The Writers Network News October 2011 Edition http://ezezine.com
The Writers Network News, October 2011 Issue
In This Issue
One: From the editor's desk -- Expectations
Two: Ask the Book Doctor -- About Book Covers as Promotional Tools,
What Constitutes Being Published, Mic or Mike, and Agents Outside the
Country
Three: This Month's Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas -- Hypothetical
Statements Require Subjunctive Tense
Four: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Five: Contests, Agents, and Markets
Six: Creative Writing Assignment -- Gesundheit!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Contents copyright 2011, Bobbie Christmas
No portion of this newsletter can be used without permission; however,
you may forward the newsletter in its entirety to anyone who may be
interested in subscribing.
Newsletter Sponsor
Zebra Communications
Excellent editing for maximum marketability
As book doctors, we write, edit, and evaluate fiction and nonfiction
manuscripts, book proposals, query letters, and synopses. As book
shepherds, we guide writers through the process of self-publishing.
We are a top-rated Better Business Bureau Accredited Business.
Zebra Communications
230 Deerchase Drive
Woodstock, GA 30188
770/924-0528
http://zebraeditor.com/
Follow my "Write In Style" creative-writing blog at
http://bobbiechristmas.blogspot.com/
Follow my "Don't You Dare Call It a Diet" weight-loss blog at
http://dontyoudarecallitadiet.blogspot.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meet Fellow Writers
Do you live in or visit metro Atlanta? Sign up for local meeting
notices today! Send your name and e-mail address to
Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Past Issues Still Available
To view current and past issues of The Writers Network News, go to
http://tinyurl.com/c4otf6.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some links in this newsletter may include "tiny url" with the help of
www.tinyurl.com, which takes long Web addresses and converts them to
short ones.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writer's quote of the day
"You are not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do
the best you can every day." —Marian Wright Edelman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One: From the editor's desk -- Expectations
Dear Readers:
I've been trying hard to live without expectations, without investing
myself in outcomes, because the Zen truth is that "All wanting causes
pain."
I find it nearly impossible to remain unattached to an outcome, though.
I have come to realize that I almost always have expectations. When I
say I'm going to do something, I do it. Likewise, when someone says he
or she is going to do something, I expect it to get done. Isn't life
supposed to go that way?
My Virgo personality expects things not only to be done, but to be done
right and to be done when they are supposed to be done. That trait
makes me a great editor who spots flaws and fixes them and who meets or
beats deadlines, because I figure my clients have expectations, too.
They expect a good job, and they expect it to arrive when I say it
will.
No wonder I get frustrated and disheartened with the way the literary
submissions process goes, these days. In the old days, we printed out
our submissions, mailed them in an envelope, and enclosed a
self-addressed, stamped envelope, called a SASE for short, so the agent
or publisher could send us a typed, original acceptance or rejection
letter. Today's agents and publishers are more likely to prefer
submissions by e-mail or that we upload our submissions to a website,
but after we follow their preferences to a T, do those agents and
editors bother to let us know anything at all? No. These days most
reply only if they are interested, so if they are not interested, we
writers are left in the cold, not knowing if they rejected the
submission or ever even read it. I get the feeling that all my digital
submissions get dumped into the ether of cyberspace never to be seen
again.
As a result of my frustration over electronic submissions, I feel
pleased when an agent or publisher accepts printed submissions only,
but then again, I have the expectation that the dear (and
more-expensive-than-ever) SASE will be returned one day, even if it
contains only a preprinted rejection. Ha! Even those SASEs are ignored,
these days.
The slack attitude of agents and publishers makes me wonder why we
writers bother to write, when getting published has become harder than
ever, even for those of us who have sold works in the past. Submitting
our work has turned into a time-consuming business that leads to
nowhere but frustration when the response we expect never comes. I
guess we writers are expected to submit our works blindly, repeat some
calming mantra, and let go of all expectations of business courtesy.
Agents and publishers always held all the cards, but these days I get
the feeling they aren't even playing the game. Ah, but there I go
again, having expectations.
No matter how hard I try, I'm unable to detach from the outcome, to
give up on my expectations. At least I can vent my frustration in my
newsletter while I wait and watch my e-mail for any kind of response
whatsoever as a result of all my submissions.
Having vented, I must admit that the electronic submission process
worked for me back in 2003, when I sold Write In Style to Cardoza
Publishing, but the book is officially out of print, now, and I'm
selling the last dozen or so copies through my website while I search
for any publisher for a second edition of that award-winning book,
which is still in demand.
Used copies are selling for between $75 and $220 on Amazon. While they
last, however, you can still buy one of the few remaining new copies at
the original price of $12.95. To purchase, go to
http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml. Hurry! Supplies are
rapidly dwindling.
Yours in writing,
Bobbie Christmas (Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com )
Author of Write In Style (Union Square Publishing), owner of Zebra
Communications, and director of The Writers Network
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.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Two: Ask the Book Doctor -- About Book Covers as Promotional Tools,
What Constitutes Being Published, Mic or Mike, and Agents Outside the
Country
By Bobbie Christmas
Q: I've sent my manuscript for editing, and I'm planning to
self-publish. Should
I be thinking about front and back covers now?
A: Yes. If you plan to hire a professional designer (which you should),
don't worry so much about the front cover; let a pro do the job, but do
think of the promotional copy (and probably a picture of yourself) for
the back. Keep the wording strong, persuasive, and short, maybe with
bullet points.
Before you get a designer, though, you need to choose a printer, and
before you choose a printer, you must decide between traditional
printing or print on demand. Learn all the ins and outs, advantages and
disadvantages of POD versus traditional printing before you decide, and
then pick a printer with plenty of experience in the type of printing
you want. Get samples of books the printer has produced; be sure the
covers don't curl and that the cover colors are vibrant. Find a printer
with a customer service representative, so that you get personal
service, and ask what types of files the printer prefers to receive
from your designer. Next you can choose a designer who uses methods and
produces files that are compatible with your choice of printers.
Again, while your manuscript is being edited, you can spend time
thinking about your back cover, writing copy for the back cover,
choosing a printer for your book, and choosing a designer for the
cover. Perhaps your cover designer can handle the layout of your book
as well.
Many details go into self-publishing, so while handling all those
details, never overlook the importance of the back-cover design and
wording. That back cover might be your book's most vital promotional
tool.
Q: Do you have to get paid to be considered published?
A: No, you do not have to be paid. Many nonprofit organizations,
newspapers, and startup magazines don't pay contributors, but if they
like your writing well enough to print it in their publications or use
it on their websites, you are published. Some publishers don't pay an
advance before they publish your book, yet you are still considered
published, once the book is printed and distributed.
Self-publishing, however, is a gray area. Most authorities say you are
not legitimately published until someone else chooses to publish your
work. That view is old thinking, in my opinion, however, because times
have changed. As I see it, if you self-publish and sell several hundred
copies of your book, you're as published as anyone else. The
difference, and remember, this is still only my opinion, would be those
who self-publish and never sell their work. I would not consider those
folks published, even though their works may be in print. Why is that?
Because the term "publish" does not necessarily mean "in print." It
means "to announce something publicly." If no one reads the
"announcement," the work isn't published. It would be like making an
announcement to an empty room. If hundreds of people buy and read your
self-published book, however, it seems to me you've been published.
Yes, some authorities disagree with me. I don't care. I stand my
ground. The growth of small, independent, and self-publishers and the
failure of large publishers to recognize up-and-coming writers has
turned the publishing business upside down. "Authorities" need to get
with the program.
Q: How should I spell the abbreviation for microphone in my novel? Is
it "mic" or "mike?" I've seen it both ways.
A: In searching a couple of dictionaries, I see "mike" listed as the
same as microphone, but not "mic," so if you want to use the term in
dialogue, you can't go wrong using "mike." More important than which
term you choose is the fact that the manuscript be consistent. Don't
use "mike" in one place and "mic" in another.
I specified to use the nickname of "mike" for microphone in dialogue
only, because the narrative should adhere to Chicago style, which
spurns the use of slang, jargon, or abbreviations in narrative.
Q: I live in the USA. An agent from the U.K. has asked to see my
manuscript. Do you think an agent from a foreign country is a good
choice for a US writer?
A: It's hard to say. The answer depends on your plans, your market, and
your manuscript. Many books are sold in the UK before being sold in the
United States, but I would question whether a UK agent would have many
contacts in the USA. On the other hand, garnering any agent is tough,
so I'd at least give the agent a chance. If you sign a contract, be
sure it's one you can easily cancel if the agent doesn't perform the
job you expect.
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.
Would you like to read, save, or share the Ask the Book Doctor column
as a PDF file? At http://zebraeditor.com/files/ask_the_book_doctor.pdf,
the newest column is posted around the first of each month.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Three: This Month's Writing Tip from Bobbie Christmas -- Hypothetical
Statements Require Subjunctive Tense
In hypothetical statements and other statements that express things
that exist only in concept and not in reality, the verb changes to
subjunctive. Hypothetical statements often use the word if. Example:
(hypothetical) If I were tall, I'd be stately. If I were you, I
wouldn't do that.
Not all if statements are hypothetical, however, and when they are not,
they do not all require the subjunctive. If I was wrong, I apologize.
Use my trademarked Find and Refine Method to locate uses of the word
if, to be sure you've used the subjunctive tense when statements are
hypothetical. Go to the Find function on your computer (Control + F)
and under Find What, type "if." Click on Find. When the word "if"
appears in a sentence, read the sentence carefully to determine whether
it is hypothetical or not and repair the verb accordingly. Hit Find
Next and continue to the end of the manuscript to find and address each
potentially hypothetical statement.
For more opportunities for improving your manuscripts, buy one of the
few remaining copies of Write In Style at
http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml.
By the way, I received a note from member Brenda Reed, who took
objection to last month's tip, which involved the word "snuck." Here's
what she wrote and how I responded.
Brenda wrote: I am curious to know why you attack the use of "snuck."
Why not give guidance on the proper use of the word instead of telling
people to do blanket searches to remove it? This site defines "snuck"
as the past and past participle of "sneak."
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snuck
http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irregular-verbs/sneak.html
Here it is again, offered without any apology, and defined as the past
tense simple and past participle of "to sneak."
You shouldn't be urging people to drop the colorful irregular verbs in
our language or helping the computer-search-easy standardizing of our
language, which is what is happening through efforts such as your post.
Please revise your post to reflect that "snuck" is good grammar and
your advice is only your personal preference.
P.S. How do you feel about "shone" and "shined?"
I responded: Thank you for writing. I love to discuss words, writing,
and editing, and I appreciate your challenge to my statement that
"snuck" is substandard. As my information said, even The Chicago Manual
of Style, a book author's ultimate reference guide, spurns the use of
"snuck" for past tense, so in this case, I'll stick to my guns.
Dictionaries reflect spoken language, and English certainly is a
changing language. Spoken language is one thing, however, and
written—literary—language—is another. The fact that a word appears in
the dictionary does not make it acceptable in literary circles, and my
job is to teach people how to write well. When writing dialogue, then,
it's fine to show characters using the word "snuck" when they mean
"sneaked," just as some people say "ain't" when they mean "am not."
Yes, "ain't" appears in the same dictionary quoted in your e-mail. See
http://tinyurl.com/3jgpqu4 for that entry. Granted, in that case the
dictionary blatantly states the word is substandard.
One day "snuck" will become an accepted past tense of "sneak" in
literary circles, but that day has not arrived. The second source you
gave, www.UsingEngligh.com, by the way, is a site that teaches people
how to teach, speak, and understand spoken English as a second
language; it is not a literary reference site, so again, I admit that
the word "snuck" has sneaked into our spoken language, but literary
gurus are not prepared to embrace it in written work. As a book editor,
I therefore must tell people not to use "snuck" in narrative, only in
dialogue, as I said in my original post.
For the record, here's what my original post said:
Like wudn't, snuck is unacceptable in narrative. Use sneaked. The
Chicago Manual of Style 16th Edition says this: "Sneak is conjugated
sneak—sneaked—sneaked. Reserve snuck for dialect and tongue-in-cheek
usages."
I do not say that all writers must globally delete "snuck" in every
usage, only in narrative.
As for your question about my opinion about "shone" and "shined," both
are acceptable in literary circles. Sometimes writers do have choices.
Again, thank you for your challenge and for being alert to English and
its vagaries. People like you, people who pay attention to the details
of English, are my heroes; you keep English a vital, living, growing,
changing language.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Four: Subjects of interest to writers
Kudos to Nicky Vanvalkenburgh
I was notified today that my book was voted "Best Motivational Book"
(Gold winner) by Reader's Favorites Awards in Las Vegas, NV.
http://tinyurl.com/3p9zu9t. My book is called Train Your Brain,
Transform Your Life: Conquer ADHD In 60 Days, Without Ritalin. --
Nicky Vanvalkenburgh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Having trouble getting your young adult book reviewed? Try this free
reviewer of young adult books.
The Fairytale Nerd
thefairytalenerd.blogspot.com
Main reviewer's name: JoAnne
Reviews young adult paranormal romance, fantasy, dystopian and
sometimes (but not always) contemporary YA literature
Accepts e-books in pdf or ePub or Kindle format
Approximate turnaround time for reviews: two to three weeks
Other than her own website, she also posts your book reviews on
websites for Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, Facebook, and
Twitter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Potential World Portal for Writers
A Writers Network member told me about a site that has been endorsed by
National Writers Association. I'm including it in the newsletter, but
with a few words of caution. It encourages writers to upload your
manuscripts to the site at no charge, and then it charges publishers to
view the books with an eye toward buying them. While the idea sounds
appealing, I have some concerns. It's been up since 2006, and it's an
international site, not simply American, when means it has the
potential to appeal to hundreds of thousands of writers. Regardless of
that potential, fewer than a hundred books have been uploaded to it,
which means it may not be very successful. It offers free blogging
space, yet no new blog entries have been added since 2007, which means
it may not be very active. More importantly, when publishers get
inundated with submissions through e-mail and snail mail, what
incentive have they to pay a fee to see more, especially when those
submissions appear to be uploaded by people too lazy to undertake the
research to send submissions to the proper publishers? Nevertheless,
I'm told the site has been endorsed by the National Writers
Association, so feel free to look into it yourself: www.writers2b.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celebrate Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week is celebrated in the US every year. This year it's
Sep 24 - Oct 1. During the last week of September every year, hundreds
of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the
problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and
hosting a variety of events. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in
response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in
schools, bookstores, and libraries. More than 11,000 books have been
challenged since 1982.
Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to
information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by
spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United
States. For more information, see the American Library Association site
at http://tinyurl.com/oc5cgv or the Banned Books Week site at
http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/about.
According to the American Library Association, there were 348
challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2010, and
many more go unreported.
Banned Books Week is sponsored by: American Booksellers Association,
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library
Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association
of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores, Comic
Book Legal Defense Fund, National Coalition Against Censorship,
National Council of Teachers of English, PEN American Center, Social
Icons by Lenka.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From The Chicago Manual of Style website Q & A this month:
Q. I wonder how appropriate it is to use the word "one" to refer to an
undefined person (probably the reader) in a manuscript that I prepare
for a scientific journal. For example: It could be argued that one
should consider this.
A. "One" is a little formal when used this way, but many scholars do
use it. Alternatives are the less formal (and sometimes scorned) "we"
and the even more informal "you."
The Chicago Manual of Style is the reference that book editors use. For
more CMOS Q & A, see http://tinyurl.com/2xscwn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purge Your Prose of Problems
A Book Doctor's Desk Reference, Fifth Edition Just Released!
Please don't buy this book! I'd rather you pay me thousands of dollars
to edit your book. I don't want you to use this book to go into the
business of editing books for others, either, yet many people do.
If you insist, though, you can order my proprietary book-doctor desk
reference book online at http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr.
In alphabetical order and in easy-to-understand language, Purge Your
Prose of Problems covers all you need to know to revise and edit
fiction and nonfiction books, including grammar, punctuation, word
choices, creative writing, plot, pace, characterization, point of view,
dialogue, Chicago style, format, and much more. The spiral binder lets
the book lie flat in front of your computer, for easy use. Available
printed or as a PDF e-book that allows you to keep all this vital
information on your computer for ready reference.
To save thousands of dollars by editing your own book, order Purge Your
Prose of Problems today at http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Words Writers Should Know
Interjection
The word interjection literally means "something thrown in," from
inter- (between) + jacere (to throw), though usually interjections
stand apart as a single-word sentence. Familiar everyday interjections
include oh, ah, ouch, and wow.
Today's word comes from one of my favorite sources, A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg of www.wordsmith.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ask the Book Doctor: How to Beat the Competition and Sell Your Writing
answers many of the questions you wish you could ask an editing expert.
Whether you write books, short stories, articles, reports, or anything
else, learn more about how to write, edit, and sell your work.
Paperback: $14.95 plus $4.99 S & H (total: $19.94 US) E-book: $8.95, no
S & H, with almost instant delivery. You'll save almost $10 by buying
the e-book! To order either, go to http://tinyurl.com/lexp7n.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interesting Washington Post article: Writers on Writing
Many interesting opinions from well-known writers. See
http://tinyurl.com/3rs3vuy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Write In Style Soon Will No Longer Be Available
Hurry! I have fewer than fifty copies left of Write In Style, my
award-winning book that teaches writers my Find and Refine Method ™ to
locate specific words and phrases you can delete, upgrade, or rewrite
to power up your prose.
After I sell all my copies, you'll have to pay the prices on Amazon, up
to $146 per book, unless or until I find a new publisher or
self-publish it. Prices are likely to rise even more, when I run out of
new copies.
When I last checked, new copies of Write In Style were selling for
between $75 and $146 on Amazon.com. Don't believe me? See
http://tinyurl.com/4hc2bxu. Used copies were selling for as much as
$138. Don't pay those prices! For only a few more weeks, you can still
buy this book at the original cover price of $12.95 plus shipping, and
I'll even sign it for you. To order, to go
http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml.
Write In Style: Using Your Word Processor and Other Techniques to
Improve Your Writing by Bobbie Christmas 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. Available at
http://zebraeditor.com/book_write_in_style.shtml.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not sure how to cite source in your nonfiction book following Chicago
style? To make matters worse, you have two choices. Consistency is the
key, though, and The Chicago Manual of Style offers a quick reference
guide. See
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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, and the list keeps growing. Go to
http://zebraeditor.com/free_reports.shtml. Newest report: Genre–A
Slippery Subject Essential to Fiction: Learn about genre fiction
categories and the benefits of complying with genre specifications.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keep up with Bobbie's activities on Twitter:
http:twitter.com/BookDoctor4u
Become Bobbie's friend on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.christmas
New! Zebra Communications on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Zebra-Communications/133481530079088
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Five: Contests, Agents, and Markets
New Online Magazine Launches
HIGHBROW, a general-interest online magazine, launched at the end of
August and covers arts and entertainment, news, politics, media, food,
and travel. Published weekly, it strives "to feature thought-provoking,
intelligent writing with an edge," according to Tara Taghizadeh,
Highbrow's founding editor and publisher. Read the magazine at
www.highbrowmagazine.com. For editorial inquiries or to submit story
ideas, artwork, and photography, send an e-mail to
editor@highbrowmagazine.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Affluent Publishing Corporation
Acquisition Department
1040 Avenue of the Americas, 24th FL
New York, NY 10018
Accepts fiction only: adventure, ethnic, literary, mainstream, mystery,
romance, suspense, or young adult
To ensure that your manuscript is reviewed by our acquisition and
editorial departments, please follow the requirements listed below:
Query first. Query letter should include genre, word count, one- or
two-paragraph synopsis, one-paragraph author's bio. Include sample
chapters, 50 to 100 pages, preferably the first chapter and a chapter
from the middle of the book.
Manuscript should be double-spaced.
Pages should be numbered in sequential order. (Do not individually
number each chapter)
Manuscript typed on one side only.
One-and-a-quarter inch margins on all four sides.
Font should be in Courier New or Times New Roman.
Enclose a self-addressed postage-paid envelope. (Sufficient postage to
ensure the safe return of your manuscript)
When requested: sample chapters, marketing ideas, and author's bio
should be sent to the address below.
Affluent Publishing endeavors to evaluate all manuscripts in a timely
manner. Currently our turnaround time to reply is at least 2 to 4
months.
If your manuscript is being submitted to another publisher as well, we
ask that you indicate it in your cover letter and inform us when you
have accepted a tendered offer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry Frank
Senior Acquisitions Editor
Vandamere Press
P.O. Box 149
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
Vandamere Press publishes in the areas of history, biography,
disability studies/healthcare issues, military, fiction, and the
Nation's Capital for a national audience. These are intended only as a
general guide, as the actual material submitted is fully at the
discretion of the author, and we accept no responsibility for the
material.
Preferred submission formats should include the following:
A one-page summary
An author resume including a list of all published works (Very
Important)
Author contacts for possible book endorsements.
The book's table of contents, first chapter, and two other sample
chapters
A self-addressed, stamped return envelope if negative response is
needed (Mandatory).
Please do not call to request the status of your manuscript. We do not
track manuscripts internally, and we will be able to provide you any
information. We regret that the selection process can be very slow, but
review of manuscripts can only be done time permitting.
Submissions must be double-spaced and printed with a dark ribbon or
high-contrast laser/inkjet/Xerox.
We do not publish children's or young adult titles, accept for books of
special interest to the Washington, DC, or mid-Atlantic area.
We do not publish poetry.
We are not accepting any science fiction or fantasy manuscripts.
We are always interested in Washington regional titles.
Please remember that while we review 2,500 unsolicited manuscripts a
year, we will publish only one or two at most in our annual line of
about ten new titles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeks Canadian Authors
Recliner Books
P.O. Box 64128
Calgary AB T2K 1A9
Canada
Other Address: 5512 4th St. NW, Calgary, AB T2K 1A9
Phone: (403)668-9746
E-mail: info@reclinerbooks.com
Submission E-mail: submission@reclinerbooks.com
Guidelines available at www.writtenindust.com/submission.
Website: www.reclinerbooks.com
Contact: Dustin Smith, editor (fiction, literary nonfiction)
Accepts simultaneous submissions.
Responds in three months on queries and proposals, six months on mss.
Pays 10-15% royalty on retail price
Publishes four to eight titles a year, 100% by unagented authors
Pays $250-500 advance.
"We are currently seeking literary nonfiction titles only, the more
literary the better. We are not currently accepting anything targeted
at children, young adults, or science fiction readers. Our audience is
twenty-four years and older, 70% female, 30% male, 90% Canadian."
Submit proposal package, including: synopsis, three sample chapters, or
completed mss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nortia Press
27525 Puerta Real, Ste. 100-467
Mission Viejo CA 92701
E-mail: acquisitions@nortiapress.com
Submission E-mail: acquisitions@nortiapress.com
Website: www.NortiaPress.com
Nortia Press is a boutique publisher based in Orange County,
California. Our catalogue is handpicked and nurtured from inception to
provide readers, booksellers, and libraries with a select list of
timely and engaging titles.
"Submit a brief, e-mail query for both fiction and nonfiction. Please
include a short bio, approximate word count of book, and expected date
of completion for nonfiction titles (fiction titles should be completed
before sending a query). All unsolicited snail mail will be discarded
without review.
"We focus mainly on literary and historical fiction, but are open to
other genres. No vampire stories, science fiction, or erotica, please."
Accepts simultaneous submissions. Responds in one month on queries and
three months on proposals. Publishes six titles a year, 80% by
unagented authors.
In nonfiction, needs books on business, community, economics, ethnic,
government, health, humanitities, medicine, memoirs, military,
psychology, public affairs, religion, science, sex, social studies,
sociology, war, women's issues, women's studies as autobiography,
biography, general nonfiction, or scholarly books.
In fiction, "We focus mainly on literary and historical fiction, but
are open to other genres. No vampire stories, science fiction, or
erotica, please." Needs: comic books, ethnic, feminist, historical,
humor, literary, military, multicultural, regional, sports, war.
"Submit a brief, e-mail query. Please include a short bio, approximate
word count of book, and expected date of completion (fiction titles
should be completed before sending a query). All unsolicited snail mail
will be discarded without review. We specialize in working with
experienced authors who seek a more collaborative and fulfilling
relationship with their publisher. As such, we are less likely to
accept pitches from first-time authors, no matter how good the idea. As
with any pitch, please make your e-mail very brief and to the point, so
the reader is not forced to skim it. Always include some biographic
information. Your life is interesting."
Terms: Pays negotiable royalties on wholesale price.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Six: Creative Writing Assignment -- Gesundheit!
When we sneeze, someone is bound to say "Gesundheit," an interjection
that wishes us good health. The German word actually means only
"health," but we've been using it to mean "good health" since the early
1900s.
If you hear someone sneeze, what do you say? Gesundheit, bless you, God
bless you? Maybe you say nothing, especially if you don't know the
person.
Think about all the things that happen when you sneeze. Your nose
tickles for a second, you take a big gasp of air, you close your eyes,
and then you sneeze, expelling air forcefully through your nose and
mouth. Many things go on there, right?
Write a scene or a story about a sneeze. It could be a sneeze that goes
wrong or a sneeze that changes things. Does something go wrong when
someone closes her eyes to sneeze? Does something odd happen when he
expels air suddenly? Does a stranger or someone he knows say or do
something that changes things in some way? Does someone say something
odd when someone else sneezes, and did that start an entire
conversation or event?
Think about sneezing and then write. Bless you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 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 "Free Newsletter."
…………………………………………………………………………….
With the exception of Zebra Communications, 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.
The Writers Network News– a newsletter for writers everywhere. No fees.
No officers. "No Rules; Just Write!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++