The Writers Network News: January 2025
The Writers Network News: January 2025
In This Issue
One: From the Editor's Desk: New Year, New Strategy
Two: Ask the Book Doctor—About Literary Agents
Three: Subjects of Interest to Writers
Four: Contests, Agents, and Markets
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The Writers Network News
Editor: Bobbie Christmas
Sponsor: Zebra Communications
Contents copyright 2025, Bobbie Christmas
No portion of this newsletter can be used without permission; however, you may forward the newsletter in its entirety to fellow writers.
Zebra Communications
Excellent editing for maximum marketability
Founded in 1992
https://www.zebraeditor.com/
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Notes
Some links in this newsletter are created through TinyUrl.com, which converts long links into shorter ones.
Our format doesn’t support italics, so italics are indicated with underlines _before_ and _after_ words.
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Writer's Quote of the Month
“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.” –Arthur Plotnik, editor and author (b. 1937)
The Simon & Schuster website says this of Plotnik: Arthur Plotnik is a versatile author with a distinguished background in editing and publishing. Among his seven previous books (not to mention twenty-two pseudonymous potboilers early in his career) are _The Elements of Editing_ and _The Elements of Expression,_ both Book-of-the-Month Club selections, and the best-selling _Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style._ His articles, op-eds, and literary pieces have been published widely, including his columns in _The Writer_ magazine, on whose editorial board he serves.
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Plan to Change Your Email Address?
You must resubscribe with your new address before your old address expires. Our double-opt-in, no-spam policy does not allow me to change your address. If our email to you bounces, our system automatically unsubscribes you. To ensure you never miss an issue of The Writers Network News, you must resubscribe with your new address. Go to https://www.zebraeditor.com/ and sign up with your new address, and do it before you stop using your old address.
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One: From the Editor's Desk: New Year, New Strategy
Dear Fellow Writers:
Happy New Year!
Many folks make New Year’s resolutions, things they pledge to finish, change, stop doing, or start doing. Statistics show that most such resolutions are abandoned by the end of February. What a shame!
A friend of mine has a more realistic approach. Instead of resolving to make changes, she writes a list of her intentions for the new year. The word “intention” has a more positive implication. In this way she has an entire year to fulfill her intentions.
If you want to write that book, short story, or chapbook of poetry at any time during 2025, then I propose that you first write down your intention or intentions for the year. Put that list in a place where you see it every time you sit down at your computer. Work on those intentions a little at a time.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Napoleon Hill, who became famous for his self-help books. He said, “A goal is nothing but a dream with a deadline.” In my editing business when a project comes in, I set a date when I will be finished and tell the client that date. By giving clients that date, I have a deadline to meet, and I invariably meet it. If I were to leave that date open, I’d have no incentive to finish the job.
When I sold the first edition of _Write In Style_ to Union Square Publishing in 2004, the company gave me four months to finish writing and polishing that book. Two sample chapters had been sitting on my computer for about three years, but once the publisher gave me a deadline, by golly I finished the rest of the book in four months. Deadlines work. Dreams are achieved by setting deadlines.
By writing your intentions for 2025, you automatically set a deadline for when you will reach your goal. If you keep reading your intentions every day, the chances are strong that you will reach your goals on or before the end of the year.
Please write your intentions for 2025, and later in the year let me know how it worked for you. Or even better, send me an email with your intentions and allow me to share your intentions with our readers. Making your intentions—your goals—public will give you accountability, and accountability makes your intentions even more compelling.
Yours in writing,
Bobbie Christmas Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com
Book doctor, author of award-winning _Write In Style_, owner of Zebra Communications, editor of “The Writers Network News,” and senior editor of _Enjoy Cherokee Magazine_
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Two: Ask the Book Doctor: About Literary Agents
by Bobbie Christmas
Q: Do I really need a literary agent if I want to sell my book to a publisher?
A: The answer depends on your manuscript. Some publishers—it seems mostly smaller publishers of nonfiction—accept submissions directly without the need of an agent. Most bigger publishers and publishers of fiction accept submissions only through agents. Their logic is that the agents do the hard upfront work of reading through hundreds of submissions and picking only the best to submit to the publisher.
Research the publishers you’re interested in and see if they accept unagented submissions. If they don’t, then yes, you need to find an agent, and no one claims that the process of finding an agent is easy.
Q: What’s the best way to find a literary agent?
A: You’ll find listings for agents and their preferences on several websites, including Reedsy and others. Some websites claim to list agents but want you to pay for or subscribe to something or other to get their lists. Don’t fall for gimmicks when the same information is free elsewhere.
Finding a list is just the beginning. You’ll next need to go to agents’ websites to see if they’re accepting submissions and what genres they prefer. Sending a mystery novel to an agent who represents only nonfiction would be a waste of time, for example. Once you have a list of a few agents who represent the type and genre of your manuscript, you must then read and follow the exact way each one wants to receive submissions. Most agents these days no longer accept submissions through the mail. Some accept email submissions; others accept submissions only through Submittable, a digital way for writers to connect with potential agents and publishers. Some agents have a form to fill out on their own websites.
The vital thing is to know exactly what agents want in a submission. Some want only a query letter. Some want a query letter and ten sample pages. Some want a query letter, a proposal, an outline, and thirty sample pages. Agents’ requirements differ, so you must be sure to follow the method each agent wants.
The next step is patience. Most agents need a month or two to wade through the many submissions they receive every day. In addition most agents won’t get back to you unless they are interested, so all you get in return is silence. A few have automatic email responses that at least reassure you that they have received your submission.
Q: Is it okay to submit my manuscript to more than one agent at a time?
A: In the old days when agents received only printed submissions, it was standard to include the mention that it was a multiple submission. Some agents didn’t accept multiple submissions. Now that we’re in the digital age it’s become common to submit manuscripts to multiple agents, but with a few courtesies in mind.
If more than one agent requests the full manuscript, let both or all of them know that you may be considering multiple offers. You may even set a deadline for when you will make a decision.
Some agents will ask for exclusivity when they request a full manuscript. Respect that agent’s request and don’t submit your manuscript elsewhere until the end of the exclusivity period.
Q: How much do I have to pay a literary agent?
A: If an agent asks you to pay a fee before representing you, run! You’ve found a scammer. Legitimate literary agents don't charge upfront fees. They work on a commission basis, usually taking 15 percent of any royalties the publisher pays. They are able to get your manuscript in the hands of publishers you couldn’t have reached on your own, and they work hard to negotiate the best deal on your behalf. They definitely earn their fees.
Send your questions to Bobbie Christmas, book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/blog/.
For much more information on hundreds of subjects of vital importance to writers, order _Purge Your Prose of Problems, a Book Doctor’s Desk Reference Book_ at http://tinyurl.com/4ptjnr. It’s an excellent reference book to help writing groups resolve any disagreements.
Bobbie Christmas’s five-time award-winning _Write In Style: How to Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing_ is available from Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/y7ppcdkd or buy it directly at https://tinyurl.com/y7p9xkbb.
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Three: Subjects of interest to writers
Subscribers Write
Marlene Ratledge Buchanan wrote simply to say of last month’s newsletter, “This was great!”
In last month’s newsletter I described all the perks I’ve enjoyed as a journalist and said, “I’d love to hear from subscribers about how they feel about being a journalist.”
A second Marlene, this time Marlene Clark, responded that she was a freelance writer for the _Hartford Courant_ with a regular beat and later became a columnist not limited to a specific beat.
She reports, “As a journalist I learned more than anyone needs to know about aftermath/biohazard cleaning services and that butterflies are attracted to decomposing bodies. I got to feed lion cubs and an elephant, and I met country music star Boxcar Willie. I interviewed the boyfriend of a teenager who committed suicide by sneaking into the woods without her diabetic medication, and I interviewed a life inmate of a mental hospital who had murdered a nine-year old girl by stabbing her repeatedly in the neck. The story was about his artwork.
“I became a student of a man who taught his own brand of meditation. I took part in a belly dance class, lost my bra, and wrote a column about it. (We changed into dance clothes, my bra fell on the floor, and the janitor swept it up with the rest of the trash.)
“Journalism taught me to actively listen; to process, analyze, interpret, and synthesize information. Some say that makes me empathetic. I can write tight. Journalism suits me because I've been an information junkie all my life: when I was little, my family teased me because I always asked, ‘Why?’ Later I added ‘who, what, when, where, and sometimes how.’”
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Ellen Holder, a fellow editor and logophile (lover of words) wrote: “For the first time, today I read the words ‘card shark’ in a novel. I just knew it was a mistake. But everywhere I check online says ‘card sharp’ and ‘card shark’ are both acceptable and it’s a matter of choice. The original word was ‘card sharp’ but it has evolved into ‘card shark.’ I think since the 1960s the U.S. mostly uses ‘card shark’ and the British mostly use ‘card sharp.’ I would advise an American writer to also use ‘card shark’ because I think more people will smoothly read right over it without pause.”
She asked my opinion.
I responded, “Very interesting. Merriam-Webster, the dictionary CMOS prefers, lists it as two words, ‘card shark,’ with a second mention of it as one word, ‘cardshark.’ The same with ‘card sharp’ and ‘cardsharp.’ M-W says ‘card shark’ can mean someone who cheats at cards or one who is good at playing cards. I'd never seen it used, but if I were to use it, I would write it as two words. Apparently the expression isn't anything new. M-W says the first known use of ‘card shark’ was in 1877.”
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MANUSLIP
USAGE:
The following manuslip gave me a chuckle. It referred to a group of people who looked from one object to another:
You could hear their eyeballs turn.
What do you think of that line? Clever? Off-putting? Too far out? Funny? I’d love to hear your opinion.
MANUSLIP MEANING:
A slip in grammar, punctuation, or other error in a manuscript that often results in humor; a manuscript blooper
ETYMOLOGY:
Coined by Bobbie Christmas (1944 - ) in _Write In Style: How to Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing_ (2004, 2015).
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Female or Woman?
Female or Woman? Which word is correct in the way it is used? A professional editor knows, but do you?
Bobbie Christmas, owner of Zebra Communications, offers three levels of editing service. See our services, pricing, reviews, and more at https://www.zebraeditor.com/
Zebra Communications: Excellent Editing for Maximum Marketability
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Word of the Year
The Oxford English Dictionary chose “brain rot” as the word of the year, but according to The Washington Post, the Oxford folks got it wrong. Read the article here: https://wapo.st/3ZHU4ki.
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Speculative Fiction? No, That's Just Reality.
Award-winning author Gary Barwin discusses the fiction of reality and the reality of fiction and the way our imagination always wins the day.
https://tinyurl.com/2fyy5fhy
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Writing Tip
Centered on is correct.
Revolved around is correct.
Centered around is incorrect.
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The Washington Post’s Picks of the Ten Best Books of the Year
https://wapo.st/4gGUduc
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Be My Friend on Facebook
Follow my adventures, opinions, and observations: http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.christmas
Follow Zebra Communications on Facebook for news for writers, writing-related cartoons, immediate updates, and other good stuff. https://tinyurl.com/ydyn3pcu.
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CMOS Online Q&A
The Chicago Manual of Style Online answered the following question as well as others:
Q. The 18th edition says to include “The” when part of an official periodical title. What about upper- or lowercasing “The” in organizations such as The Juilliard School or The Metropolitan Museum of Art? (I prefer lowercase, but they refer to themselves with “The.”)
To get the answer to this question and many more based on Chicago style, go to http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/latest.html
_The Chicago Manual of Style_ sets the standard in book publishing for issues such as punctuation, capitalization, and much more. If you write fiction or nonfiction books, you will want to know about Chicago style or be sure to use a professional book editor intimately familiar with Chicago style.
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Changes in the 18th Edition of _The Chicago Manual of Style_
The latest edition of _The Chicago Manual of Style_ is here! Each month I’ve revealed a change I’ve seen.
Here’s the next change I noticed: It will now be french fries, not French fries, but it’s still French dressing.
Essential to American book editors, the latest edition of _The Chicago Manual of Style_ costs about $75. Authors won’t have to buy a copy if they use an editor who keeps up to date with the latest changes in Chicago style.
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Write Tight: Learn What To Look For, How to Look for It, and What to Delete
In five-time award-winning _Write In Style_ you’ll learn how to find and delete or rewrite words, sentences, and phrases that weaken your writing.
_Write In Style_ uses humor and expertise to show writers how to tighten and strengthen their writing and create a fresh voice.
To order: https://tinyurl.com/y8fp5nym
Want to buy the book in Kobo through Rakuten? Easy. Go to https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/write-in-style-3
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Self-Publishing Conference
Register for the March 22, 2025 Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference, which offers lots of free opportunities for registrants before next spring, including monthly webinars, a sample edit from a freelance editor, and virtual meetings with industry professionals, including audiobook producers, cover designers, website creators/revisers, self-publishing services, and more.
https://www.atlantaselfpublishingconference.com/
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What’s a heteronym?
Learn and laugh reading “How I wound up with a wound from heteronyms.”
https://tinyurl.com/ypywyjnc
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Four: Contests, Agents, and Markets
The Friedrich Agency
The Friedrich Agency has four agents: Molly Friedrich, Lucy Carson, Heather Carr, and Marin Takikawa. If you decide to submit your query to us, please email your query letter and 5 (five) sample pages to only one of our agents, with the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line.
If you aren’t sure who would be the best fit, visit our About page or check out one of the many interviews we’ve each given to online outlets.
It is now our policy to respond to your query only if we are interested in seeing more material.
If you have any lingering questions before you submit, hop over to our FAQ page where they might already be answered.
Agents to Query:
Molly - mfriedrich@friedrichagency.com
Lucy - lcarson@friedrichagency.com (closed to all submission until February 1, 2025)
Heather - hcarr@friedrichagency.com
Marin - mtakikawa@friedrichagency.com (closing to queries on Nov 1, 2024 until Jan 2, 2025)
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Scribeworth Magazine
Scribeworth Magazine accepts submissions year-round, allowing writers the freedom to submit their work whenever inspiration strikes.
At Scribeworth, we believe that every story deserves to be heard. We’re always on the lookout for fresh voices and compelling narratives that push the boundaries of popular fiction, literary fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. Whether you’re an emerging writer or an established author, we invite you to share your work with us for publication consideration. We publish on a quarterly basis: March, June, September, December. Our inaugural issue will be published in March 2025.
See full guidelines here: https://www.scribeworth.com/submit-your-work
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The Nano & Micro Contest for Women Writers
This contest is requiring a three-dollar (3.00 USD) entry fee and open only to women writers. If you cannot afford the fee, please let us know and we can waive it. Our first year we held a women's writing contest and brought it back. There will be one winner for Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction. Each winner will receive $100.00 USD for their winning piece and have their work featured on merch of a local business in the food and beverage industry. We are collaborating with local businesses to put this on. The judges are a mystery group from said industry as well.
Works must be original, unpublished, and not assisted with the use of AI. Poetry may not exceed more than 14 lines (a sonnet is as long as it may be), and prose pieces must not be more than 200 words. Submit up to six poems max, and two pieces of prose if doing Fiction or Creative Nonfiction. Submit entry as a word doc, in Times New Roman font size 12, and include a cover letter and third person bio. E-mail these items to Colin at managingeditortf@gmail.com.
Contest closes March 1st, 2025.
Food and beverage employees are a set of mystery judges this year.
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Do YOU have news for The Writers Network News? Send it in the body of an email to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or bzebra@aol.com. Deadline: 18th of each month.
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With the exception of Zebra Communications, the information in this newsletter is not to be construed as an endorsement. Research all information and study every stipulation before you enter a competition, pitch an idea, accept an assignment, spend money, or sell your work.
The Writers Network News: a newsletter for writers everywhere. No Rules; Just Write!
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