The Writers Network News, October 2010 http://ezezine.com
October 2010 Issue
The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Contents copyright 2010, Bobbie Christmas
No portion of this newsletter can be used without permission; however,
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Bobbie’s creative writing blog: http://bobbiechristmas.blogspot.com/
Bobbie’s weight-loss plan blog:
http://dontyoudarecallitadiet.blogspot.com/
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Welcome to this issue of The Writers Network News
In This Issue
One: From the editor’s desk – Procrastination Be Gone!
Two: Ask the Book Doctor – About Typography, Italics vs. Underlines,
Contracts, and More
Three: This Month’s Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Although/Though
Four: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Five: Contests, Agents, and Markets
Six: Creative Writing Assignment – Love or a Call for Love
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To view current and past issues of The Writers Network News, go to
http://tinyurl.com/c4otf6.
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[Note: Some links may include “tiny url” with the help of
www.tinyurl.com, which takes long Web addresses and converts them to
short ones.]
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Writer’s quote of the day
"Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your
soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements." –Napoleon Hill
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One: From the editor’s desk — Procrastination Be Gone!
Dear Fellow Writers:
Member Duncan Black wrote to me after reading my warning about
PublishAmerica and said he’d love to see a report from people who have
self-published using any other firm for assistance. Me, too! Send me
your news, whether good or bad, if you have gained assistance from a
publisher in your self-publishing efforts. I’d also like to hear from
people who used companies that implied you were not self-publishing,
because the company paid you royalties.
Here’s my criteria: If you have ever had a book published by a firm
that did not pay you an advance against royalties, please tell me of
your experience and of your financial returns. When you share your
experience, knowledge, and information, you can help other writers.
Feel free to send your information anonymously, if you prefer. Send
your notes in the body of an e-mail, long or short, to
Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
Now for a few updates. In mid July, I said, “If not now, when?” I told
my readers that I felt determined to stop procrastinating and start
work on a few major projects. My first task was to lose weight, because
my obesity had led to painful knees and feet, and I was diagnosed with
arthritis in my knees and back. The orthopedic doctor suggested I take
massive doses of painkillers, which I didn’t want to do. His only other
advice was to lose weight. My heart fell, because I love food. To eat,
I never have to be hungry; I merely have to find my mouth.
I started a plan similar to one used by diabetics, although I’m not
diabetic. It calls for more vegetables, fewer starches, fewer sweets,
and small amounts of protein. Living alone, though, it was going to be
easy to slip up or cheat, so I did what writers do: I wrote. I wrote my
intentions, created a blog, and took it public. Many people read the
blog and send me e-mails to encourage me. Most folks not only support
me but also join me in the food plan, after reading about my success.
The response to my “Don’t You Dare Call It a Diet!” blog has been
tremendous, and the food plan works. I’ve lost 30 pounds, my knees are
pain-free, I feel younger and healthier, and I’m on the path to my goal
weight. The easy plan allows me to eat real food, not expensive fad
food. I hope you’ll read my blog and even sign up as a follower. See it
at http://dontyoudarecallitadiet.blogspot.com/.
Once I stopped procrastinating, I started looking for a publisher for
my book of memoirs. I wrote the proposal more than a year ago, but have
only sporadically sent out queries. I decided to take any and all steps
to get the book published, and by golly, within weeks I had a nibble
from a California publisher. We were too far apart in our concept of a
decent advance, but bolstered by the knowledge that at least one
publisher loved my book, I sent out more queries and proposals. I
eagerly await the responses.
I also put a bunch of stuff on CraigsList.org and sold it, things that
were collecting dust and taking up space. What a good feeling to see
things go to good use and turn into cash in my pocket! In a few weeks I
pocketed about $1,300.00 for my used things.
Speaking of used things, I’m shocked to see that used copies of Write
In Style, my book on creative writing, are selling for upwards of $90
on Amazon.com, when I still have a few new copies at the original
price. After they’re gone, though, you’ll have to pay the inflated
used-copy prices on Amazon, so be sure to order your copy today at the
original cover price of $12.95. To order go to
http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml.
What will you tackle when you stop procrastinating? Will you start a
food plan to get healthier? Will you submit your manuscript for
publication? Will you clear your clutter and donate it or turn it into
cash? Will you order my book before the prices soar sky high? Will you
send me your self-publishing story? I hope you’ll do all those things
and more.
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. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, please sign up to get
your own copy. Simply go to www.zebraeditor.com, click on “Free
Newsletter,” and follow the prompts. I never share your address or send
out spam.
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Two: Ask the Book Doctor — About Typography, Italics vs. Underlines,
Contracts, and More
By Bobbie Christmas
Q: I want to ask about the TM symbol you use after your Find & Refine
Method. How do I get this symbol high up in the copy? When typing in
Word, when I add this to my copy, the TM symbol hits in the middle of
the last letter of what I'm trying to indicate is trademarked, not at
the top of the letter, like yours. I'm not computer savvy, so I can't
figure it out.
A: I have several answers. On my Mac, I have to go to “insert symbol”
and select TM, and it automatically is raised on the line when it
appears. On my PC in Word, I type (TM) and when I type the second
parenthesis, the computer automatically deletes the parentheses and
changes the TM into the smaller superscript mark. I myself was shocked
when it did it the first time. Yet another way on a PC is to type TM,
highlight it, right click on it, go to Font, and choose Superscript.
There may be other ways as well.
Q: When I first started on a novel in 1995, publishers wanted
italicized words to be underlined instead, even though we had the
capability of changing the font on our computers. Is this still the
case? Can we now use the appropriate font, or must we inquire from each
publisher? I have visions of having two manuscripts, one with and one
without italics.
A: It’s always best to check with the publisher, but The Chicago Manual
of Style says to use italics. If you do use underlines, tell the
publisher your intent that underlined items are to be set in italics in
the printed version.
Q: I plan to self-publish my book. Do you have a simple work-for-hire
contract I can use with my illustrator?
A: The following Web site has a simple work-for-hire contract. It may
be exactly what you need:
http://www.aw-wrdsmth.com/FAQ/work_for_hire.html
Q: In Write In Style I did not see anywhere you may have addressed this
directly, but when writing internal dialogue, I take it from your book
that you would never say he told himself or I told myself something. Is
that correct?
A: This conclusion might be drawn from the fact that in my book I say
“thought to himself” is redundant, because we cannot think to anyone
but ourselves. We can, however, tell other people things, just as we
can tell ourselves things, so I have no problem with saying he told
himself, she told herself, or I told myself.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style (Union Square
Publishing), and owner of Zebra Communications, will answer your
questions, too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com. Read more “Ask the
Book Doctor” questions and answers at www.zebraeditor.com.
Send your questions to Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas at
Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
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Three: This Month’s Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas – Although/Though
The words “although” and “though” are mostly interchangeable, but
“although” is usually placed at the beginning of its clause, whereas
“though” may occur elsewhere and is the more common term when used to
link words or phrases: He is wiser though poorer. Although he had
money, he had no peace.
As an editor I particularly watch out for the word “Though” when it
shows up at the beginning of a sentence, because it invariably should
be “Although” in those instances.
If you think you have used “though” at the beginning of any sentence in
your manuscript, use my trademarked Find and Refine Method to search
for and change the word to “Although.” To use the Find and Refine
Method, pull down the Edit menu in your software program and go to
Find. Click on the tab that says Replace. In the box that says Find
what, type the word “Though,” capitalized. In the Replace box, type the
word “Although,” also capitalized. Click the box that says More, and
check Match Case. Click on Replace All, and all instances will be
changed throughout the manuscript. Poof! The job is done. Don’t you
love computers?
Want to learn more tricks and tips? Send a note to
freereports@zebraeditor.com, and you’ll receive a link to many free
reports, including one on my trademarked Find and Refine Method.
For even more opportunities to Find and Refine, buy Write In Style
(Union Square Publishing) by clicking here:
http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml
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Four: Subjects of interest to writers
Attention Writers in Metro Atlanta!
The Writers Network has occasional local meetings in the
Roswell-Alpharetta general area. If you’re interested in meeting with
other writers, send me an e-mail (Bobbie@zebraeditor.com) and ask to be
put on a list of local members to be notified if and when we plan a get
together.
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In Defense of PublishAmerica
Last month’s newsletter included a warning about PublishAmerica and
negative comments I’d read on PublishAmerica’s own site, but two
members protested and said their experiences have been fine. Below are
portions of those letters.
“You mention PublishAmerica, which has published five of my novels, and
I've never had any problem with them in ordering or receiving books.
They do NOT charge the author for publishing their book, and they do
offer an author's discount. As with any publisher they do everything
from arranging ISBN numbers to cover artwork. They have a Support
Department for assistance and even a PR department. They distribute the
books throughout the world.” –Alvin Guthertz
Alvin Guthertz’s latest novel, Brushed by the Devil, is a mystery about
the kidnapping of the wife of the British ambassador to the United
States. It takes readers to London, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and
Stockholm and combines mystery, adventure, travel, and romance. It is
available at PublishAmerica as well as all bookstore outlets.
Barbara Deming wrote, “Bobbie, I was surprised at the comment posted at
PublishAmerica (and shared by you) regarding [slow] shipment of books.
I am one of their authors and have nothing but praise for their quick
shipments. I did a great deal of research (after spending a lot of time
and money seeking a traditional publisher/editor) before I published my
memoir, Growing up Barefoot in the South, with them, and I felt I knew
what I was getting into. No, they do not advertise for you other than
on their site, but that is true of almost any other company. I'm not
getting rich on royalties, but my first book earned very little selling
on Amazon. My PublishAmerica book has a beautiful cover, and I have
sold lots of them myself. I'm reaching the readers I wanted to, so I
have no regrets.”
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Cup of Comfort, an Adams Media Corporation inspirational series, offers
the following forum where writers of personal essays and nonfiction
short stories can share writing tips, writing advice, and the writing
life: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/writing-forums/writers-group
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Use caution when choosing a company to help you produce your books
(Excerpted from Noel Griese’s AnvilPub's Southern Review of Books)
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a civil lawsuit against New
Century Publishing, an Indianapolis book publisher, and David Caswell,
owner. Allegedly he failed to deliver books authors had paid for. Most
paid at least $1,500, and some paid much more.
"Our investigation … indicates that he intentionally misled consumers,"
the attorney general said. "He also has a history of deceptive business
practices."
Caswell was convicted of impersonating an attorney in the 1980s and was
sentenced to 14 months in prison on 1993 charges of fraud and income
tax evasion. The current case is the third time in 20 years the Indiana
attorney general has sued the 58-year-old Indianapolis man and his
companies.
To add your e-mail name to the Southern Review of Books subscriber
list, send an e-mail to custserv@anvilpub.com.
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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 desk reference book is not available in stores.
Written in easy-to-understand language, 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. To order as a printed book or e-book, go to
http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr.
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Member Barbara Florio Graham has reviewed a book she says all writers
need to read. It's called The Secrets of Emotional, Hot-Button
Copywriting: How to Employ the 7 Key Copy Drivers that Make People Act.
Her review is posted at: www.SimonTeakettle.com/hotbuttonreview.htm.
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Words Writers Should Know
Paraprosdokian
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a
sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the
reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is
frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an
anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians
and satirists.
Examples:
I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat." —Will Rogers
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's
too dark to read." —Groucho Marx
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a
fruit salad.
The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the
cheese.
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Download Bobbie’s seminars! Go to
http://zebraeditor.com/seminars_on_cd.shtml.
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Things You Might Be Saying (and Writing) Wrong
By Reader’s Digest
See
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/24-things-you-might-be-saying-wrong-2338028/.
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A Backup Tip from Member Dick Lowrie
A USB flash drive is a convenient, cheap, and fast backup and storage
device, compared to a CD or floppy disk. The Internet lists 2-GB flash
drives for $7 to $14; 4-GB drives from $8 to $18; and 16-GB ones from
$27 to $50. The transfer is fast enough for most purposes; you needn't
wait more than about two seconds to be sure the transfer of most data
is completed and stored on the flash memory stick.
I did a crude test of a 585 KB technical document; it took less than
one second to save it to the flash drive.
The long-term reliability of flash memory isn't known, since the
devices haven't been around long enough to tell, but the manufacturers
claim at least eight years if the unit is protected from excessive
heat, electric fields, and physical damage. Personally, I copy
everything onto two separate flash memory units just to be sure. --Dick
Lowrie
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Unsolicited Rave Review of Write In Style from a Writer in the UK
I was delighted to find the following unsolicited review of my book
reported on Amazon.com from a writer in the UK:
This review is for Write in Style: Using Your Word Processor and Other
Techniques to Improve Your Writing (Paperback)
If you intend to write and succeed, this is a must read
At several points reading Christmas's 'Write in Style', I was tempted
to write a glowing review. Now, I selfishly don't want to. Everyone has
at least one book inside them. I don't want you all to know how
Bobbie's Christmas's guidance will guide you to tell your story. I want
'Write in Style' all to myself.
I could give a thorough review of content and chapters, proving myself
an excellent writer. But why? With Bobbie's guidance I stand a better
chance of writing bestsellers. Why write a review when you can write a
book? Read 'Write in Style', study it for yourself. It's written by a
master.
Not only does 'Write in Style' teach you to write clearly and give you
a secret tool to reduce the work, Bobbie's guidance helps to get the
story out from your imagination onto paper in the way readers want to
read. 'Write in Style' encourages confidence and thereby enthuses you
to write with the belief you have a guardian angel on your shoulder.
Thanks Bobbie.
Sorry, Bobbie. I want to keep you all to myself. --Just Jack
Now, don’t pay $90 for my book! Amazon has no new copies of it but
offers eight used copies starting at $89.93. Don’t pay those prices! I
still have a few brand-new copies left, and you’ll still pay the
original price, $12.95 plus shipping. As a bonus, I’ll even sign the
book. Once the remaining copies are gone, the book will no longer be
available at this price, and you’ll have to pay the prevailing prices
for a used copy.
Write In Style teaches Bobbie’s trademarked Find and Refine Method
along with information and dozens of tips that power up your prose.
Bobbie Christmas reveals secrets only a book doctor could know. To
order, go to http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml. Get your
copy while supplies last. The remaining copies are going quickly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Internet Kills OED Print Version
A team of eighty lexicographers has been working on the third edition
of the Oxford English Dictionary, long considered the most complete and
accurate reference guide to the English language, for more than two
decades. Because more and more users are turning to the online edition
and various Internet-based products offered by the dictionary's owner,
Oxford University Press, though, it's likely that the OED3 will never
appear in print. "The print dictionary market is disappearing," said
Nigel Portwood, the chief executive of the Oxford University Press. The
current OED Web site receives more than 2 million hits every month from
paid subscribers.
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Free Tools for Writers from Bobbie Christmas and Zebra Communications
Order PDF 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. Go to http://zebraeditor.com/free_reports.shtml.
Newest report: I’ve revised, updated, and expanded my report on “How to
Tell When You’re Telling” for those who need to learn how to show,
rather than tell a story. Be sure to download it today.
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She Writes
She Writes is a community and a workplace for women who write, with
more than 10,000 active members from all fifty states and more than
thirty countries. Emerging writers and established bestsellers are
finding services, support, and actionable advice on She Writes.
She Writes was founded by author Kamy Wicoff, in partnership with
Deborah Siegel, author, consultant, and Ph.D. It is a mission-driven
company based on the belief that writing is life- and world-changing
for women.
http://www.shewrites.com/
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Speech Writers and PR Folks, Take Note!
Two professors at the Stanford Graduate School of Business studied the
transcripts of thousands of conference calls led by American
executives, analyzing what phrases were most common during calls whose
contents were later "materially restated." They discovered that
deceivers were less likely to discuss the value to shareholders of
their profits ("perhaps to minimize the risk of a lawsuit"), but were
otherwise more grandiose. They used fewer "non-extreme positive emotion
words," opting for "fantastic" over "good." They also didn't stumble
over their words as often. There were fewer hesitation words, such as
"um," "suggesting that they may have been coached in their deception."
Liars were also more likely to act like everyone already knew what they
were saying was true ("as you know”).
This information should be of use to investors who suspect they're
being taken for a ride, but the study will be most helpful to PR firms,
"which now know to coach the boss to hesitate more, swear less, and
avoid excessive expressions of positive emotion."
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From The Chicago Manual of Style Online
The Chicago Manual of Style Online site recently posted the question
and answer below, which typifies why I love the site. For more
questions and answers, see the site at www.chicagomanualofstyle.org.
Q. I wonder which you think is best: Key Lime pie, Key lime pie, or key
lime pie?
A. I’m actually partial to pecan, but if you’re asking about spelling,
consult a dictionary: Webster’s 11th Collegiate prefers lowercasing,
noting that “Key” is often capped.
The new 16th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style is now available
online and is also available in print wherever books are sold.
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Warning: Scam Attempts Sent to Freelance Editors
Many of my fellow editors have received requests for editing from a
foreign country, but be aware that the request could be a scam. If a
company prepays with an overpayment and asks for a refund, by the time
you realize the prepayment has been rejected by your bank, the scammer
has cashed your check and run. Here’s scam e-mail that some editors
have received:
“My name is Dependra Santha, I will require your service to assist me
in proof reading the two documents I have attached to this email. I
will like to know how much you will charge for both document. Once am
sure of the price, I will instruct my associate in the USA to mail out
a cashiers check payment to you for the service since I am out the
country now a short course in the United Kingdom. The document will be
due by [date here] as am trying to submit them to an accessor over
here. I will be waiting for your reply.”
Should you be contacted with an offer that could be a scam, report it
to the Internet Crime Complaint Center set up by the FBI at
http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx .
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Do you Google yourself? Look what I found about me in a 2009 blog entry
by Ricki Shultz of Wordpress (http://rickischultz.wordpress.com/).
At the 2008 Southeastern Writers Association conference, one of my
favorite presenters, Bobbie Christmas, taught (I believe) a three-day
workshop. Each class, she made us sit in a different seat, on a
different side of the room, next to different people.
The method behind her madness, she said, was that breaking out of your
comfort zone gives you a different perspective, and our writing needs
new perspectives in order to stay fresh.
The Type-A in me tends to cringe at breaking out of a routine when
we’ve worked so hard to establish one, but Christmas had a point.
Although it’s important to establish a place of work so that you can
get into “work mode,” writing is a creative process, and sometimes you
need to modify your regimen in order to get the creativity flowing.
So, in all your planning, schedule an “off campus” writing day at least
once a week. Go to Starbucks—Barnes & Noble—your local library.
Indulge in a latte and let your fresh surroundings inspire you. Even
if 99% of what you write that day is drivel, 1% of it might be the
kernel you were looking for to start a new manuscript or spin your
existing one on its end.
As well, getting out of the house does wonders for your psyche. Just
when you forgot other living, breathing humans exist, there they are,
interrupting your writing by yelling at the barista, hitting on the
college girls next to you, talking about cheating on the SATs…giving
you all kinds of material.
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The Swivet is a blog by Colleen Lindsay, part of the business
development team at Penguin Group USA. See what she says about
recommended lengths for various genres.
http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-word-counts-and-novel-length.html
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Top 5 Mistakes to Make in a Writing Contest: How to Lose a Writing
Contest, by Hollis Gillespie, bestselling author and national judge –
see http://tinyurl.com/2dgm74m.
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Free Book Reviews
http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/free-book-reviews.html
Want your self-published book reviewed for free? The above site lists
many who will do so. The site warns, however: “If your book is
unedited, full of typos, or otherwise unfinished, don't bother
contacting the reviewers. You will be wasting your time and theirs.
Self-published authors have a hard time getting reviews, so if your
book is a slap job, the reviewer just gets angry and stops accepting
POD submissions. It makes it harder for the rest of us.”
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Are you on Facebook? Do You Twitter? Do you read blogs?
Keep up with Bobbie’s activities on Facebook (search for Bobbie
Rothberg Christmas) or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BookDoctor4u.
Bobbie’s blogs:
Creative Writing: http://bobbiechristmas.blogspot.com/
Weight Loss: Don’t You Dare Call It a Diet! -
http://dontyoudarecallitadiet.blogspot.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to appeal to your intended audience
(Excerpt from http://www.writersdigest.com/article/he-said-she-said/)
by Leigh Anne Jasheway
No matter what you’re writing, if your intended audience is female,
make sure to include plenty of personal pronouns—“I,” “you” and
“we”—and descriptive terms. If your intended audience is male, on the
other hand, trade in pronouns for articles—such as “a,” “the” and
“that”—choose active verbs, limit adjectives, and include concrete
figures, like numbers. Observe the stylistic differences between these
two statements: “I’m sorry we’re late; we had a flat tire on our way
here,” and, “The tire blew when we hit seventy on the freeway.” Chances
are you can tell right away which sex is talking in each one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn From Other Published Authors
http://www.oncewritten.com/PublishingMyFirstBook.php
OnceWritten.com speaks with traditionally published authors and asks
them to share their experience in getting their first book published.
Authors listed on this page are ones who have chosen to take a
traditional publishing route and rather than being self-publishing.
They have firsthand experience in the trials of finding an agent,
finding a publisher, working with a large or small press, and signing a
publishing contract.
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Five: Contests, Agents and Markets
A + B Works
Literary Agents
http://www.aplusbworks.com/
We primarily represent young adult and middle grade fiction, women's
fiction, and select narrative nonfiction. Due to the high volume of
queries we receive, we cannot guarantee a response to unsolicited
queries. Query by e-mail only to query@aplusbworks.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Foliate Oak Literary Magazine
University of Arkansas-Monticello
562 University Dr.
Monticello AR 71656
Foliateoak@Uamont.edu
www.Foliateoak.Uamont.edu
Please use our submission manager to submit all writing and artwork.
See http://www.foliateoak.uamont.edu/submission-guidelines.
“We love previously unpublished quirky writing that makes sense,
preferably flash fiction (less than 1000 words). We are eager to read
short creative nonfiction also. We rarely accept submissions that have
over 2,700 words. We enjoy poems that we understand, preferably not
rhyming poems, unless you make the rhyme so fascinating we’ll wonder
why we ever said anything about avoiding rhymes. Give us something
fresh, unexpected, and will make us say, “Wow!” We’re not interested in
homophobic, religious rants, or pornographic, violent stories. Please
avoid using offensive language.”
Pays contributor's copy. Acquires electronic rights. Sends galleys to
author. Not copyrighted.
"We're open to honest, experimental, offbeat, realistic, and surprising
writing, if it has been edited. Limit poems to five per submission, and
one short story or creative nonfiction (less than 2,500 words. You may
send up to three flash fictions. Put your flash fiction in one
attachment. Please don't send more writing until you hear from us
regarding your first submission. We are also looking for artwork sent
as.jpg or.gif files."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Necrology Shorts
P.O. Box 510232
Saint Louis MO 63151
314-315-5200
Editor@Necrologyshorts.com
www.Necrologyshorts.com
Necrology Shorts is a daily online magazine looking for horror, science
fiction, and fantasy stories that have a dark, deathly ring. We want to
see work built upon the masters, such as H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E.
Howard, and Stephen King. Don’t repeat their work, expand upon it. We
prefer character-oriented stories. While we don’t have a maximum length
for fiction, we do require a minimum of 2,000 words for fiction
submissions.
Poetry should follow the same guidelines as fiction. Poetry can be in
any form and unlimited in length. Up to five poems may be submitted at
one time. Submit poetry all in one attachment. Put title and author’s
name at the beginning of each poem.
For full information and to submit your work, go to
http://www.necrologyshorts.com/submission-guidelines/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whiskey Island
A Literary Magazine Published By Cleveland State University
Department of English
Cleveland State University
Cleveland OH 44115-2214
216-687-2056
whiskeyisland@csuohio.edu
www.csuohio.edu/whiskey_island/
We welcome poetry, fiction, nonfiction (including translation), and art
submissions year round. We are instituting a new method for submission
called Submishmash, which will streamline the process. See Web site for
more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writer's Digest Short Story Competition
Compete and win in any or all five of the following categories:
Romance
Mystery/Crime Fiction
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Thriller/Suspense
Horror
The Grand Prize winner will receive a trip to the Writer's Digest
Conference in New York City, $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest
Books, and the 2011 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. Entry
Deadline: November 01, 2010.
Entry Fee: $20.00 each. For all details see
http://www.writersdigest.com/popularfictionawards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
artsee
982 Trinity Road
Raleigh, NC 27607-4940
919-854-0097 ext 100
F: 919-854-1954
http://www.ncartsee.com/index.html
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, artsee is a new bi-monthly magazine
for artists, art patrons, and art lovers. Our mission is to provide a
forum where local artists, collectors and enthusiasts can come together
to share information, ideas and inspiration. We keep our readers
informed of art happenings in the Carolinas by highlighting the people,
places and organizations who play a vital role in making art accessible
to everyone. Through our efforts we expose our readers to a wide
variety of art-related topics that excite and encourage future
participation and support for our art community.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Six: Creative Writing Assignment – Love or a Call for Love
We are told that all interpersonal communication indicates either love
or a call for love. Think about it. When you initiate a conversation
with a friend or person of significance in your life, it’s because you
want to show your love or express dissatisfaction, right? If you call
your sister because you want to go bowling with her, it’s because you
love her. When you call your brother to say you didn’t appreciate how
he spoke to your date, it’s because you love your brother and want him
to show his love by respecting your friends. When you get miffed
because your spouse squeezes the toothpaste from the middle of the
tube, you are actually complaining that he doesn’t care enough for you
to do what you ask him to do and squeeze from the bottom of the tube.
Love or a call for love. Think about it. It fits every communication.
Yes, even when people argue, they simply want the other person to show
love. It doesn’t make sense that even domestic abuse is a call for
love, but examine a typical situation: A man comes home after a few
drinks with friends and the wife is angry that he didn’t come straight
home from work. She’s hurt that he wants to spend time with friends and
booze more than he wants to spend time with her, so she greets him with
angry words. He gets furious and says he deserves to spend time with
his friends, and why should he even want to come home to a wife who is
always complaining? The situation spirals out of control, and the woman
gets so frustrated that she grabs a pillow to toss. The man seizes her
arm. The scene escalates, and all because of love or a call for love.
Write a scene that involves an interpersonal relationship and a
conversation that reflects the concept of “a call for love” in some
negative way, remembering that conflict creates drama. You can use the
scenario I gave above, adding setting, personality, dialogue, and
action, or you can create your own scenario between strangers,
siblings, relatives, parent and child, or whatever comes to mind.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tools for writers plus free reports, information, and answers for
writers like you: www.zebraeditor.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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