The Writers Network News, July 20, 2007 http://ezezine.com
July 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 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/
----------------------------------------------
WRITE IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!
The Writers Network meets next on Friday, August 3, 2007 at 12:00 noon
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 12:00 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 Penny Leisch, Ellen Ward, Kerry LePage, Marianne Sciucco,
and me!
Two: From the editor’s desk–Confessions of a Writer
Three: Ask the Book Doctor–About Avoiding Fraud and Finding Your Voice
Four: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents, and Markets
Six: Writing Assignment–When Things Go Right, Write!
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:
“The comma has so many jobs as a ‘separator’ (punctuation marks are
traditionally either ‘separators’ or ‘terminators’) that it tears about
on the hillside of language, endlessly organizing words into sensible
groups and making them stay put: sorting and dividing; circling and
herding; and of course darting off with a preemptory ‘woof’ to round up
any wayward subordinate clause that makes a futile bolt for semantic
freedom.” – Lynn Truss from her bestseller, _Eats, Shoots & Leaves_
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: Kudos to Penny Leisch, Ellen Ward, Kerry LePage, Marianne Sciucco,
and me!
Penny Leisch was a guest speaker on DogCast Radio on July 10. Her
feature article, "Ten Tips for Winning Photos," will appear in the
July/August 2007 edition of Equine Wellness Magazine. The magazine is
running a photo contest, and the editor asked Penny to write an article
about how to photograph pets. Last but not least, "Those Doggone Dogs,"
Penny’s short story, was published in the June 2007 edition of the
Story Circle Journal.
Member Ellen Ward announced that along with Karen Schwettman and Jackie
Tanase, she is "living the dream" since opening FoxTale Book Shoppe in
downtown Woodstock, Georgia. The independent bookstore has a
distinctive style, and she welcomes members to check out the store’s
writing section and ongoing schedule of speakers and author events.
FOXTALE BOOK SHOPPE, 105 E. Main St., #138, Woodstock, GA 30188;
770/516-9989; www.foxtalebookshoppe.com.
Foreword Magazine just featured my book, _Someday Never Comes_, in the
“Fabulous Read” section of the magazine. –Kerry LePage
The winners of the 2007 Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest
were announced July 15. My short story, "Collection," won an award of
High Distinction. More than 1,200 entries were received from around the
world. I am proud to be among the top seven winners. --Marianne Sciucco
I’ve just been informed that the flagship volume in the Cup of Comfort
book series, A Cup of Comfort: Stories that Warm the Heart, Lift Your
Spirit, and Enrich Your Life (2001), which features my story, "The
Greatest Christmas Gift," is being re-released in August 2007 under the
title A Cup of Comfort Classic Revised Edition. The revised edition has
a new cover design and a new introduction. –Bobbie Christmas
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—Confessions of a Writer
Dear Fellow Writers:
Every time The Writers Network meets, I make each attendee state, “I am
a writer,” along with other personal information. It’s vital to think
of yourself as a writer, to own the title, because when you do, you act
like a writer, give yourself time to write, and take pride in your
work.
The “I am a writer” ritual began because I often forget I am a writer.
I fail to point with pride to my writing accomplishments, attempts, and
requirements. “I am a writer” is an affirmation that gives me
permission to buy the best computer; pay for subscriptions, services,
and periodicals that assist me in my writing; and attend events
designed for writers. Does the “I am a writer” affirmation work?
Sometimes, which is better than not at all.
Yes, folks, I still forget I am a writer. Here’s what happened to me
just yesterday. For a year or so I’ve been mulling over an idea for a
book. Finally my thoughts came to a head yesterday. I wrote down a list
of incidents I wanted to cover and moved them around so they built on
one another. I ended up with a list of more than thirty subjects,
potential chapters. Excited, I dived into writing the first chapter. In
the middle of it I realized the first two subjects needed to be one
chapter, not two. I combined, revised, controlled, rewrote, moved,
reread, and worked chapter one for quite some time. When I finished
chapter one, I saw that I needed to write an introduction, although I
had not planned for one in my outline. I dived into writing the
introduction. Again I reread, revised, rewrote, revamped until I had a
polished first draft of the introduction, the premise for the book.
I stopped writing and donned my editor hat—the thing that pays the
bills—and spent the rest of the day editing a client’s manuscript. By
the end of the day, though, I felt frustrated. My eyes were too tired
to keep editing, but I had not finished all the pages I wanted to edit
for the day. I berated myself for being slow. I wondered how I could be
so unproductive. I told myself what a bad entrepreneur I was for not
sticking to my schedule. I even wondered how I had managed to support
myself since 1992, when I’m undisciplined about getting my work done.
We entrepreneurs have a devil on our shoulder that pushes us to work
more, more, more, which is how we are able to work for ourselves. The
devil is a slave driver that tells us we must get all our work done.
This morning clarity struck me. I did get my work done yesterday! I am
a writer. Writing is work. It counts! It’s real! It also pays some of
the bills, although writing takes longer to pay off and sometimes does
not pay off at all. Yes, by golly, I am a writer! I have permission to
write! I was extremely productive yesterday. I wrote not only an
outline but also an introduction and a full chapter in my brand new
book.
Writing counts as productive work, but why did it take me hours to
remember I am a writer? I am a writer. I am a writer. I must remember I
am a writer.
Does my story sound familiar to you? You are a writer, too. Give
yourself credit and permission.
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
P.S. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 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 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 Avoiding Fraud and Finding Your Voice
Q: I just read a news report that Laura Alpert, who writes under the
name of JT LeRoy, has been found guilty of fraud. She called her book a
novel, and she’s guilty of fraud? What do you think about that? Isn’t a
novel fiction? Why must the author even be known?
A: An author’s real name doesn’t have to be known, but in this case
Alpert was found to be a fraud, not because of her novel, but because
of her attempts to pass it off as truth. She was not indicted for
writing a book she sold as an autobiographical novel based on the life
of male prostitute JT LeRoy, even though the implication was that it
was true, but slightly fictionalized, and that fact turned out to be
untrue.
Instead, she royally messed up when she sold the rights to a production
company that planned to make a movie based on LeRoy's life (not
necessarily based on her novel). The movie, then, was not planned as
fiction, but as a documentary of a true life. In addition, she
definitely committed fraud when she had friends dress up and pose as
LeRoy at book signings and had them lie to journalists about having had
sex at truck stops. The author herself even posed as a troubled teen
when she called a psychiatrist, possibly another publicity stunt. All
those efforts to legitimize something that was not true were, I’m sure,
what convinced a jury that Alpert wasn’t simply the author of a novel;
she was defrauding the public by implying that the novel was based on a
true story, and she didn’t sell the novel to the production company;
she sold them the rights to make a movie on LeRoy’s life, with the
implication that it was real.
The moral of the story is that the truth may set you free, but a lie
can get you thrown in jail, fined, or both.
Q: I have often heard people speak about the writer's voice. What
exactly is it, and how can I find my own?
A: Voice applies to two potential ways of writing. You can use your own
voice when you write a book or article, or you can narrate through a
character’s voice, and the two voices often are quite different.
As far as finding your own voice, a quick answer came from a client of
mine recently. When he talks, he has a quick sense of humor and
uplifting spirit. He said to me, “I spent ten years looking for a
voice, and then I discovered it was mine.”
Entire books have been written on voice, but in truth my client summed
up the subject of author’s voice nicely. If you have a naturally
pleasant way of conversing and you use correct grammar, all you have to
do is let that style of speaking pour into your writing, and you’ll
find your voice has been there all along. To hear voice at work in the
writing of others, read anything by William Price Fox, Bill Bryson, or
Pat Conroy.
To get an idea of how voice is used when a story is told through the
voice of a character rather than in the voice of the author, read
Catcher in the Rye or Sophie’s Choice.
Narrative voice is vital in contemporary literature. I often hear
agents say they are looking for a fresh voice, which is another way of
saying they are tired of reading manuscripts that are derivative of
whatever is selling at the time. Don’t try to be another John Grisham,
Stephen King, or Dean Koontz. Be yourself, and you’ll have a fresh
voice.
The best way to find your own voice is to relax and write as if you
were writing to your best friend. On the second or third draft you’ll
want to address what we call “schoolgirl writing” by substituting
dashes, exclamation marks, and parentheses with correct punctuation,
but otherwise, you’ll find that you’re writing in your authentic voice.
In your authentic voice you won’t stretch for words you wouldn’t say in
conversation, and you won’t push to write long metaphors and similes
that detract from your message. Relax; your voice is already with you!
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.
New Feature! 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.
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Four: Subjects of interest to writers
This Month’s Tip from Bobbie Christmas:
Realize When You’re Telling, Rather Than Showing
Watch out for the word “realized.” It usually signals the writer is
telling, rather than showing. Consider this sentence: Johnny realized
he forgot his keys. It tells, rather than shows. To show readers that
he lost his keys, write narrative that shows him when he pats his
pocket, reaches inside, checks all his pockets, and looks on the
ground. Use dialogue, too. Show him mumbling to himself, “My keys. What
did I do with my keys?” Let the reader do the realizing.
Find and Refine: Type into the Find function: Realize
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 textbook on creative writing: _Write In Style_
(Union Square Publishing).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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)
or save almost $5.00 in shipping PLUS get the third edition instantly
as an e-book 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Win all-expenses-paid trip for two to Atlanta by naming new trade show
A new book show coming in August to the Georgia World Congress Center
in downtown Atlanta, Ga., is holding a contest in cooperation with
Publishers Weekly magazine to select a name. You could win a free trip
to the show and $1,000 worth of books by suggesting the winning name.
ATLANTA, Ga. – Calling all booklovers and booksellers!
The nation's newest remainder, value and bargain book show,
scheduled for Aug. 10-12 at the Georgia World Congress Center in
Atlanta, Ga., is awaiting a name. Until that name is chosen in a
contest that closes in early August, the show is being called simply
"Name That Show."
If you can think of a suitable name, don't wait - enter the
"Name That Show Sweepstakes" contest sponsored by Publishers Weekly
magazine at http://www.namethatshow.net or
http://www.publishersweekly.com/info/CA6448845.html.
The grand prize going to the winning entry is an
all-expenses-paid trip for two to Atlanta, including roundtrip airfare
to Georgia for two (from domestic U.S. points only), hotel
accommodations at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center and a choice between a
mixed skid of books or $1,000 in books (retail value) to build your own
personal library.
Three runners-up will be awarded either a mixed skid of books
or $500 in books (retail value) to build their own personal library.
The show will highlight books and book-related products for
fourth quarter sales. Retailers seeking stock to sell over the late
autumn, Christmas and other winter holidays, will find stock at
incredible values – including new books at 80 to 90 percent off
suggested retail price.
For further details, email ceargle@namethatshow.net.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobbie Christmas seminars on CD
“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?”
Take seminars in the comfort of your own home. Repeat as often as you
want. Invite your friends to join you. To order, go to
http://www.zebraeditor.com/tools.shtml and scroll down to see all the
seminars available on CD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Magazine for Seniors
ELDR "seeks to inspire elders to celebrate the joys, navigate the
challenges, and search for the meaning of aging." Articles will cover
health, technology, law, and exercise, as well as short news items. The
quarterly magazine from Eldr Media launched in June.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get insurance, discounts for office supplies, and other benefits by
joining the Freelancers Union. There’s no cost to join, so it may be
worth it. See www.freelancersunion.org and decide for yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 that will inspire and inform you. For a full
schedule of presentations and registration information, go to
http://www.anvilpub.com/summer_seminar.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children’s Literature/Writers Conference
For more information, see http://www.voicesinchildrensliterature.com/.
Voices in Children's Literature
November 2, 2007
8:15-5:00
Unicoi State Park
Helen, GA
Voices in Children’s Literature is a day devoted to teachers,
librarians, parents, and writers, young and old. It is an opportunity
to discover the stories behind the stories—and understand the decisions
that authors, illustrators, and editors make about character, style,
information, plot or format. Come join us for an in-depth examination
of the craft that creates the best of good books
Wordworks
November 3, 2007
8:15-5:00
Unicoi State Park
Helen, GA
Wordworks is an inspiring and intensive day-long workshop on writing
children’s books Four published authors and one New York editor will
share specifics on how to craft books, both fiction and nonfiction,
that will resonate with children for years to come. Join us for a day
dedicated to helping YOU write and market your best work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTHUR, a transgenerational, counterculture magazine that ceased
publication following the October 2006 issue, returns with the July
2007 issue. Jay Babcock is editor of this bi-monthly publication from
Arthur Publishing. Distribution is nationwide in select retail stores
and by subscription
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLUMBING BUSINESS OWNER is all about "practical, how-to advice on all
aspects of managing a business." Topics include insurance, finance,
staff management, technology, and marketing. Tambra McKerley is editor
of this monthly magazine from Cahaba Media Group, publisher of sister
title CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OWNER. 30,000 copies will be distributed
throughout the U.S. beginning with the debut August issue
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Potential publicity for children’s book authors and cookbook authors
Marty Aftewicz, president of The Atlanta Writers Club, shares the
following information:
Suzanne Lieurance is the founder, director, and coaching coordinator of
The National Writing for Children Center. Her organization is always
looking for children's authors for a weekly Book Bites for Kids
podcast. You can find out more about it by visiting the National
Writing for Children Center at: http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com
She is also looking for cookbook authors to interview for the Three
Angels Gourmet Co. podcast, Heavenly Food Chat, at
http://www.threeangelsgourmet.com
If interested, learn more of Ms. Lieurance and her organization at
www.writingforchildrencenter.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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; Simon
and Schuster, distributor. Available in bookstores and Internet
retailers. To order at Amazon.com DISCOUNT prices, see
http://zebraeditor.com/bookstore.shtml.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SKIRT is being licensed by Scripps Howard, the newspaper chain, from
owner Morris Communications. Currently, the locally published magazine
is distributed in eight markets, each with half national and half local
content. The ninth area will be Memphis this September. By the end of
the year, circulation is expected to be 1 million as markets open in
Houston, TX, Tampa, FL, Winston-Salem, NC, and Norfolk, VA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t be discouraged when your fiction is rejected! Read this and
remember it!
“The first job of a fiction editor is to say no. You turn down a lot of
bad stuff and a lot of pretty good stuff, too. This is the way it
should be. If you’re going to reject something, it hurts, even though
people are prepared to be rejected. And we do reject everybody at one
time or another.” – Roger Angell, fiction editor for The New Yorker for
more than fifty years
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
http://zebraeditor.com and click on “Tools for Writers.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents and Markets
Plaintiff magazine
Plaintiff magazine is looking for contributing writers who have the
desire to advance their practices by sharing their experience, research
and advice with colleagues. Plaintiff is a nuts and bolts journal for
trial practice. PLAINTIFF is "a nuts and bolts magazine of civil trial
work" targeting plaintiff's attorneys throughout Northern and Central
California. Topics include how-to articles and winning action tactics,
as well as putting together a more productive practice. Donna Bader is
editor of this 11 issues-per-year publication from Neubauer &
Associates and is actively seeking contributing writers. In depth
articles will explore case law, case preparation, handling defendants’
pretrial motions, and making successful arguments to the jury. Debut is
a July/August issue. See
http://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/Editorial%20page.html for all vital
information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reader Views Annual Literary Awards
The Reader Views Annual Literary Awards 2007 invites submissions from
self-published authors and authors published by independent or small
presses. For more information about the Reader Views Annual Literary
Awards 2007, including guidelines and registration deadlines, visit
http://www.readerviews.com/Awards.html. Deadline: December 15, 2007.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Co-author Wanted
I have information and ideas, but not enough time to write my books. If
you have the time, ability, and willingness to write my books and
participate in the proceeds, send your bio and rates. Say Bobbie
Christmas sent you! --Dr. Joe Teal DrJoeTeal@aol.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Florida Feline
28100 Dovewood Court
Suite 303
Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
http://www.floridafeline.com/
info@floridafeline.com
239.949.4092
This magazine offers beneficial veterinary advice and tales from
contributing writers filled with compassion. Each issue, Florida Feline
will deliver up-to-date product reviews, comparative articles, and the
newest information pertaining to the feline industry. “We invite all of
you to share your thoughts and stories with us. Let us know how your
favorite feline has made a special space in your world.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inspire Magazine launches
Inspire will "provide its readers with the latest techniques,
information, and strategies that will address the positive and negative
forces of life." Suitable topics are far ranging, from arts and
culture, community affairs, diversity, and business and finance to
youth and elders, fitness and wellness, higher education, music,
spiritual things, and sports. Lee Jones is the executive editor of this
bi-monthly magazine, which is set to debut with the July issue. For
submission guidelines see
http://www.inspiremag.org/html/submissionGuidelines.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crescent Moon Press
First to be Published Contest
The manuscript must be complete at the time of entry and belong solely
to the entering author. The manuscript must be an original work, never
before published online or in print. The winning author must sign a
standard Crescent Moon Press contract and agree to abide by all terms.
Read the page outlining submissions to make sure your manuscript meets
guidelines. See http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/contests.html for
details. If your manuscript meets guidelines, send a query letter and
the first three pages of your completed full-length manuscript to
CMPcontest@crescentmoonpress.com . Five manuscripts will be chosen for
the final round, and authors will be notified to submit the entire work
within twenty-four hours.
The first place manuscript receives a $100 American Express card and a
contract for publication. Second through fifth places will also be
eligible for, but not guaranteed, a contract, as well.
Deadline for entry: October 31, 2007
Winners announced December 1, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Motherwords wants Your Words
Motherwords is an irreverent, realistic look at motherhood. We’re
looking for submissions that capture the true essence of motherhood and
serve as a "neighborhood" where mothers can share experiences and
connect with one another. It's a forum for caretakers to talk about
ideas and information; a place for writers to stretch their proverbial
wings. We are real moms who want to read and write about real
motherhood, real kids and real life partners.
We welcome submissions from women and men from all over the world.
After all, we are all in this together. What could be more universal
than child rearing?
For guidelines go to http://www.motherwords.org/submission_guidelines.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIFTMAKER is a new bimonthly magazine from publisher DRG (CROCHET
WORLD, GOOD OLD DAYS) and is geared specifically toward paper crafting
but also incorporates a range of media, including paint, beads, felt
and fibers. Editorial includes paper crafting, stamping, embellishing
and gift-making possibilities. The website is at
GiftMakerMagazine.com...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The First Line Wants Your Fiction
We pay on publication $20.00 (U.S.) for fiction and $10.00 (U.S.) for
nonfiction. We also send you a copy of the magazine in which your story
or nonfiction appears. All stories must be written with the first line
provided. The line cannot be altered in any way, unless otherwise noted
by the editors. The story should be between 300 and 3,000 words. The
first line fiction prompt for the August 1, 2007 deadline is this:
Calvin once complained that there were not enough _______ in the world.
[Fill in the blank.] For more information and information on nonfiction
submissions see http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Believer wants nonfiction, poetry, and books for review
The Believer will consider unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts. Please
do not send fiction. General inquiries, along with query letters,
essays, lists, charts, etc., should be emailed to
meehan@believermag.com. Please include clips or a brief publication
history. Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, please allow
up to three months for a reply to unsolicited manuscripts or queries.
Poetry Submission Guidelines:
Submissions may be sent via email only, to poetry@believermag.com
We accept 3-5 previously unpublished poems per submission
Please send each poem as an individual MS Word attachment, with your
contact information at the top of each page
Cover letters are optional
Simultaneous submissions are fine, though we ask you let us know if a
poem has been accepted elsewhere
Books for review can be sent to:
The Believer Book Review
372 Fifth Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do-It-Yourself Book Festival competition
The 2007 DIY Book Festival has issued a call for entries for its sixth
annual program celebrating the success of independent authors and
publishers. The DIY Book Festival will consider self-published or
independent publisher nonfiction, fiction, biography/autobiography,
children's books, teenage, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction,
audio/spoken word, photography, art, comics, 'zines, fan fiction,
poetry and ebooks published on or after Jan. 1, 2005. All entries must
be in English and have been self-published or issued by an independent
publishing house. Deadline submissions in each category must be
postmarked by Sept. 25, 2007. For more information:
http://www.diyconvention.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dan River Anthology gearing up for next edition
Looking for fiction and poetry for the next anthology. $1 reading fee
must be made in cash, for logical reasons. Read more and get complete
guidelines at http://www.americanletters.org/danriveranthology.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Organize Magazine
Organize Magazine is the first magazine dedicated solely to helping
people tackle their organization needs. As such, we will help our
readers learn how to get organized in all areas of their lives: Home,
Work, Time and Leisure. For writers guidelines see
http://www.organizemag.com/pdf/WriterGuidelines_01.pdf.
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Six: Writing Assignment: When Things Go Right, Write!
We earlier addressed the issue of starting a story at the point when
things go wrong. For this exercise we take the reverse tack. A good
story can also begin with things going right, but eventually they must
go terribly wrong, for the story to hold together. A great writer gives
hints and clues that even though all seems well, something harmful lies
beneath the surface, waiting to raise its head. Such writing creates
tension and suspense as readers subtly anticipate the moment when the
underlying negative things rise up and wreak havoc.
When do things seem to be going right for most people? Usually it’s
those first hope-filled, exciting days, weeks, or months when a new
romance is budding. During that first flush of excitement, the process
of falling in love, we ignore the obvious and pay no attention to
things we later realize were warning signals.
For this assignment, create a brief encounter and conversation when two
people meet for the first time. Pick only one point of view through
which you may show thoughts, if you wish, but try to stay more in
conversation and action than thoughts and narrative. Show how the two
meet, where they meet, what they say, how they react, and if you’re
really good, sneak in a few of those zingers, the caveats we usually
ignore during our early excitement. Think of differences or flaws that
might later become major issues and toss in one or two to forewarn the
reader and create tension, even as the couple continues with their
attraction process, oblivious to the signs of differences, deception,
or maybe even peril.
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Seven: Web Sites of Interest to Writers
Bet You Can’t Play Just Once!
Try the free online word game, Chicktionary. Challenge yourself, laugh
yourself silly, and maybe even learn a few new words. Chicktionary
matches you against seven alphabet-loving hens. Choose from a roost
full of letters and peck out as many words as possible. Hatch out
enough words, and you'll move on to the next round.
http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=tri_Chicktionary_offnet
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AP Style and other information for writers
If you hope to write articles for print journalism, you need to know AP
Style. See what Dr. Michael S. Sweeney of the Journalism Department for
Utah State University has put together for you:
http://www.usu.edu/journalism/faculty/sweeney/resources/ap.htm. If you
want the information with less personality and in a pdf format, go to
http://www.bu.edu/com/writingprgm/ap_styleguide1.pdf for the Com
Writing Center Quick Associated Press Styleguide.
Have fun and learn more about AP Style. Take brief tests at your
leisure and learn more than you thought possible. Go to
http://www.newsroom101.com/AP1/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fiction4all.com
“Whether you are a major publisher with hundreds of electronic books or
an author about to publish your first title, in just a few minutes you
can be selling your eBooks at fiction4all.com and earning up to 80% of
the retail sales of your content!” So says the information, but when I
read it through, authors really get 60%. Still, e-books cost nothing to
produce again and again, so 60% of something is better than 100% of
nothing. If you’re interested in selling our book as an e-book, you may
want to check out the options at
http://www.fiction4all.com/pubsell.php.
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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
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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!"
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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