orleans LA 70130
www.black-collegian.com
Semiannual magazine for African-American college students and recent
graduates with an interest in career and job information,
African-American cultural awareness, personalities, history, trends,
and current events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Car Craft
Primedia Enthusiast Group
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90048-5502
Phone: (323)782-2000
Fax: (323)782-2223
E-Mail: carcraft@primedia.com
Website: www.carcraft.com
Douglas R. Glad, editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coastal Elegance & Wealth
Naples Daily News/E.W. Scripps
1075 Central Ave.
Naples FL 34102
Phone: (239)403-6133
Fax: (239)263-4708
E-Mail: dwlindley@naplesnews.com
Website: www.ceandw.com
Daniel Lindley, editor
Monthly magazine established: 2005, covers upscale audience in
southwest Florida.
"Coastal Elegance & Wealth is a regional lifestyle magazine that
circulates mainly to high-income households in southwest Florida. Our
main themes include travel, food and wine, art, the season, homes and
gardens, sports and outdoors, wealth, and health."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Six: Writing Assignment: For the sake of argument--building characters
Did you read "From the Editor's Desk--Conflict" above? If not, go back
up to it and read it.
An argument is an excellent way to reveal the personalities, inner
workings, and backgrounds of your characters. During an argument, for
example, an angry character might say, "You're just like my mother; you
never say anything nice." As a result, readers know the character had a
poor relationship with his or her mother and probably has low
self-esteem as a result.
Think of other ways to reveal character. For example, if one character
is set in his ways and his partner has tried to get him to change, you
can reveal aspects of both characters with dialogue such as this:
"You're always nagging me about that, and I'm sick of it."
Write a scene that involves a conversation between two friends, where
one says something that means little, but the other takes offense and
escalates the conversation into an argument. Use the argument to reveal
the true nature, background, and personalities of the participants.
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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 will list your information here, to help you
find or form a group that allows you to get feedback.
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Remember to ask me for 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. Deadline: The
15th of each month.
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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 “Newsletter.”
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The Writers Network News--a newsletter for writers everywhere.
"No Rules; Just Write!"
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The Writers Network – No fees. No officers. “No Rules; Just Write!"
Directions to meetings:
Our monthly meetings are held the first Friday of each month at King
Buffet, 11060 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Georgia. 30076. The
restaurant is on the left after you enter the Roswell Shopping Center,
on the same side of the strip mall as Patterson Furniture. Roswell
Shopping Center is on the left if going north toward Alpharetta, a few
blocks past the Mansell Road intersection and across the street from
Mattress King, about a block past Andretti's. Once you are inside, the
meeting room is through an archway on the left past the cashier.
Restaurant phone: 678-352-1606.
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