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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 10:16 11,370 subscribers August 20, 2010
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S DESK, Literary Hero, by Dawn Copeman
HUMOR: Turning the Tables, by Devyani Borade
THE WRITING DESK, Royalties and Tax Issues, by Moira Allen
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
WRITING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FEATURE: Writers Anonymous: A 12 Step Program for Addicted
Writers,
by Steff Green
THE WRITE SITES -- Online Resources for Writers
WRITING CONTESTS WITH NO ENTRY FEES
The Author's Bookshelf
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FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S DESK
================================================================
Meeting a Literary Hero
-----------------------
First of all let me say another big thank you for all your emails
following my last editorial. I am still ill, still undiagnosed but
getting better at managing my energy.
In fact, I saved up all my energy recently, a whole week's worth,
so I could go to the London Film and Comic Convention, or London
Comicon for short.
You see, I am a geek. My husband is a geek and our daughter is
developing nicely as a geek too. I love sci-fi and fantasy and
London Comicon was too much of a treat to miss. Eleanor enjoyed
meeting all the people dressed up as characters from Star Wars,
Battlestar Galactica (whoo-hoo, a cylon!) and of course, Doctor
Who. We are all huge Doctor Who fans, although personally, I prefer
the tenth doctor whereas my daughter adores the eleventh. No
problem though, there were people there dressed up as most of the
doctors with plenty of tens and elevens around as well as a dalek
collecting for charity.
One of the biggest attractions for my husband and me, however, was
the chance to meet the author Robert Rankin. Now, if you've never
read Rankin you're missing out on a treat. Or you are if you are a
fan of, as he himself puts it, "far-fetched fiction." If you like
Terry Prattchett, Tom Holt or Douglas Adams then you'll love Robert
Rankin.
We have all of his books at home, all except one which we were
going to buy from the great man himself. We got to Earls Court 2
very early; I had been saving my energy, and rushed around to find
him.
We were in luck. His stall was empty of people. We were also very,
very nervous. And when we're nervous my husband and I become
incredibly English. "Mr Rankin, Sir, it is an honour to meet you"
we said as we approached his stall. But we had no need to be
nervous; he was a lovely, polite, wonderful, friendly man. He
pointed to his display of all his books, 31 to date with another
due out in autumn, and asked if we'd like to buy any. To which I
replied that we'd got all his books apart from his latest. He was
naturally pleased at this, but this is where it got even more
special.
He'd asked me to whom to make out the dedication and I said to
Richard and Dawn and whilst he was designing his dedication -- no
hasty scrawl for Mr Rankin; as well as being a prolific author he
is also an artist and designs all his own covers -- I said that I
particularly enjoyed his Brentford Trilogy (which like all good
fantasy trilogies runs to five parts) and had read it at least
three times. He stopped dead and looked me straight in the eye.
Now this is where it links in to Doctor Who. The Doctor, my beloved
tenth, has met Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare and Agatha
Christie and all have asked him if their works would be remembered;
none of them thought that their books were particularly good. I
wasn't sure if I actually believed in those plot lines. I mean,
yes, all of us writers are actually, contrary to popular belief,
quite shy and nervous and most of us don't actually think we're any
good, but surely when you've been published (or in Shakespeare's
case, performed lots of times), this fear dissipates. Well,
apparently not. It seems that the writers of Doctor Who got it
right.
Robert Rankin stopped mid-dedication, then, waving his pen around,
said "I've got a couple of thousand of books at home and there's
nothing better than re-reading an old favourite." (We're both
English, so I'll keep the English spelling here.) "I decided
recently that it was time to take down a John Steinbeck and re-read
it, but I never, ever thought in a million years that anyone would
want to do that with my books."
He then got back to his dedication and we had a pleasant chat
whilst he finished it and he shook hands with us both and wished us
a very pleasant day and thanked us for coming to see him.
The whole conversation, the whole encounter, couldn't have taken
more than ten minutes, but it made our day.
But as a writer I was most touched by the fact that even now,
despite much success and many years of writing, even a successful
author still shares the fears we all have. The difference between
most of us and him, however, is that he just ignores them and
carries on writing.
Dawn Copeman, Newsletter Editor
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HUMOR: Turning the Tables, by Devyani Borade
=================================================================
Submission Guidelines, Contributor Guidelines, Writer Guidelines or
just Guidelines - every magazine has a set of regulations according
to which they like to receive material for publication. Deviate
from these holy decrees and there is sure to be a "Sorry, but your
article does not suit our present needs" response waiting for you
in the post. Some rules are easy to understand, others are
complicated to follow, but all are non-negotiable. The only thing
that is certain if they are not adhered to, is rejection.
Wouldn't it be nice if writers could get back at the editors of
these magazines with some of their own rules?
Here are mine:
- I write only humorous articles. Please read a previous article to
get an idea of what I write about and how. Sample articles are
available at the rate of $5 per copy.
- Ideas provided along with query letters are especially
appreciated.
- Simultaneous commissions are okay if I am notified at the outset
that there are other writers whom you are approaching for articles
for your current issue.
- No multiple commissions, please! Offer only one at a time. If I
like your publication, I'll ask for more.
- Commission offer letters must be sent by post. I do not accept
electronic requests.
- I submit manuscripts via email only. However, I am happy to
discuss proposals via snail-mail, provided your query is
accompanied by a large A4-sized SASE for responses. Requests
without either reply envelopes or response email addresses will be
ignored. Request letters will not be returned, so please do not
send me your only copy.
- Please format your query letters neatly and ensure there are no
spelling mistakes as this will create a not-so-favourable image of
your publication in my mind. Print in 12-point Times New Roman
font, double-spaced on one side of the paper only with one-inch
margins all around except left where the margin must be two inches.
This facilitates easy filing and referencing. Please include the
date, the website of the publication and the proposed issue number.
Each page must be numbered on the bottom right-hand corner. Your
letter must have an appropriate subject line like "Commission
Request: " otherwise it will be mistaken for
junk and recycled.
- I read query letters throughout the year. The busiest periods are
spring and summer.
- Response time is 3-6 months. Please do not query before this
period has elapsed.
- Interest shown in queries is no guarantee of acceptance of offer
to write for you. I reserve the right to make the final decision.
- Time is short. Make me your best offer in terms of payment.
Higher-paying publications will be given preference over
lower-paying ones. I regret that non-paying publishing markets are
not entertained at this time.
- Photographs or black-and-white drawings may be supplied in some
cases. These will be charged extra.
- Upon acceptance, you will receive a great article, spell-checked
to perfection, guaranteed to make you come back for more. Maximum
length: 3000 words.
Please adhere to the above guidelines and make the selection
process easy for both of us. I look forward to receiving your
requests!
If only wishes were horses...!
>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Devyani Borade is a published writer of short light-hearted
articles on topics drawn from everyday life. She likes chocolate
cookies, Calvin & Hobbes comics and trying her husband's patience.
Visit her blog Verbolatry at http://www.devyaniborade.blogspot.com
to enjoy the adventures of Debora, her alter ego.
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THE WRITING DESK: Royalties and Tax Issues, by Moira Allen
=================================================================
Is an advance a "loan," or income?
----------------------------------
Q: My accountant is wrestling with whether my advance from Bantam
is income or more like a loan since it is an advance against future
royalties. My agent intends to 1099 me. Does this mean it's income?
A: An advance is income. It is money that is paid to you, free and
clear, for the work you have produced. A "loan" is money that you
would eventually pay back to the publisher; you don't have to pay
back an advance (unless you fail to fulfill your part of the
contract). It is money paid "in advance" of the publisher actually
receiving that money in the form of royalties from the sale of your
book. You keep the money, even if your book doesn't "earn out" the
royalties (i.e., the publisher doesn't receive the income that it
has advanced to you).
Yes, you should be receiving a 1099 from your agent. You would
handle this income on the Schedule C (private business), as
"income". (There is another tax category listing for "royalties,"
but that's something completely different; writers' royalties are
listed on the Schedule C.)
Do I have to declare business taxes on royalties?
-------------------------------------------------
Q: Do you have any info on "Authors and the IRS?" My novel, a work
of the past 4 years, is in production at Xlibris. I'd like to get
prepared and know all about taxes. Can I treat publishing this
novel as a "small business?"
A: Congratulations on your novel. Yes, it is a "small business"
-- usually a "cash" basis. Because you are receiving royalties
from Xlibris, as opposed to setting yourself up as a "store" or
"distributor," all you have to do is report your royalties (and of
course deduct expenses, etc.). You don't have to worry about
inventory, cost of goods sold, and all that.
Do I need to wait for a form from my publisher before filing taxes?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Should I be expecting a form from the publication to which I
sold a couple of pieces? I'm holding my tax information hostage
until I receive all paperwork, but I'm not even sure the
publication will be sending anything. I only made about $100, since
I sold two stories over the summer.
A: If you earn less than $600 from a particular publication, you
may not receive a form. If you earn more than $600, you will
receive a copy of the Form 1099. However, this is only a copy for
your own records; the actual form is submitted by the publication
to the IRS. Therefore, you do not actually have to "wait" for
anything -- you will not receive anything (like a W-2) that you
have to file with your taxes. You can file at any time.
How do I obtain 1099s from a dot.com that failed?
-------------------------------------------------
Q: I wrote for a dot.com that failed, and now I can't get a copy of
the 1099 for my work. What can I do?
A: Don't worry about it. You are not responsible for submitting a
1099 to the IRS. 1099s are submitted by the company that paid you.
They are basically for information purposes; they are not the same
as a W-2. If you have kept good records, and can report correct
amounts of income and expenses, you'll do fine. You aren't
required to submit a copy of the 1099 you receive to the IRS;
you'll note that it says that it is your copy -- not that it is
something that needs to be submitted.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Moira Allen
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columnist. Free consultation. Email: TheBookMuse"at"aol.com.
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
No more "Libel Tourism"
-----------------------
The US House of Representatives has passed a law rendering libel
rulings in UK and other non-US courts unenforceable in the U.S.
The goal is to put an end to "libel tourism" -- a practice where
people pick the court in the country with the most advantageous
libel laws to pursue a libel suit. The argument has been that
online publication means that a piece can be read anywhere in the
world -- so one should be able to pursue a libel case anywhere that
a piece has been or could be read. UK courts have been a favorite
for such suits, and U.S. politicians and journalists have long
condemned libel law in England and Wales as being too severe and
restrictive of free speech. "Libel tourism threatens to undermine
free speech in the US because... foreign defamation law... lacks
the constitutionally mandated speech-protective features of US
law," and can be applied to publications that are distributed
primarily in the US, says Congressman Steve Cohen. The UK
government says that it will reform libel law to reduce libel
tourism and give publishers and journalists more protection against
libel suits. The U.S. bill has been passed by the Senate and will
to the President to be signed into law. For more information,
visit
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/30/libel_tourism_bill/
More Bad News for Bookstores
----------------------------
Bookstore sales fell another .8 percent in June. Sales for the
first half of 2010 were down .5 percent compared to the first half
of 2009, and 3.6 percent compared to the first half of 2008,
according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
However, sales for the retail market as a whole rose 5.4 percent in
June and were up by 6.6 percent for the first half of 2010. For
more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/2duso9g
Amazon and Apple Investigated
-----------------------------
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is investigating agreements
between Amazon.com and Apple, the largest e-book publishers in the
U.S., for making deals that block competitors from offering cheaper
e-book prices. Both Amazon and Apple have made agreements with the
largest e-book publishers that ensure that both will receive the
best prices for e-books, a contract provision known as a "most
favored nation" (MFN) clause. Publishers who have provided such
agreements with Amazon and Apple include Macmillan, Simon &
Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins and Penguin. Basically, such
agreements prevent publishers from offering a better discount to
any other distributor than they offer to Amazon and Apple, which
prevents competitive pricing for e-books. Blumenthal's office has
found that e-book prices offered by Amazon, Apple, Borders and
Barnes & Noble are identical. For details, visit
http://tinyurl.com/34c2gnu
Rupert Murdoch to Publish an iPad Newspaper
-------------------------------------------
Publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch plans to launch a new digital
newspaper in the U.S., aimed at the younger generation and
delivered via digital outlets such as the iPad and mobile phones.
Stories will be "short and snappy," according to the L.A. Times,
customized both for the delivery medium and the target audience.
According to Murdoch, the iPad is "a real game-changer in the
presentation of news." He believes "We'll have young people
reading newspapers." The operation will be based within the
offices of the New York Post, owned by Murdoch, and will be
controlled by the Post's managing editor, Jesse Angelo, but will
have its own staff of writers and reporters. No launch date (or
name for the publication) have yet been set. For more information,
visit http://tinyurl.com/3yb2axv
****************************************************************
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WRITING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
=================================================================
The Writing Lady
----------------
The Writing Lady Publishing, LLC seeks young-adult fiction and
non-fiction (no explicit sex or gratuitous violence)that addresses
the need for romance and coping with life's real obstacles, and
fantasy fiction (no fan fiction). Young adult is usually (12 years
to 17 years depending on the source). Also needed are chapter books for
middle-readers, who are generally 8 years to 12 years of age.
How-to books are also very popular for this age group and young
adult readers. We are also seeking New Adult Readers books. These
are for adults who are learning how to read. Use simple words and
tell a grown-up story with well developed characters and plots.
For all submissions, minimum word count is 15K. Allow approximately
two to four weeks for evaluation of your manuscript. Please edit
and polish your manuscript to reflect your best work. On the title
page, include a working title, your complete name and/or pseudonym,
and all your contact information. Please put page numbers in the
upper right corner but no headers. One inch margins; 1.5 spacing
New Roman 12. Attach as a .rtf file. Keep your introduction letter
simple and include any publishing history, if any, and professional
experience if it pertains to the book. All manuscripts should be
sent to submission"at"thewritinglady.com. (Please note that
"submission" is not plural!) http://www.thewritinglady.com
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FEATURE:
Writers Anonymous: A 12 Step Program for Addicted Writers
=================================================================
By Steff Green
Writing is stressful. The all-consuming beast gobbles your free
time, invades your every thought, and turns your family and friends
into monstrous distractions keeping you from your muse. We writers
tend to be an intense bunch, diving headlong into each project and
not moving from our computer unless beckoned by fire, theft or act
of God (sometimes, not even then).
But the writer by nature deals poorly with stress. If you're
stressed or your health is suffering, the urge to create
disappears. If you're a writer sinking into the peat bog of
insanity, perhaps it's time to put your writing life through the 12
Steps for Addicted Writers.
1. Keep Sight of Your Goals
---------------------------
If you're anything like me you have a hundred writing projects on
the go at once: novels in progress, novels making the rounds of
agents and editors, short stories and poems, freelance articles to
be written, article queries to be written and sent, e-books to
write, website content to write, a blog to update and other work
for clients to complete.
No wonder you're overwhelmed! Your energy is spread so thin you
won't do any of these projects well.
I'm not saying you should pick one thing and stick to it, because
one of the joys of writing is experimenting with different forms.
But if the writing is no longer fun, you have to remember why
you're doing this in the first place. Where does your real passion
lie?
My passion is writing fiction. But my goal is to use writing to
provide my family with a second income so my husband can quit his
awful job and begin his home business manufacturing custom drum
kits. At the moment, this goal is most important to me, so my
nonfiction is my first priority because it can finance this goal.
When I've finished everything I need to do for nonfiction that day,
I write 1000 words on my novel, or do some editing. Although I have
ideas for short stories and poems, I leave these alone because they
don't directly relate to my two immediate goals.
What are your writing goals? Are you wearing yourself out for
little gain? Can some of your writing give a little?
2. Establish a Routine
----------------------
The body thrives on routine. If your writing is a job -- full-time
or part-time -- you need to treat it like one. Set yourself work
hours and make yourself an 'office' space where you arrive at the
beginning of your writing day. Write a to-do list. Keep a calendar
of your deadlines and goals. Schedule phone calls with your editor
and agent the way you would schedule meetings. Unplug the phone and
internet while you write; these are 'timewasters' that sap your
workflow. Your boss doesn't approve of timewasters.
By the way, your boss is you.
Push yourself to stick to the routine. Within a few weeks you'll
naturally fall into the same pattern. By scheduling specific work
hours you establish your writing as an important part of your life
and teach your brain to shut off non-writing concerns until your
free time.
3. Embrace a Hobby
------------------
Most professional writers started off writing as a hobby. Now,
writing is my (second) job. When I'm not at work or writing, I'm
indulging my hobbies: reading, painting, travelling and archery.
It's important to embrace an activity purely for relaxation with no
goal other than to enjoy yourself.
Hobbies enrich your writing. If your character is a potter, why not
take a pottery class? Go to the firing range if your character is a
cop. Whether it's cooking, painting, martial arts or fossil
hunting, hobbies keep your writing fresh and your mind calm.
4. Remember What's Important
----------------------------
You're on deadline, furiously tapping away in your room. Your
toddler screams from the bedroom and you just CAN'T HANDLE THIS
RIGHT NOW. Could be, it's seriously time to sit back and think
about what's really important in your life.
Your family should be the centre of your universe, and your mad
desire to write should stem from the inspiration and support they
bring you. I wouldn't be the writer I am today without my husband.
And I will leave my computer every time he needs me, because he's
my husband and I love him. Why would I be doing this crazy writing
thing if he wasn't there encouraging me?
Spend time with your family. They love you, bestseller or not. And
one day, when the writing income dries up and this fickle business
spits you out, they'll still love you. Remember that.
5. Make Time for Friends
------------------------
Every once in awhile, take time to sit at a coffee shop, on your
porch, or curl up on the phone with a trusted friend. You're NOT
going to talk about writing, so your weekly call to your crit
partner or writing buddy DOES NOT count.
Friends are there to keep you sane. Hanging out with them and
sharing their laughter, tears and adventures enriches your spirit.
Value them for their ability to bring you back to earth again, and
let them take you out for crazy adventures occasionally. Don't
become so wrapped up in writing that you forget to LIVE.
6. Exercise
-----------
Exercise produces endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy
people are... well, happy. You want to be happy, right? I know
exercise sucks. I know you hate it, but... you don't really hate
it, do you?
It's hard to motivate yourself to get up and DO the exercise, but
once you start, it's great. I love pumping weights at the gym with
my Judas Priest CDs on full volume, or taking a walk through the
park and breathing in semi-fresh (I live in the city) air. You'll
be healthier, work off that stress-induced chocolate belly and have
more energy to fuel those writing binges.
Exercise fuels your writing in other ways. On weekends I do
sword-fighting with my husband. Not only is this heaps of fun, but
I have a wide knowledge base to draw from whenever I need
information about swords or other arcane weapons for my novels. And
being able to train with those weapons myself (I've done two-handed
sword, competitive fencing, basket hilt, poleaxe, archery and mace)
I understand the situations and problems my characters encounter on
an intimate level.
7. Celebrate Your Success
-------------------------
We were financially stretched when I first began making money from
writing. I wanted to put away every cent of my first check to make
sure the bills got paid and we had enough food for the week. I
always remember my beautiful husband shoving that $50 check back
into my fist, saying, "No, Steff. You're spending this money on
yourself. And that's final."
I brought myself a new outfit I'd been admiring for awhile, and
every time I wear it I think how I earned it with my writing money.
I feel so proud of myself. I look at myself in the mirror and think
"I'm a writer. I buy things with my writing income."
So treat yourself every time you have a success. It doesn't have to
be big. My new clothes didn't break the bank. You could spend $2 on
a chocolate bar when you finish your first novel draft, or treat
your spouse to dinner out when you sign your first contract.
Celebrating success helps you to stay focused on achieving your
goals and enjoying the writing process.
8. Learn to say No
------------------
"Can you come over and help me move house?"
"Do you want to run a stall at the garage sale this weekend? It's
for a good cause!"
"Can you finish this report by Monday?"
I'm terrible at saying no. I'm gradually getting better, but I
still give in and say yes more often then I should.
Writers constantly juggle their writing around everyday life. If
you're at home writing, friends and family assume you have all the
time in the world to do their chores and run errands and watch
wayward children. Learn to say no. Writing time is work time. If
you don't write, you don't get paid.
If you can't say no, but you know you should, have someone else say
no. Sometimes I send my husband in to say no for me. He's a strong
personality, whereas I am a pushover. And when I do say no, I feel
guilty. Husband doesn't feel guilty. Problem solved.
If you have someone to help you do this, good for you. If you
don't, learn to say no. Learn really quickly.
9. Listen to music
------------------
Music plays an immense role in my life. It has defined every moment
of my existence, from the albums my dad used to play when I was a
girl, to the angry lyrics I'd belt out in my room as a teenager, to
the songs my husband and I fall in love with together.
To me, listening to music makes any activity -- no matter how
loathsome -- enjoyable. On housework days I crank up the stereo and
dance while I clean (for anyone curious, my favourite housework
albums are Manowar - Kings of Metal and Iron Fire - On the Edge).
Writing is no different. Most of the time I love writing. Sometimes
I hate it. If I hate it, but I have a deadline, putting on some
music can really power me up.
Many authors find lyrics distracting and only listen to
instrumental music while they write. Many cannot listen to music at
all. I'm not one of them. Music isn't a distraction to me, it's a
driving force. I infuse the energy of whatever I'm listening to
into my prose. For adventures, it's Manowar; for dark novels I love
Burzum, Skepticism or Satyricon. For young adult, it's Avril
Lavigne.
10. Change scenery
------------------
After more than six hours slogging away at my desk I have to get
out. I go for a drive (with my husband, of course; I don't condone
reckless driving by blind people) or a walk, accompany my flatmate
on the food shop, reorganise the garage, ANYTHING to avoid my desk.
A week of long writing hours and I'm frothing at the mouth to go
away on the weekend, to never touch that computer again...
If you're anything like me, you need regular breaks away from your
desk. Make sure you schedule writing-free vacations, so you always
have a break to look forward to.
Sometimes if I've hit a slump, moving my computer gives me a new
burst of life. Write at the kitchen table for a week and see if
your writing feels different. Pack your laptop off to the nearest
Starbucks and write in the corner with a steady supply of caffeine.
Visit your in-laws for the weekend and write at their coffee table.
Sometimes the change is all you need to kick-start your muse.
11. Meditate
------------
You don't have to subscribe to a new religion or learn any
complicated breathing. Just sit in the quiet for a few minutes and
take deep breaths through your nose, breathing out through your
mouth. Concentrate on thinking NOTHING. This is more difficult then
it sounds. Every time you feel a thought or worry creep in, push it
away.
Some people, myself included, find this easier to do with music
playing in the background. Use soft, instrumental music. My
favourite is Beethoven.
You could practise yoga. I took a class once, and many of the
single exercises and breathing techniques remain part of my
relaxation practise.
Another method of meditation is to attend church. Whatever faith
you embrace, spending an hour or two in your god's house listening
to words of wisdom or serene choirs clears the head of negativity.
Have you ever been to your local chapel outside of regular service
times? I love sitting in our city cathedral during the day and
embracing the solitude of that cavernous hall. It's the perfect
place to enjoy meditative prayer.
12. Inspire yourself with art
-----------------------------
If I feel stifled or my creative brain takes a holiday to Timbuktu,
I refresh myself with a visit to a local art gallery, play or
concert. By admiring someone else's art for a few hours, I feel
inspired to return to my own.
I subscribe to a free "What's On in the Arts" email newsletter in
my local community, so I have a source on hand if I need creative
stimulation. Local galleries, museums and theatre often have their
own mailing lists.
Alternatively, if you don't want to leave the house, grab a stack
of your favourite old novels or some new books you can't wait to
read. Make yourself a delicious snack and settle in to some
guilt-free reading. I promise by the end of the first book you'll
be itching to start writing again.
>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Steff Green is a New Zealand-based freelance writer who lives with
her cantankerous drummer husband and their medieval sword collection.
Her work appears in over 70 publications in print and online, and
she blogs about writing and heavy metal music at
http://steffmetal.com.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Steff Green
For more advice on having a balanced writing life, check out these
articles:
http://www.writing-world.com/life/blues.shtml
http://www.writing-world.com/life/campbell.shtml
****************************************************************
WORLDWIDE FREELANCE WRITER - You can download a free list of
writing markets if you subscribe this week. Discover almost
2,000 writing markets from USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australasia.
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
*****************************************************************
FREE STUFF FOR WRITERS: Summer Reading
=================================================================
By Aline Lechaye
August. Hot summer days that make you want to eat endless tubs of
ice-cream and do nothing. The kids are on vacation, and they're a
distraction. And, okay, the truth is, you just don't FEEL like
writing.
Why not catch up on your reading? (If anyone asks, it's
"research".) This month, download yourself some good reads, settle
back, and enjoy the ride.
Fantasy and science fiction fans should bookmark
http://suvudu.com/category/library because you're going to be
surfing this site a lot! Run by publishing giant Random House,
Suvudu posts free e-books, stories, audio book excerpts, podcasts,
articles, and videos, as well as gaming and manga news.
Browse LibriVox (http://librivox.org/) for free audio books of all
languages. Readers are mostly volunteers, but audio quality is
usually good because all files are checked by listening volunteers
before they are added to the site. The only drawback is that all
LibriVox recordings are of books in the public domain, so fans of
any book published after the 1930s are likely to be disappointed;
however, if you love classic works written by authors like Jane
Austen or Charles Dickens, you'll probably consider this site a
treasure trove. Some books have several different versions, as read
by various readers, so if you don't like one reader's version, you
can easily switch to another one.
Project Gutenburg (http://www.gutenberg.org/) is one of the largest
free e-book sites in the world. The site contains over 33,000 free
books, which can be downloaded in a variety of formats, allowing
you to read the books on your computer, iPad, Sony eReader, and
Kindle, as well as some cell phones and mp3 players. The site is
completely free to use and does not require registration.
A tip for Kindle users out there: Amazon occasionally makes some
(non-public domain) titles available for free. There isn't a
section devoted to the listing of free e-books as yet, but you can
find the latest additions by searching the Kindle store and sorting
the search results as "Price: Low to High". You should then get a
few pages of books with $0.00 as the price. (Note: some titles may
not be free in certain locations outside of the United States.) To
try it out, go to http://www.amazon.com.
Baen offers some of its books for free at Baen Free Library
(http://www.baen.com/library/), so if you're looking for some
interesting science fiction or fantasy reads, you should definitely
check them out. The site hasn't been updated with additional free
titles for a while, but the collection they have in place at the
moment should be enough to keep you reading for a while. Books can
be downloaded in formats compatible with the Kindle and the Sony
eReader.
Feeling guilty about doing all that "research"? Why not do some for
real? LearnOutLoud (http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video)
provides a selection of over 2000 free educational audiobooks and
tutorial videos on its site, in several categories. You have to go
through a registration process to download the free files, but once
you've registered, you can download and start listening to the
material right away.
August bonus: Shipping costs can be a pain. Especially when you're
buying a $3.99 book and the S&H is $5. Now, with Book Depository,
you no longer have to worry about problems like these. Why? Because
the site offers FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Prices are close to Amazon
equivalents (sometimes cheaper), and currently, the website is
offering 10% off as a way to celebrate their sixth anniversary.
Plus, they have over 11,000 free ebooks. Go to
http://www.bookdepository.com to learn more. (Free ebooks can be
found at
http://www.bookdepository.com/dealsAndOffers/promo/id/100).
>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Aline Lechaye is a translator, writer, and writing tutor who resides
in Asia. She can be reached at alinelechaye"at"gmail.com.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Aline Lechaye
*****************************************************************
THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
Writing What You Know
---------------------
This is a free course by the Open University, which demonstrates
methods used by authors to write descriptive passages. It should
take around 8 hours of study to complete.
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2748
What is Poetry?
---------------
Another course from the Open University which teaches you how to
write poetry in both traditional and free verse forms.
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?name=A175_1
Writing Short Stories
----------------------
This is another free course, this time from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, which will help you to learn how to write
your own short stories.
http://tinyurl.com/2vjswq8
*****************************************************************
WIN PRIZES AND GET PUBLISHED! Find out how to submit your stories,
poetry, articles and books to hundreds of writing contests in the
US and internationally. Newly updated for 2010, WRITING TO WIN
by Moira Allen is the one-stop resource you need for contests
and contest tips. Visit Writing-World.com's bookstore for details:
http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. Unless
otherwise indicated, competitions are open to all adult writers.
For a guide to more than 1000 writing contests throughout the
world, see Moira Allen's book, "Writing to Win: The Colossal
Guide to Writing Contests"
(http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml).
JERWOOD AWARDS FOR NON-FICTION
------------------------------
DEADLINE: October 4, 2010
OPEN TO: UK or Irish citizens, or residents of the UK for at least
3 years, who are working on their first major commissioned works of
nonfiction.
GENRE: Nonfiction
DETAILS: Submit a book proposal synopsis with information about
the status of the project and a copy of the publishing contract.
PRIZE: £10,000
URL: http://www.rslit.org/content/jerwood
AMY LOWELL POETRY TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP
----------------------------------------
DEADLINE: October 15, 2010
OOPEN TO: US poets
GENRE: Poetry
DETAILS: Submit 40 pages of poetry or copy of published poetry book
with 20 additional pages of poetry.
PRIZES: $52,000 fellowship to spend a year abroad.
URL: http://www.amylowell.org/instructions.htm
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HOUSE LITERARY PRIZE
--------------------------------------
DEADLINE: October 15, 2010
GENRE: Nonfiction
DETAILS: A contest for short essays with two categories: Young
Writers and Professional Writers. Submit 1000 - 1,500 word essay
on a question exploring Franklin's relevance for our time. 2010
theme is "In politics, what can laws do without morals?
PRIZE: £500 for young writers (18 - 25), £1000 for professional
writers and publication in The Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper.
URL: http://tinyurl.com/c7zega
DISCOVERING NEW MYSTERIES COMPETITION
-------------------------------------
DEADLINE: October 31, 2010
GENRE: Short Stories, Scriptwriting,
DETAILS: Submit mystery plays, short stories, which can be
performed or read in under an hour. Categories: outstanding
screenplay or teleplay, best work for young adults 12 - 18, best
short mystery play (inc one-act plays, short screenplays and short
stories).
PRIZES: $2,500 for Best New Work (one prize across all genres.
$1000 for Best New Writer. £1,500 for Outstanding Screenplay or
Teleplay. $500 for Best Work for Young Adults (12 - 18). $500 for
Best Short Mystery Play.
URL: http://www.newmysteries.org/submission_guidelines/
LUCIDITY POETRY JOURNAL CLARITY AWARDS
--------------------------------------
DEADLINE: October 4, 2010
GENRE: Poetry
OPEN TO: 18+
DETAILS: 1 - 5 poems, maximum 36 lines per poem including stanza
breaks. Prefer poems o shorter than 18 - 20 lines. Seeking poetry
that deals with people, relationships, life issues and events,
written in clear and concise English. Form of the poem is open but
it must have something to say without resorting to vulgarity.
Clarity is crucial. We publish poetry that everyday people can
relate to, understand and enjoy.
PRIZE: $100, $40, $25 and possible publication.
URL: http://lucidityjournal.00books.com/
MINOTAUR BOOKS/MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: November 13, 2010
GENRE: Books
OPEN TO: any writer, regardless of nationality, who has never been
the author of a published novel. Self-published writers may enter,
as long as the entry has not itself been self-published.
DETAILS: Submit previously unpublished works of book length (no
less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words).
PRIZE: $10,000 advance and a publishing contract from Minotaur
Books.
URL: http://tinyurl.com/2vdc2u8
*****************************************************************
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AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF: Books by Our Readers
=================================================================
Historic Genesee Country, by Rose O'Keefe
The Mystery of Fate: Common Coincidence or Divine Intervention?
by Arlene Uslander and Brenda Warnecka
Find these and more great books at
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Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
http://www.writing-world.com
Editor and Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (editors"at"writing-world.com)
Newsletter Editor: DAWN COPEMAN (editorial"at"writing-world.com)
Copyright 2010 Moira Allen
Individual articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues archived at
http://www.writing-world.com/newsletter/index.shtml
Writing World is hosted by Aweber.com
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Subscribers are welcome to re-circulate.
Copyright © 2011 by Moira Allen. All rights reserved.
Copyright to individual articles held by authors.