The Writers Network News, August 20, 2007 http://ezezine.com
August 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/
----------------------------------------------
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The Writers Network meets next on Friday, September 7, 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 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 Sue Davis, Jill Jennings, and Walter Lawrence
Two: From the editor’s desk–Be in the Moment
Three: Ask the Book Doctor–About Finding Agents and Getting Published
Four: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Five: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents, and Markets
Six: Writing Assignment–Make a list
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:
Russell Baker said, "Computers make writing so painless that the writer
cannot bear to stop. On and on the writer goes, all judgment numbed.
Before you know it, you've written a book."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: Kudos to Sue Davis, Jill Jennings, and Walter Lawrence
I have two stories coming out in August: one in Cup of Comfort for
Writers, and one in Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers. Also, I submitted my
first fifteen pages for evaluation at the Harriette Austin Writers
Conference and was one of five nominees out of about 100 submissions
for the Mark Segura Award. Out of that, I have a well-established agent
wanting to see the whole manuscript and the outline for my next one!
--Sue Davis
The Georgia Poetry Society announced the winner of its first Foreign
Language Poetry Contest. Jill Jennings, a former Latin teacher, won for
her poem in French titled “Le Train-train (A Humdrum Existence).” In
iambic octameter and French slang, the poem captures the lifestyle of
Parisians whose existence revolves around a daily train commute, a job,
and escape on the weekends to the South of France. The contest was
coordinated by Dr. Robert Simon of the Kennesaw State University
Foreign Language Department. The prize was an edition of the newly
released Georgia Poetry Society anthology, _The Reach of Song_.
Walter Lawrence’s article, “Pour Some Sugar On Me, The history of
Southerners’ affection for sweet tea” was published on the Sunday Paper
Web site at http://tinyurl.com/2fdghn.
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—Be in the Moment
Dear Fellow Writers:
This morning my dog and I walked out onto my driveway for our routine
morning stroll, but even at 8:00 in the morning, the heat felt
oppressive. I don’t recall a longer or hotter spell in Georgia since I
moved my business here in 1992.
My Scottish terrier usually scurries down the driveway and out to the
road with me in tow, so she can anoint the neighbor’s lawns with her
golden elixir. This morning, though, she stayed in her own yard and
wandered among my seedling trees and over the drought-brown grass. I
watched her in hopes that she would finish her business quickly, as
thoughts of my air-conditioned office wafted through my mind.
Instead of hurrying, though, she sniffed each tuft of grass, nudged
each flower she could reach, and burrowed into each patch of clover.
“Go tee-tee!” I demanded, as if I had control over her bladder, but
she, I realized, was taking time to smell the roses, literally.
Wait a second! She was making an excellent point. I shifted my focus
from my cool office and instead let my mind move into the moment, into
the hot, still air. The instant I allowed that shift, I heard a cicada
crank up in a nearby tree and heard others calling loudly to each
other. Had they been singing the entire time I was outside, yet I had
not noticed? I heard the squeal of a hawk coming from two yards over. A
mockingbird called from farther away. The whoosh of a car rolling down
my quiet street made me look up and wave at a neighbor who passed by on
her way to work, and the flutter of a butterfly caught my eye as it
flitted to a nearby bush, landed on a flower, and dipped into the
nectar. Once I was in the moment, I saw, smelled, heard, and
experienced things I had been missing, mere seconds before. Instead of
wishing to be somewhere else, I let myself just BE. In that moment I
experienced much greater pleasure and beauty than I had while I was
wishing I were indoors, instead.
Writers need moments like those, and the more, the better, because
those are the times our mind records the exquisite details that fill
our manuscripts when we write. My wish for you this month is that you
just BE. Be in the moment, and enjoy every moment.
I also hope you’ll BE at our next Writers Network meeting in Roswell,
Georgia, on September 7, but if you can’t be there, be where you are.
Really be there.
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 Finding Agents and Getting Published
Q: What are some of the established/credible, editors/publishers you
would recommend to consider publishing my collection of self-published
short stories?
A: Note that many publishers do not accept books that have already been
self published, which is another darned barrier we have to get around.
I don't have a pat answer for your question; I'd have to do the same
research you would do: go to bookstores and see who is publishing your
type of book, check with Writer's Market or www.WritersMarket.com to
get guidelines and addresses, etc. I offer submission services for a
fee, where I do the research, copying, envelope-making, and mailing,
but the process is far too time-consuming to offer for free. Sorry, but
it's a job you'll either have to do yourself or pay someone to do. It's
a hat most writers don't want to wear, but it's a hat we must wear if
we want to get past the gatekeepers and get published traditionally.
Q: Is there a clear, generally accepted definition for the term
"unpublished" as it is used in submission guidelines, or is it
subjective? Here's why I ask:
A friend of mine has recently set up a Web site (www.sfumag.com) where
writers of science fiction (mainly) can post their work for others to
read and provide feedback. The site also features articles and other
information. It amounts to an on-line literary magazine where work can
be shared and critiqued in its developmental stages. For quite some
time, I have been planning a site based on a similar concept but
targeted more at mainstream fiction and nonfiction. I had hoped to
launch it this spring.
If I post a short story on sfumag.com, does it still qualify as
"unpublished" for purposes of submission to traditional print media or
literary contests? On one hand, it's posted for all the world to see.
On the other, it's presented to a specific audience for the primary
purpose of critique. I routinely print and share hard copies of my
work, as well as e-mail files, distributing them to others for the same
purpose, something that, to my knowledge, is not considered by anyone
to be publication. So where is the line, if one exists, beyond which
work is considered to be published?
I don't want to spoil my chance of seeing a piece of my work
traditionally published because I posted it on a Web site. Furthermore,
when I set up my own site, I want others to be able to use it without
fear of the work losing its "publication virginity." Can you offer some
advice in this area?
A: Publication on the Internet is still considered publication in most
circles. Making a few copies for your friends? Well, that’s just making
a few copies for your friends. The difference is clear; you control
distribution of the copies to your friends, but the Internet is
available to the public, and is therefore public-ation.
Q: How can I find a literary agent?
A: Finding an agent isn't easy, and the process and methods are too
detailed for me to completely answer here, although I’ll give it a
little stab.
First the book has to be better than 99% of all the other manuscripts
written during the year. Only 1% of fiction manuscripts get accepted
for publication. It's simply not easy to find an agent and sell a book.
If it were easy, anyone could do it.
Entire books have been written on how to find an agent, but the best
method is to get a referral from a client of an agent. That is, if you
know someone who has a good agent, try to get that person to refer you
to his or her agent.
Your next bet is to go to writers conferences where literary agents are
scheduling evaluations with writers. Make an appointment and be sure to
submit your best work. Sometimes those connections click and result in
a contract with an agent.
Last of all, search for agents who are taking on clients by using
www.WritersMarket.com, and be sure to follow each agent's guidelines,
for they all differ.
Never forget to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with any
mailed submission, even if you don’t want your manuscript back. It’s a
common courtesy, and without it you may not hear anything back.
Sometimes even a brief bit of feedback included in a rejection can make
a big difference and help you revise the manuscript enough to appeal to
the next agent.
Bobbie Christmas is the owner of Zebra Communications, a
literary services firm providing manuscript editing services to
individuals and publishing houses since 1992. Contact her at
770-924-0528, visit her Web site at http://zebraeditor.com/, or e-mail
her at the address above. Be sure to sign up for the free Writers
Network News by visiting her Web site and clicking on “Free
Newsletter.”
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 and/or saves 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 Tip from Bobbie Christmas: Go toward the Light
Which word choice is correct, “toward” or “towards?” You see them both,
so how can you possibly know whether to use one or the other? The
answer is simple. If you write for American readers, use “toward.” If
you write for Brits or Canadians, you may use “towards.” Yup. Now you
know the difference. Easy, wasn’t it?
Find and Refine: Type into the Find function: towards
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). Buy it in our bookstore or order it from
Amazon.com by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/2ayh2m
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Stepping into editorial freelancing without a solid grounding in the
business side can be a career killer. Knowing what and how to charge
and, more importantly, when to say no, enhances your chances of success
and avoids some nasty financial surprises.” (Mark Loundy) Read more
about what he has to say about freelance writing and photography at
http://tinyurl.com/ytoq33.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_Purge Your Prose of Problems: A Book Doctor’s Desk Reference,_ Fourth
Edition allows you to save thousands of dollars by editing your own
book
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Letters from Members
In this crazy world of making the bacon and paying the bills, running a
business, keeping clients, finding clients, working projects... well,
you get it; Writers Network News newsletter keeps me sane.
Thanks,
Cathy (last name not given)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next year, your novel?
The latest Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
sold 11 million copies in the U.S. and the UK in the first twenty-four
hours. It’s being called the biggest day in publishing history.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dept. of English & Comparative Literature of San Jose State University
Announces 2007 Results of Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
An international literary parody contest, the competition honors the
memory (if not the reputation) of Victorian novelist Edward George Earl
Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). The goal of the contest is childishly
simple: entrants are challenged to submit bad opening sentences to
imaginary novels.
Here’s the 2007 winning entry:
Gerald began--but was interrupted by a piercing whistle which cost him
ten percent of his hearing permanently, as it did everyone else in a
ten-mile radius of the eruption, not that it mattered much because for
them "permanently" meant the next ten minutes or so until buried by
searing lava or suffocated by choking ash--to pee.
The winner of the 2007 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest is Jim Gleeson, a
47-year-old media technician from Madison, Wisconsin. Purportedly
splitting his time between living in Madison and living in his own
head, Gleeson claims to be working on a self-help book for slackers,
"Self-Improvement through Total Inactivity."
For many other entry winners and dishonorable mentions, see
http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/english/2007.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDIBLE TORONTO celebrates the seasons, diverse population, ethnic
mosaic, local food sources, and eating establishments "and a return to
a more satisfying way of life" for Ontario, Canada, residents. Gail
Gordon Oliver is editor-in-chief of the quarterly franchise magazine
that debuts in September.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Susan Graham and eHarlequin newsletter – www.eHarlequin.com--and
Cindi Myers (sign up for her free newsletter by sending a blank e-mail
to cynthiasterling-subscribe@yahoogroups.com) we hear the following
juicy news:
Harlequin has announced its expansion into the nonfiction market.
Following the success of Friends, a Love Story, by Angela Basset and
Courtney B. Vance, published in February under the Kimani Press
imprint, Harlequin is looking to offer nonfiction of interest to women
readers, to be published under Harlequin's existing imprints. According
to Loriana Sacilotto, Executive Vice President, Global Publishing &
Strategy. "The editorial will concentrate on such categories as health,
diet, fitness, self-help, motivational and relationship books as well
as narrative nonfiction—nonfiction that tells a story, such as memoirs
and biographies—and will cater to women 35 years and older." All
editors are seeking to acquire titles. To read more, check out Isabel
Swift's blog at http://isabelswift.blogspot.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reasons why you’re confused about apostrophes
This Q & A appears on the Chicago Manual of Style Web site this month:
Q. This headline appeared in the New York Times on Friday, May 11: “A
Tough Fight Still Looms, Cheney Warns G.I.’s in Iraq.” I thought no
apostrophe was necessary here, as the s represents a plural, not a
possessive. What’s up at the Times?
A. What’s up is that the Times uses New York Times style, not Chicago
style. (Tsk!)
For more Q & A see
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/new/new_questions01.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Poet Laureate Appointed
Charles Simic was named America’s fifteenth poet laureate on August 4.
Sixty-nine-year-old Simic has published more than twenty volumes of
poetry as well as essay collections, translations, and a memoir.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soothe yourself over your rejections. Read the article at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/6906799.stm called
“Publishers reject classic titles.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
Call for Inspiring True Stories
The bestselling Cup of Comfort book series is seeking submissions for
publication consideration in three new books. Stories must be true,
uplifting, and 1,000 to 2,000 words. For writer’s guidelines:
www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm.
A Cup of Comfort for Children and Spouses of People with Alzheimer’s
How will the reality of having a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s
affect you and your family emotionally, financially, physically,
socially, personally, professionally? The inspiring stories in this
collection will answer those questions and more and will show how love
prevails and how lives thrive when a spouse or parent has Alzheimer’s.
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of
book.
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2007
A Cup of Comfort for Divorced Women
Divorce in the twenty-first century should come with an instruction
manual, a release valve, and a support system. This anthology will
serve those three purposes in the form of comforting, insightful, and
inspirational stories about surviving and thriving during and after
divorce. We seek uplifting, contemporary stories on topics of
importance to divorced women. Stories can be poignant, irreverent,
humorous, witty, or wise.
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy of
book.
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2007
A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors
It has been said that “stories are medicine” and that “one of the most
valuable things we can do to heal one another is to share our stories.”
This collection will include compelling, inspiring, and uplifting
personal essays about the experiences and emotions of living with--and
living after--breast cancer. All themes and writing styles considered,
as long as the story is positive.
Exclusively for the Breast Cancer Survivors volume, Adams Media is
working in partnership with Redbook Magazine and will award a $5,000
grand prize, a $5,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation in the grand prize winner’s name, and bonus prizes to three
runner-up stories.
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attention all single women thirty-five years and older! We want your
dating stories!
We are collecting real life stories for an anthology based on dating
experiences of seasoned singles. What funny dating stories do you have
to share that will make fellow single women laugh? What indignities
have you suffered through with Mr. Wrong while looking for Mr. Right?
We want to share as a sisterhood the trials and tribulations of dating
at a more mature age. E-mail us your funniest or perhaps most
meaningful and/or insightful dating experience after the age of 35.
Send your biggest dud date or the most shocking experience, whatever
has made you or your friends laugh out loud or created insight into
yourself.
Compensation will come in the form of a free copy of the completed book
and entry into a raffle containing the other winning book entries for
an all inclusive girl's-night-out in your city (limo, dinner, drinks,
dancing). Entrants agree to allow us exclusive rights to the story. We
will be contacting standard publishers for printing, or we will self
publish if necessary. You may choose to have your name listed in the
book or remain anonymous.
Suggested word count: 250
Deadline: October 1, 2007
Submit to: joycebone1@yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Preen
22311 Brookhurst St. Suite 105
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
For general inquiries: info@preenmag.com
Preen is a bi-monthly fashion, beauty, arts, and music lifestyle
magazine for young, independent women seeking the "fantastic in your
everyday life." Publisher is Lilly Sein McElroy. The new magazine is
distributed through boutiques and newsstands in the US, Canada and the
UK. See www.preenmag.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scrapbook Dimensions magazine
PO Box 1337
American Fork, UT 84003
Scrapbook Dimensions is a new magazine for artists who wish to enhance
their creativity by embracing and blending both the traditional paper
products as well as digital products. Our readership reaches an
international audience while we are the very first magazine to focus on
what we call "hybrid" scrapbooking. We feature art that reaches new
levels of creativity. See Complete submission guidelines at
http://tinyurl.com/2yr3ky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
failbetter.com is an online quarterly magazine of fiction, poetry and
visual art. For the current issue, see
http://failbetter.com/index23.php. We seek that which is at once
original and personal. When choosing work to submit, be certain that
what you have created could only have come from you. We do not consider
work that has appeared elsewhere, either in print or on the Web. We
accept simultaneous submissions. If you submit by e-mail, expect to
hear from us in eight to twelve weeks. If you submit by regular mail,
expect to wait three to six months. For guidelines see
http://failbetter.com/Submit.php.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
St. Louis Writers Guild Sponsors James Nash Memorial Short Story
Contest
The James Nash Memorial Short Story Contest opens for submissions every
October, and prizes are awarded in December. Historically, entries have
come from all across the nation and Canada. Stories are blind-judged by
one or more expert(s) in the fields of writing and literature. Writers
do not need to be a member of the Guild to participate in this contest.
For complete guidelines see
http://www.stlwritersguild.org/calcontestshortstory.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chocolate Brides premieres
Chocolate Brides, a new quarterly magazine, is for "women of color
planning their wedding day." Topics include wedding day themes to
bridal fashion, hair styles, and resource guides. Kesha Monk and Eugene
Myrick oversee the publication. For more information see
http://www.chocolatebridesmagazine.com/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goblin Fruit wants your poetry
We want poetry that we can call "of the fantastical." It’s poetry that
treats mythic, surreal, fantasy and folkloric themes or approaches
other themes in a fantastical way. Rewrite a fairytale, ponder an old
story, consider history from an unusual perspective -- really, it's up
to you, so long as the fantastical element is there. What qualifies as
"the fantastical" is easily debatable, so here's what we're not
interested in: science fiction poetry (it's not you, it's us), horror
for horror's sake, and poetry that's self-consciously gothic.
We have no prejudice against traditional poetic forms, rhyme, or meter.
We'd like to stay that way, so please let the form serve the poem, not
the other way around. Prose poems will be harder to sell, mainly
because so many of them straddle the flash fiction line. We pay a flat
rate of $5.00 USD on publication for original, unpublished poems and
$2.50 for solicited reprints. Read guidelines before submitting:
http://www.goblinfruit.net/summer07/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Red Bow Publishing, LLC
9431 Pebble Glen Avenue
Tampa, FL 33647
redbowpublishing@yahoo.com
New book publisher of general trade, children's, cookbooks, cartoon,
how-to, gift, journals, photography, academic, and poetry books is now
accepting manuscripts and submissions from writers, graphic designers,
illustrators, and artists. Only submissions sent with self-addressed,
stamped envelopes will be returned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parents for Parents launches
The Parents for Parents Magazine calls itself refreshingly unique.
Unlike other parenting magazines that look at many topics in a general
matter, our quarterly magazine takes one topic—such as discipline—and
discusses it in depth with ten to fourteen articles in each issue. As a
result, the articles provide truly useful information, real-life
examples, solutions, tips, and tools from the real parenting
experts—other parents. To contribute, see
http://www.motheroftwosguide.com/contribute.shtml.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meadowbrook Press wants your misadventure stories
WANTED: Short, funny, true stories recounting the misadventures from
weddings/honeymoons, pregnancy/childbirth, or the baby/toddler years
for an upcoming series of anthologies to be published in book form by
Meadowbrook Press.
STORY LENGTH: Up to 800 words
PAYMENT: For selected stories, we'll pay the following one-time fees.
(Word counts refer to final edited versions.)
$50 for 100 words or less
$75 for 101–250 words
$100 for 251–500 words
$125 for 501–800 words
RIGHTS REQUIRED: Non-exclusive worldwide rights in all languages.
Author retains copyright to story.
FORMAT: Stories must be submitted electronically. A story may be typed
in the body of an e-mail or sent as an attached Microsoft Word
document.
E-MAIL TO: awiechmann@meadowbrookpress.com with subject line “Anthology
submission.” Please indicate the submission category:
wedding/honeymoon, pregnancy/childbirth, or the baby/toddler years.
DEADLINE: September 1, 2007
We’re looking for tightly written stories featuring one specific
incident with a clear humorous focus. For samples of stories that fit
our vision for this series, please e-mail a request to
awiechmann@meadowbrookpress.com with subject line “Anthology Samples.”
Please do not submit stories that are interesting/enlightening/touching
but not funny. Such stories are outside the scope of this project.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mommy Mentor Project
We are collecting and sharing our life stories to benefit women all
around the world. One of the first Mommy Mentors Projects is a book
composed of a collection of our stories called ¬_Older Moms to Younger
Moms._ We want your story contributions! For complete guidelines, see
http://www.mommymentors.com/mm_project_guidelines.php.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dark Recesses Press - Quarterly PDF E-Zine
We are looking for horror/dark fiction pieces between 500-5000 words.
Longer works are a tough sell but may be considered if they knock us
off our seats. All components of your story should have merit. Gore for
gore's sake is not what we are looking for. We want to give nightmares
that happen during the waking hours. All stories will be accompanied by
illustrations.
We have raised our pay rate to 3 cents/word with a $150.00 cap
beginning with issue number five. All payments are made in US funds.
Total number of stories selected per issue will be 7-8 depending upon
length. See http://www.darkrecesses.com/SubInfo.htm for complete
submission information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black Intellect Café
P.O. BOX 1345
Lanham, MD 20703
Phone 877-706-CAFE
Fax 877-706-2234
editors@blackintellectcafe.com
The Magazine is a forum for individuals from all segments of the black
community to share ideas and experiences that will enlighten and uplift
each member of society. Knowledge is a powerful tool for achievement.
The mission of BIC is to provide valuable information and resources
that will help African Americans realize their goals and lifelong
dreams. The magazine launched recently with the September issue.
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True Wealth c/o Cutting Edge Media
Editor-in-Chief Bridey Orth
800-561-9297 ext. 1121
borth@cemedia.com
True Wealth, a bi-monthly magazine, debuts in February 2008 and will
cover home-based business ideas, from direct sales to franchises, with
articles on personal development, success stories, and industry advice.
True Wealth: Your Guide to Starting a Profitable Home Business shows
readers how to be successful entrepreneurs. It wants stories about
thriving home businesses, advice from experts, and articles that
support beginning or continuing a business. "True Wealth will reach
serious-minded prospects who are actively pursuing a home-business
opportunity," says Bridey Orth. "We want to show our readers how a home
business can bring wealth to many areas of their lives--through quality
time with family, a more relaxed schedule, and, of course, financial
success."
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Book Publisher – no agent required
James A. Rock & Company
9710 Traville Gateway Drive #305
Rockville, Maryland 20850
James A. Rock & Company (http://www.rockpublishing.com) has been
publishing since 1977. It publishes 10-15 titles a year in a variety of
genres: nonfiction, mystery, science fiction, romance, horror, young
adult, mainstream, humor, fantasy and more. A visit to the Web site
shows the wide range of interests. Books are published in either
hardcover or trade paperback, and electronically. They pay a small
advance and royalties and will accept submissions from previously
unpublished or unagented authors. Query Editor James A. or Editor Lynne
A. Rock.
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Hopscotch for Girls
P. O. Box 164
Bluffton, OH 45817
We are looking for lively writing, most of it from a young girl's point
of view, with the girl or girls directly involved in an activity that
is both wholesome and unusual. Examples have included girls in a
sheep-to-shawl contest, girls raising puppies destined to guide the
blind, and girls who take summer ballet lessons from members of the New
York City Ballet. We use nonfiction three to one over fiction, and
pieces accompanied by clear photos with high resolution are far more
likely to be accepted than those that need illustrations. The ideal
length of a Hopscotch nonfiction piece is 500 words or less, although
we are not about to turn down a truly exceptional piece if it is
slightly longer than the ideal. We prefer fiction not to run over 1,000
words. We will entertain simultaneous submissions, but do not submit
anything by e-mail. For full guidelines of all the children’s magazines
we publish, go to
http://www.funforkidzmagazines.com/frameset.html?target=hs.
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Six: Writing Assignment: Make a list
My sister shared this idea with me. Even though I’ve played the game in
my head many times, she’s the one to tell me it would make a good
writing exercise. You can either imagine the scene or actually take a
field trip and go to a supermarket or discount store, and here’s what
you do:
Observe the person in front of you. Note his or her physical
appearance, age, dress, mannerisms. Next make a mental or physical list
of the items in the person’s cart or on the checkout counter. If the
person has too many items, pick out four of them and concentrate on
them. How are they linked to that person? What story do they tell? What
is going to happen when that person leaves the store and arrives home
with those items?
For example, you might see someone with duct tape, scissors, large
trash bags, and a bandana. What might be up with that? Okay, that list
might be too obvious. What if the items are toilet paper, shampoo,
soap, and tomato soup? How about aspirin, socks, mayonnaise, and a pack
of pencils? How will you link those diverse objects and weave them into
a story? That’s for you to say. Use your imagination.
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Seven: Web Sites of Interest to Writers
FAQ on Literary Agents and Publishing, an Adler & Robin Books, Inc.
report with a great deal of good information. See
http://www.adlerbooks.com/mostask.html.
Need to send an entire manuscript to a publisher or editor and your
e-mail provider won’t allow you to send a file that large? Check out
www.yousendit.com. YouSendIt makes it easy to send and receive large
files. Take the tour to learn more.
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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!"
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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