The Writers Network News, September 2017 issue
The Writers Network News, September 2017
In This Issue
One: From the Editor's Desk: Subscribers Needed plus Rewriting from Memory
Two: Ask the Book Doctor about Errors and Reformatting a Manuscript
Three: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Four: Contests, Agents, and Markets
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The Writers Network News
No Rules; Just Write!
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Contents copyright 2017, Bobbie Christmas
No portion of this newsletter can be used without permission; however, you may forward the newsletter in its entirety to people in your network.
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Zebra Communications
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Improving books for writers and publishers since 1992
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770/924-0528
http://zebraeditor.com/
Follow my Write In Style creative-writing blog at http://bobbiechristmas.blogspot.com/
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Meet Fellow Writers
Do you live in or visit metro Atlanta? Sign up for notices of local (but sporadic) meetings today! Send your name and e-mail address to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.
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CHANGING YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS? HOW TO REMAIN A SUBSCRIBER
If your address changes, you must sign up again with your new address. We cannot change your address for you, because of our double-opt-in, no-spam policy. Go to www.zebraeditor.com, click on the yellow box, and sign up with your new address.
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Some links in this newsletter are shortened with help from www.tinyurl.com, a free service that converts long links to short ones.
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Writer's Quote of the Month
“There's not much to be said about the period except that most writers don't reach it soon enough.”
—William Zinsser
William Zinsser was a lifelong journalist and nonfiction writer who began his career on the New York Herald Tribune in 1946. He was also a teacher, best known for his book On Writing Well, a companion held in affection by three generations of writers, reporters, editors, teachers and students. (from the official William Zinsser website, http://williamzinsserwriter.com/)
On a personal note, in the 1960s when I told my father I wanted to be a writer, he gave me two books: Zinsser’s book titled On Writing Well and Roget’s Thesaurus. More than fifty years later, I still have both books, and both influenced me in positive ways during my many decades as a writer, editor, and speaker on creative writing. Zinsser believed in short sentences. With two sentences in this paragraph that have more than thirty words, I ignored his advice, didn’t I? Whoops!
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One: From the editor's desk:
Dear Fellow Writers: Subscribers Needed plus Rewriting from Memory
If you’re reading this newsletter, you know I put my time, heart, and soul into helping fellow writers, but as time marches on, subscribers unsubscribe for their own reasons. Some tell me they simply don’t have time to write. Some say they get too much e-mail (that’s why I shortened this newsletter from its former thirteen-to-fifteen-page length). Some give me no reason for unsubscribing. My e-zine carrier even automatically deletes any subscriber whose e-mail bounces even once. My subscriber list is now down to below 2,000 subscribers.
I need your help reaching more subscribers. I’m asking that each of my subscribers send a message to at least one or two fellow writers. Tell your writer friends about my free newsletter and tell them they merely have to go to www.zebraeditor.com to sign up by clicking the yellow box at the top. You already know that I don’t share my subscriber list with anyone and even have a double-opt-in method so that each subscriber can feel assured that they won’t be sent anything they don’t want. Would you invite your writer friends to subscribe today? It’s the only “payment” I’d appreciate for providing you with free news writers can use.
On a different subject, I posted the following on Facebook recently: “Has this ever happened to you? I spent all day yesterday rewriting from memory a children's story I had written years ago and could not find on any of my computers. This morning I found a printout of the original story and made a huge discovery. The rewrite is way better than the original.”
Today I’m analyzing why the rewrite is so much better than the original. For one, I’m several years older and have never stopped learning new details about creative writing. Secondly, whenever you write something and set it aside for a while, you can almost always find ways to improve it in the next draft. In this case I “set aside” the entire story, even the typing of it, but never mentally forgot the story. I’ve probably been mentally improving that story for years, without actually writing down any of my own suggested improvements until yesterday. The new version has a much better increase in tension and suspense and the final sentence is a hundred times better. It even brought tears to my own eyes, even though I knew the story through and through.
Have you ever considered rewriting an entire story from memory and then comparing the original with the rewrite? The exercise might result in a huge improvement over the original. Have you ever had to rewrite something from memory and then had the opportunity to compare it to the original? Tell me about the results.
Yours in writing,
Bobbie Christmas Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com
Author of two editions 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 Errors and Reformatting a Manuscript
Q: A publisher recently requested my manuscript, and within forty-eight hours I received an e-mail that said, “Only Word files are excepted.” Shouldn’t the word be “accepted?”
A: Possibly, but the answer depends on the intent of the sentence. If the publisher was saying it rejects all manuscripts with the exception of those received in Microsoft Word, then the sentence is okay. I haven’t seen the entire e-mail, so I cannot be sure, but I suspect you are correct, though, and the publisher was attempting to say it accepted only Microsoft Word files.
Q: Should I be concerned that I have noted misspellings or typographical errors in e-mails I’ve received from potential publishers?
A: Some publishers may use relatively unskilled clerks to respond to the large volume of mail they receive. Your gut is trying to tell you something about the quality of the companies you are dealing with, if they are unconcerned about sending out unprofessional e-mails. Listen to your gut. The number of unprofessional “publishing” companies has grown exponentially. They want your money. Find a professional traditional publisher that wants to give you money, instead, and you’ll find that their correspondence is usually free of errors.
Q: I keep hearing people speaking in odd idioms, but I hear the same thing so many times that I think maybe I’m the odd one. For example, I hear people say, “I have a pit in my stomach.” That doesn’t make any sense to me. Am I crazy?
A: Crazy like a fox. I have heard the same incorrect idiom time and time again, even in scripted shows, so even script writers are getting it wrong. The correct idiom, the one that makes sense, goes like this: “I have a feeling (or an odd feeling or a bad feeling) in the pit of my stomach.” I have no idea how or why it got incorrectly shortened to “I have a pit in my stomach,” but idioms have a way of getting misconstrued and convoluted. I could quote you many other idioms that make no sense, because people use them incorrectly. The first that comes to mind is the “I could care less” idiom, which is the reverse of what the original, correct idiom said, which was “I could not care less.”
Q: I’m editing my new book. The typed version has different type styles and some hard-to-read passages, because of the many months it took for me to write the book. Should I have a service prepare a clean, uniform copy or have it done by an editor?
A: Your decision depends on what you plan for your book as well as the editor you choose. Here's what I'd do if I were in your shoes.
1. If I planned to self-publish, I'd need to use an independent editor, so I'd ask my intended editor to look at the file and tell me if she or he can fix the format in addition to editing the manuscript. I’d ask how much the total cost would be. Sometimes reformatting is quick and easy (and therefore inexpensive), but it depends on the manuscript, the formatting styles in the manuscript, and whether your intended editor will do that sort of work. I have reformatted many manuscripts for clients and most were easy, but it depends on the manuscript.
2. If I had already sold the book to a traditional publisher, I'd ask the publisher if it reformats the book. If so, traditional publishers pay all expenses, so I wouldn't have to pay for reformatting.
3. If I hoped to find an agent and sell it to a traditional publisher, I would follow the same steps as in number one. I'd find a professional editor and ask if he or she also reformats manuscripts, and if so, at what cost.
In my opinion, services that reformat books are best used when your book is completely edited and ready to turn into an e-book. Use such services only if you are self-publishing and want a manuscript formatted for use with e-readers. I would not use such a service simply to reformat a manuscript for editing.
Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, 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 much more information on these subjects and hundreds of others of vital importance to writers, order PURGE YOUR PROSE OF PROBLEMS, a Book Doctor’s Desk Reference Book at http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr.
Bobbie Christmas’s award-winning second edition of WRITE IN STYLE: How to Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing is available at http://tinyurl.com/pnq5y5s.
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Three: Subjects of interest to writers
FROM FELLOW MEMBERS
Member Meredith Rutter sent some disappointing news regarding the information on Harper Collins that I had reported in the August issue. She wrote, “I used to participate in the Authonomy program and thought it had closed. Following your link, I was intrigued that they had started up again, but further attempts to locate the actual website were fruitless. See this Guardian article: http://bit.ly/2uFovYl.”
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Member Steve Moore writes, “It pays for a writer to pay attention to her or his own quirks (I guess I can now use the singular "their" there, but I'm old-fashioned) and get an extra boost from beta-reads, beyond self-editing and contract editing. Good editing is a process as necessary as good PR and marketing.”
I told him, “It sounds like we think alike. Editing is vital, and I still say it's quite easy to avoid using ‘their’ to refer to the singular. All we have to do is recast the sentence, if we want to avoid using ‘his or her:’ ‘It pays for writers to pay attention to their own quirks.’”
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William H. Koenecke, Ph.D., told about his book, Write Well Right Now: A Guidebook on English Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing. “It's a simple English book for people like me who are not proficient in these important three areas of written communication and would like to become better written communicators using simple rules, examples, tips, exercises, etc., that explain why the answers are correct. It's not written for English teachers; however, any people, including English teachers, can benefit from this book. It may be purchased from Amazon or from my website, - www.writewellrightnow.org.
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MORE MANUSLIPS
In my Manuslips file I keep a list of errors I find that either tickle my fancy or prove a point about clear, correct writing. Read the example below a few times and determine if you saw any errors.
Its two heads reared, then lunged forward, releasing fire from its nostrils, this time nearly singing her gym shoes.
What corrections would you make? Did you change the first word, “Its” to “It’s?” If so, you’re wrong. “It’s” with the apostrophe means “It is.” The possessive of “it” is “its” without the apostrophe. Next did you notice the comma after “reared?” Actually it should have no comma, and “then” should be preceded by “and,” as it often should.
I’ll bet most of you caught the incorrect word choice near the end, though, right? As written, the monster almost sang to her shoes, whereas the author meant that the monster almost burned her shoes. The correct sentence would go like this:
Its two heads reared and then lunged forward, releasing fire from its nostrils, this time nearly singeing her gym shoes.
Most computers accept “singing” as used, because it’s still a legitimate word; it’s just the wrong word, as used. We all need human eyes and brains to help us find the errors in our writing. I trust you use an editor and/or beta readers to help spot and fix errors in your manuscripts.
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FREE BOOK FOR FREELANCER WRITERS!
Freedom with Writing is offering a free e-book titled The Case Study Guide to Freelance Writing. Download it here: http://www.freedomwithwriting.com/case-studies/
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SAVE THOUSANDS ON EDITING
Let’s face it: editing is costly, because editors must charge for their time and expertise. What if an editor put all her time and expertise into a book that allowed you to edit your own book? You could save thousands of dollars using such a book. PURGE YOUR PROSE OF PROBLEMS, A Book Doctor's Desk Reference, is that book. In fact it’s the resource that many book editors use.
PURGE YOUR PROSE OF PROBLEMS covers all you need to revise and edit fiction and nonfiction. Get information on grammar, punctuation, word choices, creative writing, plot, pace, characterization, point of view, dialogue, Chicago style, format, and hundreds of other subjects.
Order PURGE YOUR PROSE OF PROBLEMS today at http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr.
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MASH-UP ENDS UP FACING LAWSUIT
It sounded like a great idea. Star Trek screenwriter/author David Gerrold (remember the tribbles episode?) along with Marvel/DC comic book artist Ty Templeton and their publisher ComicMix raised $30,000 on Kickstarter to produce a mash-up that answered the question, “What if Dr. Seuss mashed up with Star Wars? Turns out the answer is that owners of the Seuss trademarks and copyrights would load their lasers and attack the pair in court. The creators won one small skirmish, but the court wars are galaxies away from being over. Read more about it at https://fanfilmfactor.com/2017/06/13/oh-the-places-youll-boldly-go-wins-a-key-fair-use-victory-in-court/
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BOBBIE’S BLOGS
Neurotica: Stories of Love, Lust, and Letting Go—If you like relationship stories, I’ve got a ton of them. Some are funny, some a little sexy, and all true. I reveal some of my stories at https://neuroticastories.blogspot.com.
In my Write In Style blog, you’ll find more tips on creative writing and other subjects. For my latest blog on a recent mix-up with my medications, see http://bobbiechristmas.blogspot.com/
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WORDS WRITERS SHOULD KNOW
Solecism
Solecism is a noun that refers to an error in language or etiquette. The items I call “manuslips” in this newsletter as well as in my book titled Write In Style are solecisms. For an example of a solecism, see the section in this newsletter titled MORE MANUSLIPS.
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Become my friend on Facebook
Follow my adventures, opinions, and observations: http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.christmas
FOLLOW ZEBRA COMMUNICATIONS ON FACEBOOK
Get news, writing-related cartoons, immediate updates, and other good stuff for writers.
Like and follow Zebra Communications at http://tinyurl.com/7vcxaxu.
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CMOS ONLINE Q & A
Comma or no comma?
Someone sent the following question to the folks at The Chicago Manual of Style Online:
Which of the following is correct? (1) “Here you go, dear” or (2) “Here you go dear”? The way I see it, a comma should not precede “dear” because it is an adjective and not an interjection. “Here you go dear” is not the same as “Here you go, sir [or Stan].”
Read the CMOS response to this question as well as many more questions and answers at http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/latest.html
THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE dictates such things as where commas go, when and what to capitalize, when and how to abbreviate words, when to spell out numbers or use numerals, and much more. If you write books, you will want to know more about Chicago style or be sure to use an editor intimately familiar with Chicago style.
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WRITE IN STYLE: How to Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing
My book on creative writing titled WRITE IN STYLE has won seven big awards. Copies are selling fast on Amazon, but please order it here, directly from the publisher: http://tinyurl.com/zeq6z5g. Please note that this book is not about grammar. It teaches writers how to find their fresh voice. If you want a book on grammar, order PURGE YOUR PROSE OF PROBLEMS, mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter.
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Four: Contests, Agents, and Markets
EAST OF THE WEB SEEKS SHORT STORIES FOR CHILDREN
By focusing on quality, eastoftheweb.com has become one of the top destinations on the web for short stories, with more than a half million unique visitors a month.
We're seeking children's stories aimed at age ranges between five and twelve. We're looking for stories written by authors who know children and what children want to read. We want storytellers who can capture a child's imagination and who also know the children's book market, know what's original, and understand what's interesting and appropriate for children of the intended age of their stories. We consider stories of all genres as long as kids will love them!
We pay for selected stories starting at $0.05 per word with a minimum of $200.
Please initially contact us using the form on the following web page: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/index.php?p=submissions/20132.
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MOMENT MAGAZINE
Seeks original fiction with Jewish content
Moment Magazine and the Karma Foundation invite you to participate in the Moment Magazine-Karma Short Fiction Contest. The terms and conditions of the contest are set out here: http://www.momentmag.com/karma-short-fiction-contest-rules-regulations/ Winning Submissions may, at the sole discretion of Moment Magazine, be published in a future issue of the magazine. Winners may, at the sole discretion of the sponsors, be invited to an awards ceremony. If winners are so invited, the sponsors will provide round-trip air, rail, or bus transportation and overnight hotel accommodation.
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BARONE LITERARY AGENCY
385 North St.
Batavia OH 45103
Phone: (513)732-6740
baroneliteraryagency@roadrunner.com
www.baroneliteraryagency.com
Currently accepting manuscripts in the following categories:
Horror
Romance
Category
Single title
Historical
Young Adult
New Adult
Erotic Romance
Woman's Fiction
I do not accept any previously published materials. All submissions must be made through e-mail. The body of the email should include (No Attachments) the following:
Contact information
A synopsis of the book
The first three chapters of the book
Please allow four to six weeks for a response.
If you have not received a response in three months feel free to contact for update.
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Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Call for Entries: 2018
The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest not-for-profit book Awards program open to independent publishers and authors worldwide who have a book written in English and released in 2016, 2017 or 2018 or with a 2016, 2017 or 2018 copyright date.
Enter online at: www.IndieBookAwards.com
Entry Guidelines available at: http://www.indiebookawards.com/enter/guidelines
Entry Deadline for the 2018 awards program – February 23, 2018.
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HENERY PRESS
3411 Preston Road Suite C13-301
Frisco, TX 75034
info@henerypress.com
We publish mostly mysteries with a splash of chick lit. We focus on the cozier side of life: cozies with a hook, cozies with an edge, cozies with humor, cozies with adventure (and our chick lit? Cozies sans murder). Browse our catalog, read the blurb, read an excerpt, read the book. If you think your manuscript fits in, then give it a shot. We get pretty excited when little birdies join the Hen House.
ACCEPTING: Mysteries (all genres), Chick Lit (you heard right); 65k words - 90k words
NO: YA, Middle Grade, Romantic Suspense, Graphic Sex or Violence.
WELCOME: Previously published, backlist titles, simultaneous submissions, agented or unagented
For submissions guidelines, click here and scroll down the page: https://www.henerypress.com/about
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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 enter a competition, pitch or accept an assignment, spend money, or sell your work.
To access past issues of The Writers Network News, click here: http://live.ezezine.com/feeds/ezine/886_2.
The Writers Network News: a newsletter for writers everywhere. No Rules; Just Write!
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