The Writers Network News, April 20, 2008 http://ezezine.com
April 20, 2008
The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Contents copyright 2008, Bobbie Christmas
No portion of this newsletter can be used without permission.
Disclaimer: Information in this newsletter is not to be construed as an
endorsement. Be sure to research all information and study every
stipulation before you accept assignments, spend money, or sell your
work.
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/
----------------------------------------------
Local Meeting Reminder and Venue Notice
The Writers Network meets next on Friday, May 2, 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.
Our venue is Lucky China, 11680 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 Jill Jennings, Ginger B. Collins, L. David Moore, and
Sandra Jones Cropsey
Two: From the editor’s desk – One Baby Up for Adoption
Three: Ask the Book Doctor – About short story collections, nonfiction
books, speculative fiction, and editor’s ink
Four: This Month’s Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Single or double
quotation marks?
Five: Letters from Members
Six: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Seven: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents, and Markets
Eight: Writing Assignment – Pocketful of Information
Nine: 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/
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Writer’s quote of the day
“The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help
it.” --Leo Rosten (1908 - 1997) author of _The Joys of Yiddish_, _O
Kaplan! My Kaplan!_, _Hooray for Yiddish!_ and _Leo Rosten's Treasury
of Jewish Quotations_.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: Kudos to Jill Jennings, Ginger B. Collins, L. David Moore, Sandra
Jones Cropsey
Jill Jennings was one of only three poets invited to read at the
Alpharetta, Georgia, library in honor of National Poetry Month. She
read from her upcoming collection of poems, _The Poetry Alarm Clock_,
soon to be available online and at booksellers.
Ginger B. Collins announces the publication of her works of short
fiction and creative nonfiction. “When More Means Less” appears in _The
Silver Boomer Anthology_ released in February by Silver Boomer Books.
Her essay, “Reason to Believe” appears in the _Voices of Alcoholism_,
third in the Voices of . . series, released in March by LaChance
Publishing. “Rain Fall” and “It’s Only Furniture” will appear in
_Family: The possibility for Endearment_, an anthology of stories to be
published in late spring 2008 by Pig Iron Press.
Pendulum Plus Press just released L. David Moore’s book, Connie’s
Conquests. It reads like fiction, but it’s all fact, about Constantine
the Great, the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire, who was
more shrewd politician than devout believer. I edited the book and
loved it from start to finish. It taught me an interesting history
lesson while entertaining me.
Sandra Jones Cropsey and her book_Who's There?_ have been nominated for
a Georgia Author of the Year Award.
Congratulations to these folks. Your successes encourage others, so
please send in your accomplishments for our kudos section.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Two: From the editor’s desk — One Baby Up for Adoption
Dear Fellow Writers:
Okay, readers, I’m putting myself out there again, knowing I’ll get
smashed, battered, burned, upset, insulted, ticked off, depressed, and
a few other things. Despite the onslaught of rejection I face, I have
put together a book proposal and polished it to the point that I can
only hope the book itself will be as good as the proposal. I’ve given
birth to my precious baby, and now it’s time to see if others think
it’s beautiful enough to be acquired and published.
I must remember that if agents and publishers turn down my book idea,
they are not saying I’m worthless; they are saying they didn’t fall in
love with the proposal or the sample chapters. It’s about the
manuscript, not about me, but as writers, we often confuse our writings
with ourselves. Hurt my baby and you hurt me.
When I evaluate manuscripts for authors, I point out how the manuscript
would benefit from changes, but I never say the author is stupid, lacks
skills, or even makes mistakes. I would never say something like this:
“The story concludes in chapter ten, but the author wrote ninety
worthless pages after that, for some stupid reason.” I wouldn’t even
say this: “The author needs to lop off the last two chapters.” Instead
my report might say something like this: “The story would be stronger
if the conclusion were closer to the end.” See the difference between
critiquing the writing itself, rather than the writer?
All that said, even if agents or publishers tell me, “I didn’t fall in
love with the book,” I still think they said, “Your book idea stinks.”
I’m only human.
I’m ready, though. I’ve steeled my nerves; I’ve written a darned good
book proposal; I’ve researched agents who handle my type of book. I’m
off and running, putting my baby out there in public, ready to see if
anyone will want to give it a good home.
Wish me success.
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 short story collections, nonfiction
books, speculative fiction, and editor’s ink
Q: Do collections of short stories sell these days? During my academic
work I've collected enough material to put together a set of strong
emotional stories about men facing hard situations. I'm going to write
the book anyway, but if publishers aren't really interested in this
kind of thing at the moment, then obviously I can't justify investing
too much time and energy just for fun.
A: While collections of short stories may not be the hottest seller
today, they are selling moderately, as I understand it, and you have
the best chance of selling yours if your collection includes stories
that have been previously published in prestigious periodicals and
literary magazines. With that information in mind, while you’re pulling
together your collection, also be submitting individual stories to
competitions and periodicals that publish short stories. The more
credits you add to your publishing credentials, the more likely a
publisher will be interested in the collection.
Q: I have a nonfiction book idea, but do I have to be an expert in the
subject to sell the book? Can I just do the research on the Internet
and the library?
A: Although it helps if you're an expert on the subject, you don't have
to be the expert if you interview experts. I'm not a publishing house,
though, so I can't say what a publisher would buy or not. I can only
give suggestions as to how to go about a project. It's extremely hard
to sell a book to a publisher, but at least nonfiction books have a
higher rate of acceptance than fiction.
I hope you understand that you don't have to write the whole book
before you sell it. You can sell it based on a book proposal, a couple
of sample chapters, and an outline.
As you suspect, you can't do all the research on the Internet and
through the library. You will have to find experts and interview them,
as well, but you should not have to travel, if that's your real
question.
Q: What is speculative fiction?
A: Speculative fiction includes the genres of fiction that speculate
about settings or worlds that are not like the real world in important
ways. Speculative fiction generally includes science fiction, fantasy,
horror, supernatural fiction, alternate history, and magic realism. The
Harry Potter series, for example, is speculative fiction, because it
speculates what life would be like if wizards had to attend school to
learn their skills and where many plants, animals, and people have
powers that do not exist in reality as we know it.
Q: What color pens do editors use these days for professional editing?
I'm taking a test and don't want to be disqualified for using the wrong
color.
A: I can’t answer for all editors; I can only say what I use, which is
a red pen, because red stands out and is easy to see against black
printing. I began editing back in the early 1970s and have always used
red. If anything has changed, I’m not aware of it.
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 Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Single or double
quotation marks?
I don’t like to spout punctuation and grammar, because like most
writers, I find such rules boring. That said, far too many manuscripts
have come to me for editing recently that use quotation marks
incorrectly. Perhaps the trend to misuse quotation marks is a
reflection of our blending of cultures in America. The rules for
quotation marks in American English differ from those in Britain,
Canada, and Australia, though, and if you are writing for the American
market, you’d better follow American style.
First of all, don’t use quotation marks for emphasis. Use them for
quotes or for irony. If you write, Mary had a “brilliant” mind, you are
saying she wasn’t smart at all.
Next, single quotation marks never stand alone. That is, they always go
inside double quotation marks. They cannot be used by themselves to
indicate sounds, thoughts, whispers, or anything else. Here’s an
example of single and double quotation marks used correctly: “Mary told
me John said, ‘I’ll be there Thursday,’ but he did not show up.”
The only exception to the rule is that single quotation marks can stand
alone in newspaper or magazine headlines, for example, Congress Says
‘Nay’ to Tax Bill.
Last of all, in American English the punctuation marks almost always go
inside quotation marks. Example: “What did you eat today?”
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 or
punctuation you want to find, and your computer will stop on each one
and allow you to ponder whether you can change, correct, 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.
Time to Find and Refine
To take advantage of this month’s tip from Bobbie Christmas, type a
single quotation mark or a double quotation mark into the Find function
in your word-processing software. Each time the computer stops on that
punctuation, examine it and decide whether you can delete, change, or
otherwise improve it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Five: Letters from Members
I keep hearing “know your genre,” and [the excerpt that follows] is a
good example of why. It’s a rejection of a full manuscript after I
reworked some of it to add more romance and conflict as the author
requested—apparently not enough or not the right kind, though.
--Ellis Vidler
“Just not enough in love with this book to want to take it on, despite
the good writing, intriguing premise, and very suspenseful finale. This
book straddles the line between mystery and romance without fully
satisfying either market. It’s not quite pace-y and dramatic enough for
a thriller and wouldn’t work as a series mystery. However, it doesn’t
quite follow the kind of progression romance readers look for, either
(she falls in love too fast; the conflict isn’t really strong or
personal enough, etc.). I think it would have a tough time finding a
market in today’s very tight, competitive publishing climate.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I opened my e-mail from Amazon today, they recommended that I
consider purchasing _Getting the Words Right_ by Theodore Cheney, based
upon customer history. When I clicked on this publication to review it,
a message read, "Better together with _Write in Style_ by Bobbie
Christmas."
They are so right. Yours is a damn good book.
--Paul DuBose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Six: Subjects of interest to writers
[Note from Bobbie: Some links in this newsletter may include the words
“tiny url,” because I simplify long addresses through www.tinyurl.com.
It takes long addresses and converts them to short ones that still
work.]
Where is Bobbie Christmas speaking next?
Hurry! Sign up for these free seminars by phone. The first one is
Monday, April 21!
TELE-CAST: Write In Style and You Write to Win
Monday, April 21, 2008 5:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/103893749
TELE-CAST: Tricks You Didn’t Know Your Word Processor Could Do
Monday, October 27, 2008 5:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/103898764
TELE-CAST: Self-Editing Techniques You Can’t Live Without
Monday, November 17, 2008 5:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/103900770
All these tele-classes are given at no charge through AuthorSmart.com.
Sign up for any and all of them today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobbie will also be appearing at the following events:
June 15 - 19, 2008
Southeastern Writers Conference
For complete information and to register go to
http://www.southeasternwriters.com/
Southeastern Writers Conference Faculty
Brian Jay Corrigan Novel Writing
Bobbie Christmas, Book Doctor from Zebra Communications, will share
with us the Fundamentals of Writing, including editing and
marketability
Cappy Hall Rearick will give us her southern spin on humor--tornado
warning!
Charlotte Babb, Webmaster, will share some ins and outs of blogging for
writers.
Dennis "Doc" Hensley returns to teach inspirational writing.
Dorothy Fletcher joins us for nonfiction
Emily Carmain explains how to avoid 10 common writing mistakes--and
they are not grammar!
Marjory Wentworth, SC Poet Laureate, will teach poetry.
Harry Rubin will teach the art and science of the limerick.
--
September 27, 2008
Catch the Wave Conference
Christian Authors Guild
Woodstock, Georgia
See www.christianauthorsguild.org/10.html.
--
November 14, 15, 16, 2008
Florida Writers Association Annual Conference
See www.floridawriters.net for information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing Benefits Cancer Patients
The journal _The Oncologist_ reported on a study that proved that
writing helped cancer patients. Nancy Morgan, a writing clinician in a
cancer center in Washington, D.C., encouraged cancer patients to write
down their deepest fears about the disease. When she followed up, she
found that half those who took part said the exercise changed the way
they thought about the illness. Younger people, and those recently
diagnosed, were most likely to benefit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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 instantly get the e-book with
clickable links and bookmarks that zip you directly to any subject. To
order the e-book, go to http://www.booklocker.com/books/2225.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 25 – 27, 2008
The Village at Indian Springs
"Tapping Your Native Spirit" Three-Day Writing Conference (being held
between Atlanta and Macon, Georgia)
The Village at Indian Springs and Generations Gallery is offering a
creative writing conference in which participants learn skills,
establish goals, and explore the marketing and publishing world. Among
the presenters are Macon Telegraph columnist Ed Grisamore, 1960 NASCAR
Champion Rex White, WMAZ TV's Suzanne Lawler, Indigo Publishing's Joni
Woolf, Rick Nolte & Gary Pulliam, and authors Rosemary Daniell, Walter
Sorrells, Jackie Welden White and Dr. Catherine Meeks. Sunday's "Meet
the Authors" book signing is open to the public.
3 day conference fee is $150, Master Card, Visa and checks accepted.
Optional Friday afternoon seminar with Chris Roerden (_Don't Murder
Your Mystery_ and _Bring Your Character to Life_) and Jackie Miles
(_Roseflower Creek_, _Cold Rock River_, _Divorcing DeWayne_)
Optional Critique - 6 page maximum $40.
For information or registration call Generations Gallery 770-775-5556
or 800-352-7212 or e-mail Andi Kulp at andi@phaseonedesign.com. See
www.TheVillageatIndianSprings.com/gallery for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A reader sent the following news story, and I immediately sent a
donation, considering that I love animals, especially zebras, and my
company name is Zebra Communications. I hope you’ll make a donation as
well.
Injured Zebra Found Wandering On I-75
HENRY COUNTY, Ga. -- Motorists see a lot of things along I-75, but this
was a horse of a different color.
Actually it wasn't a horse at all, but a baby zebra.
Morning commuters reported the animal was grazing next to the
Interstate in Henry County on Tuesday.
When would-be rescuers from the Department of Natural Resources got to
the scene they realized they'd need help and called in the folks from
Noah's Ark, an animal rehabilitation center just down the road in
Locust Grove.
Staffers retrieved the zebra and dubbed him Evidence. That's what
police officers on the scene were calling him and the name stuck.
They said from his injuries it appears Evidence fell from a truck or
trailer and then was hit by another vehicle. Noah's Ark veterinarian
Dr. Karen Thomas checked out Evidence and found extensive injuries.
"There were more than 50 wounds on his body, including two knocked out
teeth," officials at Noah's Ark said in a release.
Realizing the zebra needed emergency care he was rushed to the
veterinary school at Auburn University. Doctors there discovered
Evidence suffered a crushed pelvis and other internal injuries.
Auburn doctors performed surgery and Evidence is expected to recover
and will have a permanent home at Noah's Ark.
If you want to contribute to a fund to help cover the $5,000 in medical
expenses go to www.noahs-ark.org for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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 the e-book go to
http://www.booklocker.com/books/1906.html
NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT! By popular demand, _Ask the Book Doctor: How to
Beat the Competition and Sell Your Writing_ is finally available in
print. To order your copy today, go to http://tinyurl.com/29no9c.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Self-published novel with $300 ad budget sells almost 400,000 so far
Although conventional wisdom and statistics say that self-published
fiction does not sell well, at least one book is bucking the trend by
fitting into a niche and appealing to a specific audience.
Southern Review of Books reports the following information: No
traditional publisher would touch the now best-selling novel The Shack
by 53-year-old William Paul Young, but after he self-published it, it
rose to and held Amazon.com's No. 1 spot in fiction about religion and
spirituality for weeks. The book has now sold close to 400,000 copies.
The book is a parable in which God is depicted as an overweight
African-American woman who is almost constantly at the stove cooking.
Churches buy his book by the box.
Young, until his book became a recent phenomenon, had a job as an
office manager that also included cleaning toilets at a small sales
company in Oregon. Just before he started writing The Shack, he and his
wife Kim lost their home to foreclosure and spent several years living
with four of their six children in a 900-square-foot rental.
For the entire story, see
http://www.anvilpub.net/southern_review_of_books.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Www.CoolStuff4Writers.com made the Writer's Digest 2008 "101 Best Web
Sites for Writers" list, and to celebrate is holding a raffle. Two
lucky people will win a one-year subscription to Writer's Digest
Magazine. There's no purchase necessary to enter the raffle. Send your
name to: sandy@coolstuff4writers.com
(mailto:sandy@coolstuff4writers.com) with "WD Raffle" in the subject
line. The deadline to enter is May 31, 2008.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New magazine launches for boomers
Sierra Nevada Boomers is an active lifestyle magazine for 50+ residents
in the Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Carson City areas. Topics include news,
money, health, travel, relationships, new careers, events and
entertainment. Peter Kostes is the executive editor of this quarterly
Sierra Nevada Media Group publication.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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. Sixteen
reports are available, and the list keeps growing. Go to
http://zebraeditor.com/free_reports.shtml. Newest report: How to choose
the correct editor for your manuscript. Surprise! It may not be me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Seven: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents and Markets
GoodCause Austin Magazine
October Custom Publishing
P.O. Box 90254
Austin, TX 78709
Goodcause is for the residents of Austin, Texas, who are interested in
philanthropy and volunteer work in the area. The focus is on raising
awareness about the needs of Central Texans, as well as profiling
donors and philanthropists. Monica Maldonado Williams is at the helm
and is actively seeking writers for the premiere issue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Publications International is looking for writers to contribute to a
massive book on, well, anything that’s interesting! We want our book to
be fun and enlightening, as well as full of information that readers
can use to one-up their friends. If you’re an armchair expert who can
set the record straight, then show us your stuff!
Our ideal contributor has a friendly, yet snappy writing style, an
interest in the obscure, an ardent attraction to accuracy, a good sense
of humor and irony, and is able to sniff out an interesting angle on
the given topic. Part sleuth, part skeptic, part quipster, they write
with flair and passion. Diligent research is a must.
The book will include more than 500 pages worth of articles, lists, and
fast facts. The book has a general focus, which means it can be as
fascinating as you want to make it! Topic ideas include a peek into the
phobias of celebrities, the wild history of women in wrestling, a list
of hilarious Elizabethan-era insults, and a curious look at how
“singing sand” works. This will be a book that can be opened to any
page and leave the reader saying, “Who knew?”
Work will continue through September and perhaps longer if needed. This
will be a freelance gig, payment commensurate to the volume of the
assignment. Contributors are encouraged to suggest the topics they want
to write about.
To be considered, send me your resume, publication list, and three or
four of your best (relevant) samples—articles, book excerpts, anything
that demonstrates your quirky, fun-to-read writing style and your
sleuthing skills.
E-mail submissions preferred: tfecarotta@pubint.com.
Submissions by fax also accepted: 847-583-4404.
Publications International, Ltd., is a major publisher located in
Chicago. Check us out at www.pubint.com. You can also visit
www.amazon.com to review prior Armchair Reader books in the series.
I look forward to your queries.
Contact: associate acquisitions editor Tom Fecarotta
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
International Journal
Nimrod Literary Awards
800 South Tucker Drive
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK 74104.
918-631-3080
Francine Ringold, editor in chief. Nimrod
www.utulsa.edu/nimrod
nimrod@utulsa.edu
Deadline: April 30, 2008
Entry Fee: $20
Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Nimrod are given annually
for works of poetry and short fiction. The runners-up in each category
receive $1,000 and publication of their work. U.S. writers may submit a
poetry manuscript of three to ten pages or a fiction manuscript of no
more than 7,500 words with a $20 entry fee, which includes a one-year
subscription to Nimrod, by April 30. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or
visit the Web site for complete guidelines.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Glimmer Train’s November Short-Story Award for New Writers
Glimmer Train Press, Inc.
1211 NW Glisan St.
Suite 207
Portland OR 97209
E-Mail: eds@glimmertrain.org
Web site: www.glimmertrain.org
Offered for any writer whose fiction hasn't appeared in a
nationally-distributed publication with a circulation over 5,000. Word
count: 1,200-12,000 words. Open November 1-30. Follow online submission
procedure on Web site. Winners will be called and results will be
posted on the Web site on March 1.
Prize: Winner receives $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories,
and 20 copies of that issue; runners-up receive $500/$300,
respectively.
Entry Fee: $15 fee/story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New South Writing Contest
Georgia State University
Campus Box 1894, MSC 8R0322, Unit 8
Atlanta GA 30303-3083
new_south@langate.gsu.edu
www.review.gsu.edu
Offered annually to publish the most promising work of up-and-coming
writers of poetry (3-5 poems, none over 50 lines) and fiction (8,000
word limit). Rights revert to writer upon publication. Guidelines for
SASE or online. "We look for engagement with language and characters we
care about."
Prizes: 1st Place: $1,000 in each category; 2nd Place: $250; and
publication to winners.
Deadline: March 4
Entry Fee: $15 fee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WorthPoint (www.worthpoint.com) is a “new entrepreneurial company that
is changing the world of art, antiques, and collectibles. We are
looking for English language writers who are able to write, and write
well (!), on a variety of topics related to art, antiques, and
collectibles. This is a position writing for our Web site and
newsletters. Content types required include news summaries, editorials,
blogs, research articles, and how to use the WorthPoint Web site
guides. Additional tasks may include editing previously posted content,
answering questions in the Help & Support area, and turning the answers
into Wiki entries, testing Web site beta features, and participating in
offsite collectible groups and blogs and singing the praises of
WorthPoint. Good spelling and grammar is very important, and writers
are expected to write at a reasonable pace. The reference materials for
topics will be provided, and only occasionally will writers be asked to
perform any significant amount of research.”
Writers are expected to meet the following requirements:
* Write on a predictable schedule for a minimum of ten hours a week
* Be familiar with a word processing program with spelling and grammar
checkers
* Work at a location of their choosing, and have their own computer and
internet access
* Be able to be online and using Skype chat and VoIP when working
* Have a passion for writing on various topics related to art,
antiques, and collectibles
* Be dependable and able to manage their own time
* Have experience blogging
* Participate in social networking sites - Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn,
etc.
WorthPoint is seeking passionate, hard-working people who want to help
us change the way the world values and appreciates art, antiques, and
collectibles. Interested in writing for WorthPoint? First make sure
that you meet the criteria above. Then e-mail your resume, writing
samples, compensation requirements, and cover letter to
jobs@worthpoint.com with a subject line of "Writer." In your cover
letter tell us why you think you are a fit, and for each bullet point
in the Requirements list (above), explain how you meet the requirement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Asher Literary Award
The Australian Centre
137 Barry St.
University of Melbourne
Melbourne VIC 3010
Australia
Phone: 61-3-8344-8226
Fax: 61-3-9347-7731
awards-austcentre@unimelb.edu.au
www.australian.unimelb.edu.au/public/prizes.html
Award for a female author of a literary work that carries an antiwar
message. Work must have been published two years prior to the award.
The following genres are accepted: fiction, literary nonfiction
(biography, autobiography, essays, histories, literary criticism,
analytic prose), children's literature, poetry, and creative writing
for performance, screen, and new media.
Prize: $10,000
Deadline: July 1
Guidelines for SASE.
Entry Fee: None
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Cup of Comfort Seeks Entries to Upcoming Volumes
Colleen Sell
71563 London Rd.
Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424
USA
wordsinger@aol.com.
A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
This heartwarming anthology will be filled with birth stories and
newborn homecoming stories. 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.
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).
New Mothers submission deadline: May 15, 2008 (last call)
A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families
The purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and
recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences unique to
“chosen children” and their adoptive families. 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 or birth
families that regret the adoption. All of the stories in this
collection must reveal a positive aspect of adoption and must bring
comfort, 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.
Adoptive Families submission deadline: June 15, 2008
A Cup of Comfort for Fathers
A Cup of Comfort for Fathers will feature inspiring and insight true
stories about the life-defining and life-enriching relationships and
experiences shared by fathers and their children. These personal essays
will be of varying topics and tones (heartwarming, humorous, poignant,
provocative, etc.) about fathers and children of all ages and varying
circumstances, written by fathers, daughters, and sons.
Fathers submission deadline: August 1, 2008
A Cup of Comfort for Parents of Special Needs
We seek uplifting true stories about the ups and downs, blessings, and
challenges of parenting children with special needs. No matter how
difficult the experiences/emotions conveyed in a story might be (we
want them to be authentic, after all), the story must reveal a positive
aspect, resolution, or outcome and must be of comfort to parents of
children with special needs. Stories may be serious, humorous,
insightful, heartwarming, or inspiring. No articles or commentaries by
clinicians, please.
Special Needs Children submission deadline: September 15, 2008
A Second Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers
We’re giving all you dog-loving writers another opportunity to share
your personal stories of canine comfort with a growing legion of
dog-loving readers. This volume will feature both serious and humorous
anecdotal stories covering a wide range of topics and perspectives and
varying breeds of dogs. We do NOT want sad stories about a dog’s
illness, injury, or death, though we will consider stories that weave a
beloved pet’s illness or death into an otherwise positive story. The
story should focus on the dog’s remarkable attributes and/or actions as
well as on the special relationship between the dog and his/her
human(s).
Dog Lovers 2 submission deadline: December 15, 2008
A Cup of Comfort for the Grieving Heart
This volume will feature uplifting personal stories that reveal the
special relationships and extraordinary experiences shared by the
deceased and his/her loved one(s) immediately before, during, and after
the loved one’s passing; it will also includes stories about the
internal and external processes by which one deals with and heals from
the loss of a loved one. The book will not include eulogies,
profiles/memoirs of people who have passed away, or clinical depictions
of death and dying.
Grieving Hearts submission deadline: February 1, 2009
Basic Guidelines
All Cup of Comfort stories must be original; true; appropriate for
mainstream Americans (adult, primarily women); inspiring, comforting,
and/or uplifting; and 1,000 to 2,000 words.
Creative nonfiction and narrative essays preferred (that is,
incorporating such fictive elements as scene, dialogue, character/plot
development, imagery, and literary word usage). Whether serious or
humorous, the story should be authentic and engaging.
Electronic submissions preferred. One submission per e-mail. Copy and
paste (or type) into body of e-mail. No formatting (no indents,
centering, double spacing, bold, underlines, etc.). To:
wordsinger@aol.com.
Mailed submissions are acceptable. Standard typed manuscript
(double-spaced, indents). Send as many submissions per envelope as
you’d like, but include one SASE per submission. To: Colleen Sell,
71563 London Rd., Cottage Grove, Oregon, 97424, USA.
Each submission must include author’s full name, mailing address,
e-mail address, phone number, story title, story word count, and theme
of volume for which it is being submitted (i.e., Grieving Hearts).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Seas Literary Agency
P.O. Box 8571
Madison WI 53708
608-221-4306
queries@threeseaslit.com
www.threeseaslit.com
Michelle Grajkowski and Cori Deyoe.
Seeks new and established writers.
Established: 2000
Represents 40 clients.
10% of clients are new/unpublished writers
3 Seas focuses on romance (including category, historical, regency,
Western, romantic suspense, paranormal), women's fiction, mysteries,
nonfiction, young adult and children's stories.
Currently Handles:
5% Nonfiction Books
80% Novels
15% Juvenile Books
Represents
Nonfiction Books
Novels
Juvenile Books
Scholarly Books
Prefers e-mail queries. For fiction and young adult, query with first
three chapters, synopsis, bio, and SASE. For nonfiction, query with
complete proposal, first three chapters, and SASE. For picture books,
query with complete manuscript. Accepts simultaneous submissions.
Responds in one month to queries. Responds in three months to partials.
Returns materials only with SASE.
Does not want poetry, screenplays, or short stories.
Sold 75 titles in the last year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev! Magazine
P.O. Box 481
Loveland CO 80539-0481
Phone: 970-669-3836
Fax: 970-292-4373
lsparks@group.com
www.revmagazine.com
"We offer practical solutions to revolutionize and revitalize ministry.
We are looking for creative and practical ideas that pastors and other
leaders of churches of all sizes can use."
25% freelance written
Established: 1997
Circulation: 45,000
Pays on acceptance
Publishes manuscript six months after acceptance
Byline given
Makes work-for-hire assignments
Submit seasonal material eight months in advance.
Accepts queries by mail or e-mail.
Responds in two months to queries.
Wants: ministry, leadership, and personal articles with practical
application.
Does not want devotions, articles for church members, theological
pieces.
Buys eighteen to twenty-four articles/year.
Submission method: Query or send complete manuscript, 1,800–2,000
words.
Pays:
$300-400
Columns open to freelancers: Work (preaching, worship, discipleship,
outreach, church business & administration, leadership); Life (personal
growth, pastor's family); Culture (trends, facts), all 250-3,000 words.
Buys 25 columns/year.
Submission method: Send complete manuscript
Pays: $100–500 for columns.
Needs cartoons, too.
Buys three ayear.
Pays: $50.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AARP The Magazine
601 E St. NW
Washington DC 20049
member@aarp.org
www.aarp.org
"AARP The Magazine is devoted to the varied needs and active life
interests of AARP members, age fifty and over, covering such topics as
financial planning, travel, health, careers, retirement, relationships,
and social and cultural change. Its editorial content serves the
mission of AARP seeking through education, advocacy and service to
enhance the quality of life for all by promoting independence, dignity,
and purpose."
50% freelance written
Prefers to work with published/established writers
Pays on acceptance.
Publishes manuscript six months after acceptance.
Byline given.
Offers 25% kill fee.
Buys exclusive first worldwide publication rights.
Accepts queries by mail or e-mail
Does not accept previously published submissions
Responds in three months to queries.
Articles can cover finance, health, food, travel, consumerism, general
interest topics, and profiles/first-person accounts.
Submission method: Query with published clips. No unsolicited mss.
Length: Up to 2,000 words.
Pays:
$1/word
Sometimes pays the expenses of writers on assignment.
"The most frequent mistake made by writers in completing an article for
us is poor follow-through with basic research. The outline is often
more interesting than the finished piece. We do not accept unsolicited
manuscripts."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dram Tree Books
P.O. Box 7183
Wilmington NC 28406
E-Mail: dramtreebooks@ec.rr.com
Web site: www.dramtreebooks.com
Publishes trade paperback originals and reprints.
Publishes 2-6 titles/year.
Publishes manuscript one year after acceptance
Does not accept simultaneous submissions
Receives 90% of books from first time authors
Receives 100% of books from unagented writers
Pays 10–15% royalty on retail price
Offers true advance.
Responds in two months to proposals
Responds in four months to manuscripts
Manuscript guidelines available via e-mail
Query with SASE
Submit:
Proposal package
Synopsis and three sample chapters
"Our main focus is on historical fiction, mysteries and humorous
novels—and all of it must have some link to North Carolina. When
submitting humorous novels you must make us laugh. Think in terms of
books by authors like Michael Malone, T.R. Pearson, Clyde Edgerton,
Terry Pratchett, etc."
Needs:
Adventure
Historical
Humor
Military/War
Mystery
Regional
Suspense
Fiction
"Our readers are looking for compelling stories that will transport
them away from the pressures of the 'real' world for however long they
spend with our stories. The North Carolina tie-in is an important part
of what will be a Whittler's Bench Press title. Remember readers will
be paying good money to be entertained, so give them a story that
satisfies. If historical fiction, make sure you get the history right.
Finally, always remember: It must have a North Carolina angle of some
kind."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Opinionated, with the tagline "Voices and Viewpoints on America and the
World," is a new political commentary digital magazine distributed
exclusively on the Amazon Kindle e-book, the wireless reading device.
It is launched by Tribune Media Services. The magazine will be
published weekly and cost $0.49 an issue and $1.49 for a monthly
subscription. TMS is currently developing several other magazines for
the Kindle on topics including personal finance, travel, food and
popular culture.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EOS Class is the new in-flight magazine for Eos Airlines, which travels
between London and New York City, and in May, will add Newark, New
Jersey. Topics cover lifestyle, business, and personal interests of
Eos guests that include travel, shopping, food and the arts. Eos Class
is published by Elite Traveler, whose own magazine targets the world's
most affluent consumers. Eos Class will be distributed on-board all
Eos flights and at Eos lounges, available at select establishments in
New York and London, and will be mailed to Eos Guests. See
http://www.elitetraveler.com/.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Eight: Writing Assignment – Pocketful of Information
John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 15,
1865. On the night of his assassination, Lincoln's pockets held two
pairs of glasses, an ivory and silver pocketknife, a linen
handkerchief, a Confederate five-dollar bill, a gold watch fob, and a
new leather wallet with a pencil inside of it.
For this assignment, imagine what John Wilkes Booth might have had in
his pockets on that day. Would anything other than the obvious pistol
he carried with him have belied his intent, had he been stopped and
questioned by someone in authority? Write a story based on the items in
the pocket of a person planning to commit a crime. It can be a
contemporary story or it can be set in the past or the future.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Nine: Web Sites of Interest to Writers
How-to videos add facts to your fiction
The best novels also teach you something you didn’t know. Plunder the
Internet to learn more about how to do things your characters might do.
See www.videojug.com for many two-minute or three-minute how-to videos
or see www.epicurious.com for how-to information on food preparation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get free language lessons at www.livemocha.com. You can also interact
with a community of other learners and native speakers to give and
receive help. If your characters are multilingual, you’d better be,
too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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.
…………………………………………………………………………….
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.”
…………………………………………………………………………….
The Writers Network News– a newsletter for writers everywhere.
"No Rules; Just Write!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Writers Network–No fees. No officers. “No Rules; Just Write!"
Information about the meetings:
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. To keep things moving
along, we may have to order food while we talk, but here’s the order of
our meetings:
First we have introductions. When you introduce yourself, we ask that
you also say, “and I am a writer.” In this way we affirm why we are all
here and what we do. After saying, “and I’m a writer,” you can tell the
group what kind of writing you do and what you are working on. Be as
brief as possible. During introductions you’ll also have an opportunity
to write down questions and put them in the question pot. After the
introductions are over, we discuss the questions and answers. We do not
have an absolute ending to our meetings, so you may leave when you need
to leave, but we have the room until 2:00.
Our monthly meetings are held at noon on the first Friday of each month
at Lucky China, 11680 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Georgia 30076. Our
meeting room is on the left side of the reception area. (See
http://www.luckychina.info/)
Coming from South of Atlanta: Take GA 400 North. Exit Mansell Road
(exit 8), take a left onto Mansell Road. Take a right onto Alpharetta
Highway. Lucky China is located on left side across from North Fulton
Regional Hospital.
Coming from North of Cumming: Take GA 400 South. Exit Old Milton
Parkway (exit 10). Take a right onto Old Milton Parkway. Take a left
onto Alpharetta Highway. Lucky China is located on right side across
from North Fulton Regional Hospital.
Restaurant phone: 770-740-1360.
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