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W R I T I N G W O R L D
A World of Writing Information - For Writers Around the World
http://www.writing-world.com
Issue 5:14 15,500 subscribers July 7, 2005
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SPECIAL NOTICE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail; any messages
sent to the listbox address are deleted. See the bottom of this
newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or
contact the editors.
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CONTENTS
=================================================================
From the Editor's Desk
FALL CLASSES on Writing-World.com
WRITER TO WRITER: Email submissions, by Peggy Tibbetts
News from the World of Writing
FEATURE: Expert-Finding Strategies Every Writer Needs to
Know, by Mridu Khullar
The Write Sites -- Online Resources for Writers
WRITING DESK: Should I use direct quotes from my source?
by Moira Allen
WHAT'S NEW at Writing World
MARKET ROUNDUP/Writing Contests
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
To All Our British Readers...
-----------------------------
The news of this morning's bombings in London pretty much makes
anything else I might have wanted to say in this space rather
insignificant. I know that we have many, many readers in the UK.
I pray that all of you are safe, and that your friends and loved
ones and coworkers are safe as well. Most of all, I pray that
you are shielded from the spirit of fear that is the primary
purpose of such attacks, far beyond the actual loss of life
itself. We in the U.S. know that spirit all too well. But we
also know that it can be transcended -- something that those
with bombs have yet to understand.
Perhaps we should stop calling such people "terrorists." The
very name is an acknowledgement that their purpose -- to instill
terror -- is too often successful. Words have power; why give
them even that much by granting them a name that carries with
it that power of fear? Perhaps we need to find a name that
suggests, instead, the uselessness and futility of such acts --
and the stupidity of throwing away one's life in an attempt
to make a "statement" that is utterly destroyed by its own
delivery mechanism.
To all our readers (and writers) -- may your words always be
empowered by truth and love -- and may they share that power!
On the Home Front...
--------------------
Thanks to all of you to wrote to express your sympathies for
our server problems. We decided last week to switch to a new
server, which actually looks like it will be a much better
host -- funny how such things can turn out for the best.
Since we spent last week transferring over to the new server,
we still haven't had a chance to get the Writers Wanted
classifieds and the Contest Database back online, but hope
to have both up and running in the next couple of weeks.
-- Moira Allen, Editor
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into subjects and writing styles they're looking for right now.
Free sample issue. http://thechildrenswriter.com/N1555
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FALL CLASSES ON WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
We have two classes for you this fall on Writing-World.com:
ADVANCED EROTICA WORKSHOP
* Instructor: Catherine Lundoff
* Four weeks; $80
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/erotica2.shtml
BREAKING INTO THE MAGAZINE AND PERIODICAL MARKET
* Instructor: Moira Allen
* Eight weeks; $125
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/magazines.shtml
We also recommend the following classes, which are taught
independently by former Writing-World.com instructors.
FREELANCING FOR NEWSPAPERS
* Instructor: Sue Fagalde Lick
* Eight weeks; $100
* Ongoing; enroll and start the course at any time!
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FUNDAMENTALS OF FICTION
* Instructor: Marg Gilks
* Eight weeks; $150
* Ongoing; enroll and start the course at any time!
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WRITER TO WRITER
=================================================================
by Peggy Tibbetts (peggyt"at"siltnet.net)
Two more editors have responded to the email submissions survey
with decidedly diverse opinions. J. Lawler said: "I edit a
quarterly magazine and I hate snail mail submissions. I have to
physically collect the mail, open it, read through it, write a
response, print it out, put it in an envelope, address the
envelope, find a stamp, go to the post office and send it. For
someone interested in being efficient, this is an enormous waste
of time and it drives me nuts. If someone zaps an e-query to me
I'll respond within a day or two -- it's so simple. If a writer
snail mails a query to me, it may sit on my desk for two months
before I deal with a group of them in one long, bitter session."
Editor M. Bracken prefers email submissions from experienced
writers: "When I'm editing the two non-fiction periodicals, I
prefer email submissions from established contributors, who are
usually working on assignment, and hard copy manuscripts from
all others. I want potential contributors to prove they can meet
my needs BEFORE they start cluttering up my email in-box.
"Two of the biggest problems I have with email submissions are:
1) Incompatible file formats. Should the submission be imbedded
within the email, or should it be an attachment? Should email
with an embedded submission be sent as plain text or as HTML?
Should an attached file be in Word format or Rich Text Format?
Unfortunately, many writers don't understand their computer
programs well enough to even know what these options are, or they
don't bother to determine the editors' preferred methods of
submission.
"2) Spam filters. Unfortunately, submissions disappear because
they get caught in spam filters. It may be weeks -- even months
-- before the writer or the editor realizes that something never
arrived. Once again, some writers and some editors don't seem to
understand email, the Internet, etc., well enough to know when
technology is the problem and when the person at the other end is
the problem."
Throughout this six-week survey, there were about 90 respondents.
While this is by no means a scientific survey, several worthwhile
observations have surfaced. Compared to five years ago, freelance
writers (articles, columns, reviews, etc.) are more email
oriented than book writers (fiction or nonfiction). As Australian
writer G. Kavanagh said: "I started freelancing back in the 60s,
with a portable typewriter and regular trips to the local post
office. But for the last three years, I have used email
exclusively for submitting manuscripts. My postal submissions
were dwindling before that, mainly because I was on the move a
lot, and had to have mail readdressed so often, that I was losing
track of it. I don't have this problem with email. Even when I
move around, my email address stays the same and I can check up
on my mail anywhere I happen to be."
From the comments in past columns, it's clear that there are more
email markets than five years ago, so that translates into more
markets accepting email queries and submissions. Agents are more
likely to accept email queries than book editors. However, once
contact has been established, both agents and book editors are
more likely to be willing to carry on subsequent communications
by e-mail.
Because of the quick turn-around time, email is definitely
preferred by writers, but it's not without its downside, as
reflected in MS Godman's comments: "I recently submitted some
pieces to a literary magazine I respect very much, and in which I
have been previously published. This year, the guidelines
changed, and in my opinion, not for the better. Submissions had
to be by email, with a disclaimer that said the writer owned the
rights to the work pasted into the body of the email, and a very
specific subject line for each piece submitted. Then, the actual
manuscript had to be in 12 point type (which is normal) and
included as an attachment. By the time I had two submissions
sent, I was ready to climb the walls. Then my emails bounced,
because the magazine's editor had not emptied her inbox! I even
emailed the editor, whom I know personally, to let her know, and
then completely redid my submissions."
Whether submitting by snail mail or email, be prepared to wait!
Writers are reporting increasingly slow response times, as
described by M. Campagnoli: "During the last two years there's
been an alarming (and insulting) increase in editors that take 6
months or more to respond or who simply do not respond at all. In
the past, 2 lost manuscripts per year were to be expected; that
number has gone up at least 4 to 5 times and it is more usual
than not that letters of inquiry are ignored as well. I know of
two journals who ignored two of my manuscripts and each and every
letter of inquiry. Naturally, I won't send another story to them,
but unfortunately they do not stand alone. And it's not that I'm
a hopeless amateur. I've been published in numerous journals and
have won two awards. And I say these things with an understanding
of what editors at journals go through. I worked on the Indiana
Review while in graduate school."
As response times lengthen, or queries and submissions go unread,
writers have grown increasingly frustrated and are taking matters
into their own hands. As mentioned in a previous column, nearly
half of the experienced writers are fed up with snail mail and
now submit exclusively by email. Editor J. Lawler writes: "I know
a number of writers who simply don't submit to magazines that
have a snail-mail-only rule. It's just not efficient. I have
several colleagues overseas and it just doesn't make sense for
them to try to snail mail queries and submissions. All of these
people are established writers who consistently get $1-$2 per
word. For me, as an editor, I've found that I can get these
buck-a-word writers to write for me at half the pay just by being
easy to deal with. Several of the writers I use each issue tell
me that it works out about the same per hour because when they
write for me, they don't do as much hoop jumping as they do for
higher-paying editors." Therefore, if you're an editor or agent
but you still do not accept email queries, you may definitely be
missing out on talented and experienced writers.
Once again, many thanks to everyone who responded to this survey.
If nothing else, I hope you found it therapeutic! I'll return
with a new survey in the next issue.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Peggy Tibbetts answers your questions about writing for children
in her monthly column, Advice from a Caterpillar:
http://www.writing-world.com/caterpillar/index.shtml
She is the author of "The Road to Weird" and "Rumors of War".
Visit her web site at: http://www.peggytibbetts.net
Copyright (c) 2005 by Peggy Tibbetts
*****************************************************************
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
NWU takes a stand on offshoring
-------------------------------
The National Writers Union (NWU) has taken on a campaign to
oppose the US government's offshoring policy. The project is
focused initially on how government policies "promote offshoring,
and by so doing undercut the ability of writers and high tech
professionals to compete in a global marketplace, while at the
same time undercutting the economic health of our communities."
The campaign also calls for policies that would "address the
threat posed by the unregulated offshoring of personal, medical,
and financial data." The NWU writes on its web site: "Recognizing
our common interests with workers in other countries, the NWU
campaign is not aimed against foreign workers. Rather, it targets
government policies and actions that support corporate interests
at the expense of working people both here and elsewhere." For
more information: http://www.nwu-oppose-offshoring.org
Movie tie-ins mean big sales for Narnia books
---------------------------------------------
The movie version of C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe", part of The Chronicles of Narnia series, won't be in
theaters until December 9, but some booksellers are getting ready
for winter early this year. HarperCollins, which owns the rights,
has 145 Narnia-related books to choose from. Some have been
available for years, with an additional 24 movie tie-ins added to
the lineup. At Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, IL, a life-size
blowup of Narnia's lion king, Aslan, showcases a table filled with
Narnia books. Target spokesperson Lena Michaud said their stores
began stocking bookshelves with Lewis titles in late May. Barnes
& Noble children's book buyer Joe Monti said, "Sales [of Narnia
books] have been doubling almost every week." At Borders book
stores, Narnia titles can be found in the front of the store, and
featured with Harry Potter books. HarperCollins has sold 15.5
million Narnia books since acquiring the rights in 1994,
according to marketing director Mary McAveney. Do movies sell
books? According to Houghton Mifflin and Ballantine Books, they
sold 27 million copies of JRR Tolkien books as the result of his
Lord of the Rings trilogy being made into films in recent years.
ABFFE distributes Potter censorship flier
-----------------------------------------
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE)
is inviting booksellers to insert a flier about the efforts to
censor books in the Harry Potter series in the new "Harry Potter
and the Half Blood Prince", which goes on sale July 16. From 1999
to 2003, the Harry Potter books were challenged more than any
other titles, according to the American Library Association. The
ABFFE flier tells the story of a 2002 banning in Arkansas that
was successfully challenged in court by two parents. The flier
also invites kids to learn more about censorship by visiting the
ABFFE online resource for children's involvement with freedom of
expression, kidSPEAK! To print copies of the flier, go to:
http://www.abffe.com/HarryPotterBan.pdf
Blogging sweepstakes for kids
-----------------------------
Hyperion Books for Children has put together a unique blogging
campaign to support the release of "Diary of a Fairy Godmother"
by EsmŽ Raji Codell. The sweepstakes invites 9-14 year old
readers to submit diary entries, which make them eligible to win
an HP/Compaq laptop. Codell believes the Internet is a good way
for readers to share experiences with others: "Whether it's
called a journal, a diary, a log or a blog, it's all the same."
The web site also contains reading lists, writing prompts,
quizzes, games, and information about the book. According to
Hyperion publicity director Jennifer Levine, the contest was
created to have kids continue to write during the summer months.
"Because [Diary] is a June book, school is out and we felt like
it was a good time to encourage kids to keep writing." Deadline
for entries is August 31. For more information:
http://www.diaryofafairygodmother.com/index.cfm
James Patterson PageTurner Awards announced
-------------------------------------------
The James Patterson PageTurner Awards are intended to celebrate
the people, companies, schools and other institutions who find
original and effective ways to spread the excitement of books and
reading. The $25,000 PageTurner Award will go to any person,
group, company, or institution that spreads the excitement of
books in an effective and original way. A second $25,000
PageTurner School Award will go to the elementary school, middle
school, high school, or college that inculcates the joy of
reading for pleasure in its students. The winning school will
also win a visit from James Patterson for reading, signing, and
talking about books. There will also be twenty-five $1,000 awards
of merit to individuals and organizations who have made notable
contributions to promoting the excitement of books and reading.
First Book, a national nonprofit organization that gives children
from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their
first new books, will donate 1,000 books to programs in cities of
the winners' choosing. Nominations for a person, company, school,
or other institution must be made online through the web site by
October 1, 2005. For more information:
http://www.pattersonpageturner.org
*****************************************************************
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EXPERT-FINDING STRATEGIES EVERY WRITER NEEDS TO KNOW
=================================================================
by Mridu Khullar
When writing a feature for a magazine, you'll almost always have
to find people to validate what you say. So if you're working on
an article on, say, prostate cancer, you'll need to interview
experts who can explain technical terms and the benefits of
treatment, patients who've battled it out, and maybe even a
couple of celebrities who're willing to share their experiences.
Finding these billion-dollar, appeared-on-Oprah experts and
celebrities isn't all that tough. With a little bit of
preparation and some persistence, you can fill up your Rolodex
of experts pretty quickly. Here are some ways.
Finding experts
---------------
Scour the databases: There are dozens of databases that contain
listings of experts, along with their professional
qualifications, details about their work and their contact
information. Some of the popular databases are:
http://www.experts.com
http://www.expertclick.com
http://www.refdesk.com/expert.html
Send a query: Some websites allow you to send a brief write-up
about your article and the kind of experts you're looking for to
a list of experts and PR professionals, and those that match the
description can contact you directly. Profnet.com and
Presswise.com are two popular resources. The biggest advantage of
this method is that since experts are the ones responding, you
won't be wasting your time hunting down leads who may not be
interested in talking to you.
Hit the bookstores: Find out the authors and publishers of the
latest books related to your subject by visiting your local
bookstore or Amazon.com. You can find contact details of the
author or the publisher online and send them a request for
interviews. Since authors are constantly looking for publicity,
especially for their new books, they'll be happy to help you out.
Make time for public relations: They can be your best friends, or
your worst nightmare, but PR people serve a very important
purpose when it comes to connecting you to quotable, media-savvy
professionals. Do remember, though, that the bigger your
publication, the more likely they are to respond to you.
Be a collector: Companies often send out press releases regarding
company changes, product launches and important events; authors
announce their new books and professionals looking for publicity
regularly offer tips and new ideas. You'll find contact
information for all these people on every press release and
they're typically very responsive to interview requests.
Find the association: You'll find dozens of associations,
non-profit organizations and clubs on almost every topic
imaginable. Look up the Encyclopedia of Associations (a
three-volume set) at your library and find something that's
relevant to your subject of interest. You can call them up and
ask their public affairs department to recommend someone. You can
also do this with the public affairs offices at universities.
Get on Google: Most journalists, including me, wouldn't have a
career without Google! You can find almost any kind of expert by
searching for the right words and phrases. But instead of just
finding experts, find their place of work. For instance, if you'd
like to interview a chef, look up a few restaurants in your town
and give them a call.
Finding everyday people
-----------------------
Become a Pest: It comes with the territory. If you're looking for
everyday people, you'll need to rely on your social network (at
first). That includes your sister, your sister's friend, your
sister's friend's brother -- you get the idea. Talk to your
family members; ask them to refer people they know. Then ask
those people to refer people they know and so on. Don't forget
the professionals you come into contact with every day -- your
doctor, your hair stylist and your masseuse could all be
potential sources.
Leave a message: If you're writing about common topics such as
house-cleaning tips or successful garage sales, jump online. Seek
out a message board on that topic (you'll be surprised at how
many there are!) and leave a message describing your article.
Also leave your e-mail address for respondents who don't mind
being interviewed.
Look up the readers: Read the "Letters to the Editor" page of
publications that cover your topic. The people writing in are
usually very good sources for interviewing, and you'll often get
a bit of an idea about them from their letter. Ask the
publication concerned if they will put you in touch with the
writer concerned. Your chances of getting them to respond are
even higher if their letter is in any way related to the article
you're proposing (try thinking up some angles).
Read the paper: The woman talking candidly about AIDS in your
small-town newspaper may not mind sharing her story for your
magazine article too. Again, ask the newspaper to put you in
touch or look her up through the Internet. Try these online
telephone directories:
http://www.anywho.com
http://www.bigfoot.com
http://people.yahoo.com
http://www.switchboard.com
Celebrities
-----------
Pass the screen test: When looking for Hollywood actors, use the
Screen Actor's Guild hotline (323-549-6737) to locate the
actor's agent. You can also visit these websites to find the
names of agents and managers of celebrities:
http://www.WhoRepresents.com
http://www.imdb.com
Find their place of work: When looking for a famous author, find
her most recent publishing house. If you're looking for a singer,
write to his record company. Their publicity departments are used
to such requests. Write a brief letter explaining the
purpose of the interview.
Mark it confidential: In her book "Make a Real Living as a
Freelance Writer", Jenna Glatzer suggests putting your letter to
the celebrity's agent or manager in an envelope marked
"confidential" or "private". She says it's more likely to be
opened by the right person this way. Otherwise, it will often be
trashed as "fan mail" by a secretary or other gatekeeper.
The best idea of all is to use a combination of several of the
above techniques, instead of relying on solely one. That'll not
only give you a quick selection of experts, but the most credible
ones as well. And that's bound to help in scoring more lucrative
assignments. Good Luck!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Mridu Khullar is the Editor-in-Chief of WritersCrossing.com, a
website for freelance writers. She is a full-time writer with
hundreds of national and international credits, including
Writer's Digest, Byline, Freelance Market News, Wedding Dresses,
Yahoo!, College Bound, Senior Connection and Woman This Month.
She is also a contributor to the best-selling Chicken Soup for
the Soul series and the author of "Knock Their Socks Off! A
Freelance Writer's Guide to Query Letters that Sell", available
at: http://www.writerscrossing.com/queries.html
Copyright (c) 2005 by Mridu Khullar
*****************************************************************
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Guaranteed!! Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
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THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
Be the Star You Are!
--------------------
Volunteer charity dedicated to empowering women, families, and
youth at risk through literacy, accepts donated books, CD's, and
music and re-distributes them to groups in need across America.
http://www.bethestaryouare.org
Reviewers Checklist
-------------------
New online search database for members of the media, editors,
producers, and booksellers who want to find new children's book
titles by topic, author, illustrator, or publisher.
http://www.reviewerschecklist.com
The Omnificent English Dictionary In Limerick Form
--------------------------------------------------
An effort to define every word in the English language with a
limerick; currently up to "ba"! Definitely a site by, and for,
people with way too much time on their hands.
http://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php
Deadwood Phrases
----------------
No, this is not colorful dialogue from HBO's Deadwood series.
Deadwood phrases are wordy, useless, repetitions in writing.
http://www.pnl.gov/ag/usage/deadwood.html
Inkwell Newswatch
-----------------
News and views for working writers.
http://www.fwointl.com/in.html
furl
----
Saves a personal copy of any page on the web and lets you to find
it again instantly, from any computer, plus share sites and
discover new sites. Membership is free.
http://www.furl.net
*****************************************************************
WRITE IN STYLE AND SELL MORE! We edit and evaluate manuscripts,
proposals, synopses and more. Bobbie Christmas (author of Write
In Style) BZEBRA"at"aol.com. Sign up for our free tips/markets
newsletter! Zebra Communications: http://www.zebraeditor.com.
*****************************************************************
THE WRITING DESK
=================================================================
by Moira Allen
Should I Use Direct Quotes From My Source?
------------------------------------------
Q: I will be sending off my first query this week on an article
about cervical cancer. I have been reading a ton of health
articles in a variety of magazines. I have noticed that some
writers use direct quotes from their source and others do not. I
found an article on the University of Virginia's website where a
doctor was quoted as saying something, but it was not a direct
quote. How can I go about using his statement?
The article reads like this: "Cervical cancer is largely
preventable, and the way to prevent it is to get screened, says
Dr. Mark Stoler, a surgical pathologist and cytopathologist at
the University of Virginia and a national authority on cervical
cancer."
Should I use this in block form? The only problem is that there
is not an author listed for the article. I almost feel as though
I am cheating in some form with all of the information available
on the Internet.
A: First of all, the quote that you're listing looks very much
like part of a press release or public release. The fact that
both the article and the expert are from the University of
Virginia, and that there is no actual author listed, makes me
think that this is an information release from the university.
In that case, the quote really IS a direct quote, even though it
is not placed in quotation marks. Most likely, Stoler himself is
the author of the piece; it is customary in press releases or
information releases to refer to oneself in third person even if
one is the "expert" being quoted.
So I would first check to determine whether this is "public
information" that you can use more or less "as is" in your own
article. However, your next step would be to contact the
university and find out if you can actually interview Dr. Stoler
himself for your article. Generally, putting out a press release
of this nature is an invitation for more in-depth interviews. I
would contact Dr. Stoler and ask if he would be available for an
interview if my query were accepted. (That way, you don't waste
his time interviewing him before you know that the article will
actually be published.) Getting an agreement in advance for an
interview with a noted expert is always a good selling point in a
query letter!
Using research from the Internet is a great way to create your
draft and get the background material you need to write a solid
article. In theory, you could often get all the info you need on
many topics online. However, the thing to remember is that
"interviews sell articles." Even though you can get the
INFORMATION online, editors look for "freshness." They don't
just want repackaged research material. (For example, when I
receive an article, I often check some of the information online.
If I find that a person can basically read the entire article,
or the information in that article, on another website or two, I
don't feel it's worthwhile to buy the article.) Freshness
generally means quotes -- live quotes. So I'd work to get some
interviews lined up, then use those names to help pitch the
article itself!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Moira Allen has been writing and editing professionally for more
than 20 years. A columnist for The Writer, she is also the author
of "Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer", "The Writer's
Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals" (now available as an
e-book) and "Writing.com: Creative Internet Strategies to
Advance Your Writing Career". For more details, visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/moira/moira.shtml
Copyright (c) 2005 by Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
WHAT'S NEW AT WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
JULY COLUMNS:
-------------
Advice from a Caterpillar, by Peggy Tibbetts
Finding a Distributor; Identifying Standard Age Groups;
Writing a Query
http://www.writing-world.com/caterpillar/cat54.shtml
Ask the Book Doctor, by Bobbie Christmas
Fictional Trademarks, Punctuation Tips, Getting an ISBN, and
Where to Find Marketing Advice
http://www.writing-world.com/columns/book/book09.shtml
Murder Ink, by Stephen Rogers
Short Mystery Markets 2005
http://www.writing-world.com/columns/mystery/murder22.shtml
Romancing the Keyboard, by Anne Marble
Themes and the Romance Writer
http://www.writing-world.com/columns/romance/marble22.shtml
ARTICLES:
---------
Stuck in the Middle of Your Story? Try Prompts, by Alina Sandor
http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/prompts.shtml
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FIND 1700 MARKETS FOR YOUR WRITING! Writing-World.com's market
guides offer DETAILED listings of over 1700 markets, with contact
information, pay rates, needs and more. Fourteen themed guides
are available for $2.50 apiece or $25 for the set. For details,
see http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
MARKET ROUNDUP
=================================================================
PARABOLA MAGAZINE
Lorraine Kisly, Editor-In-Chief
135 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
EMAIL: editors"at"parabola.org
URL: http://www.parabola.org/parabola_magazine.php4
Parabola is a quarterly journal devoted to the exploration of the
quest for meaning as it is expressed in the world's myths,
symbols, and religious traditions, with particular emphasis on
the relationship between this store of wisdom and our modern
life. Each issue is organized around a theme (see web site). We
look for lively, penetrating material unencumbered by jargon or
academic argument. We prefer well-researched, objective, and
unsentimental pieces that are grounded in one or more religious
or cultural traditions; articles that focus on dreams, visions, or
other very personal experiences are unlikely to be accepted.
LENGTH: Articles: 1000-3000 words; Book Reviews: 500 words;
Re-tellings of traditional stories: 500-1500 words
PAYMENT: Articles: $150-$400; Reviews and re-tellings: $75
RIGHTS: One time rights
REPRINTS: Yes
SUBMISSIONS: Query first by mail
GUIDELINES: http://www.parabola.org/magazine/submissions.php4
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
FORTEAN BUREAU
Jeremy and Sarah Tolbert, Co-Editors
EMAIL: editors"at"forteanbureau.com
URL: http://www.forteanbureau.com
We look for stories that make passes at explaining the
unexplainable. Stories of science dealing with the bizarre.
Stories regarding events so unusual they defy explanation.
Stories that debunk all of those things. Stories on the edge of
reason, teetering on the brink of logic. Stories just gone over
the edge. Folklore, wives tales, and urban myths so strange they
just might be true. Most important: weirdness. We're looking for
things that are not common knowledge in US pop culture, unless
you're putting a new spin on it that we haven't seen. We
especially like exotic locales and a variety of time periods. We
also have a fondness for good, old-fashioned pulp-style
adventure, but not without speculative elements.
LENGTH: 4,000 words or less
PAYMENT: 3 cents/word (maximum $60/story)
RIGHTS: First Worldwide Electronic Rights
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: Submissions must be attached to the email in
standard manuscript format in a Microsoft Word (.DOC) or Rich
Text (.RTF) format
GUIDELINES: http://www.forteanbureau.com/guidelines.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
PO Box 89, Latham ACT 2615, Australia
EMAIL: submissions"at"andromedaspaceways.com
URL: http://www.andromedaspaceways.com
We accept science fiction, fantasy and horror works intended for
a wide audience, so we don't want anything more than M rated: No
gratuitous sex or graphic violence. We want the overall tone of
ASIM to be light as opposed to the dark-and-gritty style that
characterizes so many other SF mags this day and age. This does
not mean we only publish light humor pieces, though. Our readers
are just as keen on traditional fantasy and hard science fiction.
We're just not the best market for doom-laden go-nowhere stories
that push the boundaries of the English language into new and
unfortunate places. Given an otherwise even choice between angst
and adventure, we'll grab the adventure. For much more detail on
the type of fiction we print, see the Hints and Tips page on our
web site.
LENGTH: 10,000 words or less
PAYMENT: Short Fiction: $1.25 cents/word (Aus) $20 minimum;
Poetry and Flash Fiction: $10/piece (Aus)
REPRINTS: Query first
RIGHTS: First Australian Serial Rights
SUBMISSIONS: Email is preferred, but you can send either a 3.5"
floppy or CD-R to the above address
GUIDELINES: http://www.andromedaspaceways.com/submissions.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Please send Market News to: peggyt"at"siltnet.net
"FNASR": First North American Serial Rights, "SASE":
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "GL": guidelines. If you have
questions about rights, please see "Rights: What They Mean and
Why They're Important"
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/rights.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. For more
contests, check our online contests section.
http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.shtml
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Pockets Fiction Writing Contest
DEADLINE: August 15, 2005
GENRE: Fiction
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 1,000-1,600 words
THEME: There are no pre-selected themes for the fiction contest.
Contest guidelines are essentially the same as for regularly
submitted material. Historical and biblical fiction are not
eligible. See online writer's guidelines for more information:
http://www.upperroom.org/pockets/writer_guidelines.asp
PRIZES: $1000, and publication in Pockets magazine
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: Pockets, Attn: Lynn W. Gilliam, 1908 Grand Avenue, PO
Box 340004, Nashville, TN 37203-0004
URL: http://www.upperroom.org/pockets/contest_winner.asp
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Robert Penn Warren Centennial Prize
DEADLINE: August 15, 2005
GENRE: Essay
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 5,000 words or less
THEME: Created to celebrate the hundred year anniversary of the
birth of poet, novelist, critic and editor Robert Penn Warren,
Shenandoah offers a prize for the best essay on any aspect of
Warren's work.
PRIZE: $500
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: The Robert Penn Warren Prize, Shenandoah, Mattingly
House, 2 Lee Avenue, Washington and Lee University Review,
Lexington, VA 24450-0303
URL: http://shenandoah.wlu.edu/Penn%20Warren%20Prize.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Harlequin Blaze Writing Contest
DEADLINE: August 31, 2005
GENRE: Romance fiction
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 1st chapter: 25 pages or less; plus synopsis: 5 pages or
less
THEME: Blaze books are not telling the same sexy story anymore,
and to prove it we're looking for some new creative ideas and the
authors who can make them happen. The Blaze series will be six
books strong every month beginning July 2005. Take the same
brash, bold heroines, but take them in a new direction. Is there
a secret twist? A unique fantasy? A story line you've never seen
before, but has Blazing potential? Just remember to include a
high level of sexual chemistry and, of course, steamy sensuality.
PRIZES: 1st & 2nd place winners receive a critique of their
manuscripts and a year's subscription to the Harlequin Blaze
series
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: Kathryn Lye, Editor and Contest Coordinator, Harlequin
Enterprises, Ltd., 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario,
Canada M3B 3K9
URL: http://snipurl.com/fsqt
*****************************************************************
New Listings on THE AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF:
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Writing Children's Books for Dummies, by Peter Economy
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EXPAND YOUR NETWORK--DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS--NURTURE YOUR CREATIVE
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http://www.naww.org/homepage.html Membership Information:
http://www.naww.org/generic1.html
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SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) is
launching local networking Chapters. Check with us to find a
Chapter near you. Contact us if you'd like to start one.
Patricia"at"spawn.org. Subscribe to newsletter http://www.spawn.org
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WRITERS: FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW
fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from
North America, Europe, Australasia and other places. It's free,
so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
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PUBLISH AND PROFIT FROM YOUR BOOK OR EBOOK: Learn how to write
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Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
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Managing Editor (Newsletter): PEGGY TIBBETTS (peggyt"at"siltnet.net)
Copyright 2005 Moira Allen
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