The Writers Network News, October 21, 2007 http://ezezine.com
October 21, 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/
Bobbie’s Blog:
http://journals.aol.com/bzebra/BobbieChristmasBlogforWriters/
----------------------------------------------
The Writers Network meets next on Friday, November 2, 2007 at 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 Vicki Flier Hudson
Two: From the editor’s desk – Get Your Ego Out of the Way
Three: Ask the Book Doctor – About Self Publishing, Screenplay Agents,
and Ghostwriting
Four: This Month’s Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Don’t let your ego
destroy your style
Five: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Six: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents, and Markets
Seven: Writing Assignment – Handprints in Cement and Other Small
Wonders
Eight: 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:
"Writers spend all their time preoccupied with just the things that
their fellow men and women spend their time trying to avoid thinking
about. ... It takes great courage to look where you have to look, which
is in yourself, in your experience, in your relationship with fellow
beings, your relationship to the earth, to the spirit or to the first
cause—to look at them and make something of them." —Harry Crews, author
of many novels, including _The Gypsy's Curse_ (1977), _Body_ (1990),
and _Celebration_ (1997).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: Kudos to
Vicki Flier Hudson reports she is 18,000 words into the first draft of
her second book. Keep it up, Vicki!
Congratulations, folks. Your successes encourage others, so please send
in your accomplishments for our kudos section.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Two: From the editor’s desk — Get Your Ego Out of the Way
Dear Fellow Writers:
My ego gets in the way of my progress, at times. I’ve given seminars to
writers for more than fifteen years, so my ego thinks I could give any
seminar about writing, and that I have nothing to learn from others.
Wrong!
On October 14 I attended a seminar on memoir writing given by columnist
and multiple-book-author Hollis Gillespie, who also just sold a TV deal
based on her first two books. I decided to go as a student, not as a
teacher, and absorb knowledge from other writers and from other gurus,
because a good writer never stops learning. I thoroughly enjoyed the
material and did, indeed, get a few pointers I had not considered, and
I enjoyed interacting with fellow attendees as an equal, rather than a
teacher. Midway through the event one of the visiting speakers “outed”
me to the group, calling me an expert. I had to admit who I was, but I
sank back into student mode quickly, resisting the urge to take the
limelight, while my ego screamed for recognition.
My point is this: All of us have something to learn, no matter where we
are on our journey to writing the next bestseller. Leave your ego at
home with your pets and leave the house. With an open mind, go to
seminars, conferences, events, and gatherings and soak up all you can
from fellow writers, from those you think have “made it,” and those who
are still in the process. No matter what we may think, we are all still
in the process, because when we stop learning, babe, it’s all over.
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 Self Publishing, Screenplay Agents,
and Ghostwriting
By Bobbie Christmas
Q: I am thinking of getting a good edit, printing a few hundred copies
[of my novel], sending it to major bookstores in the country, and
seeking an agent who would want to do a movie manuscript. How do you
find an agent or publisher that is interested in meaty, meaningful
writing that says something and doesn't have triteness?
A: Before I answer, I have to address a few misconceptions that many
people have. First, sending a printed book to a bookstore doesn’t
ensure the store will put it up for sale. Most stores will not take
books except on consignment, meaning they must be returnable, and most
self-published books are not returnable. Also, most bookstores take
books only through traditional book distributors, such as Ingram, Baker
& Taylor, and Simon & Schuster. Before you go to the expense and
trouble of self-publishing, be sure you can indeed get the book into
bookstores.
Next, I am familiar with literary agents who handle books, but I am
primarily a book editor, so I do not know any screenplay agents. If the
two careers are similar, though, it means a screenplay agent won’t
represent an idea, but only a well-written screenplay that is complete
and ready to go. If you haven’t written a screenplay before or studied
screenplay writing, chances are low that you can create one without
serious assistance on the first try.
As for an agent or publisher interested in meaty, meaningful writing,
you’re looking for an agent or publisher that handles literary fiction.
The reason they are rare is that literary fiction is difficult to sell,
and agents and publishers have to make a living, so they choose to
represent manuscripts that are easier to sell. A few agents and
publishers interested in literary works are still out there, though.
The best way to find them is to go to the bookstore and read the
acknowledgments in other books of literary fiction and see if the
authors thank their agents. If so, write down the names. See who the
publishers are, as well. Contact those agents and publishers, and your
chances of success are higher.
Even if you don’t plan to self-publish, you may have to pay a good
editor to line edit and evaluate your novel, if you want to get your
manuscript past the gatekeepers who allow only the best to get to the
decision makers.
Q: Is ghostwriting (nonfiction) a viable niche for a freelance writer?
If so, do you have any tips on finding clients and sources?
A: Ghostwriting articles and books is certainly a viable addition to
any freelance writer’s repertoire. Like any independent career,
ghostwriting work is not something that falls into your lap and
immediately fills your schedule and your bank account, but if you’re
already selling articles and/or writing books that get published
traditionally (not self-published), you have the credentials you need;
the only tough part is finding clients.
Because I have been actively working as a writer and editor for
decades, and because I get good publicity and word-of-mouth referrals
through my speaking engagements, columns, books, and past clients,
potential clients seek me out, and I don’t have to go searching for
them. Some work comes through my Web site, too. Even so, I am not
full-time ghostwriter; it’s simply an addition to my other income from
writing, editing, and book sales.
My advice for finding clients is simply to do all the marketing and
publicity you would normally do, and make sure word gets out that you
ghostwrite in addition to your other services. A few agents also
connect established ghostwriters with celebrities or others with good
life stories but who lack writing skills.
A word of warning from an experienced ghostwriter, though: When I was
younger, many people wanted me to ghostwrite their life stories for
them. I soon learned they were time wasters who wanted someone to
listen to their stories. They weren’t willing or able to pay me for my
time—it often takes six months to a year to write a book—but promised
to give me a portion of the profits. Unless you are hired by the
publisher to ghostwrite, the chances of a book getting published are
only one percent. I know of few people so wealthy they who can afford
to work six months to a year on a project that has only a one in one
hundred chance of paying even a single penny.
As for me, I work strictly on a prepaid basis; that is, I do not rely
on a sale or participate in royalties. If you choose to work on a
contingency basis and participate in the royalties, though, be sure
your name is on the publishing contract, so you get sales reports and
royalty checks directly from the publisher.
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 like to read or save 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: This Month’s Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Don’t let your ego
destroy your style
Earlier I wrote about how our egos can thwart our education, and now
let’s look at how ego can hurt our writing style. Whenever you stretch
for a word you wouldn’t use in everyday language, you’re letting your
ego, instead of your solid writer, write. When you use words like
“amongst” or “amidst,” instead of “among” or “amid,” unless you’re
based in a British-English-speaking country, you’re choosing those
words because they sound fancier, when in fact they are not acceptable
in American English. Fancy-sounding words have a way of spoiling your
writing. Any time you would normally speak a simple word but you write
a more complex one, you’re making a decision from the ego—you’re saying
to yourself, “People will think I’m smart if I use a highfalutin word
instead of an itty bitty one.”
Your choices can be as simple as using the word “approximately” when
“about” will do.
Whenever you stop and ponder whether to use “who” or “whom,” you’re
probably writing fancier than is necessary, too. Although not in every
case, sometimes the use of “whom” can be deleted and nothing is lost,
as in the following example: The boy whom I picked wore red. You can
just as easily write this: The boy I picked wore red.
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 your local bookstore or order it
from Amazon.com by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/2ayh2m.
Find and Refine
For this exercise, type into the Find function, one at a time, the
following words:
Amidst
Amongst
Approximately
Whom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Five: Subjects of interest to writers
Save thousands of dollars by editing your own book. _Purge Your Prose
of Problems: A Book Doctor’s Desk Reference,_ makes it possible.
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://zebraeditor.com/tools.shtml 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
Thank you for writing!
Your newsletter has been received and devoured with immense interest.
It is by far the most informative newsletter I have ever read. Please
accept my appreciation.
Maureen Grimes
The CopyWrite Studio, Inc.
[Ed. note: Last month I reported having talked to a new book printer in
Georgia, and one of our readers wrote the following:]
Happy to report that I spent a few hours up at the [Apex] plant and
have decided to give them my book business after they printed out a few
of the pages in my new book. Gorgeous looking! Very impressed with
their quality, price and the folks that own and work for Apex.
Mark Diamond
I continue to plug your Web site, e-newsletter, and _Write in Style_ to
other writers I meet. Attached is my list of favorite reference books.
Paul DuBose
[Ed. Note: Paul offers his list to anyone who asks. His e-mail address
is PPDuBose@aol.com.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zimbabwe readers association is a nonprofit organization concerned with
activating reading culture in Zimbabwe. Reading is a necessity and the
standing point of ZIRA. Books transform lives and help readers make
informed decisions.
As a campaign for resurrecting the declining reading culture, ZIRA held
an event dubbed Echoes of Literature in June at the Zimbabwe-German
Society and announced its book-buying month, for the month of June.
From the beginning of June to the end, every member has to buy books
and donate them to schools in need of reading materials.
ZIRA intends to carry out reading fairs, set up reading clubs in
schools, and run reading workshops in every province of the country.
ZIRA will see to it that the school dropouts are funded under the theme
Withering Flowers. The vision of ZIRA is to see the development of the
society and the increase of the readership. ZIRA wishes to work with
anyone who shares the vision. ZIRA will hold Echoes of Literature
annually, so those who wish to take part and assist can get in touch
using the number below.
Our vision is to have a society where everyone is a reader and knows
their responsibilities and walks freely as confident decision makers.
Zimbabwe Readers Association
P. O. Box A1692
Avondale
Harare
Zimbabwe
email:ziraa2007@yahoo.com
zzira2007@yahoo.com
cell: +263 912 979 136 Shupai Chakanetsa
+263 912 893 899 Charles Chipunza
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sherman’s Travel magazine will celebrate its first anniversary by being
available for the first time on newsstands in select bookstores
nationwide. The magazine targets "sophisticated travelers who are value
conscious" and was launched by an online media company. The magazine
used to be available only through subscriptions and built its 200,000+
circulation by e-mail marketing since its debut in fall 2006. The
newsstand cover price will be $4.99.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Starting next year, The Wall Street Journal will begin publishing a
monthly glossy titled Pursuits, which covers the lifestyles of the rich
and famous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Six: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents and Markets
Benefit
The Flood Building, Suite 776
870 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.433.2345 f: 415.433.1648
info@benefitmagazinesf.com
This magazine covers philanthropy, its values, ethics, and practices.
It is published to be a link and promote worthy donors to noble causes,
especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Its mission is "To shine a bright light on individuals, corporations
and the change agents who work for the greater good. To inspire people
to get involved and to educate people how to make a difference and
impassion them to take action. To link and promote worthy donors to
noble causes. To promote the spirit of giving and all the facets of
this philanthropic lifestyle to the San Francisco marketplace and to
the advertisers who want access to it. To do all this in an atmosphere
that spells fun, style and grace."
Writers should contact the editors for assignments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poetry Wanted
Collaged seeks high-quality submissions of previously unpublished
poetry for a first and (forthcoming annual) chapbook issue. Submissions
will be accepted through March 1, 2008, and a $6.00 reading fee must
accompany all entries. We will not be able to acknowledge receipt of
submissions. If you want your work returned include SASE with
appropriate postage. We do not except e-mail submissions.
Send up to six poems to:
Collaged Verse
P.O. Box 3243
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
See http://www.unc.edu/~crysmith/submissions.html for complete
guidelines and sample poetry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award
Independently and self-published books with a 2007 copyright date are
eligible for ForeWord Magazine's annual Book of the Year Awards. In
addition to the cash prize of $1,500 for best fiction and the same for
best nonfiction, winners receive exposure in ForeWord Magazine and on
its Web site. If your books expand a reader's world, introduce a voice
society needs to hear, offer practical knowledge where none existed
before or simply entertain so compellingly that all distractions fall
away as the reader turns the next page, they should be submitted for
the Book of the Year Award. See
http://www.forewordmagazine.com/awards/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tango Media
236 West, 27th Street, 8th Floor,
New York, NY 10001
Tango magazine is a women's lifestyle magazine about family and
relationships.
It targets women 25-44 for whom building a successful relationship is a
top priority and focuses on a woman's inner life as she navigates
through various love stages, whether she is looking, dating, in a
committed relationship, engaged, married up to five years, or starting
her romantic life over.
It "reveals couples' most private moments, tackles the greatest
romantic myths, and provides insights on all that matters in a
relationship."
It "offers gripping stories, provocative views, and expert advice on
all that matters in your relationship: communication, sex, money,
leisure, career, home, family, and more."
The editorial mix includes: Relating/communicating (25%),
beauty/fashion (18%), home/family (17%), leisure/travel (9%), financial
(9%), sex (9%), health/wellness (7%), technology (6%).
Contact the editor for writing assignments and the 2008 editorial
calendar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Literary Magazine launched October 15
Smoke Screen, a new literary magazine, says it will look at anything,
regardless of how experimental, avant garde, or just plain normal it
is.
Send submissions to smokescreenmag@gmail.com but please embed all work
into e-mail unless it is absolutely necessary to your form to send as
an attachment. We are looking for poetry, prose, creative nonfiction,
anything and everything. Compensation is in recognition and an
end-of-the-year anthology.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Travelife to be distributed internationally
Tridem Asia Publishing
#501-503,
Kalaw-Ledesma Bldg 5F
117 Gamboa St.
Legazpi Village
Makati
Metro Manila, Philippines
632-813-8400
fax: 632-893-7539
Travelife is a new magazine produced in the Philippines for
international distribution, primarily to the higher-income
English-speaking Southeast Asian market. Carried onboard most major
airlines in the region, it's a bi-monthly, and the next issue will be
November-December. The editor-in-chief is Liza Ilarde
(liza.ilarde@travelife.biz), and the managing editor is Terrie
Gutierrez (terrie.gutierrez@travelife.biz).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCIFICTION is looking for literate, strongly plotted science fiction
and fantasy stories between 2,000 and 17,500 words--on a variety of
subjects and themes. We want to intrigue our readers with
mind-broadening, thought-provoking stories. Characterization is
crucial. Stories must be written in clear, understandable prose.
Payment is 20 cents a word up to $3,500. Originals only; no reprints.
It is impossible for us to judge a story's quality without seeing the
complete manuscript. If you have a story you think fits our
requirements, submit it for consideration. But please do not send more
than one story at a time; wait for a response on one before submitting
another. For full guidelines see
http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/submit.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More Cup of Comfort Series Coming Out—Send Your Stories Today!
The bestselling A Cup of Comfort book series is seeking submissions for
the following new anthologies. Stories must be true, original,
positive, narrative essays (creation nonfiction), and 1,000-2,000
words. Entrants pay no fees. Writers' guidelines:
http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm.
A Cup of Comfort for Military Families
For this book, we want positive stories about how military life affects
the personal lives of service men and women (enlisted and officers),
how family affects soldiers’ on the job, and how military life affects
family members (primarily spouses, children, and parents but also
siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts/uncles, fiancés, etc.).
Any situation or subject that is significant and/or unique to military
personnel and their loved ones is acceptable. Our goal is to compile a
collection of inspiring or uplifting stories that cover a wide range of
topics and reveal a variety of perspectives, experiences, and emotions
specific to military families. Stories may be written by the service
man or woman or a close family member; military service may be current,
recent, or past.
Submission deadline: March 1, 2008
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy
of book
A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
Few experiences bring forth as many anxieties, blessings, challenges,
wonders, and changes as having a baby—whether it’s your first child or
fifth, your birth child or adopted child. And nothing is as miraculous
as giving birth to or witnessing the birth of your baby. This
heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and newborn
homecoming stories as well as a wide range of stories about the various
experiences, emotions, and concerns involved in adding a new baby to
one’s life and family. Potential topics include but are not limited to:
nursing (or not), caring for a newborn, bonding/falling in love with
infant, lack of sleep, relationship with spouse, how siblings respond,
returning to work, balancing responsibilities, post-partum depression,
self transformation, unexpected joys, life lessons, small miracles,
etc. The majority of the stories will be about birth children, but the
book will likely include a couple adoptive stories as well. Likewise,
most of the stories will be written from the new mother’s perspective,
but we are open to including a few stories written from the spouse’s or
a very close family member’s perspective. All stories will be uplifting
and positive, no matter how difficult the situation portrayed in the
story might be. We do not want stories that simply recount misfortunes
and sorrows and that do not clearly reveal a positive outcome or
redeeming result (silver lining).
Submission deadline: April 1, 2008
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy
of book
A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families
The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and
to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences that are
unique to “chosen children” and their families. We are most interested
in stories written by adult adoptive children and their adoptive
parents and siblings, but the book will also likely include some
stories written by members of the extended adoptive family
(grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin), close friends of the adoptive family
(i.e. godparent), and birth family members. Virtually any topic
relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is
acceptable—as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and
uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about
adoptive parents or birth families that regret the adoption; there is a
place for stories of that ilk, but this book is not that place. All of
the stories in this collection must show a positive aspect of adoption
and must bring comfort or joy or inspiration to those who have been
adopted and/or to the families who adopted them—no matter how difficult
the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be.
Submission deadline: June 15, 2008
$500 grand prize; $100 each, all other published stories; plus copy
of book
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Food HQ launches
Food HQ, a new magazine from Multi-Media International addresses the
needs “of the foodie in all of us, where pop culture, and popular
recipes infuse together in each and every issue.” Food HQ magazine
combines recipes, celebrities, and nutrition. The bimonthly is
distributed by Kable Distribution Services. See
http://mrmagazine.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/food-for-the-body-junk-for-the-soul/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parenting magazine will incorporate more reader-generated content into
its print magazine, such as toy and entertainment reviews, as part of a
redesign rolling out in the November issue. The new owner is building
on the "Mom-tested" seal of approval the magazine launched in 2003 and
the "Mom Tips" scattered through its pages. Among other changes, the
front-of-book "Mom Exchange" department features reader-submitted
photos and results of online polls. "Our research shows what's really
important to moms is tips from other moms," explained Editor-in-Chief
Janet Chan. See http://www.parenting.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donald Trump to try again at being a magazine mogul
The Donald is at it again, after failing with two prior magazines.
Trump magazine is a men's luxury glossy that captures the "essence" of
the Donald Trump experience, and reflects the entrepreneurial passion
and drive that have made the Trump name equally synonymous with
opulence and business savvy. Trump is a dynamic publication, one
without rival in its competitive set-targeted to a discerning
readership of upwardly mobile, intelligent men who appreciate the best
out of life. For more see http://www.trumpthemag.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jennifer Bat Literary Agency
Evanston, Illinois
United States
batseventeen@sbcglobal.net
JBLA is a new agency based in the Chicago/Evanston, Illinois. Jennifer
Bat graduated from the University of London Royal Holloway, lived in
the Chelsea district of London while working for two prominent British
publishers. Jennifer Bat is an American citizen married to a Brit. They
recently relocated to the Chicago area and Jennifer began her agency.
Although new as an agent, she says her many connections to the
publishing industry will be invaluable. Her agency does not charge a
reading fee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aging Well
Great Valley Publishing Company, Inc.
3801 Schuylkill Road
Spring City, PA 19475-1529
Phone: 800-278-4400 or 610-948-9500
Fax: 610-948-4202
Aging Well is for healthcare professionals in the field of aging.
Topics explore "the physical, psychological, social, financial and
legal challenges and opportunities in the lives of aging clients."
Articles range from training, family care giving, and long-term
concerns to cultural diversity, elder abuse, housing options, and
nutrition. Arn Bernstein is editor of the quarterly magazine that will
launch with a Winter 2008 issue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Signature Montana to Roll off the Press in February
Winston Publishing http://www.winston-publishing.com is launching a new
quarterly magazine, "Signature Montana," in February.
The new publication will include articles about people, businesses, art
and artists, fashion, home decor, vacation destinations, history,
culinary trends, and more. The target demographic is professional,
affluent adults age thirty and older.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Demand Studio is looking for filmmakers and freelance writers. Get paid
for assignments. See http://www.demandstudios.com/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Seven: Writing Assignment – Handprints in Cement and Other Small
Wonders
More than twenty years ago, I began a routine that has continued to
this day. When my dog wanted to go outside in the morning, instead of
staying in the yard as I usually did, we took off down the road—woman,
dog, and leash—past neighbors’ houses, past places I’d driven by
hundreds of time, but at that time I had never walked by.
The health benefits for both of us notwithstanding, I noticed things
that had gone undetected, things that were too small, too subtle, or
too hidden to see from a car when I whizzed past. One of the first
things that caught my attention was a set of tiny handprints in a
cement gutter in front of a neighbor’s house. I knew the children in
that house were approaching their teenage years, but the handprints
from their youth were permanently applied in the concrete. My heart
warmed at the sight. I smiled as I imagined the parents helping their
toddlers press their hands into the wet cement, and a touching picture
of a young and growing family came to mind.
Next I noticed tiny plants and almost infinitesimal flowers. I spotted
new bugs I’d never seen before. I smelled jasmine in the air and heard
birds warbling and singing. A hawk circled overhead.
My morning walks turned into a delight for the mind, eyes, ears, and
nose, and when my Bichon Frise succumbed to old age, I missed not only
the love of a furry animal, but also our morning walks. By the time
another dog entered my life I knew I would not take those morning walks
alone, and she joined me not only to warm my feet and melt my heart,
but also to drag me outside every day. Still, when I walk my Scottie,
I’m not thinking of exercise, but of all the little delights that come
into my life when I slow down and literally stop to smell the roses.
For this writing exercise, you will have to exercise a little. Take a
slow stroll around your neighborhood with paper and pen in hand. Note
what you see, hear, smell, feel, think, and maybe even taste. Wave at
your neighbors, and make up stories about what they might be doing,
thinking, or planning. Jot down ideas that come to mind.
Later use your notes to create something new or use some of the
stimulating things you witnessed to enhance a scene in a novel or short
story.
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Eight: 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.]
Funds for writers e-magazine: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
http://www.copyblogger.com/the-top-10-blogs-for-writers/ gives you ten
links in one, the top blogs for writers. Go wild and check them all
out.
See http://www.Writers.net for information on writing, agents,
publishers, resources, and more
“‘By the people, for the people’ . . . describes www.AuthorNation.com,
a new forum-driven Web site designed and powered by Infinity
Publishing. AuthorNation.com recognizes a writer’s need to be read by
treating readers to first looks at a favorite writer’s new work and
inviting them to join the fun in their own Reader’s Lounge.”
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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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