*****************************************************************
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 7:05 16,300 subscribers May 3, 2007
*****************************************************************
SPECIAL NOTICE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail; any messages
sent in reply to the newsletter are deleted. See the bottom of
this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe,
or contact the editors.
*****************************************************************
CONTENTS
=================================================================
The Editor's Desk
NEWS from the World of Writing
THE INQUIRING WRITER: Writing Routines, by Dawn Copeman
FEATURE: Research, Track and Conquer, by Joseph Thomas
The Write Sites -- Online Resources for Writers
FEATURE: "First Sale" Mistakes Every Writer Can Avoid
by Moira Allen
WHAT'S NEW at Writing World
WRITING CONTESTS with no entry fees
The Author's Bookshelf
*****************************************************************
EARN AN MFA IN WRITING through the brief-residency program at
Spalding University in Louisville, KY. Call (800) 896-8941x2423
or email mfa@spalding.edu and request brochure FA90. For more
info: http://www.spalding.edu/mfa
*****************************************************************
WRITERSCOLLEGE.COM has 57 online courses. Prices are low.
If you can reach our web site, you can take our courses.
http://www.WritersCollege.com
*****************************************************************
DISCOUNTED SOFTWARE FOR WRITERS -- PowerWriter, DramaticaPro,
StoryCraft, WritePro, MovieMagic, StyleWriter, plus many more.
HUGE SAVINGS! GREAT SELECTION! Save online at:
http://www.MasterFreelancer.com
*****************************************************************
WRITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS.Ever dreamed of being a published author?
Writing for children is a great place to start. Train with a
professional writer and learn the secrets of breaking in to the
$2 billion children's book market. This unique program has
helped 100's like you become published. Free Writing Test.
http://www.writingforchildren.com/G1158
*****************************************************************
I FINALLY FOUND A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING AS A WRITER
I'm averaging about $150 an hour and I only work a few hours each
morning, leaving me with most of the day to pursue my first love:
Fiction. Here's how you can learn the secrets of this little
known, lucrative business:
http://www.theromancewriterslife.com/ltc/wworlda6/
*****************************************************************
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
Hello
-----
It is with a great sense of pride and trepidation that I write my
first "Letter from the Editor."
Ever since Moira asked me to become the editor I've been itching to
get my hands on it, because I am just so proud of my new role.
But then, what with learning how to do the rest of the job of
editing the newsletter and site, (and boy, was there a lot to
learn!), Moira and I agreed that she should continue doing the
editorial. Actually, I really enjoyed that, it still meant I
wasn't fully in charge and that I could rely on Moira's safe
pair of hands and wise words in the editorial.
In fact, I was fully expecting Moira to continue writing the
letter from the editor until she actually moved to England and was
a bit shocked to find that no, I was now actually taking over,
today, right now.
Splash! That was me being thrown in the deep end!
Seriously though, I feel a great sense of honor and pride in
being asked to be the new editor of Writing-World, (notice how
I'm getting the hang of this American spelling!), but to use a
British term, I also have an attack of the collywobbles too!
(Collywobbles means fear and nervousness.)
Writing-World is an amazing writing institution. Although I'd
taken a writing course, this is where I really learnt to write.
Here is where I found out exactly what editors were looking for
and how to write for different markets. Here is where I found
out everything I needed to know about rights and contracts.
Here is where I first discovered free writing contests and here
is where I first felt a part of a worldwide community of writers.
Even when I'd made those first few sales and was no longer a green,
'newbie', Writing-World remained my first stop call for anything I
needed to know. I've never been disappointed yet.
So, you might be able to understand my trepidation at taking on
this most impressive of writing resources.
I feel thrilled by the honor of taking on this job and I hope to
be able to build upon this solid gold foundation that Moira has
built and ensure that Writing-World continues to meet the needs
of all writers.
With that in mind we are working on a new site design and many
other exciting innovations for both the site and the newsletter
that I hope you will like. Moira hasn't disappeared, she is,
thankfully, still on hand to be the Editor-in-Chief and help me
out as I learn to fully shoulder the role of editor. In fact,
she's closer than ever now as she only lives 20 minutes away!
And probably, one of the first things she is going to do, is
teach me how to write a proper editorial!
-- Dawn Copeman, Editor
*****************************************************************
CHILDREN'S WRITERS. Improve your competitive edge and publishing
record with this vital monthly source of market studies and genre
analyses loaded with editors' tips and insights into subjects and
writing styles they're looking for right now. Free sample issue.
http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/N8618
*****************************************************************
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
UK DIGITAL PUBLISHER SEE TURNOVER DOUBLE
----------------------------------------
As a sign of how popular digital media is becoming, the UK
Association of Online Publishers (AOP) has reported that turnover
for digital publishers increased by 60% in 2006, more than double
the figure they predicted in 2005. They are predicting that
turnover will increase by 72% by the end of 2007. The AOP also
discovered that for those publishers who have both print and
digital operations, the online or digital operations are now
bringing in 12% of revenue. Total turnover for AOP members'
digital operations increased to £575m, up from £344m the previous
year. For more information visit:
http://www.ukaop.org.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/press/article.html?uid=1424
BUT IN THE US ONLINE PUBLISHING SLOWS
-------------------------------------
A decrease in online ad revenue and a slowing down of the number
of people coming online has led many US newspapers to reduce
their profit expectations from online publishing. Ad revenues
have fallen by between 5% and 10% in the first quarter of 2006
and at the New York Times alone, online revenue growth is down by
50%. For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/2s8b4n
LA TIMES SACKS 5% OF WORKFORCE
------------------------------
With profits falling at Los Angeles Times and its parent company,
the Chicago Tribune, the paper has announced it will be cutting
150 employees. The company expects that most of the job losses
will be voluntary buy-outs. At least 70 of these jobs will be
from the newsroom. For more information visit:
http://tinyurl.com/374drm
NEW YORK POST DOUBLES IN PRICE
------------------------------
In an attempt to avoid the same fate as the Los Angeles Times,
the New York Post has doubled its street sale price from 25 cents
to 50 cents. It is hoped that this move will offset the paper's
losses which currently stand at $70 million a year. For more
information visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/21/business/media/21post.html
BECOMING AN AUTHOR WON'T MAKE YOU RICH
--------------------------------------
60% of professional writers have to take on a second job in order
to pay their bills, according to the results of a new report from
the Author's Licensing and Collecting Society, the organization
in the UK that ensures authors are paid whenever their work is
read or broadcast. The survey of 25,000 authors discovered that
the average salary for authors in the UK is 33% less than the
national average wage of £16,500,($33,000), with many authors
earning around £4000 ($8000) a year from their works. Those
authors whose works were in the top 10% of works borrowed or
read, earned more than 50% of the royalties distributed last
year. The ALCS equated this to a salary of £82,500 ($165,000) for
the top 5,500 writers. Authors whose works were in the bottom 50%
earned only 10% of the royalties available. Life is particularly
hard for young writers in Britain, as writers between 24 and 35
earn on average £5000 a year, which is a third less than young
writers in Germany. They also discovered a gender gap in
payments, with male authors receiving 60% of the royalties
available. Not surprisingly, only 20% of the authors surveyed
rely on writing as their only source of income. The ALCS is
concerned that if writers' earnings continue to fall, it will be
hard to attract people to the profession. For more information
visit: http://www.alcs.co.uk/multimedia/pdf2/word.pdf
*****************************************************************
LEARN HOW TO WRITE AND SELL MAGAZINE ARTICLES from 33-year
veteran article writer, Patricia Fry. Sign up NOW for her 6-week
online Article Writing course starting April 10. $125.
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm
*****************************************************************
WRITINGITREAL.COM ANNOUNCES ITS SECOND PERSONAL ESSAY WRITING
CONTEST. Reading period from now until June 30th. Cash prizes.
Winners announced August 1. For contest rules and information on
submitting. Visit http://www.writingitreal.com/contest.html
Electronic submissions okay.
*****************************************************************
THE INQUIRING WRITER
=================================================================
by Dawn Copeman (editorial@writing-world.com)
Last month I wanted to know if you had a writing routine or a
writing place, a place where you do your best writing. I also
wanted to know what happens if you can't write at your normal
time or in your normal place? Does your muse leave you? Or are
you one of those people, like Stephen King, who can write
anywhere and at anytime?
Well for some of you, it seems you can write wherever and
whenever you need to, as Holliday Rohrbaugh explains: "I don't
have a set routine when it comes to my writing. Whenever the mood
strikes me, I go with it. I usually do all my writing on the
computer in my living room, but I also have every one of my
stories on my computer at work, as well as my laptop. If I'm on a
roll I don't have to wait till I get home to work on a chapter, I
can work on it during my lunch hour. If one of my kids is on the
big computer, I can work on the laptop.
"In one instance a particularly taxing story problem fixed itself
in my head while I was in the shower. We were going to a picnic
and there was no way I'd be able to get it in the computer until
the next day because we'd be getting home late. I knew I'd never
remember everything going through my head if I waited, so I took
a pen and a notebook and started writing in the car. Even after
we got to the picnic, I kept writing until I finished the chapter
I was working on. That was probably some of the best writing I've
done.
"I can write anywhere. As long as I have music to listen to and
know where the story is going, the place where I'm writing is
irrelevant."
Andrea Riem finds she too can write anywhere. In fact she writes
in what must be one of the most distracting places I can think
of; on the couch in front of the television. She explains: "I
grab my little black book, my pencil and get cozy on our couch
next to my hubby. With him watching the box, I escape into my
little writer's world. This relates to the need to have my
husband next to me keeping me company; well, it also may be that
we are just newly weds.
"My second place is sitting outside with the gentle sounds of
nature surrounding me. Maybe I am one of the lucky few who can
write anywhere. The biggest obstacle is creating a routine and
of course overcoming the constant procrastination."
Yep, that problem of procrastination again. It does keep rearing
its ugly head. In fact, trying to overcome procrastination seems
to be one reason why some of us, me included, try to stick to
routines and places. Having a place you go to in order to write
and a time to write, does force us to concentrate on our writing
to the exclusion to everything else.
It's certainly like this for Eva Bell, she explains: "I find
having a special place for writing creates a kind of conditioned
reflex, so that whenever I sit there, the urge to write comes
naturally. My favorite corner is in my study, where everything I
need is within arm's reach i.e., Dictionary, Thesaurus, pens,
paper etc. I even keep a bottle of water handy just in case I
feel thirsty.
"For me, the best time when there are no interruptions is between
1 - 4 p.m. However, if there's something I want to complete, then
time doesn't matter at all, as everything else is put on hold
till I finish."
But is this just a stage we can grow out of? Can we learn to
forego our writing place and write anywhere? Or does it really
matter as long as we get the work done? Personally, I don't
think it matters at all, I think where and when we write is just
as personal as how we write. It is unique and there is no right
and wrong.
For all of us who do need to have a place to write, a place
that acts like a kind of lucky talisman to inspire our
creativity, and who wish they could just write anywhere, then
take heart from Alice J. Wisler, who tells of her experience of
writing both with and without a special writing place and
routine.
"The best thing that ever happened to my writing was the week I
spent at a writers' retreat on Lake Superior.
"Each morning I wrote to music in a cozy writing shed and then
continued for hours after lunch. If my muse got stuck, I read
aloud passages from favorite novels. Inspired, I got back in the
groove. Although the novel I was working on at that time wasn't
any good, the discipline I developed has stayed with me even at
my cluttered home computer in North Carolina where I now do my
best writing.
"Thanks to Paul Simon's music (Negotiations and Love Songs
1971-1986), a good set of headphones, prose by Elizabeth Berg
(Open House), and setting the clock to make myself write for a
certain amount of time each day, last fall I finished a new
novel. I found a willing agent who sold the novel and a second
novel (not yet completed) in a two-book-deal to Bethany House
Publishers. 'Rain Song' will be published in the fall of 2008.
"Moral of this tale--keep at it. If writing is your passion,
cultivate it, go to retreats, read how-to books, make the time,
send stuff out, rise up from the rejections, and believe in
yourself especially when others won't. You can't fail!"
Good advice, Alice. Yes, you can get published, but can you
survive as a writer? Looking at the news this month it seems
that more of us are surviving on incomes that are at or below
minimum wages. Worryingly, in the UK at least, there are
concerns that this is deterring people from becoming writers.
Now, for most of us, money wasn't the first thing that attracted
us to this vocation. Yet, money is also a necessity in this
life, so what do you do?
Have you abandoned your plan of becoming a novelist in order to
pay the bills? Do you dabble in all sorts of writing to make
ends meet? Do you work part-time and write part-time, or do you
work full-time and write in you spare time? Have you thrown
caution to the wind and given up your job to pursue your writing
dream? Basically, how do you fulfill your need to write and your
need for food and shelter?
Email me with your responses and the subject line "Writing and
Money" to editorial@writing-world.com
Till next time,
Dawn
For more advice on writing places and routines visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/time.shtml and
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/boundaries.shtml
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Dawn Copeman is a freelance writer based in England. She is the
editor of http://www.newbie-writers.com, a site for new and
aspiring writers, as well as a contributing editor and columnist
at http://www.timetravel-britain.com. Visit her website at
http://www.write-away.biz
Copyright (c) 2007 by Dawn Copeman
*****************************************************************
JUST RELEASED! Copyright Companion for Writers is a clear and
concise survey of copyright law written with the rights of
writers in mind. It answers your most pressing questions about
copyright & includes forms on CD-ROM. The perfect companion to
have on your creative journey. For more information and to order
your copy, visit http://www.literarylawguide.com.
*****************************************************************
WRITE BETTER; WRITE FASTER; WRITE IT RIGHT! Discover a simple
five-step process for creating flawless written text.
Write It Right: The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like The Pros
shows you how! $17.95 + s/h.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974496626/peregrine
********************************************************************
RESEARCH, TRACK, AND CONQUER
How to research short fiction markets, track submissions, and
ultimately get published.
====================================================================
by Joseph Thomas
As an editor of a quarterly fiction journal and a published short
fiction writer, I know full well the rigors of getting a piece
published. I've both written and received my share of rejection
letters, and I know it is easier to give up than to press on.
Having also had the privilege to write and receive a handful of
acceptances, I know that it's worth the struggle. In this article
I will lay out guidelines for finding the right markets and
tracking your submissions.
First things first: you need to write and you need to edit. No
matter how much research you do or how many submissions you make,
if the work isn't good, really good, it will not get published.
The good news is that once you have a tight story down on paper
(or should I say up on monitor?), with discipline and
determination, you will get it published.
Let's assume that you have the story all ready to go. Now you
have to find the right place for it. Start by looking at the
story and decide what nook it fits into. If your story fits a
certain genre, like science fiction, then start by looking at
sci-fi magazines and journals. If your story deals with mental
illness, look for publications that identify themselves with the
subject. I recently published a story on OCD (Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder). After 18 rejections, I found a literary
journal that focused on mental illness and substance abuse for
its theme. They accepted, and paid for, the story. In our
publication we look for literary fiction; if you send us
Harlequin romance, you won't get far. It may not always be clear
what genre or specialty your story is in, but the better you can
categorize it, the more likely you will be to find the right
market.
Once you have a target genre or theme you can begin your search.
Obviously you're going to start with publications you are already
aware of. Reading literary journals that publish work similar to
your writing style is a must. You need to know what is currently
being published. Larger, more prestigious publications like the
New Yorker and The Paris Review are handy, but be sure to include
smaller presses in your selections as well. Titles like Tin House
and AGNI are indispensable if you want to know what's happening
in short fiction today. Beyond that you have a slew of online
journals like Smoke Long Quarterly and Ramble Underground [full
disclosure-I'm the editor and publisher] that are publishing
fresh new voices. Most likely these are the markets you will be
breaking into.
Hit the book store and ask for the short fiction section. Seek
out one or two of the "best of" anthologies, (e.g., The Best
American Short Stories, or The Pushcart Prize). While you can't
submit your stories directly to them, you can read the best short
fiction out there and see the publications in which they
originally appeared. By doing this you have a hit list of the
best small presses accepting submissions today. Next, ask where
the writing section is, and look for the resource books (e.g.,
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2007). These resources list
tons of small presses publishing short fiction. Try to find one
that lists the genres and themes accepted. Other important
details include length of time in existence, circulation, when
submissions are accepted, and if they nominate for awards.
Surf the internet. Use directories like NewPages.com or
Duotrope.com to find listings of current publications. New Pages
does reviews of small literary presses, and Duotrope will allow
you to search short fiction markets based on genre, story length,
and pay scale. Along with any results meeting your criteria, they
show the publications' acceptance rates and average response
times as reported by other writers. Do searches for "short
fiction" or "fiction journals" to find online publications.
Nowadays many web journals attract a closer readership than their
print equivalents. These markets are usually easier to break into
and the finer ones carry the same prestige if your work is
accepted. You're more likely to find success in the print
journals after you have a few web credits to your name. Beyond
the strictly online journals, many print journals have a presence
on the web as well. You'll find in many cases that these
publications will accept e-mail submissions, making the process
cheaper and quicker for you to submit your work. Whether the
target format is online or in print, view each web site's links
page for a listing of other like-minded publications to target.
Once you find a target you like, read a copy or some sample work
to get a feel for the publication, and check their guidelines to
be sure it's a good fit. Simultaneous submissions (submitting
your story to multiple publications) are a must at this stage of
the game. Since the plan is to send your story out to many
publications at once, any journal refusing simultaneous
submissions would not be appropriate. Also check for acceptable
story lengths and open submission dates to further narrow your
search.
When you have decided on a few (15-20) publications to target,
create an A-list and a B-list. Your A-list is going to be your
preferred list, which you will target first. Response times (the
time it takes to hear back from an editor) average about 3
months, with some as short as a week and some as long as a year.
With this in mind, plan on a two-phased approach: first send out
to your A-list, then wait a few months and send out to your
B-list. You do not need to hear from the A-list before sending to
the B-list, but you want to give enough time for the A-list to
accept your story before the B-list does. If you send it out to
both lists at once, odds are the B-list will accept it before the
A-list had a chance. If you wait for the A-list to respond, it
may be a year before the B-list gets a chance. I can't speak for
you, but I'm not that patient.
Before sending out your work, read each publication's guidelines
again and be sure you have followed them as best you can. This is
a big sticking point for editors, trust me. Also prepare a cover
letter including previous credits, brief (very brief) bio, and
contact information. Do not attempt to explain your story. The
story should do that on its own.
Now you are ready to hit the post office or click the send
button, but wait -- you need to track your submissions. You don't
want to do all this research over again or send to the same place
twice (this looks silly). On the other hand, you do want to know
who's considering it and who rejected it. Most of all, if it is
accepted, you want to be able to inform any other editors who are
still considering the story that it's no longer available. This
helps establish a relationship with those editors. Plus they see
you as a serious writer, and they can't help thinking, "Damn,
maybe I should have taken that one." The next time you submit to
them, they may just recall your name -- as an editor, I do this
all the time.
To track my submissions I use Microsoft Excel, but any
spreadsheet will do. If you don't have the software, the old pen
and paper still works. Create a spreadsheet consisting of seven
columns: Story Title, Journal, Type, Date Sent, Response Time,
Response, and Notes. Story title is in case you are tracking
multiple stories. Journal is the publication targeted. Type is
how the journal is published, Print, Online, or Both. Response
Time is taken from the journals guidelines and it tells you when
you might expect an answer. Response is simply Yes or No (mostly
no, but don't be discouraged -- that's the nature of the
business). Finally, I have a notes column for any extraneous
information like feedback received from an editor or the
publication's web address. Whenever you make a submission, add it
to your list and then wait or, better yet, start writing another
piece. As you receive responses, update the list. I flag my
rejections with the color red and the acceptances in green. I
take great pride, as will you, when a piece is accepted and I go
down the list to inform the other editors who are still
considering the story that it has been accepted elsewhere. Also,
update those entries to show that they were notified of
publication.
Remember, most published pieces were rejected numerous times
before finding the right home; take rejection in stride.
Constantly search for new target markets, updating your A and B
lists as you see fit. Follow published guidelines to the tee, and
keep track of all submissions and responses. Above all else, keep
writing and submitting work.
Editors's Note: Find more than 500 paying markets for your
short fiction in Writing-World.com's guide to paying markets
for fiction and poetry. Visit our bookstore for details:
http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Joseph Thomas is the Editor and creator of Ramble Underground
(http:// www.rambleunderground.org/) an online literary
quarterly. When he takes off his editor hat, he is an author of
short fiction whose work has appeared in several literary
journals. When he slips off his writer hat, he is a father and a
husband; this is what he is most proud of. He can be contacted at
editor@rambleunderground.org
Copyright 2007 Joseph Thomas
For more information on selling short stories visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
CAN'T GET PUBLISHED? Be a Well-Fed Self-Publisher and make a
living! Control the process and timetable. Keep the rights AND
most of the profits. Here's the step-by-step blueprint used to
create a full-time living from ONE book! By the award-winning
author of The Well-Fed Writer. http://www.wellfedsp.com.
*****************************************************************
EXPERIENCED, CERTIFIED COPYEDITOR: manuscripts; business,
government, and professional publications; newsletters;
advertisements. Basic editing, $25 per hour; substantive editing
$40 per hour. Microsoft Word markup. karen.editpro@gmail.com
*****************************************************************
THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
PlotStorming.com
----------------------
A free community for science fiction and fantasy writers and role
playing gamers. You can brainstorm characters, plots, and worlds.
The site also offers writing prompts and competitions.
http://www.plotstorming.com/
Betsie's Literary Page
----------------------
Useful advice, links and resources for screenwriters, lyric
writers and authors.
http://betsie.tripod.com/literary/id6.html
NancyChristie.com
------------------
Useful writing site. Check out the links, the 5 'c's of being a
writer and the projects for inspiration.
http://www.nancychristie.com/index.shtml
Writing Guidebook
-----------------
A large collection of articles for both beginning and experienced
writers.
http://writing.qlane.biz/
Babynamescountry
----------------
Another great site to help you to find suitable names for your
characters.
http://www.babynamescountry.com/
Love Poems And Quotes
---------------------
A collection of romantic love poems and quotes, as well as a free
monthly poetry contest.
http://www.lovepoemsandquotes.com
*****************************************************************
NEW AND ESTABLISHED MARKETS FOR YOUR WRITING. Up-to-date
submission guidelines/leads for poetry, short prose, and book
projects. You'll receive your FREE report TODAY via email
NEWSFLASH. Visit http://www.writersrelief.com or call toll-free
(866) 405-3003. Absolutely no subscription or purchase
necessary. We'll share our know-how with you. In our 14th Year!
*****************************************************************
GET PUBLISHED INSTANTLY. FREE EBOOK COVER AND PRESS RELEASE.
Download our free handbook and sign-up for our free 10-day trial.
See why over 500 authors have selected EbookoMatic as their
publisher of choice. No contracts. Retain all rights. Earn 75%
royalties. Visit http://www.getpublishedinstantly.com/ww now!
*****************************************************************
"First Sale" Mistakes Every Writer Can Avoid
=================================================================
by Moira Allen
"Dear Author, We are pleased to accept..."
Thus begins the letter you'll keep forever, even frame -- your
very first acceptance letter. You feel like dancing, shouting,
kissing the ground this highly perceptive editor walks upon.
You're a writer!
In the midst of this first-sale euphoria, however, it's easy to
forget that your job as a writer isn't finished. In fact, it has
just begun. That "first sale" can be fraught with pitfalls for
the unwary writer. Here's how to avoid some common mistakes
writers make when they receive that first acceptance.
Don't neglect your market research.
-----------------------------------
Obviously, this is a mistake that should have been avoided before
you even sent out your submission! I've included it here,
however, because this simple omission causes more grief than any
other "first sale" mistake. There's nothing worse than finding
out after you get that wonderful letter that a market doesn't pay
as much as you thought, or pays for other types of material but
not what you sent them (e.g., for short stories but not for
poetry), or requires more rights than you are willing to give up,
or pays on publication and won't be sending you a check for the
next two years. Such unpleasant surprises can take all the joy
out of that first sale, so don't make yourself vulnerable to
them: Do your market research in advance.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
---------------------------------
Many writers are afraid to ask an editor for specific details
about their "first sale," for fear that such questions will brand
them as "newbies," or anger the editor. You have a perfect
right, however, to ask how much you're going to be paid, and
when, and when your piece might be published -- assuming these
details aren't spelled out in the acceptance letter or contract.
Far from marking you as a "newbie," such questions show that you
are in fact a professional, for they are the type of questions
every experienced writer asks. In fact, if you don't ask them,
you're sending the message that you may be too timid or
inexperienced to stand up for your writing -- or your rights.
Don't sign a contract you don't understand.
-------------------------------------------
Some publishing contracts are short, sweet and straightforward,
fitting nicely onto a single page. Others maunder on for pages,
in legalese that would make your eyes glaze over if they weren't
already going blind from the small print. If you're confused
about terms like "exclusive" vs. "nonexclusive," or
"distribution" vs. "publication," you're not alone. Before you
sign, you need to know exactly what you're authorizing the
publisher to do with your material -- and what you'll have the
right to do with it once it's published. There are many articles
on the Web to help you understand contract terminology, but the
best approach is simply to ask the editor what a confusing clause
actually means.
Don't give away rights you don't want to lose.
----------------------------------------------
One common "first sale" mistake is to assume that you'll never
want to use that piece again -- so you might as well give the
publisher whatever rights they ask for, up to and including all
rights. I did this myself on one of my first articles, and
always regretted it. You never know when a new market will
appear that would be just right for a reprint of that old
article, or when a new anthology will put out a call for stories
just like the first one you ever sold. If you haven't retained
reprint rights or anthology rights, you're out of luck. Watch
out, as well, for clauses that give the publisher the right to
reprint, resell, or distribute your work without paying you any
additional money. Finally, make sure that you're being
adequately compensated for the rights you do sell; I've seen
publications demand all rights in perpetuity to a piece in
exchange for as little as $10!
Don't hesitate to follow up.
-----------------------------
Many writers are afraid to "nag" an editor about a payment that
hasn't been received, or about when their article is going to
appear, for fear of alienating the editor. I've known writers
who have gone for months waiting for a check, or some word from
an editor regarding the status of their work. It's true that no
editor wants to work with a writer who calls or e-mails every
day, but learning when and how to follow up is another part of
being a professional writer. It's also a good way to find out
what sort of publication you are dealing with. If, for example,
you e-mail about a missing check and receive a helpful response
from the editor (and actually get your check a week or two
later), you'll know that this is a good publication to work for.
If, however, you receive no response to repeated letters,
invoices, e-mails and phone calls, you'll know that this is a
market to avoid in the future.
Don't sign a second contract until you've been paid for the first.
------------------------------------------------------------------
I once received an e-mail from a writer who wanted to know how to
get an editor to pay her for a column she'd been assigned to
write. It turned out that by the time the writer got around to
asking this question, she'd already turned in more than a dozen
columns -- without even being paid for the first one. While it's
always a good idea to follow up a sale with a fresh submission,
it's also wise to hold off signing a second contract until you're
absolutely sure that you're going to be paid for the first one.
Don't assume that your prose is flawless.
-----------------------------------------
New writers can be astonished -- and dismayed -- by the amount of
editing that takes place on their first publication. I know I
was! One of my first assignments was to write for a local
newspaper, and I quickly noticed that only about half of my words
were actually making it into print. When I checked the edits, I
realized that I was still writing like a college student, with
long expository paragraphs and lots of "padding" to meet
instructors' demands for "a ten-page paper". Once I learned to
keep paragraphs short and prune my prose, my published articles
started to look a lot more like what I'd sent in -- and I began
to sell a lot more of them. So don't be offended if your first
(or second, or third) sale comes back looking very different from
what you submitted. Instead, study the changes and see if there
is anything you can learn from them. (Occasionally, of course,
you'll find that your work was simply rewritten by an editor who
believes that "editing" means making everything sound the same.)
Don't assume this is your "only" chance to get published.
---------------------------------------------------------
When you've been struggling for months or even years to make that
first sale, that acceptance letter looks like your "big break."
Consequently, you may be terrified of doing anything (such as
asking questions or trying to renegotiate a contract) that might
jeopardize the sale. In reality, however, your first sale is
exactly that: Your first, and quite probably the first of many.
Far from being your only chance to get published, your first
acceptance is an indication that your writing skills have
advanced to the point that you are likely to be published again
and again. So don't be afraid to ask questions, and if the
answers to those questions aren't satisfactory...
Don't be afraid to say "no."
----------------------------
It might be hard to imagine turning down that first offer to buy
your material. But if the answers to the questions you've asked
aren't satisfactory, then that may be exactly what you have to
do. If, for example, you find that an editor expects you to hand
over every conceivable right to your material, up to and
including the right to post it on the back of a bus on Mars in
2050, and offers you chicken feed in return, you may want to
think seriously about saying "no." You may also decide to say no
if an editor wants to make unacceptable changes to your work --
such as changes that would alter its overall tone or meaning.
You might decide to say no if an editor refuses to provide
specific information about payment, publication dates or contract
terms. And sometimes you might decide to say no because your
dealings with the editor are giving you a very bad feeling about
the publication.
Asking questions, following up, gathering information, and even
"saying no" won't get you blacklisted in the publishing world.
They will ensure that you remain in control of your work, your
rights, and your future as a writer. By avoiding the mistakes
most commonly made by new writers, you will also ensure that your
first sale is something you'll always remember fondly, as opposed
to a lifelong source of regret.
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Moira Allen, editor of Writing-World.com, has published more than
350 articles and columns and seven books, including How to Write
for Magazines, Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer, The
Writer's Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals, and
Writing.com: Creative Internet Strategies to Advance Your Writing
Career. Allen is a contributing editor for The Writer and has
written for Writer's Digest, Byline, and various other writing
publications. In addition to Writing-World.com, Allen hosts the
travel website TimeTravel-Britain.com and The Pet Loss Support
Page. She can be contacted at editors@writing-world.com.
Copyright Moira Allen 2007
For more information on starting your freelance career visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/index.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING IT REAL holds its Port Townsend, WA writers' conference
June 21-25 at the Harborside Inn. Let Sheila Bender, Jack
Heffron and Susan Rich help you bring your essays, memoir,
creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry to the next level! Visit
http://www.writingitreal.com/#Conference or email
conference@writingitreal.com.
*****************************************************************
WHAT'S NEW AT WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
MAY COLUMNS:
------------------
Writing for Young Readers, by Eugie Foster
Writing for Children's Magazines
http://www.writing-world.com/foster/foster10.shtml
NEW ARTICLES:
-------------
The Business of In-flights, by Tim Lehnert
http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/inflights.shtml
Fifteen Paying Markets for Personal Essays and Life Stories,
by Chryselle D''Silva Dias
http://www.writing-world.com/creative/fifteen.shtml
How to Make Your Booksigning a Sell-Out! by Judy Azar LeBlanc
http://www.writing-world.com/promotion/judy.shtml
Personally Speaking, by Kathryn Lay
http://www.writing-world.com/creative/personally.shtml
*****************************************************************
RECOMMENDED WRITING CLASSES
*****************************************************************
Freelancing for Newspapers, by Sue Fagalde Lick. 8 weeks, $100;
http://www.writing-world.com/classes/newspapers.shtml
Fundamentals of Fiction, by Marg Gilks. 8 weeks, $150; enroll at
any time! http://www.writing-world.com/classes/fiction.shtml
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. Unless
otherwise indicated, competitions are open to all adult writers.
For more contests, check our contests database.
http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.shtml
FEEDBACK MAGAZINE'S "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN WRITE?" ESSAY CONTEST
---------------------------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: May 15, 2007
GENRE: Nonfiction
OPEN TO: All over 18.
LENGTH: 1000-1500 word magazine articles.
PRIZE: $250, $150 $75
URL: http://www.feedbackmagazineonline.net/feedback.html
ACROSTIC POETRY
---------------
DEADLINE: May 21, 2007
GENRE: Poetry
THEME: Create a poem where the first letter of each line spells
out a word (downwards).
PRIZE: $100
URL: http://www.fanstory.com/contests.jsp#awp
BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
--------------------------
DEADLINE: May 31, 2007
GENRE: Books
LENGTH 15, 000 - 20,000 words
THEME: Novellas that conform to the tradition of the Nero Wolfe
series. See website for details
PRIZE: $1000 & publication
URL: http://tinyurl.com/yd6oaz
MYITTHINGS.COM BEST FASHION ARTICLE CONTEST
-------------------------------------------
DEADLINE: May 31, 2007
GENRE: Young Writers/Nonfiction
THEME: Fashion articles of at least 250 words.
PRIZE: $1,000
URL: http://www.myitthings.com/contest
READINGWRITERS FLASH FICTION CONTEST
------------------------------------
DEADLINE: May 31, 2007
GENRE: Short Stories
THEME: Flash fiction story based on bridge shown on website
LENGTH: 500 Word Max
PRIZE: $100 and publication
URL: http://www.readingwriters.com/contest.htm
WISEGEEK $10K WRITING CONTEST
-----------------------------
DEADLINE: May 31, 2007
GENRE: Nonfiction
OPEN TO: Writers aged 18+.
THEME: Submit new articles that clearly answer a specific
question on Wisegeek site. You need to register, but this is
free.
PRIZE: $7,500 for first place. Ten $250 Honorable Mentions
URL: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-wisegeek-writing-contest.htm
*****************************************************************
AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF: Books by Our Readers
----------------------------------------
The Ancient One (audiobook), by Sheri McGathy
Costumes of Ancient Times (an Artist's Sketchbook),
by Victor Anderson (edited by Moira Allen)
Six Centuries of Costume (an Artist's Sketchbook),
by Victor Anderson (edited by Moira Allen)
Find these and more great books at
http://www.writing-world.com/books/index.shtml
Have you just had a book published? If so, let our readers know:
just click on the link below to list your book.
http://www.writing-world.com/books/listyours.shtml
*****************************************************************
ADVERTISE in WRITING WORLD or on WRITING-WORLD.COM! For details
on how to reach 60,000 writers a month with your product, service
or book title, visit
http://www.writing-world.com/admin1/adrates.shtml
****************************************************************
Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
http://www.writing-world.com
Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (editors@writing-world.com)
Site/Newsletter Editor:
DAWN COPEMAN (editorial@writing-world.com)
Copyright 2007 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 Listbox.com - http://v2.listbox.com
*****************************************************************
Subscribers are welcome to recirculate Writing World to
friends, discussion lists, etc., as long as the ENTIRE text
of the newsletter is included and appropriate credit is given.
Writing World may not be circulated for profit purposes.
*****************************************************************
Do not reply to this message to subscribe or unsubscribe! To
subscribe to Writing World, send a blank e-mail to
subscribe-writing-world@v2.listbox.com. To unsubscribe, send a
blank e-mail to unsubscribe-writing-world@v2.listbox.com.
To change your address, please unsubscribe your old address and
subscribe your new address. You can also use the subscription
box at the top of the page at http://www.writing-world.com
Copyright © 2011 by Moira Allen. All rights reserved.
Copyright to individual articles held by authors.