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Inklings Issue 2.09
================================================================
i n k l i n g s
Newsletter for Writers on the Net
Issue 2.9 May 29, 1996
================================================================
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0209.html>
CYBERCRIME: GETTING PUBLISHED
by Kate Derie
FRESH INK - resources for writers on the net
Market Information - First Sale Stories - Subscriber
Publications
COLUMN TOPICS:
How do I get my philosophy book published? - Susan
Graham
How do I avoid agency scams? - Carol Henson
Congratulations to clp@pacificnet.net, the 3000th subscriber to
Inklings!
Please contact me for your prize (I've sent e-mail but haven't
gotten a
response yet).
=================================================================
========
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, and training. Contact Bryan Fullerton at
bryanf@samurai.com for more info.
=================================================================
=========
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.
=================================================================
=========
FRESH INK
=========
Authors' Pseudonym Reference
----------------------------
Author is updating third edition of _Hawk's Authors' Pseudonyms
II_.
"I welcome bibliographic and pen name info from all authors. This
book is
considered the authority on pen names by book dealers, librarians
& fans
alike. It is also used by author to register and assure that a
pen name has
not been previously used." Free listing. For more info, contact
Martin Hawk
at <hawk@computek.net>.
The Young Writers' Club
-----------------------
"The Young Writers Club aims to encourage children of all ages to
enjoy
writing as a creative pasttime by getting them to share their
work and help
each other improve their writing abilities." Contests, research
projects,
online writing. Free newsletter.
<http://www.cs.bilkent.edu.tr/~david/derya/ywc.html>
Noble Internet Directories
--------------------------
Offers access to thousands of listings of experts, spokespersons
and
consultants who are ready to offer their expertise for
interviews, panel
discussions and broadcast events. Use the Search Function to
select a
topic. The Directory also offers a Monthly News Bulletin, A
Resource Guide
Section.
<http://www.experts.com/>
Reid's Page For Writers
-----------------------
Much more here than it first appears. Joanne Reid has accumulated
a nice
collection of writing-related links including Canadian links,
online
markets, and romance writing. No graphics, so pages load quickly.
<http://www.freenet.mb.ca/iphome/r/reidpage/>
E-script: Electronic workshop for playwrights and screenwriters
---------------------------------------------------------------
Each workshop provides regular one-on-one consultation with the
workshop
leader (an active professional) via e-mail, as well as
interchange with
other participants using electronic mailing lists. Two online
chats. 8-week
pilot summer programs begin July 15. Fee: US$90, Cdn$125. Email:
75777.3000@compuserve.com.
<http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/single_lane/escript.
htm>
Seidman's Online Insider
------------------------
Useful for technology writers. Weekly summary of events in the
consumer
online service industry. Issues available on website or by email
subscription.
To subscribe, send email to LISTSERV@PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM with
"subscribe online-l <yourfirstname> <yourlastname>"
in the message body
(without the angle brackets, of course).
<http://www.clark.net/pub/robert/>
Megahits Screenplays
--------------------
Outlines story construction principles used in development of
popular
movies. Some sections unavailable (you have to buy the book to
get them).
Site also includes list of links related to the motion picture
biz.
<http://www.mmsysgrp.com/megahits.htm>
Children's Book Council
-----------------------
Recently updated. Includes useful FAQs (frequently asked
questions) about
manuscript/artwork submissions, children's publishing, children's
book
industry. Useful online articles, CBC bibliographies and
publication list,
membership info, events, etc. Be sure to check out the CBC member
list,
which has a list of publishers and their submission guidelines.
<http://www.cbcbooks.org/>
Researching the Romance
-----------------------
Rich source of historical links as well as other writing-related
resources.
<http://www.comet.net/romance/>
Technical Writer Salaries
-------------------------
1995 figures, compiled by the STC.
<http://www.clark.net/pub/stc/www/salary.html>
CANWRITE-L
----------
An electronic discussion group dedicated to promoting and
supporting
Canadian non-fiction writers. Sponsored by the Periodical
Association of
Canada (PWAC). To subscribe to CanWrite-L, send a message to
<listproc@cycor.ca> In the body of the message, write
subscribe canwrite-l YourFirstName YourLastName
=================================================================
=========
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 SOURCE:
Scavengers'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.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
"FNASR" = First North American Serial Rights, "SASE" =
self-addressed, stamped
envelope, "simsubs" = simultaneous submissions, "mss" =
manuscript.
PAYING MARKETS:
Guide
-----
GUIDE, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740: Carolyn
Rathbun,
Editor. This Seventh Day Adventist publication uses articles and
TRUE
stories, some of which can be written in fiction format, for
young people
10 to 14--with the emphasis on the older age level. They pay .04
to .05
word on acceptance for stories to 1200 words for 1st or reprint
rights--pay
tends to go up after you've sold them a few things. They now use
puzzles
and games; want much the same formats as secular, newsstand
magazines and
books publish. (Source: Children's Writers Market List. For free
sample
listing, contact mshauers@midusa.net)
Seeking news stories for Japanese network
-----------------------------------------
Japanese network is seeking news stories from all over the world.
Stories
(of interest to Japanese readers) not readily found in newspapers
or TV
news stories preferred. Payment is negotiable. Email with your
work history, list of publications and the fees you charge for
stories.
Email: Glenn Sanders at <glenn@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp>.
(Source: Writers' Classifieds (May.21/96) at
http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/msgboard.html)
Epicure Exchange
----------------
Online publication with focus on fine coffee and tea. "We are
looking for
writers around the world to do articles on topics ranging from
culture of
coffee, and coffee producing countries, coffee house reviews,
cyber cafes
etc." Contact Cathe Chapman-Martin at <ccm@mediaweb.com>.
(Source: Writers'
Classifieds (May.19/96) at
http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/msgboard.html)
<http://www.epicure.com>
Night Terrors
-------------
D. E. Davidson, Editor/Publisher, 1202 West Market Street,
Orrville, Ohio
44667-1710. Hardcopy horror/occult magazine. Buys FNASR. Fiction:
2,000-5,000 wds. No simsubs or email submissions without
approval. Pays
from 1/8 to 3 cents per word with a minimum of $5 plus
contributor's copy
and a maximum of $75 plus contributor's copy. Submissions must be
in
standard mss format. Each submission must include a cover letter,
a list of
publication credits, and SASE. "I want stories saturated with
dark mood and
atmosphere, stories which will make the reader identify with the
character
and will get into the reader's head and haunt him/her during the
night. I
want stories that make the reader turn on the light at the head
of the
stairs before climbing them for bed at night." For more guideline
details,
see website.
<http://members.aol.com/NTMagazine/index.html>
Tesseracts 6
------------
Tesseract Books is seeking submissions to TESSERACTS 6, the Fall
1997
volume in a series of original anthologies of Canadian
Speculative Fiction.
Open to submissions in either English or French from Canadians,
landed
immigrants, long-time residents, and expatriates. Both short
fiction and
poetry. Preferred length is 5,000 words or less. Speculative
fiction
includes the genres of magic realism, science fiction, fantasy,
dark
fantasy, horror, and fantastique. Deadline: August 15, 1996.
Payment:$20
for poetry/$50 for stories under 1,500 words/$75 for 1,500 to
5,000
words/$100 for stories over 5,000 words. Tesseract Books buys
non-exclusive world rights.
Mailing address: Attn.: TESSERACTS 6, Tesseract Books, 214-21
10405 Jasper
Avenue Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T5J 3S2 (Source: Dark
Fiction/Horror
Writers Workshop Newsletter. For subscription info, contact
DarkEcho@aol.com. Please note this is NOT the email address for
Tesseracts)
Wicked Mystic
-------------
Andre Scheluchin, 532 La Guardia PL #371, New York, NY 10012.
Email:
Scheluchin@WickedMystic.com. Webpage:
http://www.wickedmystic.com.
Horror quarterly, originals only, no reprints. FNASR, fiction
around
3,000 wds, pays 1.25 cents/wd + 3 contributor's copies + a free
1/4 page
ad for a product or service you are promoting. Poetry to 35
lines, no
more than 5 at a time. Prefer non-rhyming poetry. Payment $5/poem
+ 1
contributor's copy. Response time: 1 week to 4 months depending
on
workload. No simsubs. (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter).
New Canaan Publishing
---------------------
New Canaan Publishing company was formed at the end of last
December to
"develop a list of childrens publications with strong moral
and/or
educational content". Currently seeking chapter-length books
(18,000-50,000
words approx.) Manuscript plus short synopsis preferred.
Submission by
email is preferred (query first). Email contact:
103501.2526@compuserve.com. (Source: Writers' Classifieds May.24)
<http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/New_Canaan/>
TWIG seeking submissions
------------------------
TWIG is an Electronic Magazine and Guide to the Internet,
available
exclusively on the World Wide Web. The magazine is free
(advertiser
supported). TWIG focuses on the Internet, technology, and
PC/Windows
computing, with a "light" style. We're currently seeking feature
submissions (opinion, reviews, tutorials, coverage of events,
etc.) and
weekly columnists. As a startup publication, we are currently
paying 2
cents per word based on final edited copy. For a copy of our
submission
guidelines by return e-mail, please contact us at twig@pobox.com.
(Source: misc.writing May/24)
<http://twig.hypercon.com>
Recreational Vehicle Writer/Columnists Needed
---------------------------------------------
_Happy Campers_ seeking columnists to write monthly or biweekly
columns.
Publication is an RV guide to Southwestern US and Northern
Mexico, with
extensive directories, maps, and columns. Preferred article
length is
300-500 wds. Reprints okay if informed. Fee: 10 cents/word,
calculated on
as-published (post-editing) length, paid upon publication, plus a
royalty
of 0.1 cents per reader, paid quarterly. Buys permanent exclusive
rights to
display the article on the Internet. Contact
<dkeeney@wazoo.com> or David
Keeney, Paginas World Wide Web, 1111 Tenth St MSC 175,
Alamogordo, NM
88310-6453
<http://www.hcampers.com>
THOTH
-----
Quarterly issues of THOTH, a literary ezine, currently pay $5.00
per poem
(50 lines and fewer) and $10 per short story (5000 words and
fewer). As
funds become available, THOTH will increase the amount of its
payments and
prizes to authors. THOTH purchases first electronic rights only.
Authors
retain all other rights. Simultaneous submissions are not
considered, but
multiple submisssions are welcome. If you have questions
regarding
submitting either to the e-zine or to our quarterly contests,
contact Marlana
Coe at <mcoe@soho.ios.com>.
<http://soho.ios.com/~mcoe/thoth.html>
=================================================================
=========
MARKET SOURCE FOCUS: Children's Market Listing
----------------------------------------------
Margaret Shauer updates her children's market listing frequently
(every
1-2 weeks). Because she writes and publishes a great deal in the
children's market, she uses the feedback she gets from her own
submissions
to publications (acceptances, rejections, guidelines) to create
her
market guide. See the market listing for Guide magazine in this
newsletter
for an example. To get a free sample market listing, send email
to
mshauers@midusa.net. Full market listings are available for US
$5.
=================================================================
=========
EVENTS:
=======
MID-ATLANTIC CREATIVE NON-FICTION SUMMER WRITER'S CONFERENCE
Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland, August 6-11, 1996. For more
info,
call 1-800-697-4646 or see website.
<http://www.goucher.edu/~mfa/conference/>
SUMMER COURSE: "ILLUSTRATING CHILDREN'S BOOKS"
June 26-Aug.28 (fall course also available). Instructor: Arden
Johnson.
Location: University of California, Berkeley. For more info,
contact
instructor at 104272.744@compuserve.com or call the UC Berkeley
Extension
at 1.510.642.4111
(Because of limited space, Inklings can only print a one or two
events per
issue. Please do NOT send me event news for Inklings. Post them
at
http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/msg/msgmisc.html (Writers'
Classifieds:
Events). I will scan these listings for possible use in Inklings.
=================================================================
=========
CYBERCRIME: GETTING PUBLISHED
-----------------------------------------------------------------
---------
by Kate Derie
<cluelass@slip.net>
(reprinted with permission from _The Third Degree_, newsletter of
The
Mystery Writers of America)
Sooner or later, every writer dreams of finding a new publisher,
editor, or
agent on the other end of their modem. It may be difficult, but
it's not
impossible. There are sites that may lead to a sale, or at least
provide a
gateway to more information about the publishing business. In
this column,
I'm referring to the traditional appearance of ink on page, not
electronic
publishing, which I'll discuss in a later article.
The number one site for book publishing? At Bookwire
<http://www.bookwire.com/> a categorized index of
publishers makes it easy
to find the on-line sites of those who specialize in the mystery
field.
Bookwire also includes the highlights of Publisher's Weekly,
which will
keep you au courant of who's who and what's selling. Other
Bookwire
features: a calendar of book events, online resources for book
people, and
BookWire Insider, a mailing list for book people. Reviews, links
to
E-texts, and cartoons round out the site.
And what do you get when you track down book publishers' sites?
Sorry, no
easy E mail to editors. Most of these sites are intended to
advertise to
buyers, so they list their authors, new books, and scheduled
appearances.
WriteWay, a small press in Colorado
<http://www.ReadersNdex.COM/>, does
have an E-mail address, but doesn't say who you are writing to.
Mysterious
Press <http://pathfinder.com/twep/Mysterious_Press/> has a
nice "about"
section that gives a short history of the imprint, and names and
resumes of
the current editors, but no "mailto" link. (If you have trouble
getting
through to this link, try starting from the Time-Warner gateway
at
<http://pathfinder.com/> or use the BookWire link.)
Although not listed in BookWire's mystery category, the
Ballantine/Fawcett/Ivy group
<http://www.randomhouse.com/bfi/> publishes
the "Murder on the Internet Newsletter" to keep readers
up-to-date. I
thought I was on to something here when I saw the link to "write
to our
editors." But alas, the feedback form states firmly, "We do not
accept
submissions or submission queries via e-mail at this time." Rats.
At least
they give an old-fashioned mailing address.
Magazine editors, traditionally open to query letters, may be
more
accessible. Several lists of paying publications willing to
receive queries
or submissions via E-mail are available at Bricolage
<http://bel.avonibp.co.uk/bricolage/resources/lounge/>. I
probably don't need to remind you to check the Yahoo index
<http://www.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Magazines/> for other
magazines that
might be interested in a relevant short story or article. Ecola's
Newsstand
<http://www.ecola.com/news/magazine/> is another good
listing for on-line
versions of "real" magazines.
Jan Steffensen's extensive list of mystery magazines from
around the world, at
<http://www.db.dk/dbaa/jbs/tsguide.htm>, includes a
number of mail links. Murderous Intent is the first periodical in
the genre
to have its own web site, at
<http://www.teleport.com/~madison/>, but more
are coming. Fiction contests are among the opportunities listed
at the
ClueLass HomePage <http://www.slip.net/~cluelass/> in the
"Skeleton Keys"
section.
Oh by the way, you probably won't find editors by searching an
index such
as Yahoo -- most of their links to "editors" refer to HTML or
text editors,
software that can help you create a web page. The few links that
refer to
flesh-and-blood editors either offer editorial services or cater
to
newspaper folks. Let's face it, the last thing a busy editor
needs is a
virtual transom to get electronic manuscripts over!
Agents, however, are definitely starting to get on the net. The
Internet
Directory of Literary Agents
<http://www.writers.net/agents.html> is a
searchable list of over 40 agents, giving name, address, phone,
E-mail, and
comments. You can search for a particular agent, agency,
location, or area
of specialization -- 12 agents list mystery as one of their areas
of
interest. Agents can list themselves by filling in an on-line
form, and the
entire list is downloadable for perusing off-line.
If you have questions ABOUT agents in general, you may find some
answers
through WWW Virtual Library: Literary Agent Information
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/agents.html>. In
addition to listing
several agents and linking to the directory mentioned above, this
jump-site
will lead you a suggested agent checklist for authors, and
articles on "Do
I need an agent?", "How to get an agent," and "What do agents
charge?"
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Kate Derie is an MWA associate member working on her first novel.
For news
and information of interest to mystery writers and fans, see the
ClueLass
HomePage <http://www.slip.net/~cluelass/>
=================================================================
=========
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 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 AGENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------
by Susan Graham of Graham Literary Agency
<slgraham@atl.mindspring.com>
How do I get my philosophy book published?
------------------------------------------
Q.
I have a philosophy book completed, developed from lecture notes
for a very
successful community college introduction to philosophy course.Is
there
such a thing as an agent who knows enough about this market to
help me and
who will work with me? How can I find him or her? I can supply
excellent
references. While this is my first book it is not my first
published
work. The idea of sending queries out ( I just sent out 37 and
got 27 "not
for me's") just soaks up time and gets nothing done.
A:
It sounds like you need to be more selective about who you send
it to. Look
in the Literary Market Place in the library reference section,
and the
various agent guidebooks in the bookstore writing reference
section for an
agent who works with primarily nonfiction, and understands
educational
material in particular, hopefully even philosophy as well. There
shouldn't
be too many of them.
You should have a book proposal written. A book entitled "How To
Write A
Book Proposal" by Michael Larsen, Writers Digest Books, is a
great resource
for this. Additionally, there are a couple of good books on
writing query
letters. You should emphasize what's different about your book,
what the
competition is like, and your credentials. Since it's your first
book-length work, it's good that you have already finished it.
Last, you may want to consider going directly to appropriate
publishers.
There can't be too many that would be interested. But don't do
this first.
Only do it if none of the agents ask to represent it. If you get
rejected,
the agent usually can't send it back around. The publisher is
saying No
when one of the editors says No, and you're limiting your agent's
ability to
help you if you eliminate one of the few potential markets.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Susan L. Graham owns Graham Literary Agency, Inc. She represents
genre
fiction as well as commercial fiction and nonfiction. Her unique
Website (http://www.mindspring.com/~slgraham/) helps to promote
her
authors and the agency.
Copyright (c) 1996, Graham Literary Agency, Inc. All rights
reserved.
=================================================================
=========
ASK THE BOOK DOCTOR
-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------
by Carol Henson
<UBKX12C@Prodigy.com>
How do I avoid agency scams?
----------------------------
Q.
There seems to be many agency advertisements in various monthly
writing
magazines. How do I go about choosing an agent and avoiding
agency
scams?
A.
Good question. Scams are everywhere. One good way to avoid
agency
scams is to ask for a client list from any agency interested in
seriously representing your work. I don't recommend signing with
a fee-
charging agency. There are so many non-fee charging agencies
available
that an author shouldn't have to resort to fee chargers (is that
a
word?). <g> Another good way to avoid a scam is to post a
note on your
favorite bulletin board or newsgroup asking for opinions on any
agency
you suspect of running a questionable service. Bad news travels
fast
on the internet and you can learn a lot from other's experiences.
Legitimate agents are not normally in the editing business, so if
they
tell you you've got a great book but it needs editing from their
private service, watch out. It's going to cost you and there is
no
such thing as a guarantee to get you published, no matter who
edits
your work. And the best way to avoid scams? 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: Patricia Beecher <PJSBriter@aol.com>
============================================================
"My very first sale was a short humorous story about me and my
grandson. The
publication absolutely loved it (so they said) and I was so proud
to get a
check in the mail soon thereafter. Yes, they actually paid on
acceptance,
not on publication. About a month later I received another letter
from the
publication saying they had filed for bankruptcy. Could I find
it in my
heart to return the check to help with expenses? Yeh, right...I
could find
it in my heart, but not in my purse! The check was long spent
and I had
returned to starving writer status. I didn't help them out with
their
expenses by returning anything. Though I've been published many,
many
times since, my first big sale never saw the printing presses."
==-----------------------------------------------------==
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
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!
***Landman, Sylvia. CRAFTING FOR DOLLARS, HOW TO PROFIT FROM A
CAREER IN CRAFTS.
Prima Publishers, will reach bookstores mid-July.
http://www.crl.com/~studio/
***First sale!
=================================================================
=========
WRITERS' MAGAZINE INDEX
=======================
WRITER'S DIGEST, June/96. The 1996 Writer's Digest Fiction 50.
Anne Lamott
interview. Get Out And Write! Showdown on the electronic frontier
(electronic copyright).
=================================================================
=========
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 and is
published every
2-3 weeks. More info at
<http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/ink/inklings.html>
Inklings is part of my writers' website:
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)
================================================================
