The Writers Network News, June 20, 2007 http://ezezine.com
June 20, 2007
The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Contents copyright 2007, Bobbie Christmas.
No portion of this newsletter can be used without permission.
Newsletter Sponsor:
Zebra Communications: We ensure you write in style, to 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/
----------------------------------------------
The Writers Network meets next at noon on Friday, July 6, 2007
No dues; no fees
No rules; just write!
If you happen to be in metro Atlanta on the first Friday of the month,
bring questions and business cards and network with us for an hour or
so, starting at noon.
We meet at King Buffet, 11060 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, GA 30076.
See more detailed information at the end of the e-zine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to this issue of The Writers Network News.
In This Issue:
One: Kudos to Patricia E. Patterson, Chris Roerden, John F Nienstedt
Two: From the editor’s desk–Prospecting is like shaving . . .
Three: Ask the Book Doctor–About Freelance Issues
Four: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents, and Markets
Six: Writing Assignment–Music to the Ears; Muse to the Brain
Seven: Web Sites of Interest to Writers
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To view past issues of The Writers Network News, go to:
http://home.ezezine.com/886_2/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writer’s quote of the day
Tobias Wolff said: "There are very few professions in which people just
sit down and think hard for five or six hours a day all by themselves.
[If you become a writer] you have the liberty to do that, but once you
have the liberty you also have the obligation to do it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: Kudos to Patricia E. Patterson, Chris Roerden, John F Nienstedt
Patricia E. Patterson won third place for her flash fiction story, “A
Little Extra Work,” and first place for her magazine article, “A
Literary Journey,” in The Atlanta Writers' Club Spring 2007 Contest.
Chris Roerden, winner of this year's Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction
Book, _Don't Murder Your Mystery: 24 Fiction-Writing Techniques to Save
Your Manuscript from Turning Up D.O.A._. To read her whole press
release, see the Letters from Members.
John F Nienstedt released his latest paranormal, action/adventure novel
titled Evil Business. It pierces the corporate curtain, revealing how
the richest country on earth could at the same time manage to create
unparalleled levels of obesity, disease, and depression. It also shows
us the kind of earth we could be living on. His book is available from
iUniverse.com and www.amazon.com.
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—Prospecting is like shaving . . .
Dear Fellow Writers:
I’ve made a living with words my entire career, and my success has
little to do with talent. I’m not a fiction writer building fame by
telling stories. I’m simply an editor and a nonfiction writer who can
string together sentences in logical fashion and turn in assignments on
time. How have I managed to make a living with words, when so many
others long to do so, but never do it? I’m about to reveal the secret
of my success.
As a freelance writer and editor, I am in business for myself, which
means I must never stop prospecting for business. I never rest on my
laurels. I always look for new clients, new markets, more work, more
assignments, more areas of expansion, and as a result, enough of those
contacts and searches turn into paying assignments that have supported
me for more than three decades.
As a reader, you can be thankful for my diligence. The Writers Network
News started because I constantly research writing and editing
assignments, and I chose not to keep that information to myself. Even
if I can’t use everything I find, someone else might benefit from it,
so I offer this newsletter to other writers who may follow up on my
leads and find work they love, too.
This past week I’ve sent out three project proposals and one book
proposal. I’ve contacted at least two publishers that might need an
editor. That’s six places I’ve contacted with the potential of adding
to my client base. If I make six contacts every week, I reach out to
312 potential new clients each year, and that’s not counting the
prospects that find me on the Internet or come to me because a friend
recommended me.
Over the years I’ve watched other writers say they want to leave their
day jobs and write full time, but few make a living at it, because they
forget that writing full time also requires marketing part-time. In
essence, freelancers have to wear two or more hats. They can’t simply
write; they also have to find markets for their writing.
My father, also an entrepreneur, once said the corniest thing to his
male sales staff, yet I’ve never forgotten it. He said, “Prospecting is
like shaving; if you don’t do it every day, you’ll soon look like a
bum.”
I don’t have to shave my face, but I never forgot Dad’s advice, and I’m
always searching for more, new, and bigger clients. As a result, I make
a living writing and editing. If I can do it, you can, too. The secret
is never to stop prospecting for business, even when you think your
plate is full. Too soon it empties, and if you haven’t been seeking new
work, you’ll be a starving artist.
Follow up on some of the leads in this and future newsletters and see
what happens. You could shift from starving artist to well-nourished
writer.
Enjoy this issue and keep sending your notes and successes so I can
share them with others. Networking works!
Yours in writing,
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
If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, please sign up to get your
own copy. Simply go to my Web site, www.zebraeditor.com, and click on
“Free Newsletter.” I never share your address or send out spam.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Three: Ask the Book Doctor—About Freelance Issues
By Bobbie Christmas
Q: My office has asked me to write some PR pieces, and I have no idea
what to charge. So far, the first piece is about 400 words, and I've
spent about three hours on it. While my credits are limited to short
story publications and a few things in the local newspaper, those items
gave me no remuneration. What would you recommend I charge? I have
given the first article to them today, and in case they ask my fee, I
don't want to appear ridiculous.
A: Whoops! You have already broken the very first rule in freelance
writing. Before you begin work—not after you turn it in—you must
negotiate and set a price, a deadline, terms of payment, and
guidelines, such as how many times the client can ask you to make
changes without the price increasing. Without all this information set
out before you begin, you and your client may have completely different
expectations of the outcome. For example, you already work in that
office, so your superiors may expect that your normal salary covers
anything they ask you to do, and they may not plan to pay you anything
above your normal salary.
Do not grieve, though. Every first-time freelancer who did not have a
good mentor has made the same mistake, and most of us have learned at
one time or another that we unintentionally worked for free or for
peanuts. I did it myself, when I first started freelancing.
A friend asked me to edit his book of poetry back in the 1970s. After
writing and editing business communications and company newsletters for
years, it was my first foray into book editing, and I jumped at the
chance. After I spent hours upon hours working on the manuscript, I
told my friend it was ready, and he asked me to meet him for lunch.
Visions of dollars danced in my head. I decided I would ask for $500, a
low figure, because he was a friend and I was just learning to edit
books, but I had already decided exactly how I would spend that money.
Over lunch my friend thanked me profusely for the work, but bemoaned
the fact that he had almost no money. After he paid for lunch, he
pulled out two $5 bills and asked if I would accept lunch and $5 as
payment for my work, so he could keep the other $5 to pay for his
dinner. The work was done; I had no recourse; and he was my friend. I
said yes. The lesson was more valuable than payment would have been.
From that day forward, I set out my fees, payment schedule, and desired
results before I begin any job.
Basic Freelance Rule #1 aside, you still want to know how much to
charge should someone ask, and that answer varies by region,
experience, amount of work, type of work, and many other variables. For
your first freelance job, ask slightly more than you get an hour at
your current or past job, because you are also learning, and your
client should not pay for your training. After you have established
yourself and rely on freelance work as your only source of income, your
fees have no cap; that is, the fee may depend upon the client's ability
to pay.
For regional information on a range of prices charged by others, see
www.salary.com, but remember those rates are reported by the people
themselves, and if asked by fellow writers, many startup freelancers
claim higher fees than they actually receive. In the end, find a price
that seems fair to both you and your client, and that's the bottom line
in all freelance jobs.
Q: I read about a new magazine starting for single mothers, but did not
see any contact information. As a long-term single father, I want to
send a query about writing an article from the standpoint of a single
father. How can I find the magazine?
A: Go to Google.com or any other strong search engine and type in the
name of the magazine. Chances are good you will find a Web site with
contact information, maybe even submission guidelines. If the title of
the magazine does not bring you the information you want, use the
publisher's name or editor’s name or any other information you can use
in a search engine. Contact information for new magazines sometimes
takes a few months to appear on the Internet. Be patient and check
again in a month or two.
If you’re willing to pay a fee of about $20 a week to subscribe to
LiteraryMarketplace.com, you can search its vast database for
information on new publications, as well. WritersMarket.com also lists
periodicals, and it costs much less, but its information is not always
as thorough as LiteraryMarketplace.com.
Send your questions to Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas for a personal
answer. Contact her at Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more “Ask the Book
Doctor” questions and answers at www.zebraeditor.com.
Would you link to read the Ask The Book Doctor column as a clear PDF
file? Now you can! See
http://zebraeditor.com/files/ask_the_book_doctor.pdf. The column will
be available at that address until about the twentieth of each month,
after which it will be replaced with a new one.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Four: Subjects of interest to writers
This Month’s Insider’s Tip from Bobbie Christmas:
Don’t Help, Do!
Do you write letters, promotional literature, or any other form of
nonfiction? If so, consider the word “help” a four-letter word. What,
you say? What’s wrong with a little “help?”
Here’s an insider’s secret. The word “help” often points to a missed
opportunity to make your writing even stronger. Whenever “help” appears
in your prose, see if you can rewrite or tighten the sentence without
that word, and if so, the statement will be more persuasive, more
powerful, and unique. I’ll give you examples before and after
refinement and deletion of any form of the word “help.”
Before refinement: If you follow my advice, it will help you reach your
goals.
After refinement: Follow my advice, and you will reach your goals.
Before refinement: Meditation helps you relax, so you can concentrate
on important matters.
After refinement: Meditation relaxes you, so you can concentrate on
important matters.
Before refinement: We help you with your computer problems.
After refinement: We fix your computer problems for you.
Of those examples, which statements are more powerful and to the point?
The ones that took out the “help” and went straight for the message.
Put this “helpful” tip to work for you on all your nonfiction writing
and watch your style improve.
Find and Refine: Type into the Find function: help
Find opportunities for improvement in your own work by using my
trademarked Find and Refine Method. With your file open on your
computer, pull down Edit, then Find, then type in the word you want to
find, and your computer will stop on each one and allow you to ponder
whether you can improve or delete that usage.
For more opportunities for improvement, read my book on creative
writing: _Write In Style_ (Union Square Publishing). Order it at
Amazon.com prices by going to http://zebraeditor.com/bookstore.shtml.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fusion is a new English-language magazine out of Connecticut. It
targets children of immigrants and those who came to the US at a young
age and speak English primarily, but feel strong ties to the Latino
community.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_Purge Your Prose of Problems: A Book Doctor’s Desk Reference,_ Fourth
Edition
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: grammar, punctuation, word choices, creative
writing, plot, pace, characterization, dialogue, Chicago Style,
formatting a manuscript, and much more. More than 500 subjects covered.
Printed form lies flat for easy use: $29.95 plus $4.99 shipping at
http://www.zebraeditor.com (click on Tools for Writers and scroll
down).
Now also in PDF format for even easier use! Save almost $5.00 in
shipping PLUS get the third edition instantly 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Letters from Members
Hi Bobbie:
You've been so supportive that I had to send you my latest news
release, which includes a reference to your book.
Best,
Chris Roerden, whose feet have not yet touched the ground.
N.C. Editor Wins Agatha Award and Calls for Submissions
Greensboro, NC: Winner of this year's Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction
Book is _Don't Murder Your Mystery: 24 Fiction-Writing Techniques to
Save Your Manuscript from Turning Up D.O.A._, by North Carolina editor
Chris Roerden.
Chris has been a full-time manuscript editor of fiction and nonfiction
for 43 years, and values her long-standing professional relationship
with Bobbie Christmas.
The Agatha is named for Agatha Christie, author of more than 30 books,
best known as the creator of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. The award
is presented at Malice Domestic, a convention for mystery fans held
each Spring in the Washington, DC, area, which this month (May)
attracted nearly 600 readers and writers. Registered attendees
nominate, from memory, their favorite reads; then at the convention
they vote on the five highest-scoring finalists in each of five
categories: novel, first novel, nonfiction, young adult, and short
story.
Reviewers of _Don't Murder Your Mystery_ have praised Chris Roerden's
selection of positive examples of writing techniques from 150 published
authors, and recommend her advice for all fiction writers, not just
mystery. As a result, Bella Rosa Books wants to publish a revised
edition that will feature examples of the same techniques from ALL
genres. Chris wants to spotlight lesser-known and not-yet-published
writers, provided that passages from their work can be substituted for
the positive examples of specific examples now featured in the
award-winning edition.
Up to 140 new examples from fiction will be considered for publication,
with full credit, if submitted according to the guidelines posted at
www.tinyurl.com/yclawc.
More than 50 observations and anecdotes on writing and publishing are
also featured, including a passage on style from Bobbie Christmas's
book, _Write in Style.__
……………………………………………………..
Dear Bobbie:
I want to suggest that Network members check out the Atlanta Film
Industry Meetup group. They are beginning to occasionally put up a
shout out looking for people to write screenplays. It might not work
for the more seasoned writers, but it may be of interest as an avenue
of experience for someone out there in the Network. Usually no money is
involved in the projects associated with the Atlanta Film Industry
group, especially initially. It would be most appropriate for those
seeking practice and unpaid exposure. Some films and shorts do work out
a clause where everyone would get a piece of the pie if the work was to
accidentally receive monies down the road.
Cyber hugs,
Cindy Sue Causey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The popular course based on the 20th anniversary edition of Five Fast
Steps to BETTER Writing is now available online. Franchised in five
locations across Canada, the course was developed by Barbara Florio
Graham, who delivered it for more than a decade to federal government
departments and other clients.
The exclusive online franchise has been given to Donna D'Amour, an
award-winning writer, professional teacher, and popular workshop
leader. Winner of 2004 Atlantic Journalism Gold Award, Donna is also
the author of _Colouring the Road_ by Donna Doyle (Lancelot Press) and
co-author of _Runaway_, edited by Antonio D'Amour (Zenobi Publishing).
Visit: www.damourwriting.ca for details, including fees and
registration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobbie Christmas seminars now available on CD
Buy several seminars on CD and listen in the comfort of your own home.
Repeat them as often as you wish. Invite your friends to join you. Go
to http://www.zebraeditor.com/tools.shtml and scroll down to see all
the seminars available on CD, including the following:
“Write In Style and You Write to Win”
“Travel Writing for Fun and (a little) Profit”
“Write it and Reap: Make Money Selling Your Expertise”
“An Editor’s 10 Secrets to More Persuasive Writing”
“I’ve Finished My Book; What Should I Do Now?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marketing Tip
“What problem does your book solve? What need does it meet? What
answers does it reveal? What gap does it fill? Look beyond what you
think you wrote about to why readers are drawn to shell out their
hard-earned dollars to buy it and then use that information to sell
even more books.” --Gail Richards, founder of AuthorSmart.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Royal Palm Literary Awards call for entries
Enter your manuscripts in the 2007 Royal Palm Literary Awards Contest!
The deadline has been extended to August 1. Enter your published or
unpublished book under any of these categories:
Children's/Young Adult
Horror
Romance/Erotic
Humor/Satire
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Literary
Mystery/Thriller
Educational/Informational
Biography/Memoir/* History
Flash Fiction
Short Story
Poetry
For submissions guidelines see
http://floridawriters.net/Conference/Conf.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where is Bobbie Christmas speaking?
Making Money with Books—By Writing, Publishing and Selling Them
August 10-11, Summer Book Show Author-Publisher Seminar
Georgia World Congress Center—Atlanta
Learn more about getting your book written and published and about
marketing your book. The Southern Review of Books is putting together
an outstanding faculty to inspire and inform you. For a full schedule
and registration information, go to
http://www.anvilpub.com/summer_seminar.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think you don’t have time to write?
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Carol Shields had five children and
housework, when she decided to write her first novel. She determined
she had only one free hour a day, between 11:00 a.m. and noon. She
planned mentally what she wanted to write, and at 11:00 a.m., she wrote
as quickly as possible, usually finishing about two pages by noon. She
finished her first novel, Small Ceremonies, in nine months. It came out
in 1976. In 1995, Shields won a Pulitzer for Stone Diaries, which
became an international best-seller.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_Ask the Book Doctor: How to Beat the Competition and Sell Your
Writing_ is a 122-page e-book by Bobbie Christmas 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIRST HOME is aimed at 25- to 40-year-olds in Atlanta who are first
time or aspiring home buyers. Topics include home decor, entertainment,
real estate, money matters, decorating and remodeling, and profiles of
area homes. Clinton Smith is editor-in-chief of this spin-off from
ATLANTA HOMES AND LIFESTYLES magazine. The debut issue is expected in
September.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_Write In Style: Using Your Word Processor and Other Techniques to
Improve Your Writing_ by Bobbie Christmas teaches the Find and Refine
Method ™ to power up your prose. Bobbie Christmas reveals secrets only
a book doctor could know. First Place winner of the Royal Palm Literary
Award for education. Available in bookstores or to order at Amazon.com
DISCOUNT prices, see http://zebraeditor.com/bookstore.shtml.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
URBAN INFLUENCE, the official magazine of the National Urban League,
hit nationwide newsstands in May. The Web site is
http://www.urbaninfluencemagazine.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free Tools for Writers from Bobbie Christmas and Zebra Communications
Fifteen useful reports are available, and the list keeps growing. Go to
http://zebraeditor.com and click on “Tools for Writers.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents and Markets
Atlanta magazine, the city’s only general-interest magazine and one of
the oldest citymags in the country, is looking for writers to submit
personal essays for the “On My Mind” department. Writers may submit on
any topic as long as it relates to the city/metropolis of Atlanta. (For
a model, see Newsweek’s regular “My Turn” essay.) Repeat: The content
absolutely must relate to the city of Atlanta. To be clear: This should
not just be about you but also, somehow, about the CITY. The city
cannot simply be a backdrop or mentioned as a drive-by but rather must
be a factor, a presence in the piece -- better yet, its raison d'etre.
It should tell us, the readers, something about this place where we
live -- we should find something familiar, soothing, upsetting, true.
Guidelines: Submit no more than 1,200 words in a Word document
attachment, with name and contact information, to
pwilliams@atlantamag.emmis.com. No phone calls and no general requests
for a position in editorial, sales, or elsewhere. This is a
content-specific call for submissions only.
In the past decade Atlanta magazine has won more than 225 national and
regional awards for journalism and design excellence. Serving a
metropolis of more than 5 million, the magazine publishes literary
nonfiction, service journalism, an annual fiction package, and photo
essays, as well as premier departments on dining, shopping, and travel.
For wider submission guidelines, see atlantamagazine.com. Pays
freelance rates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FATE magazine reports a wide variety of strange and unknown phenomena.
We are open to receiving any well-written, well-documented article.
(FATE does not publish poetry or fiction.) Our readers especially like
reports of current investigations, experiments, theories, and
experiences. Payment is $25, including photo use, if you have any. See
http://www.fatemag.com/writersguide.html for complete list of topics
and guidelines.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JEWISH LIVING will debut November 8 with the tagline: Celebrating
Jewish Home, Jewish Family and Jewish Cultural Life. The magazine's
website is at www.jewishlivingmag.com...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writers, Editors, Proofreaders wanted
We are currently seeking writing talent for a new project to begin in
July. We are looking for a few good writers who can also edit and
proofread.
REQUIREMENTS:
MUST be native English speaker with excellent skills in grammar. Please
do not apply if you are ESL.
Professional writing experience not necessary if you can submit two
writing samples.
Ability to research, cite, and write about provided topics.
Ability to apply specific rules for word useage and density.
Computer, MS Word, email, Paypal account, and internet connection.
Ability to attach work to emails.
BENEFITS:
Compensation is .01 cent per word or about $2.5 per page.
Payment made after each submission via Paypal.
This is not a full-time or employee position. You will act as an
independent contractor. If you are interested in a position, please
submit your resume and two writing samples (1-2 pages only). See
http://www.tjobs.com/cgi-bin/jobad_lh.pl?Position37790 to apply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Editor/Publisher Gordon Van Gelder
We are looking for stories that appeal to science fiction and fantasy
readers. The SF element may be slight, but it should be present. We
prefer character-oriented stories. We receive a lot of fantasy fiction,
but never enough science fiction or humor. Do not query for fiction;
send the entire manuscript. We publish fiction up to 25,000 words in
length. Please read the magazine before submitting. A sample copy is
available for $5 in the US and $7.50 elsewhere (to NJ address). Payment
is 6-9 cents per word on acceptance. We buy first North American and
foreign serial rights and an option on anthology rights. All other
rights are retained by the author. For complete guidelines, see
http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOLFER GIRL MAGAZINE aims to help girls find inspiration from the
success of others and learn about golf history and famous female
golfers. Targets junior golfers from 7 to 17. Claude Hooton is in
charge. See http://www.golfergirlmagazine.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All Custom Content Seeks Experienced Freelancers
We are currently looking for talented and detail-oriented writers with
an excellent command of the written English language.
Positions Available: Freelance positions ghostwriting articles,
reports, e-books and other content. We are also looking for writers to
be able to rewrite transcriptions and other documents to put them in a
useable format for end users. There may be future opportunities to
become a senior writer or a team leader. Both positions include more
available work and increased rates of pay. For more information and to
apply, see
http://www.allcustomcontent.com/work-from-home/writers.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Story Department wants readers and story editors
For the last ten years, we hired only working writers who were referred
to the program by existing members. We are currently experimenting with
opening the service to self-referred working professionals as well as
to those who are seriously committed but not-quite-yet working
professional writers, and we have set up a Web site to explain the
program to new prospective members. To be a reader or story editor at
The Story Department you must have experience doing coverage for one or
more of the following:
• a major studio
• a television network, including major cable such as HBO,
Showtime, etc.
• a significant production company (with projects at major
studios and/or networks)
• a major talent agency or management company.
If you have that level of experience and are extremely reliable with
good references (we check), then we would be interested in hearing from
you. See http://www.storydept.org/readers.htm for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greenability magazine
Greenability magazine is a new, bi-monthly publication designed to help
you discover "green" lifestyle alternatives for everyday living in
Kansas City. We're looking for local story ideas on the following:
• Sustainable housing
• Local & organic food
• Efficient transportation
• Green investing
• Local green businesses
• Eco-friendly travel
• Natural lawn & garden care
• Green events
See: http://www.greenabilitymagazine.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO DOG
The quarterly calls itself "the parent magazine for all dog lovers" and
considers dogs to be "pseudo-children," and "just like children, there
are expenses that come with being a responsible, exceptional dog
parent." The Web site is at http://www.thecoloradodog.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Real Deal, a monthly magazine (circulation 65,000) and a daily Web
site (www.therealdeal.com) about New York City's real estate industry
is expanding its coverage of various national markets. We are looking
for freelancers in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los
Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington
D.C. For the right candidates, the possibility exists that this may
become a steady gig.
Our readership is not the home buyer. Rather, our readership includes
brokers, developers, bankers, appraisers, planners, architects, and
anyone interested in the change, fiscal underpinnings, and growth of
cities.
We want reporters who can tell a good and careful story about
neighborhood economics, conflicts over the urban fabric, and
development deals. Candidates must have strong business reporting and
hard-news backgrounds, and the ability to dig deep into their real
estate markets.
If this challenge appeals to you, send an email to Stuart W. Elliott at
jobs@therealdeal.com along with two writing samples. We offer per-word
pay rates competitive with other New York City trade magazines. We are
ready to hire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IDENTITY is a new online magazine for women. "We encourage our readers
to embrace their lives, their bodies, and their individuality by
introducing ways to achieve an overall balanced and healthy lifestyle.
We realize that there are traditional and alternative ways to live. Our
mission is to educate our readers about both and let them decide which
methods are best for them. We give them the tools to develop a
healthier mindset and gain the know-how to choose between what is
merely good enough and will make them truly happy." See
http://www.identitymagazine.net.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MethodShop.com Looking for Writers
We are looking for reviews, tutorials, humor, and lifestyle articles
relating to the iPod, Palm Pilot or just general technology. We pay
$20-$200 (or more) per article or piece depending on depth and quality
of content. Writers also get free evaluation products for reviews they
write. See http://www.methodshop.com/about/writers.shtml.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE LUTHERAN, the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, is spinning off THE LITTLE LUTHERAN. The new magazine will be
a monthly (with combined May/June and July/August issues), 24-page,
high-quality picture magazine for children ages 6 and under. It "will
help children learn about God's love for them, offering stories,
prayers, puzzles, activities and rituals." See
http://www.thelittlelutheran.org/little.
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Modest Fashion Magazine hits stands
The new quarterly, Eliza, promotes and celebrates clothing companies
creating modest designs that follow mainstream style trends for "women
who want to be stylish, sexy, and engaged in the world while retaining
high standards."
Check out Eliza at http://elizamagazine.com/news.php.
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Investor Concepts
InvestorConcepts.com and Investor Concepts, the print magazine, are
owned and published by First National Information Network. Investor
Concepts is about Emerging Ideas for the Active Investor. Our mission
is to educate, inform and inspire our members with investment ideas
that will bring the greatest returns to their investment dollars.
Through intuitive research we unearth high reward and untapped
investment opportunities that have the potential of imminent growth and
sustainability.
See www.investorconcepts.com for the Web site, and watch for the print
magazine to launch in the fall. It will be distributed by mail to high
net worth, high-income businesses and homeowners throughout the United
States, with additional distribution direct to the financial community,
newsstands, and retailers. Send editorial queries to
editor@investorconcepts.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rafter Jump On looking for freelancers
We’re looking for individuals on the cultural cutting edge to become
our correspondents, writers and photojournalists, specifically. We’re
calling them Rafters. If you have a strong voice, excellent skills and
a unique point of view, then you could be a Rafter. But if you’re
middle-of-the-road, mainstream, milquetoast, you’re not for us.
Another point. We’re not after fluff here. You need to know something.
Whether it’s entertainment, finance, fitness, law, or the tantalizing
details on that tiny new restaurant around the corner, you’re the
expert. Show us. Intrigue us. Keep us coming back for more.
Read more at http://rafterjumpon.com/ and apply online if interested.
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SOUTH CAROLINA ALIVE is all about living, shopping, events,
personalities, attractions, dining, and recreation in that state.
Sherry McCoy is editor of this bi-monthly magazine, which is a sister
title to ALABAMA ALIVE and GULF COAST ALIVE. See
http://www.southcarolinaalive.com//
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Six: Writing Assignment: Music to the Ears; Muse to the Brain
Stuart Dybek, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, read about some
Hungarian composers who had drawn on gypsy music to inspire them in
their compositions. He went to the library and checked out records by
Hungarian composers, and when he played them, he was flooded with
memories of his childhood. He fell into a trance, and in that trance,
he wrote many of the stories that became his first story collection,
_Childhood and Other Neighborhoods_. Dybek later published two more
collections: _The Coast of Chicago_ and _I Sailed with Magellan_.
For this assignment, search through your oldest music for something
that speaks to you of an earlier time in your life. Sit down with paper
and pen, and while the music plays, jot whatever comes to mind. Don’t
worry if the notes come out as single words or stream of consciousness
or complete thoughts. Don’t criticize yourself or get in the way of
simply writing down whatever comes out. Spend at least a half hour on
this exercise, and if words, memories, or new ideas flood in, keep
going.
Later use your notes to write stories, novels, essays, poems, or
whatever, but while you listen to the music, your goal is simply to let
the brain work its wonders and reveal its stored secrets.
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Seven: Web Sites of Interest to Writers
[Note: Some of the links listed in this section may have the words
“tiny url” in them. The reason is simple. Some Web addresses are more
than 150 characters long, and to simplify them, I use a Web site called
www.tinyurl.com. It takes long addresses and converts them to short
ones for convenience, and the short addresses work equally as well as
the long ones.]
HomeJobShop.com
Want to work from home? Check out this site and sign up for a free
newsletter with available home-based jobs, many of them having to do
with writing. http://www.homejobstop.com/.
Telecommuting and freelance work for writers and others
See http://www.tjobs.com, http://www.elance.com/,
http://gofreelance.com/find-work/joinnow1.html, and
http://www.guru.com/.
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15th of each month.
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Information about the meetings:
Because it's a buffet, come into the meeting room, set down whatever
you brought, and go get food, if you plan to eat. You are under no
obligation to eat if you attend the meeting, but if you do eat, you may
pay and tip as you leave.
While we eat, we have introductions. After the introductions are over,
we discuss questions and answers. After the introductions are completed
and at any time until we leave, you are welcome to get more food or
leave when you need to do so.
Directions to meetings:
Our monthly meetings are held at noon on the first Friday of each month
at King Buffet, 11060 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Georgia. 30076. The
restaurant not only gives us a private meeting room, but it also offers
a buffet with a variety of food, primarily Asian.
The restaurant is on the left after you enter the Roswell Shopping
Center, on the same side of the strip mall as Patterson Furniture and
High Point 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, a little way
past Andretti's. Once you are inside King Buffet, the meeting room is
through an archway on the left past the cashier.
Restaurant phone: 678-352-1606.
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