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Inklings Issue 2.12
===============================================================
i n k l i n g s
Newsletter for Writers on the Net
Issue 2.12 July 10, 1996
===============================================================
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0212.html>
PROFESSIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR WRITERS
by Emilie J. Conroy
DASH IT ALL
by Bill Walsh, Washington Times copy desk chief
FRESH INK - resources for writers on the net
Market Information - First Sale Stories - Subscriber
Publications
COLUMN TOPICS:
How electronic publishing works, How authors get paid
by Ken Jenks, electronic publisher
Queries vs sending a full mss - Carol Henson, book doctor
Imagine you could send a message to yourself back when you were a
hopeful young writer. What would you say? To encourage young
writers
on the net, I've started collecting "words of wisdom" from
authors and
editors. You can see the advice so far at:
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/youngadvice.html>
If you're willing to volunteer some wisdom for young writers
(even a
few words will do), please send me the following:
1. Your advice
2. Your name
3. How you want the credit listed (e.g. "Author of....",
"Screenwriter", etc.).
4. Your URL, if you have one
5. Whether or not you'd like your email address listed (I'll
assume you DON'T unless told otherwise)
Please help encourage young writers! Send info to:
ohi@inkspot.com
with "advice for young writers" in the subject header.
=================================================================
====
This issue sponsored in part by:
* Samurai Consulting *
<http://www.samurai.com/>
Services include internet consulting, WWW page design, electronic
newsletters (like INKLINGS!), mailing lists, FTP sites, system
maintenance, training. Email: Bryan Fullerton
<bryanf@samurai.com>
=================================================================
====
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1996 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. See end of
issue
for more copyright details, and info on how to subscribe and
unsubscribe. Send questions and comments to ohi@inkspot.com.
=================================================================
====
"Good work doesn't happen with inspiration. It comes with
constant,
often tedious and deliberate effort. If your vision of a writer
involves sitting in a cafe, sipping an aperitif with one's fellow
geniuses, become a drunk. It's easier and far less exhausting."
- William
Hefferman
=================================================================
====
FRESH INK
=========
New Inklings column: ASK THE FREELANCE WRITER
---------------------------------------------
MARCIA YUDKIN has published hundreds of magazine articles in
publications ranging from the New York Times and Psychology Today
to
Cosmopolitan and New Age Journal. She is author of eight
nonfiction
books, including "Freelance Writing For Magazines and Newspapers"
(HarperCollins). If you have questions about freelance writing,
please
send them to ohi@inkspot.com with "ask the freelance writer" in
the
subject header and I will forward them to Marcia. She will answer
selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
The Slot (formerly The Crusty Old Slot Man's Copy-Editing Peeve
Page)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
----
Bill Walsh, Washington Times copy editor chief, has revised and
moved
his page. The Slot is a site for copy editors, and is intended to
be
"more of a comprehensive reference site and not just one personÕs
collection of rants." Much of the content of The CurmudgeonÕs
Stylebook, the heart of this Web site, began as part of a guide
to the
copy desk at The Washington Times. Since the site went online, it
has
been used as course material by instructors at several major
universities.
<http://www.theslot.com>
Where's That From?
------------------
Etymological web diversion. Creator Dave Taylor
<taylor@intuitive.com>
invites Inklings readers to contribute etymological questions of
their
own (send question, correct/possible answers, sources cited).
<http://www.intuitive.com/origins>
On Agents
---------
Article by Dan Perez. Advice on agents and how to find one.
<http://www.greyware.com/authors/Dan.Perez/writing/agents.htm&
gt;
The Illustrators' Message Board
-------------------------------
Looking for an illustrator to illustrate your picture book? Post
your message here. Check guidelines before posting.
<http://pages.prodigy.com/picbooks/messageb.htm>
Overcoming Writer's Block
-------------------------
For those who missed the first writer's poll in Inklings, here is
a list of subscriber solutions.
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/ink/poll1results.html>
Copy Editor Home Page
---------------------
Sponsored by Copy Editor newsletter. Describes more than 80
copy-editing courses offered across the United States. Also
contains
links to sites pertaining to grammar and usage.
<http://www.copyeditor.com/>
Rhyming dictionary
------------------
Simple form entry.
<http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dougb/rhyme.html>
AlienFlower Poetry Workshop
---------------------------
Formerly the Albany Poetry Workshop, hosted by Janan Platt.
Critiques,
threaded discussions, articles, writing exercises.
<http://www.sonic.net:80/web/albany/workshop/>
Beginning Writer's FAQ
----------------------
New in Inkspot.
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/beginnersfaq.html>
Guidelines For Writers In Electronic Publishing
-----------------------------------------------
Courtesy The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society in the UK.
<http://imprimatur.alcs.co.uk/guidelin.htm>
=================================================================
=====
MARKET INFORMATION
==================
Please note: Inklings does its best to print only accurate market
info. However, it cannot be held responsible for lost postage,
time,
etc. that you may incur due to inaccuracies. Do not send
submissions
by email before inquiring first. You should get current, detailed
guidelines before submitting. Include SASE for snailmail replies.
More
market info at:
http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/marketinfo.html.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING MARKET SOURCES:
***SCAVENGER'S NEWSLETTER***
Excellent monthly market info letter for
sf/fantasy/horror/mystery
writers and artists with an interest in the small press. Sample
copy
$2. SUBSCRIPTION INFO -- Bulk: $15.50/yr, First Class: $19.50/yr,
Canada: $18.50/yr, Overseas: $24.50/yr air mail, $15.50 surface.
All
orders in U.S. funds, MO, or mint US stamps. Contact: Janet Fox,
519
Ellinwood, Osage City, KS USA 66523-1329.
***CHILDREN'S WRITERS MARKET LIST***
Available by e-mail or snailmail. Margaret Shauers, 1411 12th,
Great
Bend, KS 67530. $5.00 email listing; $6.00 snailmail. Contact
<mshauers@midusa.net> for free sample e-mail market
listing.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
"FNASR" = First North American Serial Rights, "SASE" =
self-addressed,
stamped envelope, "simsubs" = simultaneous submissions, "mss" =
manuscript, "RT" = response time, "GL" = guidelines.
PAYING MARKETS:
Sense of Wonder
---------------
Paul Recchia, Editor, Sense of Wonder Press. 2215 N. Ridge Ave
#2B,
Evanston, IL 60201-2743. Fiction to 5,000 words. Pays 1-3 cents
per word
on publication. Wants science fiction, fantasy, and horror that
appeals to the higher senses, stories with a sense of "wowness".
Include cover letter and a short bio. (Source: DF/Horror Writers'
Newsletter. To subscribe, contact DarkEcho@aol.com. Note this is
NOT
the email address for Sense of Wonder)
Natural Life magazine
---------------------
Wendy Priesnitz, Editor, Natural Life Magazine, RR 1, St. George,
Ontario CANADA N0E 1N0. International newsmagazine in tabloid
format,
published 6 times per year. "We are looking for news stories of
national or international interest; how-to articles based on
personal
experience; profiles of people who are living a self-reliant,
environmentally conscious, conserver lifestyle; cartoons; and
black
and white photographs of exceptional interest." Payment is 10
cents
per published word, paid upon publication of the print edition.
Maximum payment for any one piece is $100, regardless of length.
See
website for more guideline details.
<http://www.netroute.net/altpress/nl/writers.html>
Junior League Baseball Magazine
-------------------------------
P O Box 9099, Canoga Park CA 91308: Dave Destler,
Publisher/Editor.
Aimed at 8-14 year-old players, they want nonfiction, games and
puzzles concerning baseball and family involvement in the sport.
Pay
varies, but standard is .20 word for ALL rights. (Source:
Children's
Writers Market List)
react
-----
react, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017: Susan Garvey,
Managing
Editor. With a circulation of more than four million, react is
the
largest circulation interactive weekly newsmagazine for teens
(12-17).
Produced by Parade magazine, it is distributed in newspapers
nationwide. They want journalism to help readers react with
confidence
and compassion in a complex world. They want queries--and write
for
guidelines. Pay is wonderful; $2000 for the cover story, others
$250-$700. (Source: Children's Writers Market List)
Speculative Fiction and Beyond
------------------------------
John Bradt, 4 Tonada Dr., Irvine CA 92720. Email:
darkgenre@aol.com.
Electronic magazine. SF/F/DF/H/M/Suspnse. Fiction up to 5,000
wds.
Pays 3c/wd on publication. Include cover letter, write or email
for GL before submitting. (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter
Jul/96).
Gourmet Fare
------------
P.O. Box 488, Matthews, NC 28106. Attn. Mary Beth Roth. Enclose a
resume and two writing samples for review. Food industry
magazine.
"Our focus is on what people want and desire in regard to food
and
specialty products. One thing all our readers have in common is a
love
for fine food and wine." Articles must be well-researched and
well-cited. Pays on publication.
<http://www.ceo-online.com/gourmet/writers.htm>
Raven's Tale
------------
Editor, Raven's Tale, 57910 Apple Ln New Hudson, Mi 48165.
Electronic
publication. Send complete manuscript or up to 5 poems.
Manuscripts
will not be returned or acknowledged without SASE. Simultaneous
submissions are okay. "We are looking for horror and fantasy
stories
and poems. We will also accept romance with horror or fantasy
settings. We like stories with a twist. We prefer poetry that
explores the dark side of the human psyche, but monsters, elves,
etc.
are okay." Fiction: Double-spaced, max 5,000 wds, prefer
2,000-3,000.
Poetry: One poem per page (multiple page poems are acceptable).
Prefer short poems (30 lines or fewer) Pays in 1 copy and $5.00
to
$10.00 on publication. Query for nonfiction. Purchases one-time
rights, all rights revert to author upon publication. Responds in
4 -
8 weeks. Email submissions okay.
<http://www.graphicknight.com>
Email contact: <rtale@graphicknight.com>
Beachway Press
--------------
9201 Beachway Lane, Springfield, VA 22153-1441. Publishes outdoor
travel and adventure guidebooks. Publishes books an average of
one
year after acceptance. Report in two months on queries.
Simultaneous
submissions OK. Query letters should be mailed c/o Editorial
Dept. to
the above address with a SASE included. See website for proposal
guidelines.
<http://www.beachway.com/books/guidelines.html>
=================================================================
====
PROFESSIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR WRITERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
----
by Emilie J. Conroy
<conroye@www.tallahassee.net>
Professional suicide is the leading cause of career death for
aspiring
novelists. The new writer looking to publish their novel will
more
than likely ruin their own chances before any blue pencil brigade
professional sends a rejection slip. This phenomenon has
virtually
nothing to do with writing talent or the ability to pen a good
novel.
What kills the writer is a simple ignorance of etiquette.
Contrary to the expectations of many new writers seeking to be
published, talent isn't everything. In fact, talent won't mean
anything if the writer's manners and professionalism are lacking.
While courtesy can't save a bad manuscript, it can keep a good
manuscript from being overlooked. A writer who wants to avoid the
pitfalls of politesse and convey professional grace should be
mindful
of five important points.
More often than not, publishers and literary agents will request
that
first contact be made in a specific manner, usually in the form
of the
query letter. Sometimes a synopsis or sample chapters are also
welcomed, and sometimes complete manuscripts are accepted. The
point
to this is that there are submission requirements that every
writer
must discover and follow. If the listing reads "queries only",
send
just a query letter. If the publisher invites the first three
chapters in sequence, send those, but don't think about
elaborating
the submission by including more material or by selecting three
chapters out of sequence. These requests are not made as jokes.
Send
exactly what is requested--no more, no less.
A writer must strike a delicate balance between humility and
egotism
called confidence. The submission must be tight enough to speak
for
itself. Liberal sprinklings of self-praise are never appreciated.
What writer doesn't think theirs is "a marvelous book"? If it
wasn't,
what is the point in trying to get it published? Editors and
agents
can assume what a writer thinks of the work. They don't need to
be
reminded. They do need to be able to make their own judgements
without being distracted by coy advertising.
Along similar lines, no submission is so good that it can make up
for
a shabby presentation. Don't be fooled. The quality of writing
does
not supersede the quality of presentation. Even the best work
will
not be read if it has been submitted on flimsy paper and is
marred by
sloppy corrections. How the work is presented sends a clear
psychological message to the editor--it communicates how the
writer
regards their own work. A writer who truly cares about their work
will take great pains to see that it presented in the best and
most
attractive manner.
The writer has determined the kind of submission, eradicated any
traces of editorializing or hyperbole, and has sent it off in a
neat,
cleanly-printed package. Now comes the most trying part in the
whole
process; waiting for a response. Patience is a necessity at this
point. Although the temptation to call up the editor a week after
sending the submission may be strong, it must be ignored. No new
writer can afford to make a pest of themselves, and a submission
will
suffer from its creator's impatience.
Finally, keep one rule in mind more firmly than any other--be
nice!
It's amazing what a friendly disposition can do for a writer.
Keep
all correspondence cordial and upbeat, and maintain a pleasant
demeanor if making telephone contact. Appreciate every bit of
help
received from any source, whether from a fellow writer or a
literary
agent kind enough to offer suggestions with your returned
manuscript.
The publishing industry is a tough business. It isn't easy to
keep
smiling and stay polite while facing rejection and frustration.
In
the end, however, a positive, happy attitude, combined with a
savvy of
industry etiquette, will push any writer closer to publishing
success.
=---------------------------------=
Emilie Jane Conroy is a WWW consultant with several Web sites of
interest to writers, including Castle Aphrodesia (for Medieval
romance
enthusiasts):
<http://lcopt.physics.fsu.edu/Local/thad/conroy/aphrodesia.htm
l> and
The Query Review Service Homepage:
<http://lcopt.physics.fsu.edu/Local/thad/conroy/queryreview.ht
ml>
Copyright (c) 1996 Emilie Jane Conroy. All rights reserved.
=================================================================
====
DASH IT ALL...(a quick weeding-out device when hiring copy
editors)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
----
by Bill
Walsh
Maybe I'm the only one, but . . .
When I see a resume that makes it obvious the job-seeker doesn't
know
the difference between a dash and a hyphen, I toss the resume.
Harsh? I don't think so. It would be harsh to do that to a
reporting
candidate, or to a copy-editing candidate at a weekly or small
daily,
but a copy editor in the big leagues is supposed to be an expert
on
punctuation, or at least to have some eye for detail in the area.
The
distinction between a hyphen and a dash is a pretty basic point.
Now, there is some room for error on the subject. Some
publications
use the traditionally correct method and do their dashes "tight"
--
without the spaces on either side that I'm using here -- while
others,
bowing to the vagaries of computer typesetting, follow AP style
and
use the spaces. I would prefer that any copy editor who's going
to
work for me know AP style and follow it unless otherwise
instructed,
but I don't mind seeing "tight" dash style on a resume.
Beyond that, I'm not so forgiving. A hyphen is a hyphen, and a
dash is
a dash; a dash is generally twice as wide as a hyphen. (For
purposes
of this discussion, "dash" means em dash, the standard dash
that's as
wide as a capital M; in newspapers, hyphens are used in cases
where
more formal publications would use an en dash, an esoteric little
critter as wide as a capital N that is used by ultrapurists for
ranges, such as "1980-84," and in cases where multiple-word
modifiers
need an extra level of delineation.) On typewriters and perhaps
in
some very rudimentary word-processing programs, a dash is made by
simply typing two hyphens (I use that convention here because
some Web
browsers don't recognize the actual em dash).
What is not acceptable to me, however, is the use of hyphens as
dashes. Resume writers often fall into this trap when doing
headings,
as in:
Education- B.A., University of Michigan, 1989
I recently was back in Tucson, my old college town, and was
appalled
to see that The Arizona Daily Star uses the hyphen, with a space
on
each side, as the dash. Nothing else appears to have changed at
the
paper since I was in school, so I'm wondering if somehow I missed
this
monstrosity way back when. I may have to fire myself.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Bill Walsh is the copy desk chief at The Washington Times.
This article was reprinted with permission from his Web site, the
Crusty Old Slot Man's Copy-Editing Peeve Page
<http://www.access.digex.net/~bwalsh/editing.html>.
Copyright (c) 1996 Bill Walsh.
=================================================================
========
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
ASK THE AGENT: Susan Graham at
<slgraham@atl.mindspring.com>
ASK THE BOOK DOCTOR: Carol Henson at <UBKX12C@Prodigy.com>
ASK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR: Lee Wardlaw at
<Katknip2@aol.com>
ASK THE ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER: Ken Jenks at
<fictions@aol.com>
ASK THE FREELANCE WRITER: Marcia Yudkin. Send to
<ohi@inkspot.com>
ASK THE SF/FANTASY AUTHOR: Michelle Sagara at
<mms@turing.toronto.edu>
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message, but
will
answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
=================================================================
====
ASK THE ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----
by Ken Jenks
<Fictions@aol.com>
Q: Electronic publishing? How does it work?
-------------------------------------------
There are several kinds of electronic publishing available today.
Collections of stories distributed on a floppy disk or CD-ROM are
called "electronic books" or "disk-top publishing." Periodic
magazines
which are published solely on the Internet are often called
e-zines or
just zines. (These typically do not pay the author for stories.)
Some
traditional magazines such as the Armchair Detective have an
on-line
outlet as well, and one well-known magazine, Omni, has ceased
publication in the paper world and remains available only
on-line.
There are a very few "pay-per-view" publishers as well.
Basically, electronic publishing allows the reader to read
stories on
his computer screen. The distribution method bypasses the cost
and
logistic problems of printing stories on paper and distributing
them
in hardcopy form. There are two basic distribution methods: disks
and
Internet. For the rest of this discussion, I'll concentrate on
publishing stories on the Internet.
Q: How do authors get paid? How do readers pay for stories?
-----------------------------------------------------------
There are three systems used to produce revenue from publishing
stories on the Internet: advertising, subscriptions and
pay-per-view.
When advertising and/or subscriptions provide the revenue stream,
the
publisher generally buys the rights from the author to publish
the
story in electronic form. These are generally called "electronic
rights." The publisher then makes the stories available on the
Internet, usually on the World Wide Web, but sometimes by e-mail
or
FTP. Advertisers pay the publisher for advertising space in the
publication and, on the Web, for each "click through" on an
advertisement. Subscribers pay the publisher to have access to
the Web
or FTP site or to be on the mailing list for e-mail publications.
The
author's only income is the money given up front to purchase the
electronic rights to the story. In a pay-per-view system, the
reader
chooses a story he wants to read then uses an on-line transaction
system or credit card to purchase the story. The author is paid a
percentage of the purchase price. Combinations of these three
revenue
streams are also possible.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Ken Jenks is the editor-in-chief and owner of Mind's Eye Fiction,
a
paying market for short stories on the Internet. He is pleased
to
correspond with readers, writers, agents and publishers about
on-line
publishing. Mind's Eye fiction can be found at
<http://tale.com/>.
Copyright (c) 1996 Ken Jenks.
=================================================================
========
ASK THE BOOK DOCTOR
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----
by Carol Henson
<UBKX12C@Prodigy.com>
Query or full mss?
------------------
Q.
I've finished my first manuscript and I'm very happy with the
final
product. However, I've not been satisfied with my efforts to
outline,
summarize or even produce a chapter by chapter synopsis of my
work.
Is it a mortal sin for a first time author to send the entire
manuscript (255 pages) to a publisher?
A.
Congrats on finishing your manuscript! Let's see... Well, this
is
what John Grisham did when he finished his first book. He sent
out a
cover letter and the first three chapters. And when he kept
getting
the packages back, he decided to try sending out a cover letter
and three random chapters. Everybody advised him not to do that,
but
it worked, so, go figure. Of course, his writing was good and
his
package looked professional.
If you are dead set against a summary, outline, etc., try sending
a
cover letter and the first three chapters. Of course, you have
to
write some sort of explanation of what you are sending, hence the
cover letter. I'm a little suspicious and a publisher/agent will
be
too, of any writer that can't summarize what he's written, so if
you
continue to have trouble, get a book about writing book
proposals.
Jeff Herman has a good one out there. See if it's at the
library. Of
course, there are lots of other books and Writer's Digest always
has
books about this same problem. You are not alone. Trust
yourself.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Carol Henson is a Book Doctor/editor/author and is happy to
respond to
your questions about Book Doctors, editing, writing, etc. Her
web
page is located at:
http://pages.prodigy.com/MI/ubkx12c/bookdoc.html.
Copyright (c) 1996 Carol Henson. All rights reserved.
=================================================================
====
"FIRST SALE" STORY: Willis T. Bird <wbird@dns1.ala.net>
=======================================================
"My first (and only) sale came some time ago. I was primarily a
photographer and had attempted to sell several photographs of
Merritt's Mill Pond near Marianna, Fl. to Florida Game & Fish
magazine. The last two world's record shellcracker (fish) had
been
caught in that lake. The editor said that the pictures were fine
but
he needed a story to go with it. He also asked if I'd ever
written for
publication previously. I told him that I had not, but had always
been
interested in writing. I also told him I was a bass fisherman and
not
a shellcracker fisherman. He then asked how long I'd fished the
Millpond. I told him, "About twenty-five years," where upon he
said to
me, "You write the article." I never knew how much effort went
into a
1500 word article. It would have helped if I had known something
about
shellcracker fishing. I learned a lot writing the article and it
was
accepted on the first draft. The magazine bought the article and
two
photographs. I have been writing children's stories for most of
the
past year and have sold nothing else. Perhaps I should pick
something
of which I know nothing?"
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Thanks to those who sent me "first sale" stories. I will be using
some
of them in upcoming issues. Published authors: please encourage
others
by sharing the story of how you made your first sale! Send your
short
paragraph to ohi@inkspot.com with "first sale" in the subject
header.
=================================================================
====
SUBSCRIBER BOOKS
================
If you have a book coming out this year, send the info (BRIEF,
please,
no press releases) to ohi@inkspot.com with "inklings book promo"
in
the subject header. Subscribers only, please. I will print a few
each
issue. If this is your first sale, please let me know so I can
highlight it!
Perry, Phyllis J. BALLOONING. Franklin Watts. October 1996.
Order at 1-800-621-1115.
=================================================================
=====
WRITERS' MAGAZINE INDEX
=======================
Thanks to Lisa Ramaglia for the July/Aug BYLINE index:
-----------------------------------------------------
Conference Savvy, Writing for the Educational Market, Corporate
Support for Your Writing, After You Publish, Promote, Finally,
the
Write Diet, Titles Add Power to Poems, Just You: Accessibility
Sells,
The Voice of a Child, Finding Your Theme.
=================================================================
=====
Next Issue: INTERVIEW WITH TED PEDERSON, author of more than 200
live-action and animated tv scripts, from Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles
to the new Skysurfer Strike Force.
=================================================================
=====
EDITOR: Debbie Ridpath Ohi (ohi@inkspot.com)
COPY EDITOR: Cathy Rutland (cathyr@rom.on.ca)
Subscribers are welcome to recirculate or reprint Inklings for
nonprofit use as long as the appropriate credit is given and the
ENTIRE text of the newsletter is included (including credits and
information at the end of each issue). Others should contact me
at
ohi@inkspot.com. All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Inklings is a free newsletter for writers on the net, published
every
2-3 weeks. More info at
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/ink/inklings.html>
Inklings is part of the writers' website INKSPOT:
INKSPOT: Resources for Writers
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot>
To subscribe & unsubscribe: Send e-mail to majordomo@samurai.com
with
"subscribe inklings" in the message body. To unsubscribe, use
"unsubscribe inklings". Find out more information with "info
inklings". EMAIL: ohi@inkspot.com. SNAILMAIL: Inklings, 55 McCaul
St.,
Box 123, Toronto, ON Canada M5T 2W7 (for packages, contact me
first)
=================================================================
