The Writers Network News October 20, 2008 http://ezezine.com
October 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.
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/
Note Bobbie’s NEW Blog: http://bobbiechristmas.blogspot.com/. Add your
own comments, too.
----------------------------------------------
Welcome to this issue of The Writers Network News
In This Issue
One: Kudos to Jill Jennings, Betty Beamguard
Two: From the editor’s desk – The Power of Knowledge, the Privilege to
Learn
Three: Ask the Book Doctor – About query letters, dialogue, formatting
flashbacks, and telling vs. showing
Four: This Month’s Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Toward or
Towards?
Five: Letters from Members
Six: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Seven: Jobs, Contests, Grants, Agents, and Markets
Eight: Writing Assignment – Return From Beyond
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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[Note: Some links may include “tiny url,” because through
www.tinyurl.com, long Web addresses can be converted to short ones.]
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Writer’s quote of the day
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.”
—Richard Bach, A Gift of Wings, 1974
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One: Kudos to Jill Jennings and Betty Beamguard
The Poetry Alarm Clock, Jill Jennings's first full-length poetry book,
is out! Jill has also had two poems accepted and published in the
Kennesaw State University anthology, Poetry of the Golden Generation IV
Betty Beamguard’s short stories, poems, or nonfiction appear online in
Charlotte Viewpoint and In the Mist, and in the print anthologies
Freckles to Wrinkles and Teacakes and Afternoon Tales: New Stories from
Mississippi. Her stories have been accepted for the October issue of
the e-zine Green Silk Journal, The Petigru Review 2008, and an
anthology by Steve Rayburn Publishing. Main Street Rag recently
accepted her poem, “Fate Conspires against Us” for publication in 2009.
Congratulations!
Your successes encourage others, so please send in your accomplishments
for our kudos section.
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Two: From the editor’s desk — The Power of Knowledge, the Privilege to
Learn
Dear Fellow Writers:
One of the things I love about writing is that writers never stop
learning. We learn about crafting a great paragraph, chapter, article,
novel, or nonfiction book. We learn how to make our sentences more
powerful and how to pick potent verbs. We create new expressions. We
learn what to delete from our writing. We also learn about the rest of
the world. The fact that we’re writers gives us complete freedom to ask
anything, look up anything, learn anything we want, and question
anything, because it may very well show up in our next article, short
story, or book.
I enjoy checking facts when I edit for clients, although it’s not
supposed to be part of my job. Recently a client referred to the shrimp
as the only being with its skeleton on the outside. No, I thought, I’ve
heard the term “exoskeleton,” so there must be more beings with
external skeletons, although nothing immediately came to mind. A quick
Internet search for “exoskeleton” turned up the obvious: clams,
oysters, and mussels. Of course! I learned something and could repair
the sentence in the book I was editing to read that shrimp are one of
several beings with its skeleton on the outside.
I’ve always had a natural curiosity, and I think that’s what originally
led me into journalism. I love to hear new facts, new figures, and new
findings. Today I read about a research team in Denmark that analyzed
more than three million checkout receipts from ninety-eight
supermarkets and found that wine buyers bought more fruits, vegetables,
olives, poultry, milk, and low-fat cheese, on average than those who
bought beer. Hmm. Beer buyers, it turns out, bought more chips, soft
drinks, cold cuts, sausages, and sugar. If you say this information has
nothing to do with writing, you’re dead wrong. Look at the juicy
information I gleaned for characters in a short story or novel! Think
how I can use that information to differentiate characters and make
each one unique, based on his or her drinking habits or supermarket
purchases.
At the Christian Author’s Guild where I spoke recently, one of my
topics was “Build Characters; Don’t Just Describe Them.” The type of
information I learned from reading about that research in Denmark can
be put to good use when I’m next building characters, even if I don’t
show them in a supermarket. Still, I can show what they serve guests
who drop by. The beer drinker will serve chips and Vienna sausages; the
wine drinker will serve apples and cheese. Such behaviors will ring
true with readers, because the habits of wine drinkers versus beer
drinkers are probably obvious to all of us, yet no one had confirmed it
before.
Ah, the power of knowledge, the privilege to ask and learn, and the
bonus of getting paid for it. Could anything be better than being a
writer?
Yours in writing,
Bobbie Christmas (Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com )
Author of triple-award-winning _Write In Style_ (Union Square
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 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 query letters, dialogue, formatting
flashbacks, and telling vs. showing
Q: What’s the difference between a query letter to a literary agent and
a query letter to a publisher?
A: Mostly the difference is in the address. I’m serious. Otherwise,
both letters want the same result: to gain the interest of the person
reading it and get permission to send more. Both should begin with a
catchy summary of the plot of the novel, include a brief paragraph
about why you are the right person to have written the book, and end
with the request for permission to send the whole manuscript. Both
letters should be brief and businesslike. Don’t forget to include all
your contact information in the letterhead, not at the bottom, and
include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, if you send a query by
regular mail. Nowadays some publishers and agents prefer e-mailed
queries. Be sure to find and follow each agent’s or publisher’s
submission guidelines.
Q: When I write dialogue, must I make all my characters speak in
contractions? My critique circle members say all dialogue should use
contractions. Aren’t we supposed to give each character a unique voice?
If so, can’t one of my characters be so prim and proper that she
doesn’t speak in contractions?
A: The members of your critique group have the right idea—natural
dialogue does usually rely on contractions, but creative writing gives
a writer a great deal of leeway. You know your characters best, and if
one doesn’t use contractions, so be it. Don’t let anyone--not even
members of your critique circle--cram a singular opinion down your
throat. Listen to the suggestions of others, thank them, and then do
whatever you want. If, however, an acquisitions editor asks you to
change something to make your piece more marketable, that’s the time to
listen and follow.
Q: My question has to do with formatting. Is there a standard way to
insert a flashback? For example, should I have an extra line space
before and after the flashback? Should I indent the flashback five
spaces on both sides?
A: Formatting is not the only way to indicate a flashback; it must also
be handled with a narrative transition from the present to the
flashback and from the flashback back to the present at the end. You
can, however, also add a line space before and after the transition,
but do not indent on both sides, which is a formatting device reserved
for long quotations. Do indent the beginning of each paragraph,
through.
Q: We hear all the time, “Show, don’t tell.” My feeling is the point is
overused. Better might be “Telling is okay, but it must be interesting
and justified, for example, moving the story along.” What do you say?
A: Everything in creative writing is a matter of moderation. Back story
almost always includes a little telling, but keep the “telling” to a
minimum. Make sure it involves as many action verbs as possible, and it
probably will be fine.
Send your questions to the Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas at
Bobbie@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 newest column
is posted around the first of each month.
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Four: This Month’s Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Toward or
Towards?
Whenever I ask a gathering of writers if they know which is correct,
toward or towards, I see heads shaking all around the room. Nobody
knows for sure, and yet the answer is simple.
Which is right? If you’re in Canada, Australia, or the UK, use towards.
If you’re an American writer writing for an American audience, use
toward. Is that easy or what?
To be sure you have chosen the right word consistently in your
manuscript, use the Find and Refine Method described below to find each
incorrect instance and repair it.
Time to Find and Refine
Find the words featured today (toward/towards) and many other
opportunities for improvement in your own work by using my trademarked
Find and Refine Method, more carefully outlined in my textbook on
creative writing: _Write In Style_ (Union Square Publishing), which
lists many more ways you can easily refine your own manuscripts.
With your file open on your computer, pull down Edit, and then Find.
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, buy _Write In Style_ (Union Square Publishing) in your
local bookstore or order it from Amazon.com by clicking here:
http://tinyurl.com/2ayh2m.
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Five: Letters from Members
Illustrator and Printer Recommendations
I wanted to enthusiastically recommend my terrific illustrator to you
and your many devotees. Heather Knorr is an exceptionally talented
artist - mature, creative, cooperative and pleasant. I've never enjoyed
a collaboration as much before working with her on my new book, 6
Tricks to Student WRITER'S ORIGAMI Success, which features more than
130 illustrations. As an added bonus, Heather's work is very reasonably
priced. She can be contacted at heatherk@gmail.com or (770) 489-3243.
I'd be happy to discuss this further with any of your readers at
MarkItWell@gmail.com or 404-261-1616.
I also LOVE my new printer! My books look awesome, and Ahmad and his
crew at APEX BOOK MANUFACTURING aim to please and make us clients for
life, all at prices that are incredibly fair. I know it sounds too good
to be true (high quality, really nice, personal service and low
prices)...but it IS true! Contact Ahmad at ahmad@apexbm.com or
770-346-9979. –Mark Diamond [Note: mention Mark Diamond’s name when you
contact these people, so they’ll know where the referral came from]
-----
I love your newsletter. Very informative. I am Canadian living in
British Columbia and have just started my biography for family history.
I am trying to improve my phrasing and punctuation along the way.
Thanks for all the tips in your book. It has helped me a lot.
--Jill
-----
When I read your newsletter I get motivated, focused, and inspired.
–Margaret, Ottawa, Canada
-----
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Six: Subjects of interest to writers
Where is Bobbie Christmas speaking next?
The 7th Annual Florida Writers Association Conference
November 14 -16
Join the heart of Florida’s writing community at the Lake Mary Marriott
for the biggest three-day event FWA has ever presented.
Fourteen experienced agents, publishers, and writing mentors will be
coming from all over the country to offer thirty information-packed
sessions over three days in a three-track plan tailored for full-time
pros, serious hobbyists, and determined beginners.
Learn how to improve your writing skills, package your work for
selling, and go on to make the sale.
Registration price $299. (For hotel reservations, call 1-899 380-7724
and ask for the FWA discount rate. First come, first served.) See
www.floridawriters.net for more information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hurry! Sign to up to take these free telephone seminars.
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!
Did you miss the tele-cast called “Write In Style and You Write to
Win?” that aired in April? Download it for only $5 and listen all you
want by going to http://stores.authorsmart.com/Detail.bok?no=134.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Save $100 on a Kindle reading machine
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Place your order using the Amazon.com Rewards Visa Card and enter this
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Apply today. Limited-time offer.
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Purge Your Prose of Problems
A Book Doctor’s Desk Reference, Fourth Edition
Save thousands of dollars by editing your own book!
This proprietary reference book is not available in stores; only a few
copies are available. The information 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. Spiral binder lies flat for easy use: $29.95 plus
$4.99 s & h at http://www.zebraeditor.com (click on Tools for Writers
and scroll down).
Save almost $5.00 in shipping PLUS instantly get _Purge Your Prose of
Problems_ as an e-book with clickable links and bookmarks that zip you
directly to any subject. Go to
http://www.booklocker.com/books/2225.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you looking for a book on how to market your book? See Southern
Review of Books at http://www.anvilpub.net/southern_review_of_books.htm
for twenty-seven books, all ranked in order of their popularity. My
favorite is listed there, too, which is Jump Start Your Book Sales by
Marilyn Ross.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For writers interested in working for with magazines
You can now get more magazine news from Wooden Horse: Check out
Twitter. These short (max 140 characters) messages will keep you
up-to-date about opportunities for PR pros, writers, photographers and
anyone else interested in working with magazines. You can read them as
regular emails, RSS feeds, and even on your cell phone. Go to
twitter.com and get the details.
If you decide to sign up, go to www.twitter.com/WoodenHorsePub and
click on "Follow" under the pony logo. You don't even have to sign up,
though. Check out Twitter's FAQs for the details. Either way, it won't
cost you one single cent.
Meg Weaver
mweaver@woodenhorsepub.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 the e-book go to
http://www.booklocker.com/books/1906.html
_Ask the Book Doctor: How to Beat the Competition and Sell Your
Writing_ is now available in print! Order your copy today. Go to
http://tinyurl.com/56l2eu to order.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“America’s libraries are faring surprisingly well in the Internet era,”
says an article on Economist.com. “Circulation has been rising steadily
for the past few years, according to the National Centre for Education
Statistics. Libraries are especially thriving in the conservative rural
heartlands. The average Wyoming resident checked out nine books in
2005-06, compared with an average of five in California and two in
Washington, DC.” For the full article see http://tinyurl.com/6zajww.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_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 prices, go to
http://tinyurl.com/5yncfw.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unexpected Publisher
Starbucks has entered into a co-publishing arrangement with Farrar
Straus Giroux to publish Daren and Daniel Simkin's The Traveler, a
48-page picture book described as "a beguiling and tender fable about
what really matters in life." More info: Mediabistro.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Man Booker Prize
Aravind Adiga has won the 2008 Man Booker prize for his debut novel,
White Tiger. The book, which is the fourth debut to win the preeminent
English lit award (after The Bone People in 1985, The God of Small
Things in 1997 and Vernon God Little in 2003), is published by Atlantic
in the U.K. and Free Press in the U.S. See
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6605559.html for full
article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 versus. 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
Labyrinth's Door seeks fantasy/adventure for children
Labyrinth's Door a bi-monthly, full-color, advertising-free, fantasy
adventure magazine for children ages 8 to 14 is looking for children
fantasy/adventure short stories. Authors should submit
fantasy/adventure stories with adventures that happen in otherworldly
settings. Stories that grab the attention very quickly and does not
spend a lot of time setting up the story or adventure. We are avoiding
stories that revolve around the main character going on an adventure in
their dream and stories that take place in a contemporary everyday home
or school. We believe part of a fantasy/adventure story is about taking
your audience to new and exciting places that they have never seen
before, and on adventures that are unexpected. Also, Stories should
engage readers quickly and have a satisfying conclusion. The main
protagonist should be between the ages of 8-14 and directly involved in
the adventure. For more information please check out the guidelines at
www.LabyrinthsDoor.com
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A Room of Her Own Grant Available
A Room of Her Own Foundation
P.O. Box 778
Placitas, NM 87043
Closing date, October 31, 2008
Amount, $50,000
Eligible applicants: Female writers
Funding supports a woman as she completes a specific project during the
two-year grant. Applicants need to demonstrate a commitment to their
art in addition to substantial efforts to be self-sufficient. For
information go to www.aroomofherown.org/giftfreedom.php.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Georgia Author of the Year Awards Seeks Nominations
Are you a Georgia writer who has had a book published in the past year?
You are eligible for the Georgia Author of the Year Awards. For the
official form to nominate yourself or others, go to
http://tinyurl.com/5p5gld.
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Soles4Souls Inc. and Epinions Announce "REVIEWS 4 SHOES"
Shoe charity and online consumer review site create program to provide
shoes to needy people worldwide
Attention all shoe lovers, critics, and writers: Soles4Souls, the
international shoe charity, needs YOUR help! Just three minutes of your
time will equal three pairs of shoes for kids in need.
How is this possible? Our friends at Epinions.com are always on the
lookout for simple, well-written reviews on products from toasters to
cars. Shoe reviews make their Web site better and gives honest feedback
to consumers looking to buy their next pair of sneakers, work boots,
fashionable pumps, and comfy flip-flops.
Epinions is looking for anyone to write a paragraph or two on your
favorite (or least favorite) pair of shoes in your closet. As an
incentive, they will donate $5 for EACH REVIEW to Soles4Souls. That
equals about 3 pairs of shoes for 3 minutes of work!
To get started, visit www.epinions.com/shoes and sign up to become a
member (it's fast and free). Then write some reviews about your pairs
of shoes (and if it's a bad review, you can always donate them to
Soles4Souls). But please, don't wait too long - this promotion will end
on December 31st. So break out your critiquing skills and start
writing...some bare soles will thank you for it.
If you have any questions about this promotion, please visit
www.giveshoes.org for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Eric Hoffer Book Award recognizes excellence in publishing. A
single registration gives you four ways to win by genre, press, the
Montaigne Medal, and the Hoffer grand prize. New or old, we want to
read your books. See submission guidelines at www.HofferAward.com.
Entrance Fee $45
$1,500 Grand Prize (the Eric Hoffer Award for Books)
Winner of the Montaigne Medal for most thought-provoking book
Winner and First Runner-up awarded for every category
Honorable Mentions for every category
Individual Awards for Micro, Small, and Academic Presses, as well as
Self-Published Books
Coverage in the annual anthology Best New Writing and on
www.HofferAward.com.
Gold Seal Certificates
Worldwide Exposure
Categories include Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction,
Children, Young Adult, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home,
Health, Self-Help/Spiritual, Legacy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quill & Scroll Magazine
Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School
Journalists
E346 Adler Journalism Bldg.
Iowa City IA 52242-2004
Phone: (319)335-3321
Fax: (319)335-3989
E-Mail: quill-scroll@uiowa.edu
Web site: www.uiowa.edu/~quill-sc
Contact: Vanessa Shelton, Publisher/Editor.
Magazine covers scholastic journalism-related topics bimonthly during
school year. "Our primary audience is high school journalism students
working on and studying topics related to newspapers, yearbooks, radio,
television, and online media; secondary audience is their teachers and
others interested in this topic."
20% freelance written
Established: 1926
Circulation: 10,000
Publishes manuscript four months after acceptance.
Byline given.
Editorial lead time 2 months.
Accepts queries by mail or e-mail
Accepts simultaneous submissions
Responds in two weeks to queries.
Does Not Want articles not pertinent to high school student
journalists.
Query first
Length: 600–1,000 words.
Pays $100-500 for assigned articles
Complementary copy - $200 max. for unsolicited articles
Sometimes pays expenses of writers on assignment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where2Now
Stacey Dougherty, Publisher
P.O. Box 681-683
Marietta, GA 30068
WHERE2NOW is a new travel magazine distributed free in the
metro-Atlanta area. The premiere issue is scheduled to launch February
'09. We seek well-written travel articles that cover destinations in
the Americas and the Caribbean, from 1,000 to 3,000 words, preferably
with photos (at least 300 dpi). All information provided must be
verifiable and stories must be timely―trip must have occurred
within the past 18 months. Articles should convey a love of travel by
describing enjoyable and exciting activities, cultural observations
through the local art and music scene, festivals, and one-of-a-kind
communities, along with exploration of unique attractions, natural and
manmade. You may send written articles to the address above, and please
include contact information. All submissions will be considered for
publication, and writers will be notified within 30 days of receipt. We
reserve the right to edit articles for length and content. Payment will
vary.
You may e-mail the editor at s.dougherty@bellsouth.net with questions
or article ideas. Please do not send full articles by e-mail because
computers do crash and information can become irretrievably lost. That
really ruins my day. –Stacey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
USAA Magazine
A Member's Guide to Financial Security
9800 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio TX 78288
Web site: www.usaa.com/maglinks
Contact: Jennifer Smith, managing editor.
Quarterly magazine covers financial security for USAA members.
"Conservative, common-sense approach to personal finance issues.
Especially interested in how-to articles and pieces with actionable
tips.
80% freelance written
Circulation: 3.9 million
Pays on acceptance
Publishes manuscript four months after acceptance
Byline given
Offers 25% kill fee.
Editorial lead time six months
Submit seasonal material six months in advance.
Accepts queries by mail or e-mail
Does not accept simultaneous submissions
Responds in six weeks to queries
No mss. accepted—query first!
Sample copy available at Web site
Writer's guidelines available by e-mail
Needs:
General Interest (finance)
Historical/Nostalgic (military)
How-to (personal finance)
Interview/Profile (military/financial)
Personal Experience (finance)
Does Not Want poetry, photos, lifestyle unrelated to military or
personal finance
Buys twenty manuscripts/year
Query with published clips
Length: 750–1,500 words.
Pays $750-1,500 for assigned articles
Sometimes pays the expenses of writers on assignment.
"Story must take a unique or innovative approach to the personal
finance topic. Piece must be actionable and useful, not philosophical
or academic."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xtra Pair of Hands
Kym J. Smith
404-819-6724
kymsmith@xtrapairofhands.com
http://www.xtrapairofhands.com
Toll Free 1-866-924-5551
Xtra Pair of Hands, The Magazine, was launched in September as the
first magazine published by a personal assistant and corporate
concierge company. Lelia Mack-Balenciada is editor-in-chief.
The magazine debuted as a monthly publication catering exclusively to
the personal and corporate concierge industry. The magazine provides
insight and resources to the concierge industry and to those looking to
work in the industry as a personal assistant. The free publication of
50,000 copies is home delivered and distributed throughout Metro
Atlanta to upscale hotels, malls, restaurants, corporate executives,
personal assistants and more than 100 independent newsstands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weave literary magazine
“Weave is a literary print publication and organization based out of
Pittsburgh, PA. We seek to create a space for a cross-section of
writers and artists of all walks of life to meet on the page, on the
stage, and in workshop. We celebrate diversity in creators and their
works and strive to showcase both novice and established writers and
artists.” The deadline for submission to the second issue of Weave
Magazine is January 31, 2009. Accepts poetry, fiction, creative
nonfiction, flash fiction and much more. See Web site for complete
guidelines. http://tinyurl.com/5p8qz3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Youth Today magazine
American Youth Work Center
The Newspaper on Youth Work
1200 17th St. NW
4th Floor
Washington DC 20036
Phone: (202)785-0764
E-Mail: pboyle@youthtoday.org
Web site: www.youthtoday.org
Contact: Patrick Boyle
Newspaper published ten times a year covers businesses that provide
services to youth.
Audience is people who run youth programs--mostly nonprofits and
government agencies. They want help in providing services, getting
funding."
50% freelance written
Circulation: 9,000
Pays on acceptance
Byline given
Offers $200 kill fee
Editorial lead time 2 months.
Accepts queries by mail and e-mail
Accepts simultaneous submissions
Responds in two weeks to queries.
Responds in one month to manuscripts.
Sample copy for $5.
Writer's guidelines available at Web site
Needs:
Exposé
General Interest
Technical
Does not want "feel-good stories about do-gooders. We examine the
business of youth work."
Buys thirty manuscripts/year.
Query first
Length: 500–2,000 words.
Pays $0.75-$1/word max. for assigned articles
Pays the expenses of writers on assignment
"Business writers have the best shot. Focus on evaluations of programs
or why a program succeeds or fails. Please visit online."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Loon in Balloon Inc.
133 Weber St. N.
Suite #3-513
Waterloo ON N2J 3G9
http://www.looninballoon.com/
This book publisher based seeks adult novels with widespread popular
appeal. "We publish adult popular fiction that has a widespread appeal
in Canada, the US, the UK, and other international markets.
“We are small, but aggressive. We actively promote each publication
from both a sales and subsidiary rights perspective. We like to control
the sale of movie, television, and other subsidiary rights, as a
primary focus of our business is the publication of novels that can
easily make the transition into script form." See Web site and follow
all guidelines.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Success for Women
200 Swisher Rd.
Lake Dallas, TX 75065
Deborah Heisz, editor-in-chief
Success Magazine just launched a spin-off called Success for Women that
covers advice and ideas from and profiles of celebrities, authors, and
other successful people; health; getting ahead in business and careers;
inspirational stories; and finance.
Although I could not find a Web site specific to Success for Women, I
found the following about Success Magazine itself, and I assume it
applies to Success for Women as well: “SUCCESS magazine is designed
specifically to serve the growing entrepreneur and the home-based and
small-business markets. SUCCESS magazine is not only inspirational but
also instructional in taking a balanced approach to success by offering
guidance and insight into improving one’s entire life.” For more see
http://www.successmagazine.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SynergEbooks
11 Spruce Ct.
Davenport FL 33837
Debra Staples, publisher/acquisitions editor
Phone: 863-588-3770
Fax: 863-588-2198
E-Mail: synergebooks@aol.com
Web site: www.synergebooks.com
"We are now accepting submissions! SynergEbooks published at least 30
new titles a year, and only 1-5 of those are put into print in any
given year. SynergEbooks is first and foremost a digital publisher, so
most of our marketing budget goes to those formats. Authors are
required to direct-sell a minimum of 100 digital copies of a title
before it's accepted for print."
Specifically looking for works in the following new genres: crime,
magical/mystical, paranormal, philosophy, political fiction and
nonfiction, suspense, spirituality/new age. Occasionally open a new
genre for your book as long as it follows guidelines. Browse Web site
to become familiar with all the genres it accepts.
Before you submit any work to SynergEbooks, read the guidelines
thoroughly. SynergEbooks is a non-subsidy digital publishing house, not
a vanity press or self-publishing site. It pays royalties of 15-40% on
electronic formats and CD-ROMs, and up to 15% on paperbacks. Children's
book authors and illustrators will receive 25% royalties in all
formats.
“We welcome new writers. We expect that anyone who is submitting a book
to a digital publisher is computer literate, and understands that most
of the marketing done for a book published in this format will be via
the Internet. If you are not sure what it means to be digitally
published, we highly recommend you purchase at least one digital book
from our Web site to see what it's all about.
“We receive hundreds of submissions each year, and accept less than
30%. We accept all genres, but less than 1% in the poetry genre: poetry
must be an anthology of a unique and specific topic to be accepted. We
no longer accept queries for poetry unless the topic of the
collection/anthology has already been created.
“Please note that to submit work to SynergEbooks, you must be online
and have a valid e-mail address that you check at least every other
day. We are an online publishing company, and we correspond with
authors by e-mail. Submissions sent by regular mail will be ignored if
an e-mail address is not included and if there is not a SASE included
as well.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Eight: Writing Assignment – Return From Beyond
The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31 the boundary between the
alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the
living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. Although
Americans have turned the day into a holiday when children dress in
costume and ask for treats, the term Halloween is shortened from
All-hallow-even, or the eve of All Hallows' Day, also known as All
Saints' Day, when the dead arise from the grave and walk the earth
again.
Most of us have lost loved ones, and many of us have dreamed that the
departed have returned to visit. For this exercise, write a story in
which someone who is dead, believed dead, or absent for a long time
actually returns. What motivates the character to return? What does the
return mean to the character who comes back? What impact does the
character’s return have on other characters? How does the return change
the course of the lives of the returning character as well as other
characters? Obviously the story can include elements that are not
mainstream, but it also must appear logical and therefore believable,
even if impossible.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Nine: Web Sites of Interest to Writers
Looking for a name for a character? Check out these sites:
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
http://baby-names.adoption.com/
http://www.babychatter.com/ (Check out the great list of international
names, too.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of names for characters, the following site has a name
generator (first and last names) plus the following tools for writers:
Secure, backed up data storage
Private, secure writing areas
Online character and plot builders
Access to public forums and hundreds of fellow writers
Online word processor for manuscript writing
Idea Generator
Quick exercises and creativity builders
Export your text, notes, or character sheets into Word or Excel with a
single click.
It’s free to join. See http://www.writersmachine.com/index.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idea generator and more: http://sommestad.com/lm.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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information in this newsletter is not to be construed as an
endorsement. Be sure to research all information and study every
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work.
The Writers Network News– a newsletter for writers everywhere. No fees.
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