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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 2:19 10,866 subscribers September 19, 2002
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SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS AT END OF NEWSLETTER
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CONTENTS
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From the Editor's Desk
CLASSES! CLASSES! CLASSES!
News from the World of Writing
FEATURE: Your Publicity Photo, by Patricia Fry
The Write Sites - Online Resources for Writers
WRITING DESK: More on the Question of Procrastination
by Moira Allen
From the Managing Editor's Mind
WHAT'S NEW at Writing World/Prize Drawings
Writing Events
MARKET ROUNDUP/Writing Contests
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Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published!
Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published!
Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published!
Visit http://www.1stbooks.com/getpublished/no_rejection.html
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or e-mail gradadmissions[at]spalding.edu and request brochure FA90.
For more info: http://www.spalding.edu/graduate/MFAinWriting
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WRITERSCOLLEGE.COM has 57 online courses. Prices are low.
If you can reach our web site, you can take our courses.
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DISCOUNTED WRITERS' SOFTWARE -- PowerStructure, DramaticaPro,
StoryView, WritePro, MovieMagic, InkLink, plus many more.
HUGE SAVINGS! GREAT SELECTION! Visit us online:
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FREE EZINE FOR BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL WRITERS -- WriteThinking
is a weekly ezine for business and technical writers featuring
career tips, how-to articles, software and book reviews, an
extensive North American jobs list, and Guerilla WriteFare!
Subscribe at http://www.writethinking.net/
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HELP SUPPORT WRITING-WORLD.COM! Your $5 contribution helps us pay
our writers -- and entitles you to a copy of Moira Allen's ebook,
"Writer's Guide to Rights, Contracts, Copyright & Permissions."
See http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/rights.html for details,
or donate at http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UTPRKYGU4AA1
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
Not Put Off by Putting It Off
-----------------------------
My editorial on procrastination in the previous issue struck a
chord with a lot of readers! I received a flood of responses,
including these comments:
"Your editorial on procrastination is the only thing I have ever
read on the subject that makes sense. AT LAST! THANKS."
"It is so true that there is a deep abyss into which so many of
those wonderful words fall while making that precarious leap from
head to keyboard. I thought I was alone. Now, knowing that it
happens to the best of us, I will not take valuable time to stop
to re-capture those elusive gems, but will march on, get the
ideas down, and return later to edit and hope the muse returns."
"Have you ever tried to tell someone how you were feeling, and
they just didn't get it? And you wished you could put their hand
inside your heart, or their mind in yours, so they'd experience
it? At times I feel like a toddler must when she cries and
nobody knows what she wants. She doesn't have enough words yet
to explain."
"To me, it's akin to giving birth, because once I see it paper it
seems I can't do it the same justice as when it's in my head.
Then I know a part of my privacy is lost if I want to share it
with the outside world."
And quite simply...
"Amen!"
But of course you can't please all of the people all of the time,
and I did receive one negative response. I'll paraphrase this
one, which stated basically that if writing were not a source of
non-stop, unadulterated joy, and if the words did not flow easily
every time one sat down to the keyboard, perhaps one was in the
wrong business and should find a vocation one actually LIKES!
Well, being a typical (?) writer, I spent more time mulling over
this single negative "review" than all those wonderful positive
comments. It's nice to know (I guess) that there are writers who
have never been touched by a moment of doubt, hesitation, or
anguish over the writing process. For all I know, the other
10,000+ readers who DIDN'T write to me may fall into that camp!
But I suspect that the reality is a bit different -- and that
this attitude toward writing is actually what keeps a good many
writers away from the keyboard. So I couldn't resist the urge to
take up the challenge and address the issue of procrastination
one more time; you'll find my response in the "Writing Desk".
Oops! I goofed on the drawings...
---------------------------------
If you tried to enter the drawings announced in the last issue,
please enter again! I made an error in the form-mail script, so
none of the entries actually got through. To compound the error,
I entered the URLs of the drawings incorrectly on the home page,
which means that anyone trying to enter from the website would
have been unable to reach the drawing pages. You can enter the
drawings at the following URLs:
21st Century Publishing, by Julie Duffy
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/drawing.html
Beyond the Bookstore: 101 (Other) Places to Sell Your
Self-Published Book, by Rusty Fischer
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/drawing2.html
New Promotion Flyer Available
-----------------------------
If you'd like to promote Writing-World.com at a writing event
(e.g., conference, booksigning, bookfair, seminar, etc.), a new
promotion flyer for the site is now available. Just let me know
how many copies you'd like, and where to send them. (Or, you can
download a PDF version of the flyer and make copies at
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/promo.PDF)
-- Moira Allen (Moira Allen)
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MOIRA ALLEN'S NEW "1500 Online Resources for Writers" offers the
best of the web for only $6.95! Find out more or order direct at
http://www.writing-world.com/books/1500.html
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your exposure to clients seeking your unique expertise? Then
register today as a Charter Member of www.FreelanceWriters.com.
Go to http://www.freelancewriters.com/writers_faqs.cfm#faqid14
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CLASSES! CLASSES! CLASSES!
=================================================================
WRITING AND SELLING GREETING CARDS
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/cards.html
Instructor: Karen Moore
Starts: September 23 (6 weeks, $120)
Learn the basics of greeting card writing that will give you the
professional edge in this highly competitive field. Moore will
you insider tips and help you craft your writing style into
saleable greeting cards. With the help of her book, You Can Write
Greeting Cards (required text), students will be ready to meet
the publishers face to face. Karen has designed the final lesson
so that each student can personally polish pieces to be submitted
to publishing houses.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
COLUMN-WRITING WORKSHOP
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/columns.html
Instructor: Mary Emma Allen
STARTS: September 23 (4 weeks, $75)
Have you thought you'd like to write a column but haven't know
where to start? Writing columns for newspapers, magazines, and
online publications can be some of the most rewarding work of
your writing career. Learn from a writer with more than 30 years
of experience in this field. She'll get you ready to query
editors and use column writing as a springboard for other ventures.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK SPARKLE!
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/children.html
Instructor: Peggy Tibbetts
Starts: September 24 (8 weeks, $105)
Understanding the picture book market; creating a dummy;
developing characters; defining "sparkle"; building story, plot
and conflict; including humor, imagination and wordplay;
going over your story line-by-line to make it sparkle; submitting
your manuscript. "Peggy Tibbetts' workshop gives worlds of good
solid advice and individual guidance at the critical stages of
picture book writing -- the beginning, middle, and end. I know my
work is much stronger because of her assistance." -- Katharine
Boling, author of A New Year Be Coming: A Gullah Year 2002
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
FLASH FICTION WORKSHOP
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/flash.html
Instructor: Pamelyn Casto
Starts: October 1 (4 weeks, $75; maximum 15 students)
In this hard-hitting, fast-paced course, Pam Casto will introduce
you to the history of flash fiction, acquaint you with some of
the best writers in the genre, and give you an overview of the
variety of forms of flash fiction. You'll receive weekly
lessons, reading assignments, and writing exercises. You'll also
work on story analysis and critiquing. You'll receive several
markets for flash fiction along with a workable marketing
strategy. You'll also learn about other possibilities for your
flash fiction work.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
FREELANCING FOR NEWSPAPERS
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/newspaper.html
Instructor: Sue Fagalde Lick
Starts: October 7 (8 Weeks, $120; maximum 20 students)
Participants will develop a list of freelance opportunities at
their local newspapers, brainstorm ideas for the kinds of articles
newspaper editors want and pursue one or more of those ideas all
the way from a query to a completed article. They will also
develop a plan for future newspaper freelancing, including
possibilities for more article assignments, resale opportunities
and becoming a regular contributor.
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
Spanish speakers get e-libros
-----------------------------
Library visitors who call up ebrary have more than 1,000 Spanish
language e-books to choose from. The collection, provided by
e-libro, a digital e-publisher in the Spanish book market, is
available as part of the ebrarian for libraries database, which
features more than 13,000 full-text titles from over 130 leading
academic, trade and professional publishers. "As the Hispanic
community in the US as well as other countries continues to grow,
it is increasingly important to provide patrons and students with
the resources they need to learn Spanish and better understand
the Hispanic culture," said Sergio Cabello, CEO of e-libro. For
more information: http://www.ebrary.com
Newspaper offers audio CD
-------------------------
The San Francisco Chronicle will be the first newspaper to offer
an audio edition of the newspaper using technology developed by
MobileSoft that allows subscribers to listen to content on custom
burned CDs. The service allows users to enter the web site
(http://www.sfgate.com), select newspaper sections of interest,
and specify time of day. The software will then automatically
write an audio CD before the subscriber wakes up, just in time
for their commute. The personalized CD will contain an audio
version of the news topics they want to hear about, lasting the
commute time specified. Subscribers may also listen to stories
directly from the web site. "It's an interesting technology, and
we're excited to be the first to offer it," said Steven B. Falk,
president, associate publisher and COO of The Chronicle.
British Library gets digital Koran
----------------------------------
As latest addition to their Turning the Pages project, the
British Library has added a 700-year-old Koran to its digitized
library. The ancient holy book is known as Sultan Baybars' Koran.
An audio commentary explains important parts of the book and
onlookers can zoom in on particular areas of interest. The work,
written in gold in the Arabic style of script known as Thuluth,
dates from 1304 to 1306 and was produced for the Mamluk ruler of
Egypt, Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Jashnagir. Lynne Brindley, chief
executive of the British Library, said the addition "demonstrates
the library's commitment to increasing knowledge of world faiths
by widening access to relevant historical items in its
collection." For more information: http://www.bl.uk/
Attention book-bargain hunters
------------------------------
Amazon has reduced the minimum order from $49 to just $25 to
qualify for free shipping. Customers who choose free delivery
usually wait three to five days longer than those who pay for
standard shipping. Amazon also discounts all books over $15 by
30%. According to Publisher's Weekly, this latest shipping deal
is expected to last into the holiday shopping season.
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You CAN Take Credit Cards Online! What's the right solution
for YOUR product or service? Get the ebook Tom Mahoney of
merchant911.org calls "a must-read for anyone thinking about
establishing an e-commerce Web presence."
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critiques, & tutoring by a member of the Editors' Association of
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& Canadian markets. Email Marg for info: editor[at]scriptawords.com
*****************************************************************
YOUR PUBLICITY PHOTO
=================================================================
by Patricia Fry (matilijapr[at]aol.com)
Whether you freelance for magazines, do business writing, edit
clients' work, present writing workshops or are about to publish
a book, you need a good publicity photo.
If you are a writing professional, you probably need photos for
some or all of the following:
- Your web site
- Promotional brochures
- The cover of your published books
- Fliers advertising your workshops and seminars
- To accompany your published story
- To send along with press releases
Don't just ask a neighbor to take your picture while posing in
the backyard. Put some thought into the image you want to portray
and hire a professional to capture that image. Here are some
guidelines to note when planning your photo shoot.
What do you hope to achieve with your photograph?
-------------------------------------------------
Do you want people to read your book, trust your words, hire you
as an editor, or sign up for your seminar? Create an appearance
that makes an appropriate visual statement. Dress for your photo
as you would for a book signing, when meeting with a client or
while leading a workshop.
We all have many sides to our personalities. Which one do you
want to reveal to your particular audience? If you have written a
book for children, you may want your publicity photos to depict
you as friendly, fun and nurturing. For the cover of a book for
the business community, you'll want to appear more professional,
confident and serious.
It might help to generate the proper demeanor if you stage your
photo session amidst your audience of choice. Have the
photographer shoot you while interacting with a group of
children, or just before or after participating in a business
meeting.
Avoid being cutesy or arrogant
------------------------------
Have you seen those photos of women resting their chins or their
cheeks on their hands? This is a precious pose for children, but
it's rather silly for a grown woman. Yet, some photographers
still use those poses in their repertoire.
Reject photos that make you appear arrogant or give you a look of
superiority. You know the posture I'm talking about -- her arms
are crossed in front of her and she's smugly looking down her
nose at you. She may be the nicest woman around, but a photo like
this can depict her as a real snob. Lean slightly forward and
think happy thoughts while being photographed. You'll come across
as more likable.
Use props with caution
----------------------
While shots of you sitting at your desk or standing before an
audience at a seminar are okay for some publicity purposes, I
suggest that you also have plain head shots on hand.
If you want to generate a sense of warmth in your photo, pose
with your cat or dog. It's hard to dislike or doubt someone who
expresses genuine caring for a pet. Again, I suggest choosing one
good shot with your pet and one plain head shot when you need
something more straightforward.
Hire a professional photographer
--------------------------------
A professional generally has experience in helping people
portray the image they want to present. Ask the photographer for
advice on what to wear, how to achieve the personality you want
represented and so forth.
Have someone help you choose from your proofs. Make sure this is
someone who knows you and who has some knowledge of public
relations.
Order several copies of your favorite shots in 4 X 5 color
glossies. If possible, either scan the photo into your computer
or have professional pictures taken with a digital camera. I
receive ten times the number of requests for digital photos as
for regular photographs.
Refresh your photos
-------------------
Consider having new photos taken every 5 or 10 years or whenever
your appearance has undergone a dramatic change. Sit for new
photos if you lose a lot of weight or change your hair color or
style.
Just as you would in person, make a good impression the first
time and every time through your publicity photos.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Patricia Fry is a freelance writer and the author of "A Writer's
Guide to Magazine Articles for Book Promotion and Profit" and
"Over 75 Good Ideas for Marketing Your Book." Visit her web site
at: http://www.matilijapress.com
Copyright (c) 2002 Patricia L. Fry
*****************************************************************
Dr. Mary Ann Diorio, certified Life Coach and freelance writer,
specializes in coaching writers by helping them identify harmful
attitudes that are keeping them from success. For a FREE
CONSULTATION, write MaryAnn[at]LifeCoachingforWriters.com.
*****************************************************************
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THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
Coffeehouse for Writers
-----------------------
Workshops, contests, and the Fiction Fix newsletter for writers.
http://coffeehouseforwriters.com/welcome.html
EPN Worldreporter.com Job List
------------------------------
Extensive list of writing, editing and journalism jobs.
http://www.mediabistro.com/epn/joblistings/
Of Contests and Cons
--------------------
A look at some poetry contest cons, with links for more
information.
http://www.poets.ca/pshstore/sidebar/sidewarninglinks.htm
Ezine-Tips.com
--------------
Information on developing an e-zine, including finding content,
format issues, list management, promotion, advertising and other
forms of revenue generation, and success strategies.
http://Ezine-Tips.com/about/
The Screenwriter's Web
----------------------
Lenore Wright's screenwriting site, offering script tutorials,
articles and interviews, market news, free screenwriting software,
and tons of other resources.
http://breakingin.net/
The Falcon's Pen
----------------
A general writing resource site, with links, some articles, chats,
and other resources.
http://dreamwater.org/art/falconspen
*****************************************************************
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THE WRITING DESK
=================================================================
by Moira Allen (Moira Allen)
Procrastination and the Joy of Writing, Revisited
-------------------------------------------------
Not surprisingly, my editorial in the last issue drew a flurry of
comments, most of them positive. It was, however, the single
negative response that got my attention. To paraphrase this
response, the writer indicated that if writing was ever anything
other than a source of pure joy, and if I ever found that the
words did not flow the minute I touched the keyboard, then
perhaps I was in the wrong business and should look for another
profession that I actually LIKED.
My first impulse was to file the letter and forget it. But the
implications kept nagging at me. What was this saying about
writing and writers? SHOULD writing be a never-ending source of
joy? Should writers question their suitability for this "vocation"
if they experience a moment of doubt, heartache, frustration or
hesitation? Does it mean that we're in the wrong business if, on
occasion, we feel like throwing the keyboard across the room?
To determine whether such an attitude is logical, let's see
whether that "logic" applies to anything else in life. How about
relationships, for example? If you have ever felt a moment of
doubt, anger, frustration, sorrow, or any other negative emotion
in a relationship, does that mean you are in the WRONG
relationship? If you've ever felt a negative emotion toward your
spouse, does that mean you should end your marriage? If you've
ever doubted your ability to raise children, or if you've found
that parenting sometimes seems frustrating or difficult, does
that mean you should not be a parent? If the answer to these
questions is "yes," then it would perhaps follow that if we ever
find writing difficult, frustrating, or dismaying, then we should
surely give it up and do something else!
In my book, however, that's not just the "wrong" attitude, it's a
loser's attitude. It's exactly the attitude that DOES cause
people to walk away from their spouses and kids, rather than make
a relationship work. (Before someone jumps on me here, I know
quite well that there are relationships that no amount of effort
can save; that's not what I'm talking about.)
The road to publication is strewn with the figurative bones of
writers who found that writing wasn't as easy, or as fun, or as
joyful, as they expected. It's littered with the discarded
manuscripts of writers who found that the words didn't come as
magically as they anticipated -- or that acceptance wasn't
achieved as easily as they hoped. It's piled high with the dreams
of writers who found that writing was HARD -- and who therefore
decided to "do something else."
But those of us who have stayed on that road (even if we've
detoured now and then to wallpaper the living room) can attest
that anything worth having involves a measure of joy AND
heartache. Anything worth having is worth struggling for.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well. And doing something
WELL often means stepping outside our comfort zone. It means
doing not just what we can already accomplish with ease, but
pushing ourselves to do something more difficult, to face new
challenges, to ask more of ourselves than we're certain we know
how to give.
Writers who have trouble facing the keyboard aren't "lazy" or
"not cut out to be writers." They are people who recognize that
they ARE tackling a challenge. We are not in an easy business;
we are in an extremely difficult business. Humans, by nature,
tend to seek to avoid situations that cause pain or stress, and
one form of avoidance is procrastination. (That doesn't mean we
don't get it done; it just means that we get it done LATER,
usually ten minutes before deadline.) Humans who SUCCEED,
however, are those who accept that even though the road can be
painful, it is still worth taking.
One of my readers compared writing to the process of childbirth.
I have never given birth myself, but I suspect that this is a
very apt analogy. Childbirth involves a considerable amount of
pain and stress -- not just during the hours of labor but during
the entire pregnancy. But that pain seems a small price to pay
for the joy of giving birth -- of holding that child in your arms
and saying, "I produced this!" When we labor over a story, an
article, a poem, a novel, the pain and stress can be
considerable. But when we finally print it out and read it, and
realize that it is good, and WE DID IT, few things can compare to
the joy. We may find pain in the process, but it is the joy we
find in the result that keeps us coming back to that keyboard.
Procrastination, if carried to extremes, can be devastating to
a writing career. For most of us, however, the bottom line is
simple: If you're a writer who pushes yourself, then you're no
stranger to stress. Stress (and the accompanying response of
procrastination) is not a sign that you're in the wrong business.
It's a sign that you're doing what you love even though it's hard.
Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Moira Allen is the author of "The Writer's Guide to Queries,
Pitches and Proposals" and "Writing.com: Creative Internet
Strategies to Advance Your Writing Career" (second edition
forthcoming in April 2003). For details on these and her new
e-books on writing, visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/moira/index.shtml
Copyright (c) 2002 by Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
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FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR'S MIND
=================================================================
Just when we thought email might ease the snail mail anthrax
angst, along comes spam filters.
Spam filters are becoming more popular than ever. They usually
work by scanning the content of the incoming email for keywords.
Sometimes it gets bounced back to the sender. The problem this
poses for writers is we don't know if the content of our email
submissions will trigger the spam filter. The problem for editors
and agents is they often don't know which messages have been
bounced.
Who doesn't hate spam! But spam filters don't solve the problem,
they just create a whole new one. When I considered the option of
filtering spam, I saw it as adding another tedious step to
sorting my email. As an editor I recognized immediately the
possibility of losing important email messages. I don't use a
spam filter. I wish everybody didn't.
Unfortunately wishing won't make this problem go away. We have to
be aware of triggers that can get our emails bounced. In a recent
issue of The Wooden Horse Publishing Alert, Editor Meg Weaver
offered some good "counter-strategies" to make your email
submissions more acceptable. You can read more about them at her
web site: http://www.woodenhorsepub.com/newsalerts/na9-3-02.htm
Whether it's anthrax or spam filters, it just goes to show that
now more than ever, writers need to do their research, know the
markets they're submitting to, and above all, be professional
when contacting editors and agents.
-- Peggy Tibbetts (peggyt[at]siltnet.net)
*****************************************************************
FOR ALL YOUR UP-TO-DATE WRITER RESOURCES:
WRITER GAZETTE: http://www.writergazette.com
WRITERS MANUAL: http://www.writersmanual.com
EBOOKSCAFE: http://www.ebookscafe.writergazette.com
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WHAT'S NEW AT WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
New Articles
------------
E-Publishing FAQ, by Moira Allen (Newly updated!)
http://www.writing-world.com/epublish/FAQ.html
25 Unique Places to Find Story Ideas, by Michelle Giles
http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/giles.html
LINKS, LINKS and MORE LINKS!
----------------------------
The reason there are only two new articles up this week is that
I've been spending the last few days updating the links section.
The links have been cleaned and loads of new links have been
added, including six new categories:
Book Promotion Resources
http://www.writing-world.com/links/promotion.html
Christian Writing
http://www.writing-world.com/links/christian.html
Essays, Memoirs and Personal Journaling
http://www.writing-world.com/links/essays.html
Horror Writing
http://www.writing-world.com/links/horror.html
Travel Writing
http://www.writing-world.com/links/travel.html
Young Writers' Resources
http://www.writing-world.com/links/young.html
See the complete index of more than 800 links at:
http://www.writing-world.com/links/index.html
PRIZE DRAWINGS:
---------------
Win one of three copies of Julie Duffy's new "21st Century
Publishing" (all about print-on-demand)
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/drawing.html
Win one of three copies of Rusty Fischer's new book," BEYOND THE
BOOKSTORE: 101 (Other) Places to Sell Your Self-Published Book!"
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/drawing2.html
*****************************************************************
MARKET ROUNDUP
=================================================================
FAMILYFUN MAGAZINE
244 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060
URL: http://family.go.com
The number one magazine for families with children ages 3 to 12
celebrates all the fun things families can do together. Our goal
is to inspire families to spend time together. We take fun
seriously. Our emphasis on activities and ideas distinguishes us
from other parenting magazines. We are always looking for
freelancers who are experts in the art of being a fun-loving,
creative parent. We accept manuscripts for the following
departments:
Family Traveler consists of brief, newsy items about family
travel. We cover festivals, civic and cultural events, museum
exhibits, family hotel packages, state and national park
programs, and more. We also present longer, highly formatted
articles on road trips, city weekends, and roundups of themed
attractions or destinations. Submit to: Jodi Butler, Assistant
Editor. (To 1500 words)
Family Almanac provides readers with simple, fun, practical, and
inexpensive ideas and projects. Submit to: Nicole Blasenak,
Assistant Editor. (100-300 words)
Family Ties is a first-person column about the distinctive
pleasures, humor, frustrations, and struggles of family life. The
topics vary, but at the heart of each essay is insight into the
emotional relationship between the writer and his or her
children. Submit to: Kathy Whittemore, Senior Editor. (To 1300
words)
My Great Idea showcases a practical, innovative idea that the
writer used to solve a common household problem. Each essay also
presents the story of how this Great Idea changed or inspired the
family. Submit to: Dawn Chipman, Senior Editor. (800-1000 words)
My Great Idea: From Our Readers consists of ideas and solutions
from writers and readers, but they are presented in an
abbreviated format with less narrative detail. Submit to: My
Great Idea: From Our Readers. (100-150 words)
PAYMENT: Family Traveler: $1.25/word; Family Almanac: $1/word;
Family Ties: $1,500; My Great Idea: $1,250; Ideas From Our
Readers: $50 - $75
RIGHTS: FNASR
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: We consider ideas in query or manuscript form. Please
mail all submissions to the appropriate editor and/or department.
GUIDELINES: http://familyfun.go.com/utilities/global/feature/AboutUs/
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
SHADES OF ROMANCE MAGAZINE
LaShaunda Hoffman, Publisher
7127 Minnesota Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63111
EMAIL: shadesofromance[at]mail.com
URL: http://www.sormag.com
We are accepting submissions for the following features:
The Writer's Path: Articles on the craft and art of writing
multi-cultural romance and fiction. Shades Of Motivation:
Inspirational thoughts on writing. The Marketing Path: Articles
on how to market your writing. The Publishing Path: Articles on
the business of writing, promoting and selling fiction. Fillers:
Tips on freelancing time management, writing exercises and
romance. Featured Author: Interviews and write-ups about
multi-cultural authors. Short Story: The short story must focus
on the romance, and have an upbeat ending. All genres are
considered, including historical, contemporary, paranormal,
mystery, futuristic, and time travel.
We will also consider poetry, humorous anecdotes, essays about
writing or the writing life, and articles that would be of
interest to multi-cultural book readers.
LENGTH: Articles: 800 - 1200 words; Short Story: 1000 - 1500
words; Poetry: One page
PAYMENT: Pays on publication, only by Paypal. Articles: $20;
Fillers: $10; Short stories: $25; Poetry: $5; Reprints: $10
RIGHTS: One time rights
REPRINTS: Yes
SUBMISSIONS: Query first. After we respond to your query, please
submit article, poetry, or short story in a word doc attachment
or in body of email.
Guidelines: http://www.sormag.com/guide.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
WRITERS' COLLECTIVE (formerly Protooner)
Joyce Miller, Editor
PO Box 2270, Daly City, CA 94017
EMAIL: writerscollectiv[at]earthlink.net
URL: writerscollective.theartzone.net
Seeking writers, new or established, who can produce writer-
related articles. We look to freelance writers for fiction and
nonfiction of general interest to writers including how to write,
personal experience, humorous and inspirational. Seasonal
submissions needed 3 months in advance.
LENGTH: 750 - 2,500 words
PAYMENT: $25 - $100 on acceptance, additional payment for
accompanying illustration.
RIGHTS: One time rights
REPRINTS: Yes
SUBMISSIONS: Prefer email submissions, text in the body of email
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Market News
-----------
Richard Barfoot, Senior Editor of Alternate Species Magazine
advises they only pay for features from paid subscribers: "We
are a small site, the only way we have to generate money is to
ask for subs from members. In return, they are paid for material
published as a Featured Story." In short, if you're not a
subscriber, you won't get paid.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
"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.html
Please send Market News to Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
FREE INITIAL EVALUATION! AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR will help improve
your MS. Critiquing, Line Editing, Submission Assistance.
info[at]writersconsultant.com, http://www.writersconsultant.com
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. For more
contests (33 new listings added this week), visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Inscriptions Fall Equinox Contest
DEADLINE: September 27, 2002
GENRE: Story/Essay
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 800 words or less
THEME: The wheel of the year is about to turn again to autumn,
and along with it comes cooler weather, turning leaves and a
sense of impending hibernation as we inch closer to the darkness
of winter.
What images does your mind conjure up when you think of the
images and smells of autumn? From hot apple cider to the
crunching of leaves as they're raked into towering piles, what
evokes the sense of autumn for you the most?
Take us on a journey into the sights, sounds and smells of a
particular autumn season of your life. If your entry succeeds in
impressing our judges the most, you may be the winner!
PRIZE: Grand Prize: $25 gift certificate from Amazon.Com (or cash
equivalent) and publication in Inscriptions.
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: Paste each entry directly into the body of an
e-mail with the subject heading "Inscriptions Fall Equinox
Contest." Double space your entry, using standard manuscript
format. At the end of your e-mail, include your real name, pen
name (if applicable), mailing address and e-mail address. Enter
as often as you like.
EMAIL: Contest[at]inscriptionsmagazine.com
URL: http://www.inscriptionsmagazine.com
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Harlequin Intrigue Writing Contest
DEADLINE: September 30, 2002
GENRE: Romance
OPEN TO: 18 years and older
LENGTH: First chapter (5,000 words or less) of 70,000 - 75,000
word novel
THEME: Harlequin is searching for the right authors to create
stories that deliver heart-pounding passion and nail-biting
action that make for an exhilarating read. Whether murder
mysteries, psychological suspense novels, or thrillers, the books
show strong women and good, tough, sexy men who fall in love in
the midst of harrowing circumstances. The love story must be
inextricably bound to the suspense plot. Shared dangers lead
right to shared passions and a happy ending! Our popular story
lines include: undercover heroes, bodyguards, cowboy cops,
pregnant heroines, women in jeopardy, amnesia victims,
kidnappings, secret babies, marriages of convenience, runaway
brides, forced proximity, safe captives, and lawmen. In any
story, the romance and the suspense go hand in hand, with each
scene progressing both elements.
The style of writing is intense and serious, but can have a few
light moments interspersed. The dialogue is gritty and realistic,
and the emotions run high. The point-of-view is third person.
Settings can range from major North American cities, ranches, and
the West to international locales. As long as they're in jeopardy
and falling in love, our heroes and heroines may traverse a
landscape as wide as the world itself. Their lives are on the
line, and so are their hearts!
PRIZE: First prize: $1,000; Second prize: $500; Third prize: $250
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
SUBMISSIONS: Send first chapter (no more than 5,000 words) along
with an outline of the complete novel (no more than 10 pages).
All material must be typewritten and double-spaced. No disk
submissions.
ADDRESS: Harlequin Intrigue Writing Contest 2772, 300 East 42nd
Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017
URL: http://www.eharlequin.com/harl/learntowrite/42intr11.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Arts Angels Short Story Competition
DEADLINE: September 30, 2002
GENRE: Short Story
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 2500 words or less
THEME: Send your short story and Arts Angels will publish the
best three on the Eliza Hemingway web site. Stories that are
pornographic, offensive, racial or detrimental in any way will not
be considered. The copyright stays with the author but by sending
your work you agree to allow it to be placed on this site. .
PRIZES: 1st Place $125; 2nd & 3rd Place $50 (Canadian money order)
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No.
ADDRESS: Short Story Competition, Mermaid Wharf, Suite 209-409
Swift Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1S2
E-MAIL: artsangels[at]shaw.ca
URL: http://www.elizahemingway.com/index.asp?link=articles
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Stickman Review Fiction Contest
DEADLINE: October 1, 2002
GENRE: Short Story
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: No limitations
THEME: Previously unpublished fiction only. One story per person.
No simultaneous submissions.
PRIZES: 1st Place, $250; 2nd Place, $50
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: Yes. Please designate "Fiction Contest" in the
subject line of your email. Submit using the following formats,
listed in order of preference: Microsoft Word Document (as
attachment), Text or Rich text file (.txt or .rtf), or text
embedded within the e-mail message.
E-MAIL: fiction[at]stickmanreview.com
URL: http://www.stickmanreview.com
*****************************************************************
TWO WORKSHOPS, ONE GOAL. THE WRITING SUCCESS SERIES, featuring
WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, with NY literary agent Donald Maass
and GET THAT CONTRACT WRITE THAT BOOK, with author/editor
Elizabeth Lyon. Tampa, Seattle, Dallas. For more information:
http://www.free-expressions.com or 1-866-I-WRITE-2.
*****************************************************************
UPCOMING WRITING EVENTS
=================================================================
Oct. 3-6 - Infinity Publishing POD Conference, Valley Forge, PA
Oct. 4-6 - Southern California Writers' Conference, San Diego
Oct. 5 - Taking Your Writing Career to the Next Level, Irvine, CA
Oct. 14-18 - Kirkwood Writers' Workshop: From Pen to Paper to
Publication, Cedar Rapids, IA
Oct. 18-20 - SPAN Publishing College and Trade Show, Denver, CO
Oct. 20-26 - The Complete Writer - Intensive Writers' Camp,
Ocracoke Island, NC
Oct. 25-27 - Freelancing Later in Life Workshop, Orlando, FL
Oct. 25-27 - Florida Writers Conference, Orlando, FL
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
For more writing events, visit
http://www.writing-world.com/events/index.html
List your event on Writing-World.com! See
http://www.writing-world.com/events/listyours.html
*****************************************************************
AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF: NEW LISTINGS
=================================================================
1500 Online Resources for Writers, by Moira Allen
Beyond the Bookstore: 101 (Other) Places to Sell Your Self-
Published Book, by Rusty Fischer
One Year Later: A 9/11 Tribute, by Joan Bramsch (FREE EBOOK)
Spear, by Doug Hewitt
Check out these titles and more at:
http://www.writing-world.com/books/index.html
*****************************************************************
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN WRITERS (NAWW) Get the new FREE
eBooklet, RESOURCES FOR WRITERS by subscribing to NAWW WEEKLY,
the FREE inspirational/how-to emagazine for women writers. Send
blank e-mail to: naww[at]onebox.com or visit http://www.naww.org
*****************************************************************
SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) is offering
a free monthly online newsletter for those interested and/or
involved in the writing and publishing process. Subscribe at
http://www.spawn.org or send an email to Subscribe[at]spawn.org.
*****************************************************************
FREE E-BOOK: 'Writer's Online Guidelines Book,' containing more
than 200 paying markets for your writing. Sign up for the
Absolute Markets newsletter at http://www.absolutewrite.com or by
sending a blank e-mail to: join-awmarkets[at]mh.databack.com.
*****************************************************************
FREE REPORT OF 22 OUTDOOR WRITING MARKETS - Discover new markets
at Worldwide Freelance Writer. Subscribe today and get a FREE
list of 22 Outdoor and Recreational Markets. Send e-mail to
wwfw-subscribe[at]topica.com - http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
*****************************************************************
FICTION FACTOR - The online magazine for fiction writers,
bringing you FREE articles on improving your fiction writing,
tips on getting published, free ebook downloads, heaps of
writer's resources and more! http://www.fictionfactor.com
*****************************************************************
WRITING FOR DOLLARS! - the FREE ezine for writers featuring
tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. FREE ebook,
83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to
subscribe[at]writingfordollars.com - http://www.WritingForDollars.com
*****************************************************************
ADVERTISE in WRITING WORLD or on WRITING-WORLD.COM! For details
on how to reach 80,000 writers a month with your product, service
or book title, visit
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/adrates.html
*****************************************************************
Copyright (c) 2002 Moira Allen
Individual articles copyrighted by their authors.
*****************************************************************
Editor/Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (Moira Allen)
Managing Editor: PEGGY TIBBETTS (peggyt[at]siltnet.net)
Writing World is hosted by Listbox.com - http://listbox.com
*****************************************************************
Subscribers are welcome to recirculate Writing World to
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Writing World may not be circulated for profit purposes.
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Copyright © 2011 by Moira Allen. All rights reserved.
Copyright to individual articles held by authors.