The Writers Network News, May 2014 Issue http://ezezine.com
The Writers Network News, May 2014
In This Issue
One: From the editor's desk: Odd Gifts in Sad Times
Two: Ask the Book Doctor about Openings, Add-ons, Pitching an Idea, and
Appendixes in Novels
Three: This Month's Easy Editing Tip from Bobbie Christmas:
Four: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Five: Contests, Agents, and Markets
Six: Got Muse? Trip
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The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Contents copyright 2014, 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
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Follow my Write In Style creative-writing blog at
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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.
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Note: I have shortened some links in this newsletter with the help of
www.tinyurl.com, a free service that takes long web addresses and
converts them to short ones.
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Writer's Quote of the Month
T. S. Eliot said, "Every person who wishes to write ought to read A
Dictionary of Modern English Usage ... for a quarter of an hour every
night before going to bed."
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One: From the editor's desk: Odd Gifts in Sad Times
Dear Fellow Writers:
In the past month, my family received devastating news. My dear
brother-in-law, who is spry, witty, outwardly robust, and visually
healthy at age eighty-six has been diagnosed with inoperable stage-four
cancer and may not have long to live. The news shocked us all, because
he is an active, healthy, happy man who takes absolutely no medication.
He has normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and he rarely even
has a cold. Every day of his life, he wakes early, goes out to get the
newspaper, reads it thoroughly, and fills out the daily crossword
puzzle--in ink.
My sister is shattered. She and Manny have spent forty years
demonstrating their love to one another daily and being the couple
everyone envies. She dreads what lies ahead.
We are thankful that Manny continues to feel well, though, but we also
know that he may not live another year. He has maintained a positive
attitude, and his only desire has been to spend more time with his
children and grandchildren. He says he's a happy man who has had a good
life with a woman he adores, and he couldn't ask for more. He says he
is getting to hear his own eulogy through all the visits, cards, and
Facebook messages from people relating good memories with him and
saying delightful things about him. His upbeat attitude has helped the
rest of us, instead of our being able to help him, but that is Manny's
way, always helping others. Everyone loves Manny.
Manny's impending destiny has given me pause to think about my own
mortality. We have all heard that people on their dying bed never say
they wish they had spent more time at the office. If I knew I had less
than a year to live, how would I want to live it?
I look around me and again feel thankful for my adorable dog, my
comfortable home, and my stack of manuscripts to edit. Frankly I love
editing. I enjoy helping writers get their books out to the public. If
I had a year to live, I would not stop editing, although I would have
to limit my projects, so I could be sure to finish them all. I would
visit my son and daughter-in-law in D.C., come home, and get back to
work. I would still take the other trips I like, too, including my
planned trip to Nova Scotia and the Canadian Maritimes this summer.
Still, I would come home and edit, because editing and helping writers
are the things I enjoy doing, and because a person has to fill every
day with something productive and satisfying.
What an odd gift it is, though, to know how and approximately when you
will leave this earth. It gives you time to show your love and
appreciation for the people in your life. We should live every day with
that attitude. Manny, however, has. He has always been extremely
helpful, demonstrative, and loving. At least the rest of us have been
given a chance to tell Manny what a terrific guy he is, while he is
still with us.
Yours in writing,
Bobbie Christmas (Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com )
Author of Write In Style, owner of Zebra Communications, director of
The Writers Network, and coordinator of the Florida Writers Association
Editors Helping Writers service.
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 Openings, Add-ons, Pitching an Idea, and
Appendixes in Novels
by Bobbie Christmas, book doctor
Q: In my story of an animal, the prologue describes the setting and
gives background and history of the sanctuary park. The first chapter
begins with a sunrise. The "star" animal is not mentioned until about
six pages into the first chapter of the manuscript and is not referred
to by name until about eleven pages into the first chapter. Sol Stein
states that the reader's interest has to be grabbed in the first
sentence of the story and the engine of the plot should start within
three pages.
When rewriting, should the animal be mentioned in the first sentence of
the prologue and also the first chapter, when she could only be
referred to by the pronoun "she"?
A: I am a great believer in Sol Stein. His book, Stein on Writing, is
one of the best for learning how to write strong plots and tight
chapters that move stories forward.
Without seeing your particular manuscript, I will say this: Some
writers think they build intrigue by not naming the main character for
a long time. Instead, it frustrates readers and makes them not connect
with the character. The only time I suggest withholding a name would be
when a main character is the person performing a crime that later must
be uncovered by some other character.
In my opinion, a good novel keeps readers informed, rather than
frustrating them, so yes, if you want to grab contemporary readers,
follow the style they inherently expect. Let them know the names of
main characters right off the bat, the sooner the better.
Q: I have added one additional element to my how-to book, a
[deleted--proprietary information] pouch. Does the pouch put my book in
a different category?
A: Indeed, adding products to a book may put it in the gift book
category, rather than how-to, or it could be included in the gift book
category as well as how-to. I don't know what the pouch contains, but
most pouches are not made of paper, so if an addition to a book is not
something printed, a traditional publisher will not be able to produce
it on the equipment it already has. Some printers now include CDs or
DVDs with books, but always consider whether it is wise to add anything
that a traditional printer cannot produce.
Q: I recently started writing a book that involves [famous name
deleted]. It is an idea I know for a fact would sell. How would I go
about being able to pitch the idea to him?
A: First you have to have excellent credentials to pitch a book idea to
someone as well established as an artist like [name deleted]. If you
have already sold one or more books to traditional publishers and have
a good sales record, you are on your way.
The next step is to write an excellent book proposal, something
persuasive that you can hand over to an intermediary who will get it to
[name deleted] to read.
To reach an intermediary of any living star, look for the person's
agent. With a few keystrokes and the Internet, I found the booking
agency for [name deleted]. You could start there and ask if someone
from the agency will give [name deleted] your well-written (and edited)
proposal.
Q: I am writing a novel about recovery from alcoholism and feel the
need to include a few parts from Alcoholics Anonymous. Other than an
occasional reference to AA or to Alcoholics Anonymous as a twelve-step
program, I want to make approximately six specific quotes from
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Can I list these six quotes in an appendix at the end of the book
rather than use them in the body of the novel? Quoting these parts in
the body of the novel slows the flow down too much.
A: Without seeing the manuscript itself, I can say that adding an
appendix is nonfiction style, rarely used in fiction. Many of the
quotations, sayings, and methods of AA are quoted often by members,
though, so consider various scenes scattered in the novel that show one
or more recovering alcoholics quoting some of that information to the
practicing alcoholic. By the end of the book, the quotes will all have
come out in dialogue, instead of an appendix. As an alternative, the
protagonist could pick up a brochure or see a sign and read the
information for himself or herself. In other words, look for ways for
the information to come out a little at a time and somewhere that does
not impede the flow of the story, anything other than in an appendix in
a novel.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor 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.
For more questions, answers, and comments, order the book, Ask the Book
Doctor: How to Beat the Competition and Sell Your Writing. Go to
http://zebraeditor.com/book_ask_the_book_doctor.shtml.
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Three: This Month's Easy Editing Tip from Bobbie Christmas: Then
The word "then" is an adverb, adjective, or noun, but not a
conjunction.
Strong writing avoids using "then" to begin a sentence.
Like many adverbs, "then" can often be deleted without changing the
meaning of a sentence. We went to the store and then went to the
library. (Can be written as this: We went to the store and the
library).
Caution: The word "then" often requires the use of a conjunction; it
cannot act as a conjunction. Incorrect: We went to the store, then the
library.
For more editing and creative writing tips, order Purge Your Prose of
Problems here: http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr.
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Four: Subjects of interest to writers
Here's a novel idea (pun intended): Even if you are too shy to mention
your book to others, you can promote your book by wearing a pin that
says, "Ask me about my book." In that way, others will ask you, and you
can then tell them about your book and offer to sell them a copy. For
pins that say "Ask me about my book" and other great gifts for writers,
go to http://www.zazzle.com/gifts?ch=writingandediting.
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The Writers Network member Susan Klaus announces that her fantasy,
Flight of the Golden Harpy, will be released by Tor Books on June 17.
"A hard-hitting, well-conceived novel," says Piers Anthony, N.Y. Times
bestselling author of the Xanth Series.
"An extraordinary story set in the unique and complex world. Klaus is
an author to watch...an exciting new voice for the fantasy genre," says
Brenda Novak, N.Y. Times bestselling author.
Flight of the Golden Harpy won the Florida Writers Association. Royal
Palm Literary Awrad for Best Unpublished Science Fiction for 2010.
Klaus is currently working on the second novel in the trilogy. She is
also the author of the thrillers Secretariat Reborn (released by
Oceanview Publishing) and Shark Fin Soup, coming out in August. Her
personal editor is Bobbie Christmas.
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My latest blog entry for the Florida Writers Association: Rx from the
Book Doctor: DON'T DANGLE YOUR PARTICIPLES IN PUBLIC! See
http://tinyurl.com/k2wc33q.
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Fellow editor and The Writers Network member Beverly Bailey sent the
following and final answer to the "one space or two" issue that often
arises among writers, especially those who originally used typewriters.
It comes from "Daily Writing Tips."
Like typography, style guides evolve. The Chicago Manual of Style,
Fourth Edition (1914), recommended "an em quad (wide space) after
periods . . . " However, my trusty, up-to-date online edition of the
Chicago Manual of Style lays down a new rule:
6.7 Punctuation and space--one space or two?
In typeset matter, one space, not two, should be used between two
sentences--whether the first ends in a period, a question mark, an
exclamation point, or a closing quotation mark or parenthesis.
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Terminology Writers Should Know: Jargon
Jargon refers to words used mostly by members of a specific social,
professional, or other group. Medical jargon might pertain to ailments,
body parts, or laboratory or testing procedures, for example.
Strong writers use jargon sparingly and always ensure, either by use or
definition, that all readers will understand every word.
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Free Tools for Writers from Bobbie Christmas and Zebra Communications
Order PDF reports on writing-related subjects, including 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. 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.
New report just added: Chicago style for newbies and for those
switching from AP Style. Look for Report #118.
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Want your independently published book reviewed? Want to review books?
See http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/.
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Purge Your Prose of Problems
A Book Doctor's Desk Reference, Fifth Edition
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In alphabetical order and in easy-to-understand language, Purge Your
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To save thousands of dollars by editing your own book, order Purge Your
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Whether you write books, short stories, articles, reports, or anything
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Three ways to promote yourself as a writer, even if you're an
introvert. See http://tinyurl.com/kwtc8ef. .
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Become my friend on Facebook and follow my adventures, opinions, and
observations: http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.christmas
Like Zebra Communications on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/7vcxaxu.
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Five: Contests, Agents, and Markets
Two Serious Ladies
http://www.twoseriousladies.org/about-this-magazine/
Two Serious Ladies publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual
art. It also publishes cross-medium work, such as author-illustrated
writing, writing with video, audio slideshows, and comics. There are no
guidelines for submissions, allowing the company to publish work of any
length. Writers and visual artists may submit work online year-round,
along with a brief cover letter. Two Serious Ladies does not accept
submissions by snail mail or e-mail and does not accept simultaneous
submissions or previously published work. The only way to submit work
is through the website. See the following page, to submit:
http://tinyurl.com/lb8f29w. .
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The Arsenic Lobster Poetry Journal is seeking eloquent emotion,
articulate experiment; the charley horse hearted, heavily quirked, the
harrowing.
Honed lyricism, stripped narrative. Be compelled, compulsed, MOVED, to
write…
New online issues are released in April, August and December. The
annual print edition includes selected works published online during
the previous year.
Poetry topics, reviews and criticism, and lobster art/photographs (pdf
or jpg attachment only), are also welcome.
All submissions must conform to specific guidelines, but relax and keep
this information on file for November 2, because submissions are not
accepted between April 30 and November 1. See
http://arseniclobster.magere.com/1submission.html for guidelines.
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CURA: A LITERARY MAGAZINE OF ART AND ACTION
441 E. Fordham Rd.
English Department, Dealy 541W
Bronx NY 10548
curamag@fordham.edu
www.curamag.com
CURA: A Literary Magazine of Art and Action is a multi-media initiative
based at Fordham University committed to integrating the arts and
social justice. We seek to promote a movement of creative response
guided by meaningful action--to celebrate active citizenship where a
republic of writers, filmmakers, visual and digital artists converge.
Needs nonfiction book excerpts, essays, general interest, humor,
personal experience
Submit complete manuscript
Length: no more than 6,000 words.
Pays 1 contributor's copy
Also needs literary fiction. Submit complete ms.
Length: no more than 6,000 words.
Pays 1 contributor's copy.
Needs avant-garde, free verse, and traditional poetry.
Max Number of Poems to submit at one time: 6
Pays 1 contributor's copy.
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The Small Miracles series is looking for true stories for a new book.
Small Miracles from Beyond: Dreams, Visions and Signs that Link Us to
the Other Side will be issued by STERLING, the publishing arm of Barnes
& Noble.
This will be an uplifting book illustrating that soul connections
forged during one's lifetime do not end in death (e.g stories of
deceased relatives appearing in dreams of loved ones offering advice or
solace, children of deceased friends marrying each other; apparent
intercession by deceased relatives in one's active life); stories of
near-death experiences; stories of reincarnation, stories that
exemplify the existence of a place beyond this world--a different
dimension that we readily intuit as a result of the dreams, visions and
signs sent our way. We are interested in any story that is mysterious
or magical that embodies the concept of DIVINE PROVIDENCE within a more
mystical or supernatural context.
If you want to write the stories up yourselves, that would be great. If
you want to
recount them and have them written up by the authors, that is also
fantastic. Pseudonyms are cheerfully granted. Please contact Yitta
Halberstam at ymye@aol.com for more information.
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CONGRUENT SPACES
P.O. Box 91
Talent OR 97540
info@congruentspaces.com
www.congruentspaces.com
Michael Camarata, managing editor
"Congruent Spaces was developed as a common ground for a diverse
variety of voices and writing styles within the writing community. In
keeping with this sense of community, all submissions are posted
directly to the slush pile in our Writer's Lair, where our community of
writers and readers come together to read and rate these submissions.
Each issue we then select from the top rated submissions which stories
and poems appear within the pages of our magazine."
Monthly magazine covers fantasy, horror, literary/mainstream fiction,
poetry, and science fiction.
Accepts simultaneous Submissions
Purchases one-time rights
Fiction needs: experimental, fantasy, horror, humorous, mainstream,
science fiction, slice-of-life vignettes, and literary
Length: up to 2,500 words.
Pays in contributor's copies.
Poetry needs: avant-garde, free verse, haiku, light verse, traditional
Submit complete ms.
Max number of poems: 1
Length: fewer than 120 lines.
Buys 60 to 120 poems/year
Pays in contributor's copies.
"As [we are] a new magazine, now is the best opportunity for getting
published. Competition will grow stronger as awareness of our magazine
grows. Having said that, don't submit your work unless you truly
believe it is ready for publication. Be sure to proof your formatting
for readability before posting the manuscript for our ratings process.
The most common error is failing to adequately separate paragraphs
after copying and pasting the submission in the submission form. Either
indent your paragraphs or leave a line space between the paragraphs
with two line spaces for additional breaks. The easier it is to read
your ms, the better your chances of receiving a high-quality rating."
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LIT
The Journal of The New School Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Program
http://www.litmagazine.org/
Please share your work via our electronic manager at
https://litmagazine.submittable.com/submit. We do not read via post. If
your work does not fit into the prose or poetry categories at the link,
choose one and make a note in your cover letter. We appreciate your
attention to guidelines and reading periods. We will respond as quickly
as we can. However, due to the volume of contributions we receive, we
cannot provide personalized responses to work we do not publish.
Please read a recent issue of LIT to get a sense of what we publish.
Ordering information is available at our About page.
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Six: Got Muse? Trip
The word "trip" can be used in many ways. We can take a trip to another
country, or we can trip over a stone and fall down. We can trip someone
up with a trick question, and we can go on a spending trip. What comes
to mind when you think of the word "trip?" Write a story about it.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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